The Express.
London, England, 1868-01-10 00:00:00

EAST-END DISTRESS•
The following letter has been addressed by the
Poor-law Board to Immoral of the metropolitan parishes is

the east end of London :
" Poor-law Board, Jan. 9, 1!4:s.
" Bir,—Mr. Corbett, one of the Metropolitan Poor-law
Inspectors, ham been in communication with the guardians
of the metropolitan unions and parishes in the east end of
London in reference to the distress now prevalent there,
and has made a report to the board on the subject, from
which they regret to observe the rapid and serious increase
which has taken place in the number of a licantsforrelief,
and the amount of the relief to them.
" The board are of opinion that the viciasitudes of the
'masons which create rather &temporary suspension of work
than an actual permanent diminution of employment, ought
not neossaarily to cause able-hodied persons to have imme-
diate recourse to the poor-rates ; but when, through a 104
continuance of inclement weather, their resources are ex-
hausted, or from other causes thee have become destitute
it will be the unquestionable duty of the guardians t,
afford them necessary and adequate relief.
The board are aware that the guardians of the unions
and parishes where the distress principally exists have re-
cently been actively engaged in making arrangements for
the supply of such relief as is now required, and for any
increase of destitution which the continued cessation of
out-door employment may occasion.
" The board are also aware that, in addition to the
efforts of the guardians, the existence of diabase similar to
that which now prevails invariably calls forth prompt
charitable assistance ; but the board ceisaider that unle,c
a sound and vigilant discrimination is exercised in
affording such assistance it is only calculated to increase
indefinitely the number of applicants for relief, and to
encourage improvidence and imposture. The board ex-
mu+, therefore, a confident hope that the agents who un-
dertake the distribution of the charitable funds subscribed
will, even for the sake of the poor themselves, exercise duo
vigilance, and not indiscriminately or without careful in-
quiry extend relief to everyone who may represent
himself as destitute. These charitable funds will probably
be most advantageously supplied to a class of persons who
in ordinary times do not need resistance from the poor.
rates, but who, either from the stoppage of their usual
means of employment or other circumstances, are tempo-
rarity unable to procure what their present necessities
re'ure'
The board are informed by Mr. Corbett that he has
suggested to the guardians to make such addition to
the staff of relieving officers in each union as may in-
sure a prompt investigation of all applications for re. '
lief and a frequent visitation of the homes of those re.
hewed; to provide in each union employment of more
than one description, and in more than one locality,
where all able-bodied male applicants for relief may
be set to work under due supervision and according
to their ability ; to take care that the relief thus given
is proportioned to the actual necessities of each case, acrd
not regulated upon a mere wages scale, according to tho
amount of work done ; and that each able-bodied person
thus relieved should be required to work for a given num•
ber of hours, or to perform a given task of work, whatever
may be the amount of relief to which he may be considered
entitled.
" Mr. Corbett has also suggested the formation of com-
mittees of the guardians with a view to ascertain an I ar•
range modes of work and places of employment, and, when
necessary, committees for hearing applic dims for relief at
one or more planes in the union, or at the board-room and
general offices of the guardians OR more than one day in
the week.
With regard to the kind of work to be provided, Mt.
I Corbett, in reference to stonebreaking, states that, as is
Poplar, for instance, where the cost of the unbroken granite
is said to be greater than the prior obtainable for the stone,
he has advised the guardians to suggest to the district
I Board of Works that they should supply unbroken stone,
and cart it away when broken, the guardians incurring uo
expense, and charging nothing for breaking.
" Mr. Corbett adds :
" ' Wood-cutting and, when the frost breaks up, digging
and wheeling gravel have been among the task. 1 have
suggested for men, and I have also mentioned that ghat
advantage resulted in Manchester, Glossop, and other
places in the manufacturing districts during the cotton
famine from the employment of adult females in receipt
of relief in sewing, knitting, and cutting out and waking
up clothing, a stock of material. being provided by
guardians, and a female superintendent of labour brill;
appointed by them, and that arrangement. might also le
made with the managers of the parochial and other schools
in each union to receive during the day the children of all
persons in receipt of relief. It would be also expedient,
that the able-bodied applicants for relief should be ease.
fled, and a list of their names rind trades supplied by the
clerk to the principal employers of labour in the district,
so that the men set to work by the guardians might not
lose an opportunity of obis Ming independent einployment.'
" The board strongly urge upon the swindle,, the adop-
tion of the whole of these suggestions, and particularly the
immediate appointment of additional officers to check im-
position on the one hand, and to insure prompt awl ade-
quate relief to the really destitute on the other, and the
provision and enforcement of suitable tasks of work under
efficient superintendence in return for the relief afforded
to all able-bodied persons.
" The hoard also recommend that, as far as may he
practicable, recourse shall be hail, particularly in the case
of single able-bodied persona, to the mean+ of relief pie-
vhled in the workhouse or other temporary building pro.
videil for the purpoae, where food, shelter, and clothing,
sal, indeed, all that the necessities of the destitute may re-
.luire, maybe at once obtained. In those canes in which the
workhouse is not applicable the board are of opinion that a
distribution of bread, soup, and fuel is the hest means in
which at once relief can be given, and they recommend that
arrangement. should accordingly be made by the guardians
for providing either at the workhouse, or, if necessary, at
other depots, such supplies of these articles as may be
necessary.
" The amount of relief to be afforded is confided by the
law exclusively to the guardians ; but the board cannot
doubt that it will be given on such • scale as adequately
to supply the necessities of each applicant, at the
time that every proper precaution is takeu to protect tho
funds of the ratepayers.
" The board direct me to add that the guardians and
their officers may fully rely upon the cordial support of
this board in a firm and enlightened administ.ation of the
law, and that the board will be at all times prepared to
advise the guardians on any emergency, and to afford
them, whenever requisite, the personal assistance of their
metropolitan inspectors, Mr. Corbett and Dr. Markham.
—I am, la., _ "H. FITIIINt: Secretary."
To the Clerk to the Guardians of Gegulk-green."

- - -
APPREHENSION OF TWO SEAMEN eon SUPPOs/D
FENIANISII AT DEVONPOST.--Considerable consternation
WAS created in Davenport yesterday by a rumour being
sliest in well-informed naval circle., that two seamen
belonging to H.M.S. Canopus, Captain I.:. Napier, now
stationed off thirGan.whart, in Banknote, had been appre-
hended for complicity in the Fenian movement. As
however, from various motives, the authorities have
caused the matter to be kept as secret as
possible, the information that can be obtained is very
slight, although there is no reason for the slightest
doubt being entertained that a discovery has been made
which may eventually lead to something more important
in connection with } enianism. It .ipeoirs that on Tues-
day, at midnight, two sailors belonging to the Canopus
were apprehended whilst on shore by a guard from the
same ship, it being supposed from various cirmanuitanees
that had recently transpired that they were in possession
of some explosive material' which they internist
to make use of for an unlawful purpose. On the
arrival of the men on board their hummocks end several
other places which it was conceived could be used for the
parrots, of concealment, were searched ; and the men
themselves instead of being put in irons in the usual way
were confined in separate cells, so that they could not pos-
sibly communicate with eachother. Nothing further has
since tranaldred, but what has occurred shows that it is
necessary the authorities should not relax the stringent
precautionsi7 meuures they have caused to be taken foe
the protection of the public against the committal of any
outrage that easy be contemplated by unscrupulous men.
Western Deify Mercury.
FENIANIsM AT SWINDON.—The very unecalaitt
truth has within the lsat few days been brought to
ght
that Fenianion has for some time pest secretlyexistol
among some of the factory operatives at New Swindee,
and that meetings of paeans favourable to that dan-
gerous conspiracy have been held at private houses, and
also at • beer-house kept by en Irishman in that locality.
There is, perhaps, no class of men whose oomplicity with
a secret organisation of this kind is odculated to cause
more uneasiness than the men by whom our railway
system is worked, and on whose fidelity to the trust
resed in them the safety of the lives of the public so
much depends. Theoare idea of an organised plot
throughout the Great Western system from London to
Bristol and the west may well fill the iniuds of the autho-
rities with apprehension, and it is stated that such an
organisation does exist. We are not therefore surprised
at the uneasiness which is being manifested by the Great
Western Company at the position of affairs, and at the
precautions which are being taken to prevent disasters
which, in the event of • disturbance breaking oat
in any particular town upon the line Isar tae
Bristol, for instance), might be attended with
most calamitous results. A large 2111Mber of special
constables will be sworn in to-day at Swindon, and one
hundred of the company's picked men will be set upon the
watch, in addition to the porters, guards, and ;ohm upon
the line—the services of all of whom !rill
he oihed into re.
quirition, and the men be "worn to giv immediate infor-
mation in the event of any suspicious circumstance come%
' under their notice. It la not numbers of there need
be muse for alarm, but where a system of }Seisms=
is established in a place it serves as a link in the
communication with heed quarters. and it is the
mischief which a few may do in this way that Gee
maims apprehension. Nor is it Fenians alone from
whom danger may be apprehended in case et • sudden
disturbanse. There me • large number of vagabond' sad
atiorld.adthvegtoeseissapir::
of
ling cheat
plans b :as the
ea
and
ya country,
disorderhr
ow o 401 g b eh
gt only
f sio c°
sad other are quite as much oanger twin
bdowod been taken to
Fenian'. SIM ye, we WS
.0 the Great Western
protest not only the works
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