The National Register.
London, England, 1814-10-16 00:00:00

656

such a tale as perchance might wise the furious indignation
of the zealot and bigot, but must excite compassion and
sympathy in the breast of the true Christian, and man of
humanity. The tale of prostitution is generally this, that
some licentious tentleman rake, seduced the beautiful young
gill—then he deserted her—her friends became ashamed of
her, and turned their backs—thus she lost her character, and
au; she was thrown upon the wide world less merciless than
they.—Good God! One would think that if any scene of
human misfortune was calculated to excite every emotion of
it and svmeatliv in the human breast, it would he that,
where one of the inot c amiable and weaker sex was thus be-
trayed, by the yillaimmy of man, to experience the sudden loss
of all the endearments of social life for ever ! lam convinced
that the loss of character, induced by one imprudent step,
presents the most insuperable bar to a reinstatement in re-
spectalde and friendly association. And, so long as this
met cilese maxim remains prevalent as it does, the unfortu-
nate female is necessitated to associate with such as are alike
&setter% and perhaps mote abandoned than herself. This
hardhearted maxim is maintained with the greatest severity
ammigst those who ate accounted religious people; they are
more implarable and inexorable than others, as if they
thought they were serving God by executing his ven-
geance and forgetting his mercy. How opposite to time
gracious example of the saviour of mankind, who, in a
case of far more inveterate guilt, mildly pronounced,
66 Woman, go, and sin no more." But let blind and
furious bigots act as they will, the signal benefe; re-
sulting from a different conduct, in the exercise of friend
ship and kindness towards such objects, arc too mani-
fest to leave a doubt of their rectitude. Numerous arc the
instaaees in which by the kind interference of benevolent
arid compassionate individuals, such unfortunate young
women have been restored to their ft lends and to a respecta-
ble course of life : in other cases where a strong persuasion
has existed, that the parties loathed their habits (and this is
generally the case) and wet e desirous of conducting thsni-
selves with propriety, a character founded on fotmer ac-
iluaintatice, has been given them to ob:ain places of servi-
tude, which they have been so far from disgracing, that they
It the turned out well ever after. That neixim of the an-
cients, " Nano repent,- grit turpissimus," No one becomes
suddenly very wicked, is very applicable to their case, and
Nhould excite early assistance, before a continuance in bad
habits has increasingly vitiated the mind. But what lan-
guage can descrie the innate pleasure resulting from such
soul-saving and health-saving endeavours ; and were they
more general, the pursuit of prostitution would be %Yonder-
fully diminished, far beyond what can be effected by the
Magdalen or the Penitential y House, whose capabilities go a
very little way. The plan suggested would constitute an
Universal Penitentiary School, in which every one might be
assisting, to which no limits could be fixed and proportioned
to the extent of the calamity.
But it 'would be improper in this place not to allude to
another cause, which' predisposes 'many young females to me-
son to the streets, viz. time want of places and employment.
It is too true a maxim in the experience of every one, '6 that
necessity has no law ;" neither can persons starve. I have
been credibly informed by a Spitallields weaver, that some
time ago, when the silk looms were much stagnated, that he
was shocked at seeing so many young girls, whom he had
personally known to be industrious and of decent conduct,
resorting to the streets to seek a livelihood in this disagree-
able way. fle assured me he was certain they did not. take
to it from choice. The same cause in whatever way employ-
tuens is taken away, is likely to produce the Mlle effect.

6.

This preseots a still stronger case for hi r 61mrniseratinn, if
possible, than the f. rmer ; and I wish to make an appeal on
their behalf, particulatly to those who think they are very
good people, because they subscribe to Bible Societies, and
to Schools for the Education of the Poor, which are Com-
mendable eneleaYours in themselves, whether such a subject
as this, is not worthy also to cl:iitn their consideration and,
exertions. For I may tell them, if profitable employment is
decreased so, that an increasing number of young people
are thrown into idleness and want, in vain will be your edu-
cation, and Your Bible also in vain, as is manifest i►► the
distribution of the latter, being in grelA measure stopped in
London, because they were either sent to the pawnbrokers
or booksellers, to get bread. I fear the lines of an Englith
Poet, are too applicable on this Occasion

" Minded nirri,,lay Sherlock by,
His dlictrine iS deceiving ;
For while he teaches n, to d,e7
lic robs u. Of our

in-
In illustration of this point, anti not I hope from anv
vidion, motive, I will here relate a circumstance to which I
w.ts witness, that at least shows the Ilan ow and inadequate
views of some Metabers of the Bible I hope n•A of
ail. Passing by a chapel lately in the evening, curiosity led
me into it; I found it was a nitcting of the Bible Society of
a large palish, to which the poor wcic si.ecially invited.
(hie of the orators of the Coirmittee haranguing
in
glowing colours on the yalt bc.lefits o ttx Bible Society,
and recommending the poor in particuiar to aid it will) their
contributions, which Rica was much applati,h,:l by his bre-
thren of the Committee, but by ftw besidt4. At leng!h he
hit upon the poor rates, which lie represented so increasingly
heavy and burdensome upon the rich, th;:t he had formed a
plan for doing them awa‘. altoge'ber. Every one, like my-
self, stood aghast at this propocition; and as he had so come
pletely shocked my common sense, 1 kft the Bible Assem-
bly and walked home, ruminating on the various inot;ces
which may actuate men to seemingly good actions. Let me
remind these well-intentioned gentlemen of the Bible So-
ciety, and subserihers for the belief of Foreign Distress, of
the great number of persons who loose their senses by the
title! ciretuustaneeb of the times. If they will give them•
selves the trouble to investigate the cast` in Bedlam, St.
Luke,, and the Private Mad houses, they will find no other
cause is so prolific a source whereby persons become inha-
bitants of those dreadful receptacles; and that this r,:eatest
of maladies has increased in England just in proportion to
the increased distress of the times. This is a subject which
would give scope to their benevolence and charity.. But
fear political consideiations dispose them to blink such in-
quiries. Nevertheless I shall not be deterred lion) deve-
loping the whole tale of woe. What do they think of the
great increase of deaths by consumption, as stated in the
weekly bills of mortality ? Though at all tunes this disrase
has been accounted peculiarly being little I.:newn
by the natinis on the continent, let the gt eat inerme of
deaths by it, for two or three years past, is too striking nut
to be noticed. Seventy deaths per week is stated as the
mortality in the London weekly Nils and when it is con-
sidered that a majority of the poor are interred in pt irate
ground, to save expence, and that these are not returned as
deaths to the Clerk's office, because no fee is paid. Seeing
also about one-third of the population of the metropolis is
not included within the bills of mortality ; it will swear
that not less than 900 persons die in London week'!' by con'
sumptioPs alone, 'which makes iO,OOO deaths annually ! !
If the gentlemen want to know how this happens, they may
be referred to the Physicians to the Dispensaries, who *lll

OCT. 16.

tell them, that a great proportion of their patients require
food more than medicines, and that they sink under their
disovers. I believe the late uring poor of London and of
England work hat der than the labouring class of any other
country. It must be evident than they especially stend in
need of adequate subsistence. Other similar topics might
be enlarged upon, but it is conceived enough has been cited
both to rouse our feelings and convince ow understandings
of the magnitude of the evil attempted to be exposed. It
is an evil without parallel, and I wish it may be found, as is
thought by some, that our charity is also so. It must be ad-
mitted. to be of sufficient importance to claim the most se-,
riot's attention of the benevolent and well-disposed. I shall,
now, therefore, hint at what appear tome to be the pre dis-
posing causes which induce such a lamentable state of things.l
The most prominent is the rapacious system of monopoly in
the tiecest•aries of life. The spirit of trade and money get.
ting, whit h might be a blessing. for want of due regu:atioes
may become the • hiefest curse to a country. Our ancestors
by establishing the assize and salutary laws against regratiegi
and forestalling, evinced their sense of the necessity of the
public being protected against the rapacity of rich indivi I
duals : and it has been the bane of the community, and no !
proof of the improved wisdom of the present age, that such
good and wise maxims have been discarded and become al- ;
most obsolete. Let us now see what good or evil the mono-
polies in the necessaries of life hr ing upon the public.
Only a few years ago. in the great article of coals, the ships !
were obliged by law to be-brought to market and sold. within
10 dais of heir arrival in the Pool Bv an artatigement
between the coal owners and the late Mr. Pitt, that salts aryl
regulation was set aide, whereby the coal met chant could j
feed the great market of London, as he thought fit, and b)
opening the dour for speculation, the nett ssary artic:e of
coals has been dearer ever since. It is notorious that in the
great article of fish, which might be brought to London in
such abundance, ds considerably to reduce the price of meat,
and afford employ to thousands of seafaring people, a mis-
taken monopoly inteteepts the supply intended by Providence
and our insular situation; and, I am credibly informed that
the bounty on Fisls, intended by our ancestors to encourage
its being brought to London, has, not a great while since,
been withdrawn by Government, under some pretence
This is as impolitic as it is base. In the necessary article of',
of porter, the imposition of its present exorbitant price above
what would allow the brewers a fair profit is ackoeledged
all, but it is so monstrous and capable of such clear detection,
I shall enter into it rather more minutely It is extraor-
dinary that Government does not interfere, as the very high li
of porter, by lessening its consumption, injures the revenue .!
considerably,and benefits only the brewer. That ahout
twelve of the principal brewers in London, should sell their
ceinmodity for neatly half a million per annum (and drawn
from the hard earnings of the poor) More than is necessary to I
allow them a fair trading profit, would appear an assertion
almost incredible at.cl Impossible; but, that it is so, 1 submit
the following catcuL ion, which, I believe, cannot he con I
If Loudon and its environs contatus macs million of
inhabitants, there will be 80,(.00 note families, these sup-1
re:ed to use .t n averge pots of porter per day, at tivo-11
Pence per put higher prit e, than should be by the rely ive
price of malt and hops now, to what they were when porter
was raised to five pence letlfpenny per pot, is 10001. pei hay,
10,5001. per week, arid .546,n001. ter annum. • Now two
and four pence per week saved to a poor labouring I
man, whose-earnings may be eiehteen or twenty shillings per
week., is no hie insidetable matter ; it would buy bread to sus-
t3in two of his children. But what hope-of redress is there for

657

11 this shameful imposition. The publican being tenant to the
brewer can neither act in his own defence nor that of the pub-
tic; competition there is none. and the putylic appear doomed
to submit to this grievance as long as these high and mighty
brewers think fit they shall. There is.no bounds to one
execration at the infamy of those English Nabobs, Sir T.
Rumbald, Sir F. Sikes, &c. whe by monopolies of rice,
starved to death millions of the natives of the East Indic s;
but I would appeal to the common sense of every one, thAt if
the imposition alluded to is not so excessive in turpitude, vet
it must be admitted to be a species of the saute crime, only
(hating in degree, and that that degree is exceedingly in-
juri..us and oppressive will not be denied by. the candid. -
The Gentlemen of the Bible Society may he reminded of a
well known lassage in that good Book, " lle Ow withhold-
eth the coon, the people shall curse him." But withdolding
beer at its due and proper !nice, is withholding the corn,
from which beer is made. I might detail alike mischievous
effecos from monopolies in other necessaries of life, as tallow,
sugar, &c.: but it is conceived, enough has been exposed,
to remove every doubt of time evil tendency of such mot:opo
lies. And can we wonder, that multitudes are kaving.the
home,
island in search of a better or that their general lan-
guage should be, " are we to stay here to work for umonopo-
lists?" In short, it is so serious a grievance, that every
man who wishes for the prosperity of his native coun-
try, must be c:)nvinced of the necessity of its-investigation
and remedy. For should it continue, nothing is more likely
to effect the absolute ruin of the country. Therefore, before
it is too late, I wish to give a cacti .n and warning of the sad
impending consequences ; particularly to those to whom I
have before alluded, who, having shewn evidences of a cone
cern for the public welfare, I would impress these considera-
tions as more v;tally important than any thing they have un-
dertaken. May it never be said, with all your benevolence

and sympathy Vr foreigners, you have neglected your own
child, en ; your virtues have been shallow and 1110IC political
than real. Let me remind them, that honest• and integi ity

cannot be dispensed with, as not being Christian graces a►id
Christian duties. These council us "to speak every man

the truth to his neignbour; and it will not be an excuse for
us in ow downfall, that certain truths were so painful to a

pertain description of great men, we were deterted float their
expression or prosecution. The liberties of England, hot-h
eiv,i and religious, would nevei have been obtained, if your
forefathers had yielded to such timidity. We appear to be
in the crisis of our fate. The inordinate love of money is
the root of our misery Let us have the magnanimity to ac-
knowled4;e and declare it, and our be,loved country may still
be saved

SCRUTATOR.

FORkIGN 114.1.LIGENCE.

FRENCH PAPER&

~,_.

PARIS, OCT. 7.—Die most recent letters from Vienna inrorm 114
that the op% ultog of tit'e Congress will take place without delay.
We utiy,-tilerefore,-ii%dailge all the hive, which the convociitiou
of
thatAssenittay has excited. IVe may indulge them *Wn't anxiety,
an:l without apprehension. -Europe has haul the experience of long
cainmaties, ano•feels the. want of repose. The late trials %%Inca site
has 1111 gone' could nut tail to destroy civilirition or to forward its
.litriturity 'tali• last result they have produced it) a manimr woolly
linexpe. ted, but liaglify tavouraole for the tranquillity of the °LW.
Grr~uauy. ,o long toin to pieces by warrand ambition, divitiet!, gw a
awa., mod tuken nackat tile pleasuie and caprice of a compere. ;
tiriirivtql of all t e resources of the social state, and even the
olroongs of instruetioi., which the slanting up Of the uni v rsi s I or-
bat! to the people; Germany has &stronger interest than any odic,