The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-17 00:00:00

EAST LONDON DISTRESS.

The unexpected collapse of the praiseworthy
attenipt recently made to provide suitable employ-
ment, although at a reduced rate, for the destitute
artisans Of Millwall has been attended with results
;met disastrous to thelbest interests of the men,
having sensibly alienated the sympathies of many
alio. during such exceptional periods of distress as
that now existing, have generally proved foremost
atfortling succour to the poor and suffering real-
,letits of East London. Yet, it is an unquestionable
ria that the fatal hesitation exhibited by the ship-
?adding operatives to accept offers of work at less
dian the customary rate of remuneration has com-
:33nded the heartiest approval of the great mass of
F.ist London labourers, to whom, it would appear,
:here seems no evil more great, no calamity more
, sera-naming, than that a considerable body of
,; :lied artisans should be compelled by the fear of
:.!Ireation to accept a reduced amount of wages.
they have yet to learn the truth that half a loaf
:5 better than none at all. In lain may we reason
sit:i them, in vain may we attempt to explain the
luatter on economical grounds ; it is impossible
shako their convictions. The,teachings of the
lower and less enlightened class of unionist
leaders have not been lost upon the crowd. Despite
,d 1 that has been said and written upon the sub-
e,:t of supply and demand, thousands of really
intelligent artisans firmly believe in the alleged
power of the employers to cut down prices to any
extent which they—the employers—may deem ad-
visable, and that the only counteracting agency
possessed by the men is the influence of their vari-
ous trades' unions. They point to the hundreds
•i ill-remunerated trades common at the East-end
,;1 illustration of their views. According to them
•!ie slop-workers, matchbox-makers, firewood-cut-
m needle-women, shoe-binders and all the
~T portion of the great industrial army, would
I. their position immensely improved were they
. yt unionist principles. Yet, inconsistently
while insisting on the highest possible
• • of wages, they aro also the constant patrons
,!..ae retail establishments in which articles are
.at the lowest imaginable prices. They,
.7 i....-tance, recommend the operative tailor
• arils for higher wages, while they them-
••.,.i systematically patronise those em-
, e,;•.3 who habitually pay the lowest rate. " Once
. • ftandard of wages be reduced in any large
I .upartant branch of industry, and a corres-
.iog reduction will take place in all others."
the doctrine most prevalent among the
-: London workers, by whom the hlillwall
..ns are regarded somewhat in the light of
-• 3, who are quietly enduring sad and cruel
us rather than jeopardise the interests of
idlow working men. But the wives and
of the unemployed do not regard the
. exactly in this light. Could they have
•he decision in their hands, the cheery sounds
: • hammer and anvil would by this time have

iitard ringing aloud in the now silent and
,;• ite shipbuilding yards of the bile of Dogs.
*!•.• • po ortunity, however, has disappeared, and
. • : 'also much of the aid and sympatherto
•:• „ afforded by the public. Everywhere the
• relief committees and charitable organisa-
• mid :a marked diminution in the amount of
• i vipts, in some instances to such an extent
• . their very existence. Consequently
hole burden of the distress is
being shifted on to the shoulders
~‘• Cast London ratepayers, who, alarmed by
increase of pauperism, are now,
• their several boards of guardians, some-
• iiichiled to make an attempt to cope with the
..,•core it becomes too powerful to be effectually
• with. They have fuund, to their bitter cost,
eery season of exceptional distress like the
• loaves a largo and ever increasing residuum
~.ironic destitution, forming not merely a per-
• . •••Iclit charge upon the rates, but also baffling all
.I..rts to diminish it, even in the slightest degree.
'i•re than this, within the last few months a new
4 serious evil has commenced, making itself
,anifest in the shape of au increase of juvenile
inperisiii. Many of those who have fur some
• a^s past been familiar with the class of poor em-
in the various parish stone-yards, have fre-
. .21y remarked that of late months the pro-
. on of yonths and young men resorting to this
...to of relief has exhibited a marked increase ;

•! When we find crowds of boys, numbers of
..!. an do not exceed the age of sixteen, busily
d in breaking piles of stone for the purpose
• :aMing a crust of bread, we may be sure that
is something which demands instant
:tu•n. Most of these lads are the off-

. !.f of habitual paupers, and, having be-
thoroughly imbued with the pauper
. hid fair to prove a permanent burden upon
Lral parishes. Their usually prematurely
• appearance and cowed demeanour aro pain-
. .u.2,gestive: Still more so is their general

ranee. And hero we would note the significant
.• that by far the larger proportion of the poor
• loy«l in the -toncyards are totally innocent
• !,ay hinny I. if the three R's—reading, 'riting,
s Ignorance has much more to do
of pauperism than many suppose.
I • :Hareth:tu .11,2 of the East-end parishes—in Beth-
iv. u for ex:tunae—the guardians are sedulously
..,oitring to make some little distinction be-
,he chronic and the exceptional cases of
This is usually effected by the ap-
t,. titi•nt of additional relieving officers and the
•.ti of the relief committee into two or more
IT which means every application for
tally investigated and decided upon acoord-
i• • iiierits —the deaerving cases being relieved
e liberal scale than those in which the app--
belong to the habitual-pauper class. In
the guardians have more than once ex-
their sense of the great advantage result-
. •iii the system adopted by them of making
J ants of money by way of assisting poor per-
ii entering upon their usual busmen's. This,
is a little contrary to poor-law routine,
u,t quite in accordance with the views
notnical writers, but exceptional cases demand
ptional treatment. The primary difficulty
stood—and yet stands—in the way of
,••otly dealing with East-end pauperism was the
notion of economy entertained by many
..fans. With the view of saving the rates the
...awe staff was invariably cut down to the
3t possible limit. But it would not do, and

i

tiino the system of underpaid and'over-
rked officers utterly broke down. It has proved
, expensive, opening a door for the perpetration
imposition on a wholesale scale. When a

'ieving ollicer has some hundreds of cases on his
.ka he has no time to ascertain which are genuine
1 which are false. Perceiving this, the Bethnal-
. .

,zuardians a few days since appointed three
..i.tional relieving officers. These had scarcely
.1 on the discharge of their duties before one
. .

'!.ciu detected nine cases of imposition in the
• ;rd alone. Other cases are daily being for-
',:tea out. This of course will place it in the
the guardians to more effectually relieve
ing poor, so far as their means will
- -Mill the difficulty over arises as to what

f),1,1

.1. ,TIC with the able-bodied paupers. During
1,,•• ;ew months stone sufficient to repair half
I • elways of the metropolis has been broken in
t 1,..md0n. The idea of emigrating to Canada
; tular with the more respectable poor, but
~r.• arc the means to come from? No, it will

1,,r them to dream of emigrating, so they put
t It Instals in their pockets and walk moodily and
rately to the parish stoneyard, there to
:le with and become contaminated by the mass
r thanism and savage vagabondage which is
a to be found therein. We visited one of

• )ards the other day. It was crowded with
and youths busily engaged—so long as the
• ,Ur master's eye was oneiot their respec-
t Leaps of stone ,some few being employed in dig-
' pit. Very little provision had been
for protecting them from the inclemency of
t',..ather, the usual shed not being sufficient to
n a quarter of the workers, of whom nearly
') had been employed during the week. Some of
tacu took their work very coolly. To them,
t some of the youths also, stone-breaking was
miparatively easy task, they having acquired
Le Peculiar knack of breaking the stone at a mingle

blow. Not so was it with others; and nothing !
could be more painful than to note the laborious
exertions of those unaccustomed to this kind of
task. Many of these appeared to be decent me-
chanics, one or two were evidently educated men,
but the brand of pauperism was ineffaceably
stamped alike on all. Suddenly the mid-day bell
sounded, and the next moment a large number of
the stone-breakers were rushing madly through the
gate, shouting and yelling as they tore along
towards the entrance to the out-door relief
office, where they furiously straggled, fought,
and kicked in their frantic endeavours to obtain
admittance each time the door was opened. These
were tho " regular" stone-breakers, and nothing
but the presence of a strong force of police is suffi-
cient 'it such times to maintain order at the gate of
the relieving office. The "regular" stonebreakers
are generally enabled to complete their task by the
middle of the day, the others have to labour on
through the afternoon. As soon as the relief-4d.
and half a loaf for unmarried men, and 6d: with a
whole loaf for the married—is obtained, the ma-
jority of the men adjourn to the various public-
houses in tho neighbourhood, where the money
relief soon disappears in the purchase of half-pints
of beer. In fact, largo numbers of the stone-
breakers live upon nothing but bread and beer.
In the workhouse itself a much better state of
things prevails. Notwithstanding all that has
been said respecting the condition of East London
workhouses, a great improvement in their internal
management and appearance has been perceptible
during the last few years, and were the ratepayers
a little more alive to their own interests these im-
provements would be yet more extensive. It is
the ratepayers rather than the guardians who ob-
struct the way. In Hackney workhouse, that visited
by us, very marked indeed was the change. In most of
the female wards the appearance of the rooms was
extremely cheerful. Thu walls were painted in
ter* tints of green, white blinds and green hanging
curtains were supplied to each window, neatly
painted cupboards stood beside each bed, and large
tires blazed in each grate. Tho walls were adorned
with large coloured prints, chiefly those published
with the Illustrated London News, and illuminated
texts in gilt frames. The ventilation of every room
was good, excellent lavatories and closet accommo-
dation being provided, and apparently nothing left
undone topromote, within certain reasonable limits,
the comfort of the inmates. In the men's wards
similar improvements were visible, although much
even hero remained to be done, the changes having
to be effected by degrees. Throughout the whole
building, which is of large size, being capable of
accommodating over 600 individuals according to
the new Poor-law regulations, Miss Nightingale
herself could scarcely suggest any improvements
so far as tho transformed wards of Hackney
workhouse aro concerned. Tho cost of the
alterations has been comparatively slight, while
the moral and physical gain has been immense.
The introduction of these ameliorative changes
was due in no small degree to the persistent exer-
tions of tho Rev. J. Godding, rector of Homerton.
Tho casual wards, too, are very different from
those which have brought such discredit upon Lam-
beth workhouse. They are situated in a separate
building, near the stone yard. The men's side
consists of a large and well-lighted room, paved
with stone, over which is a moveable wooden
framework to protect the feet of the inmates. On
each side of the apartment are the sleeping boxes,
each divided by low, stout partitions, and contain-
ing mattresses and warm coverlets. The women's
rooms are similar, save that the boxes are not
divided by partitions. Proper closet accommoda-
tion is duly provided, and the inmates are as com-
pletely sheltered from the weather as if they re-
sided in a private dwelling. Thu workhouse chil-
dren are maintained in a separate establishment at
Forest Gate, in Essex, the school-room having been
converted into a chapel. We mention these facts
to show that, notwithstanding the heavy pressure
of pauperism in East London and the compara-
tively limited resources of the ratepayers, several
of the beards of guardians have latterly displayed—
whether under the pressure of public opinion or
otherwise—an amount of enlightenment and liber-
ality for which they have hitherto received little or
no credit.

The council of King's College, London, have, it
is understood, accepted from the :kith of next June;Dr.
Jelf's resignation of the office of principal, and resolved
now to reeive names of candidates for the appointment.
The election will probably be made early in May.
We have been informed on authority that the
City special constables can obtain their staves on applies.
t,ion at the Police-station in Bow-lane, Cannon-street,
where there is a sufficient supply for the whole force. The
authorities will deliver them on the production of the
special's warrant.
The annual festival of the Hospital for Sick
Children will take place next Wednesday, when the chair
will be occupied by the Archbishop of York.
The annual meeting of the Geological Society
will be held at the apartments of the society in Boater
set-house, on Friday, at 1 o'clock. The President will
read an address, and the Fellows will elect their officers
for the year. . .

COLZEUZ OF PRWEPTOBB. —A meeting of the
council of this corporation was held on Saturday. The
diploma of fellow was conferred on Dr. Aldom, Solway-
house, Layton; and that of associate on Mr. H. ffitenthal
and Miss Millidge. Dr. Adrms, Rev. J. Griffith, Mr. C.
P. Mason, Mr. J. Reynolds, Mr. Templeton, the Rev. Dr.
West, and the Rev. Dr. Goodwin were elected members
of the council. The following persons were elected members
of the college :—Mr. J. Clark Mr. T. Dallison, 8.A., Mr.
C. Filer, Mrs. A. C. Rooroe, Dr. W. Clark, Mr. F. Todd,
Mr. J. Tomlimm, Mr. G. H. Denby, Mr. T. Howson, Mr.
W. Hogg, Dr. J. 8. Kirk, Mr. S. D. Rooms, and Mr. H.
J. Tayler.

SUICIDE OF • STOCKBROKER.—An inquest has
been held upon the body of Mr. Alfred Arrivabene, a City
stockbroker, who committed suicide in Quarry Wood, near
Great Marlow, by shooting himself with a six-chamber re-
volver. The verdict of the jury was, "Suicide by a
pistol shot from his own hand during a St of temporary
inunitV."

DARING ESCAPE PROM A POLICE STATION.—On
Friday night a prisoner named Bailey, who was in cus-
tody in the county police station, Guildford, on a most
serious charge, and who was to be brought before the
magistrates on the following morning, managed to swaps
from custody. It appears that the prisoner,.• man of
good manners and address, asked permission of inperinten-
dent I'arr to write a letter, and although it was ten
o'clock at night, that official allowed his prisoner to quit
the cell, and to go into the guard room, where paper was
provided for him. A constable was left in charge] with
instructions, when the prisoner had finished his writing, to
take him back to his cell. The officer with inexcusable
indiscretion, observing the man busily engaged in writing,
took the opportunity of quitting the room for a few
minutes. As soon as he was gone, the prisoner quie:'y
unlocked the door, went down the passage by the super-
intendent's apartments, unfastened the entrance door,
and so gained the yard. Arrived here the outer wall was
at once scaled, and the prisoner was free. It was fully
five minutes before the escape of the man was discovere&
A hue and cry was then raised, but although the neigh-
bourhood was scoured for miles not the least trace of the
missing man could be discovered. The prisoner is a moat
dangerous criminal, and for years by his affable manners
and adroit address has been successful in defrauding the
public.
ANOTHER MYsTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE FROM
HOMERSETSH IRE.—So one not resident amongst them can
conceive the intenee pain which hasbeen produced amongst
the inhabitants by the mysterious disappearance of the
Rev. Mr. Speke, or the feverish anxiety which is felt for
tidings regarding him. The great respect in which ho and
his family have been held has caused this feeling to pervade
all classes, from the mansion to the cottage. This feeling
has now been enhanced by the issue and circulation through
the towns and villages of placards announcing the mysteri-
ous disappearance of another person, a youth of
between 14 and 15 years of age, and inviting any informa-
tion that can be given regarding him. It would seem from
the particulars that have transpired that he was last seen
alive on Monday,' the 10th inst., at the Weston-super-
Mare station of the Bristol and Exeter Railway, where he
took a ticket for Bristol. From that time not the slightest
trace of him has been obtained. The mystery, as may be
supposed, has canoed the deepest pain to his &friends and
throughout the circle in which he was known, and his
relatives have caused to he published a very minute
description of his person and clothing. The linen, it
would seem, was marked " G. R. P. 8.," and there was a
family crest engraved on the case of him watch.
CALIDOINIAN RAILWAY. —The result of the poll
demanded at the special meeting of this company held
on Thursday, in Glasgow, was • majority of nearly four to
one for the board,

--)CirAIMILII- CHOKED BY AN IDYwria.—At Not-
tingham, on Saturday night, • farmer named Richard
Marshall, living at Wysa, went to an oyster stall in the
Market-plaoe. The first oyster was a very large one, sad
on attempting to bolt it it stuck in his throat, and ha was
unable to swallow it. After a vigorous effort to get rid of
it he fell to the ground gasping for breath. A crowd
gathered round end he was taken to the hospital, but
before arriving there he expired. The deceased was raw
risff, bad a largo fondly, and owned an entowelve isenuter

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(TIUS DAY.)

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.
After Term Nisi Prins Sittings ►t Quildh►ll.—(fletore
the Lord Chief Justice end ► Common Jury.)
BLUME' AND ►NOTHER V. NENKEN.

This was an action on a bill of exchange for 3.51., part
payment of a brougham, against Miss Elenken, the eels.
prated actress at Astley's, part heard on Saturday.
Mr. Prentice, Q.C., and Mr. Murphy appeared for the
pl
en aintiff ; Mr. Servant Parry and Mr. Joyce ware for the
defdant.

Mr. Pearce (formerly carrying on business in Long•acre
I with Mr. Countze, u coachbuilders)—The estimate was for
2201. All the articles were charged at a fair and reason-
' able price. The transaction was for ready money. He
' only made 124 per cent. on the transaction. There
was no reason to suppose that defendant disputed the
claim until the action was brought.
In cross-examination—Defendant was introduced to this
firm by Mr. E. T. Smith, of Astley's Theatre. Mr. Smith
did not give any order about tho brougham. All he did
waste Ingest one or two alterations which the defendant
adopted. He could not say if Mr. Smith suggested
the design. Mr. Smith bad introduced two
other customers. He suggested oval lights and
the hind part of the brougham. They had received alto-
gether from Miss Menken 306/. 3i. 6d. He never heard
defendant complain that the brougham was not properly
built, or that the silver mountings turned black and would
not bear cleaning. If there had been complaints they
would bare remedied them at once.

This was the plaintiff's cue.
Mr. Serjeant Parry, in stating the defendant's case, said
the defendant was placed at a great disadvantage in
this case, for unfortunately, like professionals, she did
not keep a particular account of her business
transactions. He denied the right of Mr. Polder, her
former secretary to bind her in any of these transac-
tions, and said with regard to the brougham it was
ordered at Mr. Smith's suggestion, and as a joint
advertisement for both whenever this lady win:
bells on her horses and rings on her fingers
drove through the streets of the Inetropol.. (I..upb-
, ter.) Mr. Smith gave all the directions with regard
Ito the ornaments. The brougham was badly btiaL, ;
let in the rain, and required alterations. It was
a remarkable fact that this brougham should require
repairs a month after it was delivered, to the
extent of over 14/. The unfortunate carriage wa
now in America, where it had cost an addi-
tional COl. for repair'. He should show that when tbi.
bill was given, Miss Menken bad paid more than enough
to cover it, but from the carriage being at the United
States he could not show how it was built.

[Ths case was proceeding when our report left.]

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn.)
PN RE CAWIELLI BROTHER/3.

The bankrupts, Stephen and Charles Castclli, were mei.-
' chants, of Gresham-house, Old Broad•street, and of Mau-
' cheater, trading as Castelli Brothers ; their liabilities
amount to 17,GOUL, against assets 2,0441.
This was an adjourned sitting for examination and
discharge.
Mr. lawrenee, for the assignees, slid not oppose ; Mr.
Bagley appeared for creditors, Mr. Sargood supported.
After a brief examination of the tankrupts, Mr. Bagley
said that the requisitions delivered to the bankrupts had
been answered satisfactorily. lie also admitted that no
opposition could be successfully urged against the bank-
rues receiving their orders of discharge.

His Honour- accordingly passed the examination, and
granted the order of discharge.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
(THIS DAY.;

The February adjourned general unions of the peace
for the county of Middlesex commenced this morning at the
Sessions-house, Clerkenwell-green, before the Assistant.
Judge, Mr. H. Pomoll (chairman of the court), and the
following magistrates : —Mr. H. Harwood, Mr. John Morley,
Mr. Henry Edwards, M.P., Mr. Woolsey, Mr. Roberts, Mr.
J. G. Pilcher, Dr. Jervis, Mr. Figgins, Mr. Baxter, Mr.
S. I'. Kennard, Mr. James Booking, Mr. Rankine, Idr. H.
Hughes, jun., Mr. llogartb, Captain D. O'Brien, ke.
Notwithstanding the vary short time that has elapsed
since the last session the calendar is again very heavy.
there being no leas than 112 prisoners committed
for trial besides those charged and committed,
but admitted to bail. All the prisoners, with eleven
exceptions, are indicted for felony, the rest with misde-
meanour. The offences consist of obtaining goods by false
pretences; robberies from the person, robberies from
the Great Western Railway Cora; .any, embezzle-
ment by servants, robberies of lead from the
Now Ricer Company, rvbbery from the Metropolitan
Railway Company ; moulting the police in the execution
of their duty ; robbery from the North London Railway
Company ; demanding by menaces and force certain sums
of money with intent to steal the nine ; robbery from the
Great Northern Railway Company, and many other such
offences. - -

-----
The grand jury having been sworn by fir. Rambelow,
the officer of the court, the assistant-judge briefly ad-
dressed them, and they retired to their room.
Jaynes Smith, John Philip Tajtn, and Francis Lamblon,
convicted last sessions of stealing 69 cigars, value 65.,
the property of Messrs. Emanuel Jones and Co., their
masters, were brought up for judgment.
These prisoners were not sentenced at the time of the
trial, to give them an opportunity of informing the prose-
cutors what they had done with a large amount of stolen
property. On being brought up this morning it was
stated that the prisoners refused to give any information.
The Assistant Judge sentenced each of them to be im-
prisoned and kept to bud labour for nine months.