The Express.
London, England, 1847-01-07 00:00:00

MAILS.

bad symptoms, but also that private charity would
best be brought in succour of those cases most deserv-
ing of commiseration.

EARLY in November, when we were engaged in
pressing upon our readers the necessity of govern-
ment taking the benefit societies into its own hands,
some benevolent individuals were devising another
correction of existing evils ; and a public meeting was
held of the supporters of the proposed " National
Provident and Benevolent Institution." The scheme
of this association appeared to be the formation of a
large central benefit society, helped by public sub-
scnption, watched over by
,the intelligence and knOW-
ledge of business which is concentrated in the me-
tropolis, and, if we rightly understood, to a certain
extent combining the office of distributing charitable
aid with that of providing for the safe management
land equitable distribution of the trust funds.
Now, we are disposed to view the formation of this
society with pleasure, on three different grounds.
First, it shows that there is a growing attention to
the subject which we have so much at heart.
Secondly, if the government really will not take up
the matter, a large central society is in many respects
better than a great number of petty and isolated
clubs. Thirdly, in the opposite event, it will be more
easy to arrange the mode of admitting the large
society into the government plan than to do the same
with the multitude of smaller ones. We would not,
therefore, on any account, discourage one of our
readers from lending his aid to the really yrorident
and benerolcnt institution above described: but we
would endeavour to persuade him to keep an un-
prejudiced mind open to our arguments in favour of
a general government plan, and to remember that he
may, with every chance of spending his time and
money well, both aid the private plan, and lend his
influence to forward the public one.
Our best friend, the Times, commented on the
public meeting above alluded to, in one of those
articles in which, not unlike a cat, it paws its mouse
as if it had yet to settle whether it would eat it or
not. Our contemporary, after such friskings as ask-
ing what, if it were not for projectors, Mr. CARLYLE
would have to call sea-green or sky-blue (as if he
could be at any loss, as long as our contemporary's
jealous providence and milk-and-water benevolence
are matters of daily record), makes the following
remark :—" The United Kingdom is our national
provident and benevolent union." This was just at
the time when we were advocating the literal sense
of the opinion here expressed. And from this con-
clusion we do not swerve in the least. We are per-
fectly satisfied that nothing but the government can,
to use the words which form part of one of the reso-
lutions carried at the meeting, " give them [the
poorer classes] the best security for their deposits."
A private society cannot, under any support which
can be imagined probable, secure to its operations the
necessary extent or unity. We wish it could : we
mean we wish that it were likely to excite that uni-
versal attention and sympathy, which gives right to
the name of national independently of government.
In such a case, the executive would at once, without
any bidding, meet public opinion with a plan of its
own ; and our moat earnest wish on the subject
would be fulfilled. Referring to our readers' recol-
lection of the general arguments by which we en-
forced our own opinion, we have only now to say
that, though we shall be most happy to advance the
success of such a plan as the private association, if
better may not be, yet we shall not fail to continue
urging upon the public the expediency of pressing
the ministry and the legislature to interfere.
The case is one, in which no security short of
national faith will be appreciated, no machinery
worked by less than government power will be
effective.

The overland cloned mailo,ri;34rseillee, to the Mediterranean,
Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, India, (long Kong, &e., will be made up on the
evening of thr 7th January ,:this day).
The mails for Vigo, Oporto Lisbon, Madeira,
,Cadis, and Gibraltar,
will be made up on the morning of the 18th January.
The Went India mai* excluding those for Mexico, Honduras, and
the Ilarannah, will be made up on the morning of the 18th January.
The overland mails for Gibraltar, Malts, Greece, the lonian Islam*
linpt, Aden, Ceylon, Cadge, Hong-Kong, and China, ons Southampton,
MEM made up on the evening of the morning of 10th January.
The molls for New South Wales, Van Diemen's Land, and New
Zealand will be made up on the evening of the 3lst January.
The made for Britinli North America, Bermuda. and the United
States, will be made up on the evening of the 3ni February.
The made for the Bratils, the River Plate, Monte Video, Pernsuo
Moo, Bahia, Madeira, and Buenos Ayres, will be dispatched on the
evening of the 4th February.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
N.* Adretitsemento intended for TAe &press, Loodonevening paper,
vanet be at the Office by Two o'eloek on the day of pabbeetion.

MGR WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE.
Tars DAT.—Moreing, TO min. pat 5; Aftemrom, 43 min. pint 3.
To-Nonnow—Morning, 2 min. mg 6; Afternoon, TO nun. past 6.

LONDON, THURSDAY, JAN. 7.

Is abetting the humane and charitable project of
relieving instantly, by subscription, the unexampled
sufferings and destitution which afflict and threaten
to depopulate the remote and barren districts of
Ireland, we by no means contemplated any relaxa-
tion of those at once generous and stringent measures
for Ireland, which, whilst they extend to the occupiers
and owners of land all the means and faeilitie for
improving their properties and employing their poor,
establish the principle, not only that the property of
the country must finally support the burden of this
outlay, but that i must effectually provide for the
agricultural population.
There are two questions now in consideration with
respect to Ireland, its permanent suffering, its tem-
porary distress. By far the greater portion of even
its temporary distress must be treated and remedied
conjointly with its permanent ills; but there are
regions in Ireland occupied by human beings, who in
the best of seasons gleaned but a scanty subsistence
from a barren soil, who paid scarcely any thing in
the shape of rent, and who in their distress have no
landlord to look to; for the owner of the barren shore,
poor himself, and deriving no profit from it, has not
the fortune nor the means, nor the possibility of pro-
viding for the population. Such is the case in Done-
, gal, in Clare, and even in parts of the county Cork.
'There people must be relieved by alms, by down-
right charity, be it provided or administered as it

TELE present is a season of the year which pecu-
liarly appeals to Christian and kindly feelings. The
inclemency of the world without is brought into sharp
relief against the cheer and warmth and fireside en-
joyments within. The contrast may well quicken in
the rich the sense of their own numerous, and often
unearned, comforts, and should and does awaken a
desire to extend some share of them to the poor and
suffering. Charities are most urgent in their
demands at the beginning of the new year.
Debts must be settled, and fresh funds raised
for the work of the next twelvemonth. Benevolence
seeks the advertising sheet, parades her objects and
publishes the names of her supporters. There are
busy. hands at work, stopping all the cracks and
crevices in the framework of our social edifice. Not
a flaw but finds its benevolent botcher. Exeter Hall
is up and away, in the alleys and courts, with its
tracts and sixpences, and flannel. The district visitor
is at work, under the guidance of the parochial
clergyman, scattering spiritual and temporal seed
together; softening the pinch of distress, and
doing what he can to remove ignorance and
brutality, filth and intemperance. Coal clubs,
and blanket clubs, and provident clubs, strive
by good advice and large per oentages, to infuse fore-
thought into the poor, and show them how a penny a
week may come to a pair of blankets or a sack of
coals, with a dinner, at Christmas. We have the
Stranger's Friend Society putting forth its excellent
intentions in very stilted advertisements. The asylums
for the houeeless are open, like their subscription
books. And this year, on the top of all the
usual claims of Christmas alms-giving, comes
the terrible starvation of Ireland and the
Scottish highlands. Despite the grumbling of
certain economists, who " would be cruel only to
be kind," the call is responded to. England cannot
keep her hand out of her pocket with such scenes as
those of Skibbereen filling the columns of the news-
papers. Everybody knows that almsgiving can
afford only a temporary aid. It needs no great skill
in political economy to tell us that. But this is me-
cisely a case in which temporary aid is wanted in
Ireland, and will be given by England. Can the
same thing be mid of alms to English destitution, in
its many forms ? Is it our duty to give ? or is every
penny given in alms so mach withdrawn from better
and more useful employments of capital ? We could
easily conceive a state of things in which alms-giving
would cease to be a duty, but, certainly, we see no
evidence of such a state of things round about us.
On the contrary, when there are so many channels
open, through which alms are distributed with a eye-
tessatio purpose and regulated flow, it seems a
hoturien Christian duty, under the economical cir-
cumstances of this country to contribute, through
their agency, from our superfluity to those who need.
Our poor-law makes no adequate distinction be-
tween the poor man and the pauper. The former
would work, but cannot; the latter is the lazzaroni
of England, and prefers idleness with workhouse fare,
filth, and contumely, to work and wages. While we
treat these two classes alike, our legal machinery of
relief can never reach the actual necessities of the
country. The administration of an indiscriminate
poor-law must become hardened to all poverty,
because they are not taught, through the law they ad-
minister, that they are dealing with classes deserving
—the one, all respect and sympathy, the other, all
discouragement and severity. While this continues,
there will always be poor people who will prefer star-
vation to the workhouse. Short of this extreme al-
ternative, there will be thousands who will submit to
great privation rather than have recourse to the
grumbling ministrations of the relieving officer. Un-
less our charitable societies did much to seek out and
help this class of persons, their condition, wretched as
it is now, would be insupportable.
But besides administering to temporal miseries,
there are few of these societies which do not, in 'tome
degree, attempt to diminish the dreariness of moral
and spiritual destitution. They distribute tracts;
beat up for young scholars; sometimes indulge in a
little well-meant inquisitorial examination as to habits
and beliefs; compare religious experiences; dissemi-
nate plain sanitory hints; occasionally, perhaps, in
the case of the more worldly-minded, even communi-
cate a receipt for a cheap and palatable dish. All
this, ridiculous as much of it may be in particular
eases, on the whole has its good effect. It shows
the poor that there are some of their richer and luckier
fellows concerned about them, otherwise than in the
police courts. Many a miserable death-bed is soothed
by the consolations of a district visitor, not the wisest
it may be, or the most clear-headed oiChristians, but
full of zeal, and charity, and love. We have read
with much interest, as illustrating this subject, the
third annual report of the Metropolitan Visiting
and Relief Association. This body works under
the superintendence and direction of the paro-
chial clew. It may be remembered that charges
were urged against its managers of having misappro-
priated, or at least not accounted for, a large sum
raised in I&i3. These charges could hardly have

may.
The Times asserts that government is the best
distributor of alms. We beg to make the very con-
trary assertion,—viz., that the government is the very
worst distributor of alms, and especially in Ireland.
If funds from private subscription be poured upon a
famishing district to relieve and save it in the hour
of need, gratitude ensues, and no more. It is
plainly seen that the Christian feelings of Englishmen
have prompted them, as individuals, to step in to the
relief of a temporary famine. But let the poor creatures
know that it is government who furnishes this relief,
that it is national care, and national funds, which
are applied to their destitution, then the feeling is
quite other. Then the poor creatures look upon
relief as a right, as an homage to their wrongs.
That imaginative people form an ideal of a govern-
ment, which, like Providence, comes to set right the
inequalities of fortune, and as they may imagine, te re-
pair the centuries of England's injustice. Government
charity in Ireland, we know from experience, excites
no gratitude, and prevents all industry. Such are
the peculiar feelings and ratiocination of the people.
Whatever the Castle may feed or relieve one year, the
Castle will be looked to to feed and relieve another.
The first and last object, in charity towards the Irish,
would be to keep government out of the question. The
Times, therefore, when it initiation government charity
towards the Irish, and upon no other, does so upon a
total want of knowledge of the Irish, their habits of
reasoning and feelings.
This is one of the many difficulties of an Irish poor-
law —a system utterly impossible indeed, unless accom-
panied with other measures, such as those contemplated
by government, for restoring to some proportion the
demand and supply of labour. There is no creature
more alive to the natural motives of industry than
the Irish peasant, if you show a gleam of hope, a
prospect of thriving, any surety for the future. But the
enforcement of a poor-law upon the present unthinned
and unemployed peasantry bankrupt landlords,
and mortgaged estates, would be utterly impracticable.
It would resolve itself into one of two alternatives, a
prison with prison discipline for half the able-bodied,
or out-door provision for them, which would be alms,
and alms from the worst source, viz., from govern-
ment and the law; for this implies the permanence of
such alms.
This, however, is the question of how to relieve per-
manent distress, upon which we shall soon have to
enter thlly. At present the consideration is merely
the brat mode of allaying acute eases of individual
ruffenng. It will be seen from the interesting report
of the Skibbereen deputation, published in our yes-
terday's paper, what apparently insurmountable ob-
jections first met them on their coming to England,
and applying for relief. These objections met them
alike in the offices of the government, and in those of
eminent City merchants. All were prejudiced: all
had their hearts and conviction closed by such
arguments as ere to be found in the columns of the
Times. All these, however, vanished before the
simple, explanatory, truth-telling accounts, of the
Skibbereen deputation.
From this report we see that the government were
won over ; that Lord JOHN RUSSELL himself pat
down his nonce for 3001.; that Mr. GURNEY
subscribed 1,000/. Mr. ROTTINCHILD, Mr. B MING,
and several other great houses, have subscribed as
much, persuaded, in like manner, not only of the inno-
cence of the population of the more destitute dis-
tricts, from either the arms buying, and other alleged

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7, 1847.

been brought by any one who had read the reports
tithe society.
Of course, it is to be regarded as essentially a Church
of England charity. -But its benevolence is not
confined to those of that communion. And the paro-
chial machinery is an excellent one to facilitate such
operations as the association aims at. We do not
mean to say that this association is peculiarly
deserving, among the many which resemble it in thefr
aims and objects. We use it rather in illustration of
the working of such bodies, as complementary to our
poor-law system, doing, imperfectly, and through
many different agencies, work which a good poor-
law, well administered, would go far to perform
single-handed.
There is much good sense in this statement of the
objects of the society
The object whirh Oils association has in view is, not merely I,
to adrainister i:aimeliate relief in cases of extreme destitu-
tion, or of pressing want, but to improve the social, mad,
and religious condition of the poor, by means which brie
been tried, on a limited scale, in certain distrlies, and whisk
have been successful in proportion to the completeness of
the system which has been put into operation, and the
care with which it has been worked. It is obvious,
that to dispense pecuniary relief indiscriminately, and
with reference solely to the apparent, or actual
necessity of the case, without inquiry as to the past or pro-
vision for the future, is, to say the least of it, but a half
measure of charity, and has a tendency to generate, or in-
crease the very evils which it reeks to cure. An inquiry
into the ewes of distress, and into the best means of pre-
venting its recurrence, by infusing into those who labour
under it sound principles of action, and forming them to
habits of economy, industry, and foresight, is obviously
necessary, to ensure to the exertions of benevolence their
proper results. Mere liberality in almsgiving, unaccom-
panied by an endeavour to remove the muses of that destitu-
tion which calla it forth, will not answer the requirements
of Christian charity. The description now given of tho ob-
jects contemplated by this association clearly marks out the
propriety, or rather the necessity of attempting their attain-
ment through the agency of the parochial clergy. They
are, in virtue of their office, almoners, as well as instruc-
tors of the people nor can it be doubted, that the evils
under which the poorest clam.; labour, in our crowded cities
and towns, have been greatly aggravated by the inallequacy
of our parochial system, with its existing machinery, to meet
the wants of an overwhelming population. Two
things are necessary, in order to replace the so-
cial system in a healthy Mate; a more direct
and friendly intercourse between the different dames
of society, and the general inculcation of Christian prin.
ciples. In both cases the agency of the clergy is indis-
pensable, and will be, under the divine blessing, effectual to
these ends, if means are supplied for carrying on the work,
which is now so immeasurably beyond their strength ofd
resources, An association, which semi at the attainment et
this object, may surely assert its claim upon the charity of
those whom Providence has entrusted with the means of
doing good, and who are bound to use them for the glory
of Ood, in promoting the temporal and eternal welfare of
their fellow-creatures.
How it helps to fill up the great deficiencies in one
parochial system will appear from the following
extract :
[From the Rev. W. W. Champueys, Rector of White-
chapel:
Since the formation of the Metropolitan Visiting and
Relief Association, we have been able to supply every sick
person in my district of 24,000 souls with some of those little
comforts, and their familiesjwith some of those necessarier,
which the affliction of the one and the consequent failure
of resources to the other, required; and this all the
year round. And as my whole district is broken up into
small districts, the whole mapped out and arranged,
visitors regularly going their rounds, and a certain number of
visitors' districts constituting a reader's or lay assistant's
district, who is inleonstant daily communication with myself;
I have, through this society, the comfort of feeling that no
case of sickness or pressing want can remain longer than a
day or two at furthest uadiecoveml, uncommunicated, and
unrelieved. And I believe that if those benevolent and
wealthy Christians, who have so liberally and trustingly
pouredinto the great reservoir of your society their bounty,
could follow that bounty to its outlay end application, as it
flows through the channel of my district visitors to the sick
beds and destitute homes of my poor brethren and parish-
ioners, they would see that this association has fully realised
the great object and purpose for which it was intended, and
either put together or supplied the pipes by which the
abundance of the rich has been carried to the dwellings of
Ike l.
; Mere, that since the formation of your society it has
been my own fault if a single ease of destitution in my
parish has been unprovided for.
It is one peculiar merit of such societies as the pre-
sent that they can afford relief in peculiar eases, in
which parish aid would certainly not be granted, and
which yet are cases of peculiar cruelty to the sufferers.
We subjoin some such, extracted from the report :
FROM VISITORS IN A PARISH IN WESTMINSTER.—Ica
many cases (those of the widows especially), by assist-
ance being afforded them occasionally, they are enabled to
obtain a livelihood ; and I am happy to add that I have not
had one application for relief from persons whose distress on
inquiring into the case) was either caused by idleness or dis-
sipation. Old age, sickness, want of employment, have been
the invariable causes of the destitution I have been called
on to visit.
E. G. The husband and his son fell together from the roof
of a house, where they were working as bricklayers. During
their lung and dangerous illness the family were destitute of
an means of support.
FROM THE REPORT OF A SOCIETY IN CLERRENWELL.
—J. K. is a poor man, just come from the Fever Hospital,
but unable, from consequent debility, to work at present;
he has three children, and lost his wife about three months
ago ; he is in great distress, his bed and clothing having been
burnt, for fear of infection, when he was taken to the hos-
pital. He was recommended by a very respectable pa-
rishioner, who has known him for some years, and who says
that he believes him to be a man of industrious habits, and
willing to work as soon as he is able.
In other cases again the good has been done, not
by money, but by intercession of the visitor. Such
are the following :
On the visitor entering one poor family's abode she found
the man, an ivory turner, just returned from travelling about
all day, trying to sell some little fancy articles, without being
able to sell one. They did not know where to look for •
loaf of bread for their young family. Two parcels were
lying en the table containing the articles he had been offer-
ing for sale ; visitor requested to look at them, and asked if
taking • dozen would be of any use; they said they should
indeed be greeful ; and visitor succeeded indisposing of them
at an advanced prioe,and returned the following daywiththe
profits, and to take some more ; she found them just at tea, the
first meal that day, in order to procure which they had been
obliged to pawn the remainder of the articles, and some of
the poor man's tools visitor knew this is be the case, as she
advanced the money, and waited while the poor woman went
to fetch them.
S. B. is a young widow, whose husband died a few weeks
since in the hospital, under very distressing circumstances.
She was left with one little boy about three years old, and
very near her confinement ; she went to see her husband at
the time appointed for the friends of the patients to visit
them, and finding him much worse than before, requested
permission to see him the next morning, which was granted
her: she entered the ward where he lay, unobserved, and
approaching the bed on which she had seen him over night,
found it vacated, and the body removed. Bbe inquired after
her husband, and was told that be was removed to the dead
house. The poor woman told me that she should have musk
down on the floor if one of the nurses had not prevented her.
She has since been confined, and lost her infant about a week
after it was born ; it was found dead by her side. This poor
woman does not belong to the parish, and this District Society
has been the means of relieving her in her extremely desti-
tute and distreming situation end circumstances. She is still
in a very delicate state of health.
FROM THE REPORT OF A SOCIETY AT THE WESTERN
EXTREMITY OF LONDON.—The following instances have
been reported as occurring in a single district:—Mrs. A.
came to me in great distress in consequence of her goods
being about to be seized for rent. She owed about • pound ;
she begged of me to save them. She stated that in about a
fortnight she should go out as a monthly nurse, and then
she should be able to pay. She had told her landlord this,
but he was inexorable. In consequence of my opinion of
her character, I called on the landlord and reasoned with
him, and begged a little time for the poor woman ; which
he granted me. Me has since discharged the debt.
.. I found Mrs. C. lying in extreme debility from in-
flammation of the chest, and in great distress of mind from
fears other destitute condition. She said it ap almost
like an interposition of Providence that I come to see
her..... She told me that she and her husband had partly
gained a living by selling vegetables to a lady, and by
occasionally being employed by her ; hut for some cause they
had been discharged from their employment, and ordered
not to come near the house. She wished me to get her an
interview with the lady as soon as she could get out. I ven-
tured to write to her, stating all the particulars. She
promptly, the next morning, sent to tell the woman to come
as soon as she was able. An interview taking place, the
secret came out that the lady's cook wanted to obtain that a
tradesman in town, whom she knew, should supply her mks- 1
tress ; and, accordingly, had represented the poor woman to
her as imposing and ungrateful. On vindicating her own
character the lady restored her to her former position. I
have since been enabled to give them a character from per-
sonal observation that has enabled them to get the charge of
a gentleman's house, who is so satisfied with them that he
has personally thanked me. The poor couple's gratitude has
been great to the society for thus rescuing them from poverty
and placing them in comparative comfort.

Tin Queen of Seri's speech en the opening of the
Cortes is fortunately iniasnificant,—fortunately, we
say, for the ministry which dictated it is without
constitutional vitality. It possesses no majority in
the Cortes, although it has been kept alive so long by
the Court, and by French influence, in order to carry
out French ends. For such a ministry to draw up
a significant or a strong speech, would be
a proof that it still intended to live and
to govern, which could only be done by a coup d'etat
or unconstitutional means. And consequently, con-
sidering the facilities that exist in Spain for such
things, and the little wisdom which statesmen seem
to possess for avoiding such temptations, we were
I happy to peruse that kind of feeble, inane speech