The National Register. — London, England, 1814-10-16 00:00:00

656 such a tale as perchance might wise the furious indignation of the zealot and bigot, but must excite compassion and sympathy in the breast of the true Christian, and man of humanity. The tale of prostitution is generally this, that some licentious tentleman rake, seduced the beautiful young gill—then he deserted her—her friends became ashamed of her, and turned their backs—thus she lost her character, and au; she was thrown upon the wide world less merciless than they.—Good God! One would think that if any scene of human misfortune was calculated to excite every emotion of it and svmeatliv in the human breast , it would h e that, where one of the inot c amiable and weaker sex was thus be trayed, by the yillaimmy of man, to experience the sudden loss of all the endearments of social life for ever ! lam convinced that the loss of character, induced by one imprudent step, presents the most insuperable bar to a reinstatement in re spectalde and friendly association. And, so long as this met cilese maxim remains prevalent as it does, the unfortu nate female is necessitated to associate with such as are alike &setter% and perhaps mote abandoned than herself. This hardhearted maxim is maintained with the greatest severity ammigst those who ate accounted religious people; they are more implarable and inexorable than others, as if they thought they were serving God by executing his ven geance and forgetting his mercy. How opposite to time gracious example of the saviour of mankind, who, in a case of far more inveterate guilt, mildly pronounced, 66 Woman, go, and sin no more." But let blind and furious bigots act as they will, the signal benefe; re sulting from a different conduct, in the exercise of friend ship and kindness towards such objects, arc too mani fest to leave a doubt of their rectitude. Numerous arc the instaaees in which by the kind interference of benevolent arid compassionate individuals, such unfortunate young women have been restored to their ft lends and to a respecta ble course of life : in other cases where a strong persuasion has existed, that the parties loathed their habits (and this is generally the case) and wet e desirous of conducting thsni selves with propriety, a character founded on fotmer ac iluaintatice, has been given them to ob:ain places of servi tude, which they have been so far from disgracing, that they It t h e turned out well ever after. That neixim of the an cients, " Nano repent,- grit turpissimus," No one becomes suddenly very wicked, is very applicable to their case, and Nhould excite early assistance, before a continuance in bad habits has increasingly vitiated the mind. But what lan guage can descrie the innate pleasure resulting from such soul-saving and health-saving endeavours ; and were they more general, the pursuit of prostitution would be %Yonder fully diminished, far beyond what can be effected by the Magdalen or the Penitential y House, whose capabilities go a very little way. The plan suggested would constitute an Universal Penitentiary School, in which every one might be assisting, to which no limits could be fixed and proportioned to the extent of the calamity. But it 'would be improper in this place not to allude to another cause, which' predisposes 'many young females to me son to the streets, viz. time want of places and employment. It is too true a maxim in the experience of every one, '6 that necessity has no law ;" neither can persons starve. I have been credibly informed by a Spitallields weaver, that some time ago, when the silk looms were much stagnated, that he was shocked at seeing so many young girls, whom he had personally known to be industrious and of decent conduct, resorting to the streets to seek a livelihood in this disagree able way. fle assured me he was certain they did not. take to it from choice. The same cause in whatever way employ tuens is taken away, is likely to produce the Mlle effect. 6. This preseots a still stronger case for hi r 61mrniseratinn, if possible, than the f. rmer ; and I wish to make an appeal on their behalf, particulatly to those who think they are very good people, because they subscribe to Bible Societies, and to Schools for the Education of the Poor, which are Com mendable eneleaYours in themselves, whether such a subject as this, is not worthy also to cl:iitn their consideration and, exertions. For I may tell them, if profitable employment is decreased so, that an increasing number of young people are thrown into idleness and want, in vain will be your edu cation, and Your Bible also in vain, as is manifest i►► the distribution of the latter, being in grelA measure stopped i n London, because they were either sent to the pawnbrokers or booksellers, to get bread. I fear the lines of an Englith Poet, are too applicable on this Occasion " Minded nirri,,lay Sherlock by, His dlictrine iS deceiving ; For while he teaches n, to d , e 7 lic robs u. Of our in- In illustration of this point, anti not I hope from anv vidion, motive, I will here relate a circumstance to which I w.ts witness, that at least shows the Ilan ow and inadequate views of some Metabers of the Bible I hope n•A of ail. Passing by a chapel lately in the evening, curiosity led me into it; I found it was a nitcting of the Bible Society of a large palish, to which the poor wcic si.ecially invited. (hie of the orators of the Coirmittee haranguing in glowing colours on the yalt bc.lefits o ttx Bible Society, and recommending the poor in particuiar to aid it will) their contributions, which Rica was much applati , h , :l by his bre thren of the Committee, but by ftw besidt4. At leng!h he hit upon the poor rates, which lie represented so increasingly heavy and burdensome upon the rich, th;:t he had formed a plan for doing them awa‘ . altoge'ber. Every one, like my self, stood aghast at this propocition; and as he had so come pletely shocked my common sense, 1 kft the Bible Assem bly and walked home, ruminating on the various inot;ces which may actuate men to seemingly good actions. Let me remind these well-intentioned gentlemen of the Bible So ciety, and subserihers for the belief of Foreign Distress, of the great number of persons who loose their senses by the title! ciretuustaneeb of the times. If they will give them• selves the trouble to investigate the cast` in Bedlam, St. Luke , , and the Private Mad houses, they will find no other cause is so prolific a source whereby persons become inha bitants of those dreadful receptacles; and that this r,:eatest of maladies has increased in England just in proportion to the increased distress of the times. This is a subject which would give scope to their benevolence and charity.. But fear political consideiations dispose them to blink such in quiries. Nevertheless I shall not be deterred lion) deve loping the whole tale of woe. What do they think of the great increase of deaths by consumption, as stated in the weekly bills of mortality ? Though at all tunes this disrase has been accounted peculiarly being little I.:newn by the natinis on the continent, let the gt eat inerme of deaths by it, for two or three years past, is too striking nut to be noticed. Seventy deaths per week is stated as the mortality in the London weekly Nils and when it is con sidered that a majority of the poor are interred in pt irate ground, to save expence, and that these are not returned as deaths to the Clerk's office, because no fee is paid. Seeing also about one-third of the population of the metropolis is not included within the bills of mortality ; it will swear that not less than 900 persons die in London week'!' by con' sumptioPs alone, 'which makes iO,OOO deaths annually ! ! If the gentlemen want to know how this happens, they may be referred to the Physicians to the Dispensaries, who *lll THE NATIONAL REGISTER. ' , OCT.