The Express.
London, England, 1847-10-11 00:00:00

MENDICANCY.

On Saturday a meeting of the Marylebone vestry was
specially convened, to consider the following resolutions, of
which notice had been given on the previous Saturday by
Mr. J. F. Standford :
Whereas mendieity in the metropolis has reached an alarming
height by reason of the mongmforcenterit and erasion of the laws
against ragranta and beggars: And whereas, ea professional luridl-
y:ants may be estimated at no tom than 60,000, who are for the most
part thieres, t r the accomplices of thieves : and whereas it is sup-
posed the sum of 1,200,0001. a year Is In this way wrung from the
obese! benevolence the pob& to the maintenance in idleneas of a
Class of trading impostors, who do not costribute• farthing's worth of
labour to the common good; and whereas each corn of 1,200,0001.
a year is thus diverted from proper objeetsof charity—the industrious
poor: and wbecas mendicancy is knows to be a fruitful source of
till vice and crime, and In that way augments the expeaditore for
Wee and criminal prosecution.; It is proposed that a deputation
from this roomy be appointed to watt on her Mojerty's Secretary of
State for the Ifonte Department, for the purpose of soliciting him to
give instruction. to the commisoloners of peke* and stipendiary ma-
gistrates to enforce the laws for the suppression of mendicancy In the
metropolis, and amend the same if nermeary.
- - -

Mr. BTANDFORD said the subject deeply effected
the interests of the industrious poor of arylebone ;
as, indeed, of every parish in the kingdom, but more
especially of them in the metropolis. He bad no
desire to confound the really deserving poor with the '
degraded and despicable dais to which his motion re-
ferred. He was about to wage war against the numerous
body of hardened, incorrigible street beggars, who continu-
ally infested every part of the metropolis and its suburbs;
who assumed every possible guise of poverty, disease, and
misfortune, which craft and ingenuity could devise. He had
estimated the number of vagabonds who thus levied contri-
butions on the public at 50,000, and he thought he could
show that he had some authority for the calculation. lie
found that the Mendicity Society, in 1845 and 1816, reported
no less than 10,986 cases of legging letter. and front 80 to
100 parsons per day asking for- relief. The committals of
vagrants last year were 18,000, the refugees amounted to
6,000, and there were upwards of 4,000 relieved by the
Mendirity Society ; altogether, they fell very little short
of 50,000. Many of these mendicants obtained from ss.
to 6s. per day, and few less than 2s. ,• and, therefore,
in stating the yearly sum thus wrung from the charity
of the benevolent at 1,200,0001., the estimate was rather
under than overrated. So lucrative was the trade that

foreigners of every description came over here, and entered
the lists, and the evil was becoming greater daily. It was
opposed in England, as well as all other countries, to all na-
tural law, that a large class of able-bodied persons should be
suppotted permanently in idleness, at the expense of
the hardworking and industrious. In China it was a
maxim that if a man was idle he should suffer cold and
hunger; and they had even Scripture in opposition to the
maintenance of idlers, for St. Paul said, " If any man would
not work, neither should he eat." He considered that un-
questionably the primary and sustaining cause of mendicancy
was indiscriminate and ill-judged almsgiving. If no ens
yielded to the clamorous importunities of the beggar, no
beggars would exist or would be found. In the opinion
of Colonel Rowan and Mr. Mayne, the commis-
'loners of police, in order to prevent mendicancy. it was
most desirable that it should be made penal to per
sons thus encouraging and fostering mendicants. Ile
did not concur in this. He thought it was only by convincing
the public of the mischief arising from such ill-directed
charity that a remedy could be applied. If the public would
indulge their charitable feelings let them no so in a manner
that would tend to the alleviation of real distress, and not
give their pennies and their twopences to the undeserving
vagabonds infesting our public streets. There were secon-
dary mixes aiding the contientnce and increase of mendi-
cancy. These were the supineness and neglect of the autho-
rities in allowing Or existing laws against vagrancy to be
evaded, and the defective state of those laws. Unless a police-
man actually saw the beggar in the act of begging he would
not interfere, though the Vagrant Act dechn,d, " All idle
or disorderly persons liable to be taken up as offenders a-seinst
gold order and blemishes in the government of any kingdom,
and punished by one month's imprisonment in the House of
Correction." Even the magistrates themselves, from
tives probably of mistaken charity, leant to indulgence, and
the government advised lenity to such authorities. A rigid
enforcement of the present law would go for to remedy the
evil ; but he thought it might be rendered more simple and
much more effetive. So tar se the parish of Morylebone
was concerned, that vestry had, to a great extent, a remedy
in their own hands, for by the 3iith of Gee. 111., c. 73, they
hail the power of employing constables to take up vagrants,
and all other parishes in the metropolis having like powers,
the practice of mendicancy might be considerably lessened.
It was satisfactory to know th .t in no instance had a vigorous
effort to put down this intolerable evil failed. Cities on the
continent which had bcoome unsafe from the number and
audacity of their mendicants had been cleared of them, and
now not one was to be seen following the demoralising voca-
tion. In Munich 3.603 bold and sturdy yrs./rants and beg-
- were in oe week " into abandonment of the

gars were in one - dragooned
act, and sent to the public works. In Paris, Vienna, or
Dresden, no beggars were to be seen, nor would they
be seen in Loudon if the benevolent would abandon
their misguided practice, and the government would
interfere to enforce the law. As it was, the metropolis was
a disgrace to the country. It was the hear-house of Europe,
and would lead foreigners to suppose that, instead of by law
paying five millions a year to the actual support of the poor,
and two millions more in charitable establishments, they
allowed all their unfortunate brethren to drag out their
existence dependent on the casual charity of the benevolent.
Later in the discussion, Mr. Standford showed himself an
authority for these statements by adding subseqtently that
he had resided twelve months In Vienna, fire months in
Dresden, and three years in Paris, awl had been in every
hole and corner of those cities.
Mr. Josses( seconded the motion. It was a most de-
plorable thing to find that the sturdy and incorrigible
vagrant received more commiseration at the hands of the
public than the really honest and deserving poor. Nothing
had more completely laid bare the system of trading in
vagrancy pursued in the metropolis than the minutes of
evidence given during the last session of parliament before
the committee of the district asylums. There was
one fellow examined who proved that these mendi-
cants travelled in gangs throughout the country at stated
periods as regularly as the judges attended the anizes.
(Laughter.) He himself belonged to a gang called "Spavin's
gang." They had all the dietaries of the various prisons in
their possession, and if there was one where they got more
meat than another, they would commit an offence in the
district where they got beet treated. For instance, a fellow
would travel over to Southwark to commit • robbery or
break a window, because he knew be would get more meat
for dinner in Brixton than in Coldbath-fields. (Hear.) This
was an encouragement to vagabonds. There was a great
difficulty in getting the magistrates to convict for vagrancy,
and thus the law was rendered inoperative, whereas it ought
to be carried out in such a way as at once to discriminate be-
tween honest poverty and idle imposition.
Mr. Batt, as a guardian, had no doubt that half the able-
bias& who came to their workhouse for relief were idle
vagrants and impostors, but they were compelled to relieve
them for fear of the consequences.
After some further conversation, a part of which was sus-
'deed by Mr. Soder, who opposed the motion,
Mr. Ci. DANIELL said he had attended and given evidence
before the parliamentary committee last session on district
asylums, and his great objection to those asylums was that
the prison was the proper place, and not the asylums, for the
vagabonds they were proposed for. There was one vagrant
who gave evidence, who proved that he was in the habit of
committing offences in a certain district, because in the
prison attached to that district they gave cocoa for breakfast,
which he liked in preference to the gruel of other prisons. It
was, therefore, clear that prison regulations were bad, and
only induced, from a want of a stringent and uniform system,
rather than diminished, the commission of crime. He con-
sidered it was no use going to the government in this matter
without being prepared to make out a strong case; and there-
fore he thought the appointment of a committee to collect
evidence should be the first object.
Eventually Mr. Daniell's proposition was adopted, and e
committee appointed.

THE INVENTION OF THE PRINTING NIACHINE.—
There is an article in the " Philosophical Muazine " for
October, from the pen of Mr. Richard Taylor, F.S.A., F.L.S.,
denying that the late Mr. John Walter, proprietor of the
Times journal, was the individual who furnished Koenig
with money, for the purpose of maturing his invention. Mr.
Taylor says the statement is a fable. Mr. Walter never fur-
nished the means; he never assisted Kcenig with a farthing.
He merely ordered two machinate be erected, when he found
that Kmnig was successful. It seems that one of the four
patents beam date, March 29,1810, end was taken out in the
name of Frederick Kmaig, and was assigned by articles of
partnership to the firm of Hensley, Kcestig, Woodfall, and
Taylor.
THE LATE DP.. LYNCH.—Sir,—Allow me to offer
fire shillings in letter-stamps as a tribute of respect to the
memory, and mite towards the assistance of the bereaved
family, of Dr. Lynch. Will you permit me also to propose,
as a further mesas of benefit, the publication of a little
week, cheaply get up, containing a short memoir of him, and
• collection of similar short lives of the most remarkable
persons, both protestant and catholic, who _pave during the
last twelvemonths fallen victims to fever caught in the per-
formance of their charitable duties ? Besides there thought
worthy of a short notice there might be added as full a list
as can be collected of the names merely of those of whom
nothing more can be ascertained. I think that such a work
might tend to do away with much prejudice, both in Ireland
and England, the profits of the publication to go to Dr.
Leach's hmily. Allow me to contribute the name of one
lady, whom I know to have died of the Irish fever, though
the circumstance is not mentioned in your obituary: "July
31, at Donmanway, Harriet, wife of Major-General Shuld-
ham." I have no doubt that, among your numerous con-
nexion and correspondents, some one might be found willing
to compile a small work such as I have described.—A
GLoccesrzasulas LADY.—Oct. 8, 1847.—[Tbe money his
been paid as requested.]
ANALYSIS OF A PINT OF ALL—Taking up a pint
of ale, we find it to consist of three distinct parts—spirit,
water, and extractive matter. By the application of a
moderate degree of heat, and the aid of a retort, the first
may be separated and preserved ; and by the application of
an increased heat, the second, water, can be driven up the
chimney in the form of vapour, leaving all the third com-
ponent part of the liquor dry at the bottom of the vessel.
Now, each pint of ale of average quality weighs about 18 or.,
of which 2 os. am alcohol. No one will contend that this
contains the nourishing property, else whisky or rum would
be the thing most desirable. There yet remains of the pint
of ale 16 os., of which 16 are nothing at all but water ; of
course it won't be contended for a moment that this contains
the nourishing principle of beer ; we are therefore con-
strained to look for it in the remaining ounce; and here sure
enough it is. Each pint of ale contains one ounce of ex-
tractive or solid matter, and this alone can impart nourish-
ment to the system.—Douglas Jerrold's Weekly Newspaper.
REInarED NEw PEEits.—The Irish paper which
ainv.uneed, with " inexpressible pleasure," that-Sir Charles
mote, Bart., Chief Justice Doherty, and Sir John Cam
Hobbouse, Bart., were to be raised to the peerage, was, at-

12,820,6711

10.648,6•4 I

14,243,21,

I

!•!%11.6°81

9,912,813
• 744,311

199,9 m!

22.972,36!

-.637,5001
3,367,213

1,940:0661
3,01,1961

1;724,31.
7,113,6981

'398,1
3,12f1,:

:Lookup

j2,420,5n

FUND,

12,834 M
917,168

5t;774031

11.10U..a4l

13,760,

CHARGL

Tor Advances ^ —.. „ _.
Total Mary
The empbsa. ,

cording to the Observer, misinformed. "We regret," says
the latter journal, "to he obliged to cut short the joy of our
Dublin c mtemporary, by informing him that the elevation of
the respected gentlemen named is the creature of his own
imagination no more."
INQUEST, SATURDAY.—HEALTH OF THE ME.
TROPOLIS.—Before Mr. Wakley, M.P., at the Turk's.
head, Turnmill-street, Clerkenwell, on Sarah Berridge,
aged Eve week., the child of poor parents, residing
at No. 5, Cock court. The mother stated that she had found
the c'.ild dead at her side, and that she had a short time pre-
viously lost another child. The coroner said, that he had
never before witnessed a more offensive appearance than the
locality in which deceased lay, presented. It was impossible
to exist amidst such filth and wretchedness. A juror ob.
served, that there were many other places in Clerkenwell more
(Intuiting and more dangerous to health than Cock-court!
where the houses had not even a privy. The coroner hoped
i that government would lose no time in putting an en to
I such a frightful state of things; indeed he was sure it would
not. Verdict, " Natural Death."

ice: 1.

Demean
eatheyear

18,467
DeL Incr.

Deereare
ea Quarter

in the Queursas ended Oet. 1e,181{., ned 1147.

Permanent Debt
Terminable Annuities
Intension Exchequer Bins issued to meet Clow tti poongiaind rpm
leaking
The CHI UPend •
M
Other Maria on the Oinsolkisted Puri

3,340,730
1,320,402
703,118
98,282
460,933
472,300

11,7096,077
5,782.370

£14,560,447

Exchequer Bills boned to meet the charm on the Corot. Fund lur Qr. ended)
July 5, 1817, and paid off out of the growing produce of that Fund for Qr.
ended Oct. 10, 1917, after deducting g 670,000 cancelled by Sinking Fund
The Amount issued in the Quarter ended Oct. 10, 1817, in port of the mums t 3,126,232
granted by Parliament out of the Cues. Fund for Supply nerrisea
The assgpiga of the Consolidated Fund, Quitter ended Oct. 10, 1847 8,962,868
Surplus of Revenue, after providing for Mammon the Consolidated Fund, and to the
1 payment of Supply Betakes In the Quarter ended Oct. 10, 1811

h,316,598
1,323,526

98,199
454,905
396,084

7,i YI,YtiS

Ti:774,031

536,13 t

729,193

.
DOW supply will be available early m the ensuing
year." The " ensuing year" being the fifth during
which works have been in progress that might have
been well completed in two year?, and which would,
perhaps, have been made to creep along for an entire
decade, but for the recent providential drought.

GREAT FLOOD IN THE TAY.
In the North British Mail of Saturday we find the follow-
ing disastrous intelligence from its Perth correspondent,
under date Oct. 7 :—The weather here has suddenly
changed for two months previous to Tuesday evening last
there had not been a shower more than sufficient to lay the
dust ; since that time till this forenoon it has not ceased to
rain for a single quarter of an hour. The millers thought
that it would require a week's heavy rain to give them water
in quantity to keep their machinery in full operation. Two
days have proved more than sufficient for their purpose, as
the whole of the mills in this neighbourhood have been
stopped with the flood. So heavy and so general has been
the rain, that the Tay is now at a height which every one,
even octogenarians, say has not hem equalled in their day.
In 1816 there was a greater portion of the town under water,
but that was caused by the bridge being partially closed
with large blocks of ice. Never, it is thought, has
the same quantity of water been in the river; since yes-
terday morning it has risen 16 feet perpendicular. Those
acquainted with this locality will have some idea of the
effects of a rise to this extent from the following facts :
The two Inches are wholly covered, the water being over the
parapet wall between the one on the north of the town and
Rom Terrace. In the shops in North Port and west end of
Castle Gable, and all the places upon the name level, the
depth is about five feet. The Edinburgh road, which passes
through the South Inch, being raised two or three feet above
its level, is yet passable, although it also is partially covered,
The damage up the country must be fearful. The contrac-
tors for the bridges across the Almond and Tay, new con-
structing for the Midland Railway, must be lame losers, as
the quantity of wrought timber which has floated past the
town is immense. A great number of men have been employed
the whnle day in catching it in its progress towards the •ca,
and they certainly have been very successful; hut with all
their exertions, what they have brought ashore is not a tithe
of what passed them. Carcases of sheep and cattle, trees,
stacks, apparently in as good order as they stood in the stack.
yard, have all been observed in the course of the day in their
progress seaward. It is alto reported that a great number of
Memel logs that were to be used by the Dundee Railway
Company in erecting the bridge across the Tay, have been
floated off Monereiff island. One good effect of the flood
will be to show the engineers what they will have to provide
against in the construction of their bridges ; a number of
practical men thought that they were not enough alive to
the importance of having them of the most substantial des-
cription.
Sinoe the preceding was written, the water hu risen fully
another foot, sod no appearance of it commencing to subside.
Parts of the town which it was thought would be safe from
all inundation are getting under water by the bursting of
the common sewers. The sunk flats in Rue-terrace and
Barrossa-place are now nearly filled to the ceiling. The
Blair Athol! coach, which should have reached this forenoon,
has not yet arrived. It is supposed some of the bridges
must have fallen. The Aberfeldy evening coach came about
an hour after her usual time. Some parts of the road were
so flooded that the water covered the seats inside. It is
reported that the whole of the scaffolding erected for
throwing the arches of the bridge across the Tay, at Kin-
eleven, has been Blurt away, and that one of the piersjus
gone along with it. A person says that, among other things
observed floating part, wait the carcass of a horse, saddled
and bridled.
. . _

At half-past ten at night the water wu still rising, and one
part of the Edinburgh road was nearly three feet under it.

HORRIBLE TREATMENT OF A WIFE BY HER HUSBAND.
—Mrs. Fay, the unfortunate woman who was confined for
several months in a back closet by her husband, as recently
reported iu the Mail, died on Thursday morning in the Town's
Hospital, Glasgow. It was arranged that the interment
should take place yesterday, at 3 o'clock ; and, a little be-
fore that hour, the husband of the deceased and a few
friends arrived at the hospital, in two mourning coaches, to
attend the remains to the grave-yard. About the same
time, however, orders were received from the Procurator-
Fiscal to delay the interment until the bo of the deceased
underwent a medical examination. Drs. Easton and Mac-
gregor were appointed to discharge this duty ; but owing
to the secrecy in which a.l such inquiries are conducted,
in Scotland, it is impossible to ascertain the particulars of
this investigation, or of the previous ones which were insti-
tuted on this painful case. Great surprise was manifested at
the liberation of Fay on a paltry bail-bond of 151. ; and the
decease of the unfortunate woman has increased that feeling
to a very uneasy extent. Unless tome circumstance trans. I
pied in the course of the examinations which gives the case
an entirely different complexion from that which it has
assumed in the eyes of the public, the acceptance of bail for
any amount, and especially for the small sum of 161.. is cer-
tainly a very extraordinary proceedin. We will watch with
anxiety the steps which the woman's death and the post
mortem examination may induce the crown agents to take.
Sronrs.—During the early part of last week a south-east
wind has been making havoc on the eastern coast of Scot-
land. On Wednesday all the vessels, including the steam-
ship Perth, for London, leaving the Tay, were obliged
to put back for protection afforded in the South Ferry
roads. Off Montrose two vessels were wrecked, the Patriot,
of Aberdeen, and the Prompt, of Sefton Sluice. By the
courage of the crew of the life boat and the manner in which
it was managed, the crews of both vessels were saved.
THS CONVICT LEITH.—The local papers detail the parti-
culars of a phrenological visit paid to Leith before his execu-
tion, in which the specific character of the craniological
system is well brought out. He had previously been exa-
mined by other phrenologists, who gave a favourable
diagnosis, but the gaol visitants, ;having other grounds of evi-
dence besides external organs, pronounced him deficient in
" conscientiousness." Hie son has published a letter denying
that either he or any of the unfortunate family were, as
alleged, present at the execution.
Ortneast TERMINUS, Psarts.—The foundation stone is
to be laid with great masonic ceremonial, by the Bight. Hon.
Fox Mauls, M. master of the St. Andrew Lode, Perth,
on Wednesday next, the 13th current, the Provincial Grand
Master, Lord Kisnaird, having granted permission to the St.
Andrew Lodge to preside on the oocasicia.