The Sun.
London, England, 1838-11-12 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

Thomas Gibbons, a miserable-looking object, on Saturday
made this statement to Mr. CONANT. He was by trade a painter
and a native of Woolwich. He had lived in Woolwich about
twenty-six years, and had acquired an undoubted settlement in
the place. About fourteen months ago he came to London in
search of work, and he had remained until about a week ago,
when, finding himself, wife, and family, in the last stage of
destitution, he went to the parish officers of St. Giles's to
ask relief. He was told to go to Woolwich, as that was his
legal settlement. He walked down to Woolwich and saw Mr.
Wates, the Relieving- Officer, who, according to his statement,
knew him perfectly well, and who was aware that he was le-
gally intitled to relief from Woolwich. Mr. Wates told him
it was useless applying fur relief unless he were passed to
Woolwich by the parish-officers of St. Giles's, in whose parish
he had last lived. He walked back to town and acquainted the
St. Giles's officers with what had occurred. The parish-offi-
cers expressed their surprise at the conduct of Mr. Wates, and
they advised the man to take his wife and family to Wool
wich and sleep there, and there would be no pretext for with-
holding relief. On Wednesday the applicant took his family
down to Woolwich and they slept there that night. Appli-
cant was again told that nothing would be done for him unless
he were passed by the London parish; applicant walked up
town again, saw the St. Giles's overseer, received a 41b. loaf,
and was told that nothing further could be done for him ;
applicant walked back to Woolwich, and went to the Rev.
Mr. Greenlaw, and told him of the shocking state of distress
in which his family and himself were : the Rev. Gentleman,
who is one of the Board of Guardians, referred applicant to
the relieving officer, Mr. Wates; applicant went to Mr.
Wates, and sent in a message to the effect that his family
were without food, and that he had been desired to ask for
some relief by one of the Board of Guardians. Mr. Wates
refused to see applicant, and sent out a message that nothing
could be done until the following Thursday, which was the
next board day. Applicant saw another of the Board of
Guardians, a Mr. Webber, and related his story to him : this
guardian told him he could know nothing about him unless he
were regularly passed by the parish in which he had last lived.
Applicant asked what his starving family were to do, and the
guardian recommended him to go to London and state the
matter to the Magistrates of this office. Applicant walked
up to London on Saturday morning, and made the application
as recommended.

Mr. CONANT asked the applicant if the Woolwich overseer
had refused to relieve him, after being told that he had slept
in Woolwich ?

- -
Applicant answered in the affirmative. He had slept in
Woolwich with his family for the last three nights, and his
wife had pawned the gown off her back to raise the price of
a night's lodging.
Mr. CONANT said it appeared a case of very great hardship,
but he had no power whatever to interfere.
The applicant asked what he was to do. His wife, six
children, and himself, were actually in a state of absolute
starvation.

Mr. CON ANT could do nothing except order the applicant
to receive a shilling from the poor.box, and to advise him to
return to Woolwich and renew his application to the relieving
overseer until something was done for him.
The man thankfully received the money and went away.