1775 GILBERT'S PLANS FOR THE BETTER ADMINISTRATION OF THE POOR OVERSEERS TO MAKE RETURNS 055. GILBERT, Thomas. Observations upon the orders and resolutions of the House of Commons, with respect to the Poor, Vagrants, and Houses of Correction. London: Printed in the Year 1775. [2],41,(1]p + two folding tables: Black library buchram. HIGGS 6449. GOLDSMITHS 11351. KRESS 7108. The pamphlet contains the text of 32 resolutions made by the House of Commons respecting the administration of the Poor Laws. Following the resolutions is a section of commentary by Gilbert. The resolutions move further towards the goal of the creation of Gilbert Unions for the administration of the Poor. The need to replace Overseers is stated and Gilbert sets out his proposal to require Overseers to make returns of actual expenditure on the Poor. The two folding tables are specimens of these proposed returns. They were to provide what Beatrice and Sidney Webb describe as "our first firm ground" in assessing the actual cost of Poor Relief.