The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-07 00:00:00

into them. Tne damp walls and ceilings, the bad
condition of the drainage, and numerous other evils,
continue to render these abodes about as deleterious
to health, comfort, and even life, as could well be im-
agined. No wonder a poor infant died of the effects
of the impure air in one of these wretched tene-
ments. Dr. PEARCE has recommended the most
extensive attention in the way of cleansing and
renovating the places, and it is to be hoped that all
these wise measures will be at once adopted, and
the greatest care exercised for the future to prevent
the recurrence of these fearful calamities. Five
children and their parents crowded into a small
room in hot weather, with the little air that pene-
trated into the apartment laden with impurities, is
an awful thing to contemplate. It is only surpris-
ing that more victims did not swell the ranks of
the little sufferer; but it is astonishing how much
the human frame can endure. Yet if fatal results
did not ensue in many cases, the bad seed was
germinating, and in a short time its deadly influ-
ence would be seen. The weak would go forth from
that spot to drag out a wretched existence, and
shortly pine away and perish. Those who were
strong enough to shake off the recent overpowering
effects of the blighting atmosphere will still be far
from uncontaminated. The outbreak of disease will
have been avoided perhaps, but the pernicious effects
will be deeply implanted in the system, and harm
will have been done by the sojourn in these sad
localities, and other similar ones, that long years may
not eradicate. Thus, from generation to generation
the aurae descends, and, to a great extent, the
chances of health for the future are sadly impaired.
To think this to happen through carelessness is
dreadful, but it becomes of graver moment to notice
indifference supervenes when action, s?ontaneous
and decided, is so urgently called for and so impera-
tively needed. In the account given some time
back of the miseries endured by some dwellers in
these loathsome abodes, it was equally painful and
provoking to hear of the shill:Log and unwilling-
ness of the responsible parties. Whatever was
wanted something else must be attended to, and
the urgent entreaties and indignant remoustrances
of the parties concerned produced no effect, and
gained no favourable response. Besides the want of
drainage and the faulty state of all sanitary arrange •
meats, additional nuisances were obtruded upon the
lodgers. A rag shop, where eight pigs are kept,
and a copper employed to melt fat, are very un-
called-for applications. An order is required for
their removal, and, of course, such things are diffi-
cult to attain, and there are few who can or will
find time and exercise patience to procure them.
In some of the back rooms a pony and donkey have
been kept. No wonder that those who inspected
them have declared that they aro not fit for human
habitation. It is really scandalous that such

abuses should exist at all, but that they should go
on from day to day, and yet no notice be taken by
the proper authorities, is almost incredible. Even
if some alterations for the better are made, it can-
not be forgotten that it was only compulsion that
has made any one attend to this urgent distress.
Until life was miserably sacrificed in the midst of

most wretched inflictions, no representations could
induce any authority to mitigate the evils that
pressed upon the poor, the sick, and the children
qith a severity that strong men could not have
endured. It must be feasible to make such emen-

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dations or alterations in the present system as sha

ensure the non-recurrence of fatal grievous casual-
ties. No respectable or humane person but will re-
joice at the assistance afforded him to inspect or
receive a report of the state of the dwellings of the
poor, who are crowded into places that more closely
resemble holes thin habitations. A writer on the

dwellings of the poor in London very truly put the
case in its significent bearings before the reader, by
Suggesting that to understand the position of the
dwellers in the wretched tenements they should be
visited and examined. Then a true opinion could
be formed of the discomforts, and it is argued if a
_ .

passing
glimpse so disgusts and dispirits one,
"should we not pity the fate of those who are des-
tined to have no other homes than these till they
are called upon to enter the common home of our

race•" Some such considerations as these would do

much good among the class well calculated to

render essential service to the cause of improve

ment. The bulk of the work and the onus of the

responsibility rest with those who are actually or

actively concerned in tke affair. Common justice
demands the rectifying of the practice that bids

twelve shillings a week be charged for places that are
not fit to go into, much less to live in. Solemn

Warnings have been given, and surely it is not too
much to expect attention to be paid to them before
they are reminded of their duty by the terrific

visitations of—

" The painful family of death,
More hideous than their Queen I"