Early eighteenth-century parochial government is
caustically described by Daniel Defoe, who, under the
pseudonym of "Andrew Moreton " declaimed against the
Parson's Rate, Church Rate, Poor Rate, Overseers' Rate,



MUNICIPAL LIFE 221

Scavengers' Rate, Sewers Rate, Watch Rate, and High-
ways Rate, which, he said, "eat poor tradesmen up alive."
The parishioners "are ridden to death by these parish
jockeys, who know no mercy." He proceeds —

"For all these great sums collected the Poor fare
never the better. The Money is parcelled Out to make
the greatest show, and a few miserable wretches have
some 6d. some is. a week to starve upon ; which scanty
allowance is the reason why our streets swarm with
beggars.
"With what ImperiOusness do they ride the
Parishes? How do they lord it over the poor
wretches, who take relief at their hands! And yet
these Gentlemen to save charges are brisk enough to
hunt a distressed creature from Parish to Parish till
they perish for want by the way. How many poor
women in Labour have been lost while two parishes
are endeavouring to throw her on each other?

"To what end is this outside caution, but to save
money for their own Guts, and feast themselves at the
Parish Charge?

"But nothing is so profitable to these Gentlemen as
Parish Repairs. If the Church is new beautified,
whip they come upon you with a Church rate, and
when ;{i^200 has been expended, ;^i,20o shall be col-
lected : for Mr. Churchwarden will strive hard but his
daughter shall be ;^iooo the better.
