POOR LAWS.. Poor-Laws: or, The Laws and Statutes Relating to The Settling, Maintenance, and Employment of the Poor. Containing all the statutes under this head, from the beginning of the reign of Q. Elizabeth, the first time any poor-laws were enacted in this kingdom, to the present time; including the last new Act 9 Geo. for better providing for the poor. Of use to all Justices of Peace, ministers, churchwardens, overseers of the poor, and other inhabitants of parishes, to know their duty herein. Written in a new alphabetical method.1724

Savoy: Printed by E. and R. Nutt, and R. Gossling, First edition, 12mo (160 x 100 mm), [8], 122, [14]pp., with a final advert leaf, text very clean and bright, cont. calf, joint split, spine chipped, covers held by cords (rear cover by upper cord only). The anonymous author stresses the importance of the poor laws in his introduction and also points out "that in the Streets of this great Metropolis (the Capital, for Trade and Riches, of the whole World) more Unhappy, Miserable People are to be found, than in the Cities of the Poorest Nations Abroad; which is the greatest Scandal to the Kingdom of Great-Britain. By the Abuse or Non-use of our Excellent Laws for Providing for the Poor, we have Thousands of Beggars pestering our Streets...". Of this first edition ESTC locates 6 copies (3 in the UK: BMu; L; Lu; and 3 in North America: CaOHM; CLU-C; CaOTU), the second edition of 1727 is of similar rarity. Hanson, 3252; Goldsmiths'-Kress, 6333.