The Express.
London, England, 1866-02-03 00:00:00

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[STAMPED, ld. ADDMONAL.I

BEGGING LETTERS AND THE HOMELESS

POOR.

The Rev. Daniel Gilbert, D.D., of 22, Finsbury
circus, E.C., and Mr. William Carter, of No. 2,
Terrace, Walworth-road, S. both make revelations
concerning the destitute wanderers to be seen nightly
in their vicinity, to which we invite the attention
of the Poor Law Board. The statements of these gen-
.

tlemen throw such grave discredit upon the parochial
authorities of their several districts that it behoves
those concerned to see to the matter quickly, or
be prepared for the pecuniary loss certain to follow
if an obstinate violation of the law is proved.
The ratepayers are the real snfferers when guar-
dians are persistently obstructive; and the dwellers
in Lambeth, Stepney, Lewisham, and the other
Places where the casual accommodation is uncerti-
fied, or where the certificate has been withdrawn,
will have to thank their local reprasentativss for a
burden which ought properly to have been trans-
ferred from their shoulders to the common fund.

Having premised thus. TIIII4, we refer the guar-
dians of St. Luke's, lifidfflesstreithe followings's.
tract from the Rev. Daniel Gilbert's lithographed
circular, a oopy of which, dated Feb. 1, 1866, lies
before us. This gentleman writes---" Notwit-
hstanding the provision made by the poor-houses,
each night we are forced to close the doors of our
Refuge (Providence-row, E.C.) on numbers of
young women, children, and widows, who have to
spend night after night in the cold, wet, or sleet, on
the steps of doors, or under railway arches."
" Could you see," the rev. gentleman continues,
"these poor outcasts shivering and craving for food
and shelter, you could not refuse aid;" and his
letter winds up with an eloquent appeal for contri-
butions towards the thousand pounds still necessary
to complete the Refuge, and by promising the
prayers of the poor in return for the smallest dona-
tion. Now there can be no doubt that this picture
is a very harrowing and disappointing one,
and calling for immediate refutation or re-
form. We have made inquiries in the
proper quarter, and find that the workhouse of
St. Luke's, Middlesex, has certified aooommodation
for thirty adults, and that during the week preced-
ing the date of Dr. Gilbert's letter, the average
number admitted was fifteen a night. This gives
fifteen vacant beds in the workhouse of the district
in which we are told women and children still spend
the night in the streets ; and the discrepancy in-
volved in these two statements ought assuredly to
be cleared up.
Mr. William Carter, whose earnest and 'Wass-
ful efforts to reclaim fallen women, convert thieves
and swindlers, and to impart religious truth to the
lowest and most debased classes of the community,
have been favourably commented on in this jour-
nal, says :
- - -

Last night I unexpectedly visited the refuge at 7 o'clock.
I found a number of wretched objects tbroegiog the gate
earnestly seeking admittaace (but every berth was full)•
My sympathies were excited towards one poor starving
woman with three thi'dren, all under live yeas. The
babe, four mouth old, was hanging at the breast sucking
the wind, and one on either side clinging to the mother's
dress, and crying with cold and hunger (the wind was
blowing keenly). I took them in with me, and immedi-
ately had given ►o them sonic bread and coffee. The chil-
dren laughed with joy, and ravenously devoured the food,
even the babe ate the dry bread with zest. I said, "My
dear woman, what Las briught you into these wretched
eircurnstanoes ?" She said, " Sir, 1 will tell you the truth.
My husband is in Wandsworth prison, my goods have all
been taken for rant, and I have been for some days obliged
to walk the streets with my children. I have not a friend
in the world to help me." . . It was a sickening
eight to gaze on the pale wan faces, decrepid forms, torn
• and tattered garments of these truly bouselese poor. I
had personal intercourse with many others, and found the
majority of them were working people, reduced by sickness
and other causes to their present distressing condition,
willing to work could they but get employment. I found
•I among the men good tradesmen, but whose thole
and furniture had been seized for rent. Now I pro-
pose to establish workshops in connexion with the refuge,
both for men and women, and thus test their sincerity by
giving them an opportunity to work. But we are in urgent
need of funds to enable us to carry out this very desirable
project.
As the above relates to a refuge in the South-
wark-bridge-road, we have ascertained the condi-
tion of the casual wards at the two nearest work-
houses, those of Camberwell and Newington. At
the first there is certified accommodation for 64
adults, and during the last week in January the aver-
age number of beds occupied has been 21, and the
average number vacant 43. At Newington there
are 18 certified beds, and the avenge numter occu-
pied in the same period has been five, and the aver-
age vacant 13. We may add that the duty of send-
ing destitute wanderers who apply for shelter after
11 the workhouse wards are full to common lodging-
houses is thoroughly understood by all three local
boards, and that we are assured that no illegal re-
fusels have been made. Our own observation
a these districts at night have not shown
us the shocking scenes so graphically described,
and we are strongly disposed to believe them to be
unconsciously exaggerated. The " last night" of
Mr. Carter is also part of a lithographed circular
which is sent to different addresses at various tunes,
and it would be useful to know the date of the
evening to which it refers. It is very bard upon
the charitable public to be told one day that the
workhouses provide shelter for all destitute comers,
and on another to receive a pathetic appeal for
money on the ground of the misery still left unre-
lieved. Our hope is that these statements were
originally written before the provisions of the
Houseless Poor Act were properly enforced, and are
somewhat overdrawn now. This Ss point to be settled
by the gentlemen soliciting contributions, but as
almoners of public charity they certainly should
know that, as the law stands, neither women nor
children need spend their nights in the streets. If,
as they say, these poor helpless creatures are still w
be found there, let them be accompanied to the
nearest workhouse, and food and shelter will be
ensured. This would be the kindest and most
' practical way of evincing sympathy, and if these
plulanthropista would but follow it, the public
mind would be relieved, aid their affecting appeals
be unnecessary.

INDIA-OFFICE, JAN. 3L—Her Majesty has been
ra""1. .J. Visaed to appoint the Right Ronourshie Lord
Ranier, ~ to be Govan*, of Madras.—Gazette.
Fautotrrn, Fes. 2.—The New York and Havre
steamship Arago, from New York on the 20th Jaouary,
arrived off this port this aftercooo. She britip 37 per
seaters, 44 sacked mails, end 250,000 dollars Is sloth%
700 balm of cotton, and various packages al whalebooe sad
snadrice. Two peissegers of a shipwrecked Grew and the
mails were landed at Falmouth. and the latter were for-
ward proceededn by the afternoon train. The
then for Havre. OaJannary 22nd, lat.A4lar.
long. 64 W., the Arago raw the bull of the schooner
Antietam, with waterlogged dean It eould sot be mew.
Waned to what port she beieoged. Os Jan. 27, in W__ 4b N.
Iva. 39 W., the lone fell in with the brigantine
of St. John's, Newfoundland, disunited sod
leely."Ce
crew, @eves in number, were is an exhausted coedit ion when
teemed by the erawe.--(ierter's Ibierreia)

i3132111dX11

[TWOPENCE

WORM MEETING AT H4NLIII.-RIMOR-
EntilliCli WITH THE RADICAL MEMBER.

A crowded and enthusiastic town's meeting in
favour of a oomprehensive measure of parbusentary
reform was held in the Town-hall, Henley, on Thursday
evening • CoUneinor On.MAI in the chair. The most note-
worthy nature in the proceedings wee the reeding of a °or.
respondence with Mr. H. R. Oradell, the hithertopopular
and thoroughgoing radical member for the Palma. In
reply to the km invitation to attend this mestiog, Mr.
Oradell said—" From letters I have received flan radon"
places, I am very much sante to joining in • reform seta.
tion, which can have no other effect than breaking up the
libeled party. leh vote for any measure of reform, be it
what it may, with the chance of being carried. Bat
according to all calculations which I am able
to make, there is no chance of the being re-
ceived with favour by • house elected as this is
without any reference to reform whatever." In a second
letter Mr. Graded' said—" I regret very much that I am
not able to do anything towards promoting the Gems of
reform in the borough . . . . It seem to me that we
are throwing away the chant:oaf passing measures of Mud-
attritive, eccletitstical, edit:tabs:al, and (Aber reform for
the purpose of diecussing a measute which Nobody is in
eanea,about. I hold at to be • very great iniefottua
that the Meters or non-electors should think their repro.
eentativa are trifling with them, and therefore I peeler to
speak (OR I hove always&GO frankly, to making the
usual hackneyed speeches in favour of retina." The read-
ing of these Meet was repeatedly interrupted
athe elf "Baum," mid other tams d
distrust, and disappointment. As their reply to
the hon. gentleman the committee of the Hanley
Reform Union adopted and forwarded the following resolu-
tion :—" That this meeting is of opinion) that Mr. Grenfell'is
correspondence is generally unamsfactory, and amok
refrain teem an apreosioe of surprise at bb averment that
the preneet House of Commons wen ' elected without
reference to reform,' considering the proceedings at al.
most every Marna during the last election, and
ansidsring Mr. Gmafellti own speeches sad addresses
partisan: ; that this meeting is further of opinion that any
failure on Mr. Greofell's part to support a measure of
' reform In the House of CUOMO*/ will lead to • brach be-
tween himself end the liberal portion of the constituency
el the borough of Stoke-upocnTront." (Loud chain)
This document elicited from the honourable
member • lengthened reply, in which he said
be regretted he bad been misuoderstoi A. His us.
perieooe at the last election had led him to suppose
that the electors of the Nanette did not amidst the
question of reform ono of paramount importance. He
concurred with Mr. Lowe in the estimate which he had
formed of the relations of the late parliament to the sub-
ject of reform. He was not himself afraid of democruy,
nor did he believe • tit franthue would tend to
democracy, bat he should be ooneyealing the troth
if be did not say that not only the upper, bat
the middle dame were timid on the subject. "He
would rather see the government and legislature de-
vote their time to questions of administration,
military, or colonial—reforms all loudly called for—them
throw away their time in pursuit of an object the stain-
mint of which excites much fear and alum." (Renewed
hisses, and cries of "Shame.") At the same meeting •
letter was read from Mr. Bright, advising that all reformat
should help the government to Use utmost of their power.

4icx-
dr. LI Ad)
4•47,- j
ti-Nsirt

ALLENPATENT AL AWARDED.)
'S PORTMANTEALTS and
TRAVELLING BAGS with soave openings.
LADIES WARDROBE TRITNKI3, DEEMED EAOB, wtth
ewe
DV/PATCH BOXES, WRITING and DRIBEIENG CAME, and
Mother articles tor hems er owathiental travelling. Disetroted
latologuse post tree.
Also Alien's Suva& Purciture Catalogue of Portable Bed
h at ead
tre, Drawees, sag Chain, Waskhancbstanda Coalesce, &a,
me.
J. W. ALLEN,
Load's. W.C.

sal Patesstw, 37, West llOrsed,