Proposals for Building, in Every County, a Working-Alms-House or Hospital: As the Best Expedient to Perfect the Trade and Manufactory of Linnen Cloth

A historical account written in the late 17th century. This publication presents a comprehensive proposal aimed at addressing issues of poverty, vagrancy, and the decline of the linen trade in England. The book outlines a plan to establish working-alms-houses in each county, where the poor, especially women and children, can be employed in the linen cloth industry. In the text, Haines details the advantages of implementing this proposal, including the potential for economic growth by keeping money that is currently spent on imported linen within the nation. He argues that the plan could provide a sustainable income and employment for the poor, while also enhancing agricultural productivity through the cultivation of hemp and flax. Haines anticipates objections regarding the feasibility of the project and systematically addresses each concern with practical solutions, emphasizing the moral and financial benefits of improving the lives of the needy through productive employment. The proposal not only seeks to alleviate immediate poverty but also aspires to contribute to the long-term prosperity of the nation through the revitalization of the domestic linen trade.