Some think that the money must be embezzled, others that the church-wardens and overseers consume the greater part of it in dinners.

All agree that somehow or other it must be very ill-managed.

In short the fact that nearly three millions are collected annually for the poor and yet that their distresses are not removed is the subject of continual astonishment.

But a man who sees a little below the surface of things would be very much more astonished if the fact were otherwise than it is observed to be, or even if a collection universally of eighteen shillings in the pound, instead of four, were materially to alter it.

I will state a case which I hope will elucidate my meaning.
Suppose that by a subscription of the rich the eighteen pence a day which men earn now was made up five shillings, it might be imagined, perhaps, that they would then be able to live comfortably and have a piece of meat every day for their dinners.