Bread for The Poor: or, A Method shewing how the Poor may be Maintained, and duly Provided for, in a far more Plentiful, and yet Cheaper manner than now they are, without Waste or Want.

First edition of this proposal for the reform of the poor law in Devon, arguing that an overindulgence in poor relief had greatly increased the financial burden on the authorities, and putting forward a new system with provision of food in return for work. The pamphlet followed a similar work by the same author in 1685: A Plain and Easie Method Shewing How the Office of Overseer of the Poor may be managed. "In both he offered a program of what we could call workfare, so that the county of Devon could reduce its outlay for beggars and vagabonds, and the poor could be provided for in a more plentiful and yet cheaper manner. Poor relief was to be paid in rations, not in money, the recipients were all to be clothed in the same colour, to wear badges, and to report to certified employers from a sort of parish hiring hall" (Schonhorn, p. 449) ESTC R26087; Wing D2613. Manuel Schonhorn, "Defoe and James Shepheard's Assassination Plot of 1718: Two New Pamphlets" [the author arguing that a different pamphleteer writing as Richard Dunning was in fact Daniel Defoe], in Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900, Vol. 29, No. 3, 1989. Small quarto in half sheets (180 x 140 mm). Recent blue quarter morocco, spine lettered in gilt, blue paper-covered sides. Neat number from earlier inclusion in pamphlet volume at head of title page. Contents toned, imprint and last line of contents leaf partly cropped at foot (still legible), very light stain at bottom fore corner. A very good copy.…