[ Printed item. ] Annual Circular To the Churchwardens, Overseers, and other Officers required to account for the Expenditure of Poor Rates. 1840.

Author: 
Edwin Chadwick, Secretary, Poor Law Commission [ London ]
Publication details: 
Poor Law Commission Office, Somerset House [ London ]. 1840. [ 'By Authority: - J. Hartnell, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street.' ]
£280.00
SKU: 18630

7pp., folio. An unbound and unopened half-sheet. Facsimile of Chadwick's signature at end. An interesting document, in twenty-six numbered sections, laying out the duties of the parish officers with regard auditing of the quarterly Poor Rates accounts. The first document begins: 'By the Order for keeping, examining, and auditing Accounts, issued by the Commissioners under the authority of the Poor Law Amendment Act, it is required that the accounts of each separate parish, and also the accounts of every Union, shall be made up quarterly, and duly audited.' The second section begins: 'Under the late mode of administration, money was often unequally collected, and improperly expended, and many illegal practices crept into the administration of relief, which, from their general prevalence, have been supposed to be legal. The Commissioners are aware that many of these charges were incurred for useful purposes, but all charges not strictly legal are bound to disallow; and they have accordingly issued directions to the auditors to disallow them in the audit of the accounts.' The only other copy of this item traced on either OCLC WorldCat or on COPAC at the Guildhall Library in London. Although stated in the title to be annual, there is no record of this circular appearing in any other year.