1772 MASERES'S PLAN FOR LIFE-ANNUITIES FOR THE POOR QUOTED WHEN BLACKLEY PROPOSED A STATE PENSION PLAN 050. MASERES, Francis, Baron. A proposal for establishing life-annuities in parishes for the benefit of the industrious Poor. London: Benjamin White. 1772. 68p. Inscribed presentation copy from the author, inscription cropped but still largely decipherable. Rebound in quarter calf, marbled boards. A very nice copy. HIGGS 5562. GOLDSMITHS 10934. KRESS 6879. Higgs notes: "This tract was constantly quoted when the Rev. W. L. Blackley set on foot the movement for establishing contributory pensions. Mr. Blackley's proposals led Mr Joseph Chamberlain to advocate a State pension scheme." This scheme by Maseres had first appeared under the signature "Eumenes" in the Public Advertiser of July 22, 1771. Selections from the work were published by Richard Price in the Supplement to the second edition of Observations on reversionary payments, 1772. In 1772 the text first appeared in pamphlet form with reference in the preface to its public approval by "...the celebrated Dr. Price" and a note that to the text is added the alterations suggested by Price. Price's suggestions are found in pages 26-32. The first was that "in order to avoid the danger of checking industry among the poor" none of the annuities should be allowed to commence before the purchaser was 55. Price's other suggestion was that annuities should increase as the recipient grew older. This scheme was the first of two such schemes which involved Price in the field of social insurance. Neither were in the event adopted by Parliament, but they form the basis of the work which culminated eventually in the provision of pensions under the welfare state.