The National Register.
London, England, 1816-12-02 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL ItF,(IISTE/1

mitture for fuel. [(eked, without findin Ml • lhr the
;Stow, he believed it would be impossible to relic" then' °lke'
inatty. Another thine lie would recommend lit every person,
mil that :14 ti) find ant a cheap butcher and baker, who
'wont(' serve then honestly ; and it sisi2ht be done. He had
aim' given the esainple of it in that house ; fur he had
Oven orders to tiptl out such tradesmen, without paying any
it t eat i oil to favour or affect ion.—.4lopta.(o..- that w ghod
'neat and bread might be purchased by the poor for very low
priers hid, ed. They were met there Air the million of
charity ; end be trusted lie aliould bear molting but what re-
lated to charity,
The Secretary to the C • tee here real" a Report, in
106E11.041 stated diet the untidier of moolent.psreposs 'sodd-
ing iu,Spitaltields wits very small. rie.htliabltaitts of Ate.
district noisily emisisied of matilifictoring and fahouring poor.
since the Committee was established in 1812. they had had
the satisthetimt ofrefieving many from starving. They cum
mended tote patietice with which the poor of Spitallields hail
born.' their distresses. The industry of the weaver was very
great ; but his sedentary habits untitted him line hard labour,
Of the weavers, more than two thirds were unemployed;
besides a very great slumber of other lurch:mit:sand labourers.
The woorklieuses were too crowded to relieve them. Pau•
perisin was extending to an alarming degree. . Many sold
their fitrititure„ or had it seised to pay their rent. Otters
deserted their houses because they were unable to behold
their starving Here he read smite cases of individual
distress.
The Lord Mayor said the Meeting would be kept there all
night, if they went him details of individual distress.
The Secretary then proceeded with the Report. The Com-
mittee had received 1001. per week from the General Asso-
ciation; hot even that was inatletpuee to carry on their exer-
tions. They had also receive(' from Governtient 500 blan-
kets, 1000 palliasses, and 8011 pair of shoes; but with an
expression of regret, that there was no money which could
be made available to the purposes of the Committee.—firor!
Arms!—The Committee were therefore constrained to apply
to the public for general assistance; stud they might be
assured that whatever was granted would be applied with the
greatest possible economy.
Mr. Buxton said, that no one (*old possibly visit the scenes
of distress which he had witnessed pr observe the ravages
of poverty end disease, witkuist sensations of horror or com-
passion. Whoever had, like hint, seen the fixed and rooted
despair of men, incapable of obtaining work and food to sup-
ply the wants of their starving wives, and appease the cries of
their famished children—whom er.lhad seen this witald endea-
vour to awaken in others like fet4ings of cotupassion to those
with which he himself was deeply impreseedt that something
great and d'rortovueshibt be done that day to relieve those
who had nut yet sunk in irretrievable distress .and despair.
Although the Poor-laws allowed the Magistrates to incorpo-
rate the parishes incapable of maintaining their own poor,
with the richer ones in their own neighbourhood, still that
was only allowed to be done with parishes in the same county.
Now, Spitaltields could not be relieved by incorporating it
with the richer parishes of the City, because the latter was a
county of itself: but the poor of Spitalfields worked princi-
pally for masters resident iu the City. The City had all the
advantage arising from their industry and ingenitity,whiie to
the inhabitants of Spitalfields was only left their age, their po-
verty, and distress to be relieved by them. Great commissers-
lion was due to the inithilingthuseholders, who had been them-
selves struggling with poverty to relieve the poor. Many of
them had kept up a decent appearance, and yet had been
obliged to send secretly to the Committee for the soup, fish,,
and rice, which they distributed. Other causes of distress
among the weavers was, the ImpOrtation of foreign silks by
those who travelled abroad. He was persuaded that no
woman in this country would array herself in foreign silk, if
site knew the groans and the tears which such conduct had
occasioned in their district. In Spitalfields it was become a
matter of great interest to obtain admission into the work- '
house; yet to shew that die workhouse was no place of luau.
ry, he could assure the Meeting that four persons were oblig-
ed to he put into each bed. In every house, and in every
room, they Wight see if they visited them, scenes of unex-
ampled distress. Physicians declared that many, especially
children, had been swept away by diseases which abstinence
alone had caused. There, were even scenes of actual starva-
(ton, which lie would draw a veil over. Ott Friday last lie
saw a man who had been found among some willow beds,
with some remains of life; but the vermin bad begun to make
lam their prey. When he recovered his speech, he asked
hint it he had a wife? He replied " no; thank God! I ant
able to sufier better than others, whose spirits are suck by
having a starving wife and family before their eyes." In or-
dinary times the poor were the best friendsof the poor; there
existed among theta a sympathy for one another's distresses,
which exalts oer ideas of humanity. Did it not then belong
to the man who fared sutuptuously, and was cloadted in soft
raiment to give more than the mere droppings from his table
to relieve the distresses of the poor? The rich man knew
nothing of the sad situation ofthe poor, seeking employment
to maintain their starving families, and able to get none.
Private charity was, absolutely overcome, and that was the
reason of this !triplication for public relief. The sale of lish
had been obliged to cease; anti by removing that, they would
be enabled to employ the distressed, and also bring to this
country a large supply of food. The distress was urgent be-
yond all former precedent; and if that Meeting did not give
them fresh vigour, the hopes of the poor man-would fall to
the ground. If, on the contrary, they came forward to their
support, they would feed the orphan, and wake the widow's
heart sing with joy.
Mr. Hawkey said there never had been a ease exhibited
before the public eye, in which so mach suffering had been
endured, accompanied by so litde crime on the part of the
poor. Their appeal was not mixed with threatenings, or
made tip at tumultuous Meetings; neither had they destroyed
their employers' ptopett.. He hoped the country at large
would take warning by the conduct of the poor of Spite 'fields,
and that It will be 'hewn that more would be dose for them,
oat of feelings of humanity, than from fear of their vengeance.
He trusted the Meeting of that. day would strew the poor that
their prayers had been heard; and that, so far as human
means could go, their distress would he alleviated. He then
waged that the Report which bad been read, should he ap.
proved and adopted.- Carried unanimously.
Mr. Hale moved that a suliscriptien should be opened im-
mediately fur the relief of the Poor of 80unit:ids, and its
ueighbourhood.
The Rev. Mr. Pratt seconded the motion ; in doing which
he commended the temper of thrlrearmice exhibited by tl:.
large distressed population of Spitaltield, That forbearance
was tempered by a resignation to the will of divine pruvi
deuce, arising Ruin the constant reading of the Scripture.
among them 'Dies, must persevere in their efforts of relief'.
and lay their hearts and shoulders to the work; for in that
district there were upwards of 40,000 persons out of employ.

bECEMBER

mod. Let them then take compassion ou the poor; lia he
alto came from the heavens td save went about doing good to
the pger. He had ratived 1001. from a benevolent lady—
orresrepylewsej—to'r this. lunitat ; and he trusted the Indies
would exert themselves in behalf of the poor, and eticouralte
small donations front their domestics. The resolution was
theu carried unanimously.
Mr. Milne, iu moving that a Committee Mania be ap-
pointed, with the Gird Mayor at its head, trusted that this
Meeting would hoar the best effect on the country at large.
His object was to impress upon men of vide:nee througl
the country, the necessity of coming forward m behalf of the
poor; for distress now ins:l4mnd itself uu all hides in the
must hisleons shapes.
• Mr: S. Wow ls seeontlett the motion. He stated that 159
persons had been obliged to be sent away unseived with
soup on the last slay of disteibution. The motion was carried
xunuimounly.
, Mr. Butterworth, M.P: moved the thanks of the Meeting
to the different Societies, that 11441 come forward in relict of
'the spitaltields Poor; null also to the Gentlemen of the sink
trade, and those wail had called the Meeting. The Go:all,-
men of the silk trade had given 1.1001. for the relief of the
I distressed weavers. He praised the soup which the Com-
mittee had distributed. it was known to be good to thy
I Hon. Itarunet (Sir W. Curtis), who was as good a judge of
soup as any one. —(4l laugh.)
Mr. Marryatt, 11. P. congratulated the Meeting on its ab-
stinence from all political feelings, they being absorbed in
those of humanity and charity. He moved the thanks of the
Meeting to the Lord Mayor; which wee carried in the affir-
nuttier unanimous-Iy.
The Lord Mayor felt gratified that he bad ken placed
in a situation of at all forwarding so meritorious an Institu-
lion. lie recommended a contribution of old clothes, how-
ever worn or tattered, which the Committee would thank folly
receive at the Sonp-bouse in Spitalfields. Till the price if
the loaf had come down I. a tainting, he bad prohibited pies
and puddings iii his family. The eider had oceasioned away
long faces, but be hail, for the dist time, inteifercd in do-
mestic economy, because the law gave him the power.
The Meeting tben threw down their names mid the aunts
they intended to subscribe, with great rapidity.
The subscription amounted at least to 110001. Many Qua-
ken were ausetag the Meeting, whit anliacribed
Plates were held frees the eutrance to the Hell to the furthest
extent of the sate Chamber, and few passed on Without be-
stowing a donation. Ibis Meeting, ou the whole, bore the •
genuine character of benevolence.
We trust that in the words of one of the benevolent
speakers, "it may be .the first of,ow series of Meetings need
together to relieve the distressed poor • and that they may
Fo on, without ceasing, until the desired end is accomplished."
fhe Spitalfields poor bare the peculiar merit, that under die.
tress almost nuiparalleJed,dwy have displayed a patience which
may be called heroic: " they have not been abromt timoue
tonaultuotts assemblies, raising discontent in the intuits of
their fellow countrymen; they have not been occupied an.
the destruction of their employers' property ; but they have • -
peacefully and calmly resigned themselves to that Beiag who
could hear their prayers and redress their grievauces."
Whilst we are reflecting on this striking proof that" it is
possible to endure distress without being driven to ferocity,"
our eyes are struck with a proclamation in an lsish Paper,
offering a reward of 2001. for the discovery of the wretches
who murdered Mr. E. Litich, and seven other persons, by
buntiay then to death! Title horrid deed, at which Immunity
1111114111414, could surely never have taken place, hid educa-
tion and religions instruction been spread among the people
of that district; as, we rejoice to learn, from the speeches at
Tuesday's Meeting, they have been through Spitalfields and
its neighbourhood.

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