The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-08 00:00:00

ISSUE DEP

,&TM ENT.

.£
Notes issued ........ 27,483,985 +',overnment debt.... 11,015,10
I )ther securities.-- 2,911,90
Gold coin and bullion 13,483,985
iikver -

£57,183,9-5

i I £27,132,f:35
M. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier.

IMPROVED DIVELLIvGs' FOR THE LABOVR-
'SG CLA 6SES.

A meeting of persons desiring to promote a movement
for providing improved dwellings for the labouring classes,
was itchier' Thursday, at the School-room, Lambeth-green;
his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury in the chair.
Among those present were the Earl of Shaftesbury, the
Earl of Carlisle, Lord Ebrington, Mr. T. Alcoek, M.P.,Mr. Wilkinson, R. G. Sumner, Esq., Thomas Gris-
sell, Esq., John Cor.feroy, Esq., J. R. Gardner, Esq., R.
Taylor, Esq., the Rev. C. R. Dawson, H. Mackenzie, J.
Cattley, C. Lane, &c.
His GRACE said the efforts which had been made during late
years to improve the condition of the poor altuostgave a con-
tradiction to the proverb, that "One-half of the world does not
know how the other half lives." Their proposed associa-
tion had this advantage over some benevolent institutions,
that it could not be accuszil of engendering the wants it
was destined to relieve. Political economists complained
that in administering to the immediate wants of the needy
they, instead of removing, only caused those wants to mid-
tipfy. But in this case, he was happy to find that political
economy and the scriptural exhortation went hand in
hand. The labouring classes could not build churches,
schools, hospitals, and other institutions designed for their
benefit, neither could they build for themselves comfort-
able dwellings, and the object of the association was to
assist them in doing so, with a view to the great moral
and physical advantages to be realised by the change in
their habits and condition
The Earl of SHAFT ESB DRY observed that his grace occu-
pied a very appropriate position as their chairman, con-
side! ing how intimately connected their work was with
the progress • f religion—sanitary wretchedness being the
great obstacle to the spiritual and temporal elevation of the
poorer ch.sses. He had not the slighte,t doubt that if capi'
tad to the extent o 1,000,0r0/. or 2,000,0001. were invested
in purchasing houses for the poor, the relurn would be
highly remunerative to the shareholders, and productive
of great social blessings among the poorer classes of the
community. Until they improved the dwellings of the
poor, and swept away sanitary evils, the efforts of clergy'
men and of schoolmasters would be fruitless. Unfortu-
nately it was his experience with ragged school children that
on retaining to tin it homes theyoften speedily relapsedinto
their former depravity, leaving the ftieeds of the cause,
like Sisyphus, again and again rolling up the stone to the
toy of the mountain, in the hope that God might bless
their endeavours. But the home of the working mall
might be rendered his best schoolroom, if that home were,
one which he could occupy with comfort, and he believed. •
the- general introduction of improved dwellings would go
further to reduce the aggregate of crime than any means
which could be mentioned. With reference to the sari'
tary circumstances of the district, his lordship instanced
Lambeth-square, to which the attention of the authorities
had been called, in consequence of its presenting a Ina'
tality of 24 in 1,000, and in which, in consequence of some
slight improvements, the number had now fallen to 13.
His lordship concluded by moving, " That the inferior
and insufficient house accommodation for the labouring
classes is the cause of much moral degradation and man/
social evils, and that the community is not justified in IT
ticipating any great change in the habits of the people
until they are provided with more cleanly and healthful
habitations."

The Rev. C. B. DALTOIsr, in seconding the resolution,.
compared the mortality of the whole of London with that
of the inhabitants of the improved dwellings, the average
proportion to the 1,000 in the former beinc, 22, and in the
latter only 7 ; while in regard to children under 10
years of age the difference was greater, being 49 to 10
in the 1,000. The association,
purchasing houses already built,inwisthomtehecvaiseews'
them up as healthy and commodious dwellings, sod
this would enable them to provide for a larger nu'
ber than if they were to expend the money entirely'
in new buildings. He hoped the present opportuniq
would not be lost, nor the movement fall into abeyance. A 2,,
0
influential lady had already offered 5001. towards the object
of the association, and Mr. Wilkinson, M.P., another '4
and he might mention that his Royal Highness Prince
Albert had taken an interest in their prosperity, and tbeP
a communication had been received from his Royal LE•
ness promising his support. oPfrotiptotsi
red;
The Earl of CARLISLE said, as a member of the Council
the Duchy of Cornwall, which possessed extensive pro-
perty in the district, he could hear testiu.ony to the great
interest which his Royal Highness Prince Albert took 1,11
the physical and moral welfare of the people. His 101,
l
ship read the communication from Prince Albert, Mile
in substance conveyed the regret of his Royal Highne,c
that other engagements would not permit of his taking
the chair at the meeting, but feeling a great interest in the
success of so benevolent an enterprise, on the 10,000/. heirig
subscribed, he would have much pleasure iq &recall.
W
shares to the extent of one thousand pounds to be taken °,'
behalf of the Prince of ales, the dividends to be aPP',I;
cable to charitable purposes within the district, and
the extent of one hundred pounds for himself, the diy.l.
Mends to be similarly applied, besides transferring a 0;
of buildings to the association on liberal terms, if thel"
were thought eligible for its purposes. His lordship rtinvf,nl
".That any association, to be sufficiently coruprehenwa
to provide improved owellings for the poor must common
itself to the capitalist, and that the results of the metre'
politan and similar associations clearly show that this le
cies of investment affords a fair return for money,
at
same time that it procures a lasting and most valuable
benefit."

Mr. WILKINSON, M.P., seconded the resolution, 810 i
plaining, in allusion to the statements of Mr. Dalton, ,
he had subscribed 5001. as a sh reholder, while the 04
lady refer-led to offered her 500/. as a gift.
Mr. GRISSELL moved a resolution, commending the 5‘.;
ciety to the support of the influential and philantbrePl
public.
Mr. CORDEROY seconded the on, which was Inlet
mously agreed to, and after a votemoti of thanks to his Go—
for his conduct in the chair, the meeting separated.