The Press.
London, England, 1854-10-07 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

Mrs. T. L., 28th Regiment —Married with leave. Wife of a
sergeant. Left with five children. Her husband lett her some
little money and his watch, to part with in ease of need. The
watch had been parted with, when this Association helped her
out of all her troubles, and she regularly receives money from
her husband.
Mrs. E. 8., case 321.—Wife of a private, 88th Regiment.
Married with leave. Left perfectly destitute with five children.
The two youngest twins born since her husband left. In very
bad health since her confinement. A weekly allowance of
twelve shillings.
Cases Nos. 408, 407, 408.—The wives of privates of the 55th.
All married with leave. Left destitute with ten children. A
weekly allowance to each.
Case No. 908, Mrs. C. B.—Wife of a private, Royal Artillery.
Married with leave. Left destitute with six children in great
distress. A weekly allowance granted.
Case 971, Mrs. A. C.—Wife of a sergeant of the 38th Regiment.
Married with leave. Left destitute with six children. A weekly
allowance of twelve shillings.
Case b 92, Mrs. T.—Wise of a sergeant of the 11th Hussars.
Married with leave. Left with six children. Eldest daughter
provided with a situation, and a weekly allowance of ten shil.

hogs to her mother.
This dreary catalogue of destitution might be continued almost
to an endless extent, and all the harrowing details accompanying
each case might be given, but the Committee are satietied that
a simple statement of these facts is more than sufficient to
prove the need for, and the reality of, their work. It is true that
the parish of the soldier may be compelled to support his wife
and family, but the Committee would ask whether the workhouse
is a fitting place for the families of men who can write such
letters as the following :
• Camp near Varna, August 80th, 1554.
" Sir,—l sincerely trust that I may not offend you by the
liberty I take in addressing you, but having heard of your kind-
ness to the wives and children of soldiers now serving in Turkey
1 am induced to request your kind assistance on behalf of my
little daughter. By the last mail from England I received the
melancholy intelligence of my wife's death, which occurred on
August 9, leaving my little girl entirely unprovided for, &c. I
therefore humbly hope that you will kindly cause inquiries to be
made, so that my child may not be left entirely unprotected or
tweezed for. I will most gladly contribute, as far as my means
will admit, to defray any expense which may arise in placing her
in any establishment which you select. We expect to embark
for Sebastopol to-morrow •, consequently I feel very anxious that
some steps may be immediately taken to prod ie for her.—l re-
main, sir, most respectfully, "G. H., Sergeant.
" To Major the lion. H. L. Powys, 80th Reg. Rifles, Hon. Set."
The wife and child of this non-commissioned officer were en-
tirely supported by the Association until his wife died of cholera
in London. His daughter is now comfortably settled at the In-
dustrial School at Birmingham, at the expense a the Associa-
tion ; and when thoroughly trained and educated will be pro-
vided with a situation by the managers of the Industrial School.
" Devno, in Turkey, July, 1854.
My dearest Mary,—l know yon will be glad to have this letter
from your dear father. I hope and pray Almighty God that
you and your dear little sisters are quite well and happy and
comfortable. Give dear Fanny and dear little Margaret my very
best and fondest love, with many kisses also to your little cotn-
panious. I have not been yet where the 88th Regiment is. When
I see the regiment I will be sure to go and see their fathers. I I
hope you are well and happy altogether, and love each other. und
be kind to one another. But, my dear child, you must look after
and see to your youngest sister, for she is but a baby yet, and
may God bless you all and keep you under His almighty wings,
always is the daily prayer of your loving father. Be kind to your
dear sister Fanny ; kiss her for me ; tell her I send my very best
love to her, and she is to learn all she can till I come home,which
I trust, please God, won't be long. I hope you are all good chil-
dren, and do what you can to assist Mrs. R.' who will, I know,
be very kind and good to you. I hope she Is quite well. Give
her my best respects. I hope you love and obey your teachers.
You must write to me, my dear Mary, &c. &c. 'We are all in a
very large camp ; I dare say 10,()00 men. We all sleep on the
ground. We have our cloaks and one blanket to cover us. There
are no houses near us for miles. We all went to a little valley
yesterday and heard divine service, and very many of us re-
ceived the Sacrament of our Lord Jesus Christ afterwards. Oh !
my dear child, never forget your prayers, and be a good child,
and you will have God fur your father and friend forever. Pray
for your dear sister; pray for your father, and God will hear you.
He will bless and keep us always, and bring us to Heaven at last
for Jesus Christ's sake. And now, my darlings, good bye, and
may God bless and take care of you all is the prayer of your
loving father. " T. 1)."
Letter addressed to the Honorary Secretary of the Dublin
Association :
" September 2nd, 1864.
" Sir,—Only for the relief I received weekly from youl would
have been obliged to go into the workhouse, with my two chil-
dren, which would have been worse than death to me; for if we
were dead our mieerable existence would be ended here. I
could not have maintained myself and children only for it,
though I worked day and night to do so, and tried every means
in my power, yet I found it was impossible. I was making
alerts for Gilpins, in Molesworth-street, at rive shillings per
dozen, and I could not complete the dozen in a week; so if I
had not had that relief what should I have done ? I never re-
ceived any money from my husband since I left him, nor had no
one to ask me or my children to have a meal of victuals since I
lost my only friend—my dear husband. And now, through your
kindness and interest, I have got a situation; and if you did not
still allow me a little to pay for my children I should not be able
to remain in it, as I have not enough wages to pay for them and
clothe myself and them.
" I hope God will reward every one who has so kindly helped
the poor soldier's wife and child; for most of us have been
thrown out of a comfortable home to face a frowning world. I
hope the Lord will reward you also, sir, for the kind interest you
have taken in the soldiers' wives, &c. &e. " Mrs. J."
. . .