s； thieves and other vagabonds； and in watching over the public tranquillity。
But in order to clear the country of beggers； （the number of whom in Bavaria had become quite intolerable；） it was necessary to adopt general and efficacious measures for maintaining and supporting the Poor。 Laws were not wanting to oblige each community in the country to provide for its own Poor； but these laws had been so long neglected； and beggary had become so general； that extraordinary measures； and the most indefatigable exertions； were necessary to put a stop to this evil。 The number of itinerant beggars； of both sexes； and all ages； as well foreigners as natives； who strolled about the country in all directions。 levying contributions from the industrious inhabitants； stealing and robbing； and leading a life of indolence； and the most shameless debauchery； was quite incredible； and so numerous were the swarms of beggars in all the great towns； and particularly in the capital； so great their impudence； and so persevering their importunity； that it was almost impossible to cross the streets without being attacked； and absolutely forced to satisfy their clamorous demands。 And these beggars were in general by no means such as from age or bodily infirmities were unable by their labour to earn their livelihood； but they were for the most part； stout； strong； healthy； sturdy beggars； who； lost to every sense of shame； had embraced the profession from choice； not necessity； and who； not unfrequently； added insolence and threats to their importunity； and extorted that from fear； which they could not procure by their arts of dissimulation。
These beggars not only infested all the streets； public walks； and public places； but they even made a practice of going into private houses； where they never failed to steal whatever fell in their way； if they found the doors open； and nobody at home； and the churches were so full of them that it was quite a nuisance； and a public scandal during the performance of divine service。 People at their devotions were continually interrupted by them； and were frequently obliged to satisfy their demands in order to be permitted to finish their prayers in peace and quite。
In short； these detestable vermin swarmed every where； and not only their impudence and clamorous importunity were without any bounds； but they had recourse to the most diabolical arts； and most horrid crimes； in the prosecution of their infamous trade。 Young children were stolen from their parents by these wretches； and their eyes put out； or their tender limbs broken and distorted； in order； by exposing them thus maimed； to excite the pity and commiseration of the public； and every species of artifice was made use of to agitate the sensibility； and to extort the contributions of the humane and charitable。
Some of these monsters were so void of all feeling as to expose even their own children； naked； and almost starved； in the streets； in order that； by their cries and unaffected expressions of distress； they might move those who passed by to pity and relieve them； and in order to make them act their part more naturally； they were unmercifully beaten when they came home； by their inhuman parents； if they did not bring with them a certain sum； which they were ordered to collect。
I have frequently seen a poor child of five or six years of age； late at night； in the most inclement season； sitting down almost naked at the corner of a street； and crying most bitterly； if he were asked what was the matter with him； he would answer； 〃I am cold and hungry； and afraid to go home； my mother told me to bring home twelve creutzers； and I have only been able to beg five。 My mother will certainly beat me if I don't carry home twelve creutzers。〃 Who could refuse so small a sum to relieve so much unaffected distress？But what horrid arts are these； to work upon the feelings of the public； and levy involuntary contributions for the support of idleness and debauchery！
But the evils arising from the prevalence of mendicity did not stop here。 The public； worn out and vanquished by the numbers and persevering importunity of the beggars； and frequently disappointed in their hopes of being relieved from their depredations； by the failure of the numberless schemes that were formed and set on foot for that purpose； began at last to consider the case as quite desperate； and to submit patiently to an evil for which they saw no remedy。 The consequences of this submission are easy to be conceived； the beggars； encouraged by their success； were attached still more strongly to their infamous profession； and others； allured by their indolent lives； encouraged by their successful frauds； and emboldened by their impunity； joined them。 The habit of submission on the part of the public； gave them a sort of right to pursue their depredations； their growing numbers and their success gave a kind of eclat to their profession； and the habit of begging became so general； that it ceased to be considered as infamous； and was by degrees in a manner interwoven with the internal regulations of society。 Herdsmen and shepherds； who attended their flocks by the road…side； were known to derive considerable advantage from the contributions which their situation enabled them to levy from passengers； and I have been assured； that the wages they received from their employers were often regulated accordingly。 The children in every country village； and those even of the best farmers； made a constant practice of begging from all strangers who passed； and one hardly ever met a person on foot upon the road； particularly a woman； who did not hold out her hand and ask for charity。
In the great towns； besides the children of the poorer sort； who almost all made a custom of begging； the professional beggars formed a distinct class； or cast； among the inhabitants； and in general a very numerous one。 There was even a kind of political connection between the members of this formidable body； and certain general maxims were adopted； and regulations observed； in the warfare they carried on against the public。 Each beggar had his particular beat； or district； in the possession of which it was not thought lawful to disturb him； and certain rules were observed in disposing of the districts in case of vacancies by deaths or resignations； promotions or removals。 A battle； it is true； frequently decided the contest between the candidates； but when the possession was once obtained； whether by force of arms； or by any other means； the right was ever after considered as indisputable。 Alliances by marriage were by no means uncommon in this community； and； strange as it may appear； means were found to procure legal permission from the civil magistrates for the celebration of these nuptials！ The children were of course trained up in the profession of their parents； and having the advantage of an early education； were commonly great proficients in their trade。
As there is no very essential difference between depriving a person of his property by stealth； and extorting it from him against his will； by dint of clamorous importunity； or under false pretence of feigned distress and misfortune； so the transition from begging to stealing is not only easy； but perfectly natural。 That total insensibility to shame； and all those other qualifications which are necessary in the profession of a beggar； are likewise essential to form an accomplished thief； and both these professions derive very considerable advantages from their union。 A beggar who goes about from house to house to ask for alms； has many opportunities to steal； which another would not so easily find； and his profession as a beggar gives him a great facility in disposing of what he steals； for he can always say it was given him in charity。 No wonder then that thieving and robbing should be prevalent where beggars are numerous。
That this was the case in Bavaria will not be doubted by those who are informed that in the four years immediately succeeding the introduction of the measures adopted for putting an end to mendicity； and clearing the country of beggars； thieves； robbers； etc。 above TEN THOUSAND of these vagabonds； foreigners and natives； were actually arrested and delivered over to the civil magistrates； and that in taking up the beggars in Munich； and providing for those who stood in need of public assistance； no less than 2600 of the one description and the other； were entered upon the lists in one week； though the whole number of the inhabitants of the city of Munich probably does not amount to more than 60；000； even including the suburbs。
These facts are so very extraordinary； that were they not notorious； I should hardly have ventured to mention them； for fear of being suspected of exaggeration； but they are perfectly known in the country； by every body； having been published by authority in the news…papers at the time； with all their various details and specifications； for the information of the public。
What has been said； will； I fancy； be thought quite sufficient to show the necessity of applying a remedy to the evils described； and of introducing order and a spirit of industry among the lower classes of the people。 I shall therefore proceed； without any farther preface； to give an account of the measures which were adopted and carried into execution for that purpose。
CHAPTER。 II。
Various preparations made for putting an end to mendicity in bavaria。 Cantonment of the cavalry in the country towns and villages。 Formation of the committee placed at the head of the institution for the poor at Munich。 The funds of that institution。
As soon as it was determined to undertake this great and difficult work； and the plan of operations was finally settled； various preparations were made for its execution。
The first preliminary step taken； was to canton four regiments of cavalry in Bavaria and the adjoining provinces； in such a manner that not only every considerable town was furnished with a detachment； but most of the large villages were occupied； and in every part of the country small parties of threes； fours； and fives； were so stationed； at the distance of one； two； and three leagues from each other； that they could easily