Poor-law settlement by notice

An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations primary

Adam Smith explains how the 3rd of William III tightened England’s poor-law “settlement” rules, making the forty-day notice-based settlement nearly impossible and then listing alternative settlement routes.

3d of William III. that the forty days residence should be accounted only from the publication of such notice in writing on Sunday in the church, immediately after divine service. "After all," says Doctor Burn, "this kind of settlement, by continuing forty days after publication of notice in writing, is very seldom obtained; and the design of the acts is not so much for gaining of settlements, as for the avoiding of…