The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-11 00:00:00

11AYMAil Et

Tuts EvEsisa, A Mani Till LIT Mews. Howe. Gorden,
de.; Mesdames %Misguide, FitawilUam. Lars, Powell, de.—A
LE,L•4ON VOR LI s'E flcaarasothern, Roger.. Clark. -JENNY
LINO AT LOT. Miss Burke.—Awl the BALLET. Ildlle.Suphis.

PRINCIAI/1.

me imam Mn
& Villiers. J.U. More, and Hooey: Ulnae Amnon' rime-
moo and Katherina !Ledgers, Mrs. U. Vining, and Yrs. C. Hum
paaa—And ?UK IN VIsiBLIS I'ItINC&

Lt CRUM,

Tim trams. TIM TWIT WILTS. Mr Wlddicomb.—And
MOLOII Kr NOIR. Messrs. Fortner, Newry, Cowper. Moreland,
Fitspairick. Daum, Reynolds. Lomas, Andrews, Anderson, Re. ;
Mrs. L. !turfs:, sad !Lamm Rounds, UMW'. and C. Leclar,q.

STRAND.

Tap Minya, NY.lolifillielitALAfter which will be produced
a WGrand Barbreque, OL Y PAWKES.—Aod BOOM AT THE
AS.

HOLBORN.

Tuts !vim% MY TURN Fiat Mr. Remove; Mum
Fade mod lasmox.—aad FLYING SCUD. Kern. Neville, Del-
more,e
bloke. Vollelre, Mendarnee F. lemphe, C. Saunders,
Dwan Foote, Nadas. Immo; Raymond. *c.

BRITANNIA.

TITS Immo, THE PI INCESS OP THE PEARL ISLAND
OR THE THERE KINGDOSL4 DV PEARL OOLD, AND
SILVER Mrs Lane an.! Mine Jacistis.--Virsi-rat. hisitistulailata
.—Asd THE SKELETON CALM.

RION WATZ6 AT LONDON BRIDGE
TO DAT —Manila& ott. IJm Aftemoon, fib. 3401.
TOMOMON—Maraing. b 4 53m Atterfooo, Wa. 1410.

---
LONDON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 11.

MORE than a week has gone by since the Poor.
law metropolitan inspector concluded his inquiry
into the alleged irregularities at the Clerkenwell
casual wards, and his verdict is not yet before the
public. Whatever may be the proportions of praise,
blame, or suggestion ho may award, it is of some
importance that his decision should be prompt.
The case was a remarkably simple one ; and the
public have a right to know whether the central
authority approves the conduct of the Clerkenwell
officials, or whether it holds them blameworthy to
the extent of reprove] or dismissal. One of the
most unfortunate inferences to be drawn from this
and similar inquiries is the virtual impunity with
which the Houseless Poor Act appears to be still
defied. So far as the Poor-law Board, or its
officials are concerned, it would seem that men and
women might have been refused nightly, may be
refused nightly now, at Clerkenwell, or elsewhere,
without interference or check. The system, as usual,
breaks down at the precise point at which it should
be made rigid ; and a surly porter or a harsh superin-
tendent has power to defeat the well-considered
and humane provisions of the law. But for the
amateur efforts of a stray passer-by, and his having
formallyreported the matter to the Poor-law Board,
the latter body would have, and could have no
knowledge through its officers of a condition of
things which it exists mainly to prevent. The police,
whose duty it has become to periodically inspect
the metropolitan casual wards at night, have only
power to report upon their condition, and how far
their observation extends may be estimated from
this fact : Upon the alleged refusals to admit ob-
taining publicity, and a public cry for an official
inquiry having been raised, another Poor-law in-
spector discovered that the arrangements of the
casual wards were very defective in one particular,
and at once gave instructions that this should be
remedied. These instructions were reported to
the Clerkenwell board by their own officer, and
a discussion took place as to whether that
body would listen to or receive the
suggestion. " Nut treating us with proper re-
spect to tell the man in charge of the wards that
there was something wrong ; let the Poor-law
Board write to us if they want anything doing,"
was the spirit in which the inspector's instructions
were received by one section of the guardians.
Finally, it was decided to refer the matter to the
local casual ward's committee, and perhaps by the
time the mild weather has set in, we shall learn that
the habit of making paupers eat their supper in an
open yard has been discontinued at Clerkenwell.
This was the discipline the Poor-law inspector dis-
covered and took exception to, after an inquiry had
been called for from outside. The police inspection
is clearly one which does not touch on the discip-
line of the casual wards, and is only a partial pro-
tection to the paupers ; and when in such nights
as we have had lately casuals are allowed to eat
their bread and gruel in a warm room in one pariah
and are sent to sup in a bitterly cold yard in
another, it is not difficult to foresee which will be
chosen, and how by judicious harshness the num-
ber of applicants may be reduced. But, as if
further proof were wanting of lack of efficient con-
trol over the management of casual wards, we find
Mr. Inspector Potter, of the (I division, giving in
evidence that frequent complaints reach the police
respecting the Clerkenwell wards, and that on a
recent night he had to send two constables to
secure a pauper's admission. This comes, be it
remembered, from one of the very body to whom
the task of inspection is entrusted, and forms a
significant comment upon the system.
We see but one way of dealing with the difficul-
ties constantly arising through laxity or disability
on the one side, and obstructive indifference on the
other. Increased publicity must be given to the
returns relating to the houseless poor, and the
official protests against ill-doing must be made
more vigorous. Public opinion will always aid
Whitehall in bringing the recalcitrant to justice.
We believe returns are made every week to the
Poor-law Board, giving the numbers relieved at
each casual ward in the metropolis. It would be
useful if these were tabulated and published week
by week, and the parishes thus taught to check
each other. As an example of the usefulness of