The Express.
London, England, 1865-12-09 00:00:00

THE CONFERENCE OF HUSH MIIMBIRIf.

-- •
A special meeting of these guardians wog held!
go a recent etening, to consider the desirability ti
greeting a new workhouse on a more eligible and
commodious site. The present building has long
been a disgrace to the parish, and a cryiug scandal
on the guardians. Its shortcomings have beeu
frequently pointed out by the representative of
the Poor-law Board ; the sanitary commissioner of
our contemporary, The Lancet, commented upon
them with well-merited severity ; and we have at
intervals during the last two years drawn the atten-
tion of the public in these columns to the supineness
and obstructiveness of the guardians of Clerken-
well, as evidenced by the wretched accommoda-
tion awarded to their poor.
Exactly twelve months ago an official letter was I
sent from the Poor-law Board to the following
effect :—" Having regard to the size and mode of
occupation of the several wards, and also to the
confined area, and other circumstances of the
workhouse, the board are of opinion that the
number to be accommodated in the workhouse
should not, with due regard to health, exceed
460 inmates." On Saturday tight last, 624 people
slept iu the space which, according to the central
authority, cannot house more than 460 without
injury to health ; 60 of these were casuals, and
the remaining 564 regular inmates of the house.
Taking this pregnant fact as a text, one of the
guardians proposed, at the meeting we refer to,
the following resolution :—" That it is in
the opinion of this board desirable that
a new workhouse be provided for the poor of
this parish, and that a committee be formed to
consider and report to the board on the subject."
Studiously mild as this proposition seems to be, it
was rejected. The speaker, probably knowing
Lis audience, went largely into statistics, and endea-
voured to show that a fitting workhouse could be
built without any very great cost to the parish. So
much for the site of the present house, so mica
money to be borrowed from the Exchequer Bill Loan
Commissioners, and then, it was argued, by a small
parochial rate the necessary change would be
effected without any very alarming pecuniary mulct.
The seconder of the proposal took a similar tone,
and insisted that it made a Clerkenwell " rate-1
payer's blood boil to think of the inadequate ac-
commodation provided for the poor."
From the placid and tractable tone of the ma-
jority of the guardians present when Mr. Parnell
paid his official visit the other evening, it might
have been fairly hoped that the necessity for a new
workhouse would be readily admitted. The poor-
law inspector then commented, for perhaps the
twentieth time, upon the wretchedly cramped cou-
dition of the present house, and ou the night of his
speech there were, in the space for 460, 340 inmates,
independently of casuals, out of which 226 were ou
the books as sick. No word was then spoken iu
favour of the workhouse, and it seemed to be tacitly
admitted that the less said on that subject the
better. Nevertheless the reasonable proposition
just quoted was opposed with quiet vehemence.
One guardian objected that the motion pledged the
board to the erection of a new workhouse, the ne-
cessity for which he denied. Another bad no ob-
jection to a committee being appointed to check the
first speaker's figures, but cautioned the board
against acting rashly—save the mark I—in pro-
nouncing on the expediency of a new building.
A third guardian harped upon the expense of send-
ing the paupers to a distant house—some ground
at Islington, half a mile off, had been mentioned
among other sites—and thought Mr. Villiers
might "get a bill" to compel the people
owning property at the back of the present
workhouse to sell, that it might be en-
larged ; while a fourth insisted that poverty was
decreasing in the parish, and that "it would be
punishment for life to the poor creatures" if they
were removed to a workhouse properly built and of
sufficient size for health.
Upon these intelligible grounds an amendment
was put and carried, by 18 against 7, " that a com-
mittee should be appointed to consider the expe-
diency of erecting a new workhouse, and—and
here was the real sting of the opposition—to lay
such facts and figures before the board as they may
be advised." It is difficult to avoid the couclusiou
that, "considering the expediency" of what is pa-
tent to every visitor to Clerkenwell workhouse, is a
diplomatic way of shelving the question. What
the Poor-law Board has advised, what statistics
prove to be absolutely necessary, and what no
visitor can avoid pronouncing on gravely if not
indignantly, is practically declared to be unneces-
sary—at least for the present. The proposer of the
reform was gently bantered on having "in his zeal
cut down his figures very low ;" and that great
weapon in the hauls of those averse to change—
delay—was gained by a dexterous appeal
to the parochial pocket. Meanwhile cellars
are turned iuto bedchambers, and hundreds of poor
wretches are cramped up in rooms unwholesome
from overcrowding, and with exercise yards
which are so like dens as to be a mockery on their
name. The Poor-law Board has the power of
peremptorily closing this or any other workhouse
as unfit, and but for the difficulty of providing for
the aged and sick inmates this course would not
improbably have been adopted years ago. It may
be as well for the Clerkenwell committee to bear
this fact in mind, and to remember that atoo slavish
consideration for " figures" may result in their
having to do compulsorily what they ought to have
done lung auto, but what they have still the oppor-
tunity of doing voluntarily and with passably good

POSTPONEMENT 0? THE, ROYAL AORD'ULTURAL
SOCIETVA MEETING OF NEXT YEAR.--WO leAro from Nor-
wich that, owing to the cattle plague, the Royal AgE2l.
tuna Society will hold no show next year. The Bury ht.
Veined, meeting will be postponed until
GOVERNMENT INSCRANCE AND ANNCITIES.—
The following additional poet-offices will be open,
en and after the 11th of December, for the receipt of
proposals for the insurance of lives or the nurchaae of govern-
ment aunuities, under the act 21 and' 8 Viet., cap. 41, acd
for the receipt of the premiums becoming due to the Post-
wiaster4 :moral, from time to time, under contracts for the
insurance of lives or the purchase of government annuities,
and for the payment of soy sums which shall become pay-
able by the Postmaster-General under the Raid contract,. :
Sampton (Tiverton). Secclem, Bedworth (Nuneatoo), Blyth
flforpetel. Caerphilly (Cardiff), Carlton (Nottingham).
Ecaeslial!, Festit.ing (Cameroon), Heilehinn (Hurst:green),
Harborne ( Birmingham). Kes sick (Windermere), Kings
Langley (Watford), Kings Norton (B.rmilighme), Leather.
heed, Llanheris, Llaubrynmair (Shiewsbory), Loetwithiel,
Lyme (Dorset), Mennintrer, Market Dosworth (Mackie!)
Market WerAhtoa (Stough), Matlock (Bah), Montgomery
(,hrewshury). Newton (Montgomery), Pale smelly (Ne,s•
port, Monmouthshire), Red Hill, Stanhope (Darling.
lee). These offices will be open for such pur-
poses during the hours appointed for the trans-
action of money order business. A handbill con-
taining the p incip II roles of the G.veroment In-
nuance and Annuitywffice, and of the Pest office Savings
Bank', lug been printed for gratuitous distribution, and
copies may be obtained at the above-named offices. A
translation into Welsh of the hand-bill has also been printed
for distriliutioo in Wales, end copies may be obtained at
any Post-office in Wales which has been opened fertile trans-
action of Government Insurance sad Annuity business. The
measure will, from time to time, be extended to other post•
news than those named above, and due notice will be given
of such extensions. If application be made to any post.
master for the sztenaion of the measure to his office, he
will at mice report the circumstance to the secretary.
LONDON NEGRO AID SOCIETY.—At the executive
committee meeting, held at Aubrey-house, on Thursday,
at half-past 2 o'clock, Profewor was elected presi-
deet of the society. Mr. W. Skeen and Mr. P. A. Taylor,
M.P., were chomp members of the executive committee,
which is appointed to inset the first Tnnrsdey in every month
at Aubrephousa at half-past 8 o'clock p.m. At the general
committee meeting, held en the woe day at o'clock p.m .
the sum of 401. was voted by the society to be sent imme-
diately to the Freed Men's Aid Association at Boston, Mu-
mshunatts, to the care of the Hey. S May, jun., to be ex-
pended in blankets or clotbisg somrding to his judgment-
CliltrraL PALACE.—In addition to the attraction
of the meow% sad pronmeade this &Remo 0, Mr. Rowland
Wood's prize shorthorn will he exhibited. This remarkable
animal, as much admired for his beauty as for his prodigious
nine, carried off the honours at the Birmingham Cattle
Mew. Hem at the Pianos from Birmingham yester-
ay in perfmassy and in good health. The Alhambra
Overt will he illuminated at dash for the first time, and the
Palm* will be lighted up for promenade.
The Leipzig Borseteblatt of the 4th inst. says it
mast interest German hoessellers to Isere that the grandson
of the well-known George Joachim Gosehee, the Leipsig
=;eor, is a member of Earl Russell's oalsinsa.—TAs

The folloWing were the gentlemen who attended
the centimes of Irish members Of Paliament beld in
Dublin on the fith ead fish end.:—. Oreville, Loggfeed
County ; George Bryan, Kllkiiony County ; J. Bagwell,
Clonmel • M. CoebOly. Meath Cooney • W. Moore, Tip-
perary o;aunty ; J. Sines, Limerick eionnty •R. Arm-
stroog. Sligo Borough • rt. Dementia, Weixfore Borough
M. O'Reilly, Longford County ; T. Kennedy, Louth
Count) ; Barry. Cork Comity ;P. Urquhsrt, West-
meath County ; J. B. Dillon, Tipperary County
J. F. Maguire, Cork City ; J. A. Blake, Water-
ford City ; Sir James Power. Wexford ; Sir P. O'Brien,
King's Consty • Sir John Gray, Kilkenny City The
O'Danoghue, iralee ; 0. Stock, Carlow ; J. Olaardoo,
Athlone; W. Whitworth, Drogheda. A series of 14 reso-
lutions was adopted. Toe first of them appellate a com-
mittee on the Lind goodies, who are requested to under-
take to frame a bill providing adequate compensation for
all temente' improvements, and to encourage and induce the
granting of leases by such WISE, u in the judgment of the
committee may be thought desirable and practicable. The
bill when approved of to be introducied into parliament, aod
the support of it by government claimed es essential to their
acquiring the confidence of the Irish people. The following
are the gentlemen appointed :—Mr. Maguire, Mr. Oortally,
The O'Donoghtie, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Sisals, Mr.
Dillon. The second resolution urges the importance of combi-
nation and coneentratims to obtain the settUment of the quits-
tioo. The third denounces the appropriation of the tootle-
aisstioal T0T116041 to the church of a minority as an intoler-
able grievance. The fourth pledges the members to take
the opinion of parliament on the church question on an
early day during the ensuing *realm. The fifth demands
that the Catholic University should be put on a footing of
equality with all other colleges. The ocieferenee, however,
acknowledges the willingness of the government to meet
the just claims of the catholies in the matter. The sixth
pledges the conference to advocate the extension of the
denominational system of education to Ireland. The
seventh, that pending the legislative settlement of the gum-
tips, the system should be minified to model training
schools. The eighth is a declaration in favour of an uniform
oath for membersof *Waters and dike holders. The ninth
is, "That it is the duty of the gevernment to consider the
peculiar circumstances of this country, which does not,
like
powerful'
England and Scotland, possess the tidewaters of a
and com-
utiddle-clase and fully-developed manufacturing
mercial resources, and which. moreover, is exhausted by an
enormous annum drain in the shape of absentee rents. end
the expenditure of a large portion of our public revenue in
England, and to assist by wise and fostering legislation in
developing the wealth of the oeustry and the industry and
enterprise of its ; and that with this view innement of the fisheries, the improvement of the ha of the
country. the extension of arterial drainage, and the promo-
tioe of other productive improvements, require the attention
of the government and the mutat:ice of parliament."
The tenth appoints Mr. Bagwell, Mr. Maguire. and Mr.
Blake to prepare a bill to change the grand jury law@ of
Ireland. The eleventh approves the prompt action of the
executive in regard to the cattle plague. The twelfth
pledgee the conference to support adequate measures to re-
form the Irish system of railways, brought in on the respon-
sibility of government. The thirteenth pledges them to oo-
operate with the advanced section of the English liberal
party. The fourteenth is in favour of exteing the fran-
chise ; but any measure applied to Ireland should be aooom-
panied with the safeguards necessary for the security of the
voter. The name of Mr. Jonathan
teen
of added to the
committee cherged with the preparation of a bill on the
land question, but as Mr. Pies did Dot take part in the con-
ference, and the secretaries have sot as yet hsd an oppor-
%natty of seeing him, his amoebas not been included in the