5 SEPTEMBER 1846, Page 14

THE SCOTCH POOR-LAW.

OUR attention has been drawn to the cases of two Scotch paupers : one, that of John Malone, we noticed in a former number ;# to the other, that of John Wood, we have not yet adverted. The claim- ant thus states his case, in a petition to Parliament- " Your petitioner is seventy-three years of age, and is afflicted with asthma and cough; and is, in consequence of old age and infirmity, unable to do anything for the supp ort of himself and family, consisting of his wife and three children, the oldest of whom is only eleven years of age. The whole income of the family con- sists of the earnings of his wife and eldest child, amounting, when both are fully employed, to three shillings per week, together with four shillings per calendar month allowed by the Parochial Board of the parish of Gorbals, as 'sufficient sub- sistence ' for himself and his two youngest children, who are too young to be able to earn anything. As your petitioner pays 21. 10s. a year for rent, his allowance from the parish does not even provide him with lodging; and the whole income of the family, including his parochial allowance, after paying the rent of the house, only leaves about fivepence per day to provide five persons with food, fuel, and clothing."

Wood applied in vain to the parish for increased allowance ; in vain he applied to the Board of Supervision at Edinburgh for leave to appeal to the Court of Session. He is not aware whether the Board instituted any inquiry into his case ; but he was afforded no opportunity of proving his allegations 1 Is this pe- tition a fabrication or not ? If there is any truth in it, serious in- quiry is demanded, not only into the conduct of the Board of Su- pervision, but also into the law, which can render such cases pos- sible. We repeat our conviction, that when the English Poor- law is revised, regard also should be had to Scotland ; still denied so needful a provision, except in form.

* Spectator, July 18, 1846 ; page 687.