Dedication; Part I: 1. Introductory observations concerning the poor and the poor-laws; 2. An enquiry into the state of the poor, necessary, previous to a reform of the poor-laws; 3. Observations suggested by the foregoing accounts; 4. An apology for the poor; Part II: 1. A view of the progressive advance of the poor-rate; 2. Circumstances which have enhanced the prices of the necessaries of life, and by consequence increased the number of the poor, thereby doubly augmenting the rate; 3. Circumstances which have directly increased the number of the poor, and by consequence the amount of the rate; 4. Circumstances which have directly increased the rate itself; 5. Comparison of the prices of the necessaries of life about the middle of this century with the with their present prices; 6. Application of the contents of Sections II and III to account for the late augmentation of the poor-rate; 7. Sketch of the relative proportion between labour and the necessaries of life in different periods; Part III: 1. A reduction of the prices of certain necessary articles recommended, as soon as this shall be practicable; 2. Providing additional employment for men and boys in winter, that they may lose no time at that season; 3. Providing constant employment for women and girls, that they may be enabled to earn more than they commonly do; 4. Correcting the improvidence of the lower people, and encouraging frugality among them; 5. Rating the wages of labourers according to the statute 5 Eliz. c.4, or; 6. Regulating the price of day-labour by the price of bread; 7. Supplying the deficiency of the earnings of large families out of the poor-rate, &c.; 8. A supposed objection against the measure of raising wages answered. Conclusion; Appendix containing a collection of accounts, shewing the earnings and expences of labouring families in different parts of the kingdom.