The Express.
London, England, 1852-05-07 00:00:00

SOCIETY FOR IMPROVING THE DWELL-
INGS OF THE WORKING-CLASSES.

Yesterday a public meeting in aid of thin society
took place at Willis's Rooms, King-street, Bt. James's-
square. The Duke of CAMBRIDOI in the chair. The
meeting was very fully attended, and amongst the cone
any were a large number of the most distinguished mem-
bers of the aristocracy, including the Ducheu of Suther-
land, the Duchess of Argyll, the Duchess of Norfolk, the
Duchess of Bedford, the Bishops of London and Oxford,
the Earl of Ellesmere, Earl Talbot, Viscount Castlereagh,
Visoonnt Ingestre, Sir John V. Shelley, Bart., Sir William
Fraser, Bart., Mr. Monckton Milne% M.P., Mr. J. E.
Denison, M.P., Mr. Slaney, M.P., and others interested in
this important movement.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, in commencing the pro.
ceedings, apologised for his appearance in the chair, as
there were many distinguished wrens around him
who had taken the greatest interest in the ob-
ject for which they were assembled, end who,
ow that account alone, were far more capable than
he was of occupying this responsible position. But
1 having been requested to attend on this °cession, he
felt that the business for which the meeting was convened
was of such importance that he could not resist the appeal
made to him, sod he sincerely trusted that lie should re-
ceive their encouragement in his endeavour to promote
the objects in view. (Cheers.) Ile had himself been a
great deal ab.ent from London, and bad not found time to
give that attention to this subject which it well merited.
lie felt that in order to discharge the present duty pro-
perly, he ought to have a full knowledge of the general
state of the case, but inasmuch as various resolutions would
be proposed, he trusted that they would make allowance fur
any deficiency on his part, and not charge him with a want
of becoming seal if ho merely gave them a brief outline of
the Waimea for which they were met • together on
this occasion. (Hear, hear.) There could be but
one opinion upon the fact the society deserved
their deepest attention and the attention of all
who felt any interest in the welfare of their fellow-
creatures. It was a society supported by voluntary ennui.
butions, and its object was to improve the dwellings of the
labouring classes. Suet an institution was well worthy of
every support they cudld give it, as there was no doubt
that the moral and social improvement of the people must
in a great measure depend upon the habitations iu which
they dwelt. (Cheers) To his noble friend, Viscount In-
gestre, the greatest praise was due, for the philanthropic
manner in which ho had come forward to assist his
fellow-creatures. (Cheers.) Another society—called the
St. James's Society—having a similar purpose in view,
had been requested to join them, so as to enable)
the good work to be carried on with the
best possible chance of success. Their united efforts),
had produced this meeting, and had enabled them to I
commence the building of the dwellings for the working
classes. A long lease fur a site had been obtained, mid they
were in hopes that right buildings would soon be cont.
pleted, capable of containing GI families, and in all likeli-
hood the accommodation would he extended, not only in
this part of London, but in other parts, where the incon-
veniences of a crowded metropolis were most severely felt.
He considered that this would prove a great
and important charity, if they could once
establish it, and he had every reason to hope from this large
and influential meeting that there was every prospect of
ultimate success. (Loud cheers.)
A report was then read which gave a favourable account
of the prospects of the charity, stating that the foundation
of the society dated from the 31st of June list, and that the
patronage bestowed upon it had gradually increased.
The Bishop of LONDON proposed the first resolution :
" That the present condition of the dwellings of the work-
ing classes in various parts of the metropolis is must inju-
rious to their health, comfort, and morality, and that it is
highly desirable that every exertion should be made for
their immediate improvement." The right reverend pre-
late commenced by observing that this was not the first
I association which had been established with the object now
in view, for he bad himself been connected with other
institutions of a similar nature. It was not to
be inferred from the mention of this fact that there
were any feelings of jealousy in the minds of these
who had promoted the institutions he had alluded to ; he
merely represented the fact in order to let the present so-
ciety know that they were gladly welcomed in the field
of charitable enterprise. (Hear, hear.) He conceived it
to be one of the great advantages of such meetings as
this that they were the means of bringing together a large
number of persons from the middle and higher classes of
society for the climes purpose of hearing statements of
the nuseries which beset their poorer brethren. It was a
good thing that those who teak their position on the
sunny heights of this world should look down upon the
gloomy vales below, and endeavour to Modred the cha-
ritable principle that mankind were bound by the ties of
fraternal duty to assist and encourage one another. (Hear,
hear.) It was a sad thing to contemplate the crowded
and wretched hovels in which the poor were compelled to
live without any of the decencies and very few of the com-
forts of life. Little did the higher clams think, when travel-
ling through the streets of this great emporium of commerce,
what a mass of human misery lay closed behind them in
the courts and alleys—end in the very neighbourhood of
palaces, and the dwellings of the richest metchants. This
observation applied to the parishes of St. James's and'!
St. George's, Ilanover-square, and not alone to those dis-
tricts with which poverty was more popularly emaciated.
There was nothing like figures to prove these statements,
and he would therefore give them a few statistics in further-
Ince of the view he took upon the subject. In the pariah
of St. George's, out of 1,46.5 families of the labouring!
clams', 929 bad only one room to • family, and 408 had
only two rooms to a family, without any convenient Olen,
or any of the necessary provisions for the comforts of life.
The rural labourer passed his time under the bright light
of heaven, whereas the labourer of the metropolis was
compelled to choose between the smoky street
and hie own habitation, and was often obliged,
from the absence of comfort at home, to go
abroad, there to seek sources of enjoyment which in
the end proved detrimental to his own health and injurious
to the welfare of his family. Domestic comforts not only
comprised the common appliances of food and raiment, but
the decencies of a well ordered family and the happiness of
. the children. Give the poor their comforts, and they should
effect a great good by strengthening the position ef that
' class of the community which ought to be the basis of the
'social pyramid. Let them begin their good work by remov-
ing these social evils—and their name was legion—which
seemed to bid defiance to the efforts of Christian philan-
thropy. (Cheers.) It was a remarkable fact that the rate
of mortality differed is almost incredible proportion not
oily between the inhabitants of town and country, but
between the various inhabitants of the same city. He
hoped that every exertion would be made to render the
efforts of the society as beneficial as it must be, if properly
and charitably supported. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. J. B. Damson M.P., seconded the resolution;
which was carried unanimity.
The East of ELLESMERE moved the sewed resolve.
boo, " That the evils incident to such a state ofthings cannot
be eakindy OMMIOOII by individual exertions, and that a
gensied having been formed for the pupas of re-
Vesir
Oft these evils, it deserves the active
and support of the community at larp." The
a ti expeessed the readiness he felt to discharge the
duty
_wig& had been devolved upon him, as it O-
radea hie ea - eggerninity of showing bow deeply
he eggeetieled the modest of the illustrious person who
aseimpial ea shale, sad ohs had brought to their recollec-
tion the geed qualities of his revered father—not by con-
tras batby similitude. Re was also glad to have it in his
pewee le wired the praiseworthy efforts of his young and
anti Mad LW, Lessem, who bad coma forward to do
thee whisk eeesee in Lev,every man should endeavour to
4"l'hevialltu, 017.[FigalaDin " generation.
etls Tut': lad
expesued indict conviction that this was a work to
whisk all pilaw there assembled were bound, accord-
.log tether opportunities, to contribute their share. They
'know how impossible ft was for the poor man to build for
limit( a /amble dwelling, aad if, by beading proper
lharnen one as were cosaimplated by this society, they
Aide Vine •ea abet:dant return for the capital
iliii ett, there was an additional reams why the
Meek iiiimid be persevered in, the more ?o-
ddly as It would produce another satisfactory re-
turn" in the discomfiture of those individuals who
did not CAM bow crowded the dwellings of their poor tenants
were, provided they got their miserable weekly rents. The
present charity, because it was safe, had a special claim
u their notice. As they degraded the dwelling, so did
tlpondegrade the dweller, and by providing better homes
for the poor, they mast radially improve their fallen
condition. The right rev. prelate made an eloquent appeal
is eilizesp:hles of the company in favour of the scheme,
and he very forcible language upon the position which
the duke occupied in fulfilling, as he conceived,
the &Mead his high station, by encouraging the natural
beteentlegat a noble and generous mind. (Chem)
The resektioa was carried.
Biel. V. lIHRLIMY then moved—" That this meeting,
fully sinalbli ef the danger of substituting charitable
egesaise lir isidivideid exertios, is of opinion that, by the
1111,11111 M of mad dwelling-houses, with strict rreeggaarrdd to
semsenall resales, the society now formed may
indilled eabipsie, sad draw forth the reseasese bath of
sitilleadweiteL" Me hoped cad koMed that this.=
slag would balibired vp, sad that It await he
set iambi the wateepelis bat thewegheet the .
Mr. NONOITOIt 1111.1111 t, M.P., seconded thertXuties,
which was e*pported by Mir WILLIAM Pusan, Bert.,
and Mr. SLANST, M.P.
Carried.
Lord INGESTRE then proposed the fourth resolution,
eardially acknowledging the exertions that had been made
ether societies incorporated fora similar purpose, but do-
tted, GO intensive was the need, that this society,
f ea a somewhat different basis, would find &handout
reset Sr its labours. His lordship concluded by reputing
a TOW of thanks to the illustrious chairman. The high
sasaafpeee which had been bestowed upon the movement,
that it was a step in the right direction • sad be was
grateful for the manner in which his vitality—if ho
se speak—had been encouraged and supported.
Rev. Mr. JACKAOM fiupported the resolution end also
MN vote of thanks.
Carried unanimously.
His Royal highness returned thanks, and the pro-
seedier; terminated.

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