Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-26 00:00:00

OF THE

WORKING CLASSES.

ADDRESSED TO THE WORKING CLASSES

THEMSELVES

PART FOURTH

CHAPTER SECOND

THE ELIZABETHAN ERA.—PRINCIPLE AND POLICY
OF THE POOR-LAWS CONSIDERED.
There is hardly any question of national interest
upon which there has been so much discussion, as
the poor laws ; and wherein the divided opinions of
individuals have so much wavered as on their
policy.
Having endeavoured in the previous chapter to
show the claims upon which the poor have a right
to be maintained by society, I shall now proceed
briefly to state these reasons, which appear to me
perfectly unanswerable, to establish the utility of a
compulsory poor-rate, as a branch of the civil' insti-
tutions of a well-ordered community. (1)
The first condition of any remedy for social
destitution, is, that it should be available and
adopted to the removal of the evil. It is true
that better habits in the people might perhaps
form a substitute for the poor-rate ; but then there
are other causes existing, such as defective
education, and irregularity of employment, by means
of which those habits do not exist, and wherein
such substitute consequently becomes wholly inap-
plicable. It is for existing evils that we must apply
remedies that are now applicable, not those applic-
able only to a state of society differently constituted
from the present. Were it possible that prudential
habits could be universally established, we might
trust to them for averting the evils of indigence ;
but then, until this is accomplished, we might as
well expect the filth and mire which accumulate in
our streets and highways to be removed without the
aid of the scavenger.
Society as it is at present constituted, must
necessarily generate a mass of destitution. This
arises from various causes, such as from changes of
the seasons, from disease, old age, orphanage,
infirmities of nature, vice and improvidence. Part
of this destitution may be foreseen, and provided
against ; part of it results from calamities which no
forethought could avert. The question, however,
is not as to its origin, but as to the best mode of
dealing with it. So long as society exists in its
present form, or any other of which the world has
had experience, the poor form an inseparable adjunct
to it, and how they can best be dealt with is the
question for consideration.
Where there is no public provision for the relief of
indigence, it would be inconsistent with humanity to
deny to the wretched the liberty of craving alms
from their more fortunate fellow-creatures. The
conservation of society, as I have previously ex-
plained, demands that neither ignorance of the laws,
nor the pressure of want, shall justify their viola-
tion ; and no man, however urgent his necessities,
can, with impunity, seize the property of another ;
but surely it would be a great stretch of this
principle, unwarranted by the same social interests,
to interdict to distress what charity may be disposed
voluntarily to bestow ! One is a crime of the deepest
dye ; the other, in its own nature, scarcely appears a
crime at all, and can only be so construed from the
necessity of its exercise having been superseded by
~ Unless distress be allowed openly
neither its intensity nor its extent
can be known; measures of alleviation will not be
adopted—its origin investigated ; nor can these
salutary reflections be excited in the beholder,
tending to warn him from errors by which the
calamities of others have been produced.
In England, however, all these reasons for the
open toleration of MENDICITY have been superseded.
The institution of poor-laws dispenses with all
pretext for begging for subsistance. Every English-
man has his parish, and every parish is bound to
find work or food for those unable to get employ-
ment ; to bring up to useful trades the children of
the destitute ; and to provide for the lame, impotent,
blind, and others, being poor and unable to provide
for themselves.
Under these humane provisions, the rich and poor
are bound up in a common fate, and reciprocal ties
of obligation ; neither prosperity nor adversity can
visit one without operating a corresponding influence
on the other ; the rich have an interest paramount
to the poor themselves, in every circumstance in-
fluencing their condition ; and with their numbers,
employments, education, improvidence, and vices,
they are necessitated to feel a concern, and apply to
their consideration, whatever superior knowledge or
forethought they possess, in order to the paramount
security of their own enjoyment.
It is clear that either mendicity, open and tolerated,
or poor-rates is the only alternative. In a manu-
facturing community like England, where the
demand for labour is subject to great and increasing
fluctuations, the consequence of the former, in the
absence of poor-laws would be frightful to contem-
, To the cases of real distress in our streets,
would be superadded an immense mass of imposture,

civil institution

detection and exposure, would increase to
extraordinary extent. But under the poor-lam

au Englishman does not need the public
exhibition of distress, to be apprised of its
existence ; he knows it from the amount

of his poor assessment, and thus, without the spectacle
of want and wretchedness in the public thoroughfares,
he is possessed, as has been remarked, "of an in-
fallible barometer" for ascertaining the condition of
his less fortunate fellow-creatures.

In the absence of public provision for the poor,
it cannot be supposed no efforts would be made for

BRIGHT I AND " THE " BUTTERMAN !

Villikins and his Dinah.")

THE NORTHIRN TIMES, SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1859.

house, charitable bequests from the dying would
be solicited. . All this would be done without
co-operation, without uniformity of principle,
without responsibility ; and the consequences
would be, an inconceivable amount of fraud and
mismanagement ; the waste, labour, and expense
would be greater than under the existing system of
assessment ; and what would be worse, as the exer-
tions and sacrifices were voluntary, the burden would
fall exclusively on the benevolent, while the reckless
and hard-hearted would be exempt from all contri-
bution, either in purse or person.
It is an error which I have before referred to, to
suppose either that the poor laws encourage an
improvidence which would not prevail in the absence
of such an institution, or that the absence of them
would call into exercise an increase of prudence not
before in operation. The class to whom the poor
laws are available, and for whom, in truth, they are
intended, are never influenced by prospective consi-
derations, they neither look backwards nor forwards;
they form no useful resolves for the future from expe-
rience of the past, for they are equally regardless
of both. It is among the working classes as it is
indeed among every other class of the community, a
certain portion of them are wholly reckless of con-
sequences ; either from defect of education, or defect
of nature, they have no habits of calculation or
forethought ; they live every day as if it were their
last, and never think what to-morrow may bring
forth. This description does not apply to the whole
of the working, any more than to the whole of the
middle or upper classes of society. (2) Perhaps of the
entire class of operatives and labourers, not more
than one-fourth ever burden the parish at all ; the
remainder, by superior economy, management, and
saving, make a provision for all the casualties to
which they are exposed from sickness, age, or want
of employment. It is not for these,the poor-laws
were designed, but for the smaller portion who are
unfortunately not endowed with similar habits, and
whose existence in society is wholly uninfluenced by
the poor-laws, but for whom I think it is better a
compulsory provision should be made, than they
should be left to resort to those extremities which
without it would be their only resource.
[These articles being Copyright, the Author reserves
to himself the privilege of further publication or trans-
lation.]

flavoiu of the Leaf.

GOLDEN SHAG,

VIRGINIA BIRD EYE,

LATAKIA,

(2.) "It is very strange," says a writer, "but the affluent
often live under more constant apprehension of want than
the needy. The apprehension of loss of rank in society,
for instance, is more trouble to the wealthy, than the appre-
hension of famine to the indigent. Rich men often destroy.
themselves rather than part with their carriages and cham-
pagne ; but the poor lose their mutton, their beer, and even
their bed from under them, and live on. Want dulls the
faculties ; habit accustoms to privations. The evils of
foverty do not appal those who have endured these evils
rom infancy. It is the pressure of actual, not the dread
of prospective evil, that absorbs the attention of the poor,
and forms the incentive to industry."

HAVANA,

Oh ! 'tis of a famed merchant who in Liverpool does dwell,
Who supply folks with Butter who want it to sell ;
His name it is Kelly, you scarce need be told,
Whose Butter is worth all your silver and gold.
Singin'—Butter-li—Buttt r-li—Butter-li-day.

As Kelly was weighing out Butter one day, •
In walks REFORM BRIGHT, and to him did say,
Come leave yont shop Kelly, and with me away,
And I'll find you a place with no work and good pay.
Singne—Butter-li—Butter-li—Butter-li-day.
Oh! no, my brave BRIGHT, that wont suit my mind,
For to" cut my " old place" I do not feel inclined,
So to you the good pay I will gladly make o'er,
To serve England with Butter a year or two more.
Singin'—Butter-h—Butter-li—Butter-li-day
That's a good noble Kelly - then John Bright replied,
You're a " Brick," my old buck," and not to be bribed;
So, in order your Butter to put to the test,
Send me weekly, henceforward a ton of your best.
oiugur —mutter-n—BuLGer-u—xsul. cer-u-u4y

CUT CAVENDISH,

IN SIXPENNY LEADFOIL PACKETS,

Bearing the Signature of COPE BROTHERS and CO.,

t the Factory,

LORD NELSON-STREET.

Public Amusements.

LW POSITIVELY THE LAST SEVEN NIGHTS of
MADAME CELESTE,

Night of her Engagement.

Further Particulars to be Announced

COPE'S PACKET TOBACCOS
nanufastured by a patent process, which preserves the natural

Can be had at the Tobacconists in town and country ; or wholesale

ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE
GREAT CHARLOTTE-STREET.
Proprietor Mr. W. R. COPELAND.

She having to appear at the Theatre Royal, Birmingham, on

Monday, April 4th.
In consequence of the great success of the new Drama, by John
Oxenford, Esq., THE LAST HOPE, it will be repeated this
Evening.
THIS EVENING (SATURDAY), the 26th instant,
THE LAST HOPE,
Marie.. (her original character) . Madame Celeste.
To conclude with, for the last time,
THE FRENCH SPY.
Victoire de Meria .............Madame Celeste!
Henri St. Aime
Hamet ..

On Monday next, will be produced the startling Drama, from
Cooper's celebrated novel of " The Borderers," entitled,
THE WEPT OF THE WISH-TON-WISH.
Narramatagh.... .. (the Indian Girl)., ....Madame Celeste.
_ As originally performed by her.

.-•
To conclude with, for the last time,
THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER.
The Mysterious Stranger .....Madame Celeste !
Cartouche, a wild French boy.. Madame Celeste ! !
Italian Prima Donna ...Madame Celeste ! 1 !
Polish Princess Madame Celeste I 1 ! !
Young French Officer
On Tuesday,— THE LAST HOPE.
Marie.. (her original character) ..Madame Celeste.
And ST. MARY'S EVE.
Madeline . (her original character).. Madame Celeste. ,
On Wednesday,—
THE WEPT OF THE WISH-TON-WISH.
Narramatagh.... .. (the Indian Gir1)...... Madame Celeste.
And, for the last time,
A SISTER'S SACRIFICE.
Genevieve. Madame Celeste.
On Thursday,— THE LAST HOPE.
Marie Madame Celeste.
With other Entertainments.
On Friday,—For the BENEFIT of Madame CELESTE, and the
Last Night but One of her Engrgement,
MARION DE LORME.
Marion de Lorme Madame Celeste.
And THE LITTLE SUTLER.
Natalie
On Saturday,— GREEN BUSHES.
Miami _ _ Madame Celeste.

With other Entertainments,
In which Madame Celeste will appear, being positively the Last

Doors opened at Half-past Six, and the Performances commence
at Seven o'clock precisely.
Admission :—Dress Boxes, 3s. ; Side Boxes, 2s. ed. ; Pit, Is. 6d. ;
Gallery, 6d. Second Prite—Dress Boxes 2s. ; Side Boxes, ls. 6d. ;
Pit, ls.
The Box-office is open from Ten to Three for securing Seats in
the Dress Circle and taking Private Boxes, which may be had
under the direction of Mr. Geo. Weston.

FOR FOUR NIGHTS AT HOPE HALL.
15TH,0
18TH,1 20TH,.
N E S
AI R • T.
34 A
RILI2Ttt,-

FAREWELL NIGHTS!!!

MUST POSITIVELY CLOSE ON FRIDAY, APRIL IST

Great Fashionable Night, MONDAY, March 28th, being for
The BENEFIT of
MR. JOHN MILTON HENGLER.
The eminent Rope Artiste.

His cele'orated
FRENCH CLOG
_HORNPIPE;

CHASE, as also of that gorgeous Equestrian Pageant,
THE HAVELOCK TRIUMPH!!!

THE BEAR AND SENTINEL

gratratts.

HENGLER'S GRAND CIRQUE.
DALE-STREET, LIVERPOOL.

THE LAST
GRAND MID-DAY PERFORMANCE, THIS DAY (SATURDAY),
At Half-past Two o'clock. Doors open at Two.

On this occasion Mr. Hengler will, on the Corde Tension, execute

Also, Dance with his Feet Fastened in Wicker Baskets ; terminat-
ing by playing the Violin during the time of Somersault Throw-
ing, all which feats he had the honour of performing before the
KING OF DENMARK (last July), and the PRINCE NAPOLEON
and the Parisian Nobility (last September).
LAST TWO NIGHTS of the GREAT NATIONAL STEEPLE-
.

Revival (by particular desire) the Comic Burlesque entitled

Each Evening the magnificent Equestrian Tableaux by Eight
Ladies and gentlemen entitled
THE STAR AND WALTZ COTILLON.
Mr. WILLIAM POWELL, will for the last time appear as
SHAW, THE LIFE GUARDSMAN.

The Brothers ETHAIR, the Champion Gymnaists, in their various
and extraordinary exercises.

Miss WELLS, the Queen of the Arena, will nightly delight visitors
with her graceful and electrifying acts.
LE PETITE ZEPHORA, in her daring act of Equitation. Tne
grace, ease, and daring of this prodigy is, beyond doubt, without
parallel in the equestrian world.
THIS EVENING, Magnificent SCENES in the ARENA, by the
largest and most Talented Company of Artistes in the World,
including Miss WELLS, the Sylph of the Circle.

PRICES OP ADMISSION.
Stalls, or Reserved Seats
Boxes 2s Od.
Second Seats, Pit, or Promenade
Gallery
Half-price for Children under twelve years of age, to Stalls, Boxes

and Second Seats.
Second Price at Nine o'clock to Boxes and Stalls only.
Equestrian Directors—Mr. Felix Revolti and Mr. Wild.
Acting Manager, Mr. Charles Bishop.
Proprietor and Director Mr. CHAS. HENGLER