The sternness of the Dutch character, noticeable throughout their history
and in their colonies, comes out in their treat- ment of the poor. They assist paupers in two ways,—by gifts in kind, and by careful admissions to houses of work, where, though residing at home, they may by suitable labour earn low wages. This acts as a severe labour-teat, and would be practicable anywhere ; but the Dutch treat beggars and vagrants as some of the American States are beginning to do, as public enemies, and send them for twelve months to the penal colonies of East Holland. There they are made to work by what is, in practice, military discipline ; and if that does not succeed, they are imprisoned in cellular prisons. Mr. Tallack, who sends a sketch of the Dutch system to the Times, says this produces " &good effect," and he may be right; but to make such a system of value in England, he must be pre- pared with a scheme for importing the Dutch character. If a tramping beggar were set to work in England, and compelled to do it by military discipline, all the philanthropists in the country would be up in arms. Industrial regiments might be made of the greatest benefit both to the country and the poor; .butthey., involve severe discipline, and the moral fibre of the country is
too unstrung for that.
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