It does not, however, follow from this account, that there are no poor Quakers, or that members of this society are not born in a dependent state.  The truth is, that there are poor as well as rich, but the wants of the former are so well provided for, that they are not publicly seen, like the wants of others.

George Fox, as he was the founder of the religion of the Quakers, I mean of a system of renovated Christianity, so he was the author of the beautiful system by which they make a provision for their poor.  As a Christian, he considered the poor of every description, as members of the same family, but particularly those, who were of the household of faith.  Consistently with this opinion, he advised the establishment of general meetings in his own time, a special part of whose business it was to take due care of the poor.  These meetings excited at first the vigilance and anger of the magistrates; but when they came to see the regulations made by the Quakers, in order that none of their poor might become burthensome to their parishes, they went away—­whatever they might think of some of their new tenets of religion—­in admiration of their benevolence.

The Quakers of the present day consider their poor in the same light as their venerable elder, namely, as members of the same family, whose wants it is their duty to relieve; and they provide for them nearly in the same manner.  They intrust this important concern to the monthly meetings, which are the executive branches of the Quaker constitution.  The monthly meetings generally appoint four overseers, two men and two women, over each particular meeting within their own jurisdiction, if their number will admit of it.  It is the duty of these, to visit such of the poor as are in membership, of the men to visit the men, but of the women sometimes to visit both.  The reason, why this double burthen is laid upon the women-overseers, is, that women know more of domestic concerns, more of the wants of families, more of the manner of providing for them, and are better advisers, and better nurses in sickness, than the men.  Whatever these overseers find wanting in the course of their visits, whether money, clothes, medicine, or medical advice and attention, they order them, and the treasurer of the monthly meetings settles the different accounts.  I may observe here, that it is not easy for overseers to neglect their duty; for an inquiry is made three times in the year, of the monthly meetings by the quarterly, whether the necessities of the poor are properly inspected and relieved[5].  I may observe also that the poor, who may stand in need of relief, are always relieved privately, I mean, at their respective homes.

[Footnote 5:  In London a committee is appointed for each poor person.  Thus, for example, two women are appointed to attend to the wants and comfort of one poor old woman.]