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

IMPROVED DWELLINGS FOR THE LABOUR-
ING CLASSES.

A meeting of persons desiring to promote a movement
for providing improved dwellings for the labouring classes,
was held on 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. Alcock, M.P.,
Mr. Wilkinson, M.P., R. G. Sumner, Esq., Thomas Gris-
sell, Esq., John Corderoy, Esq., J. R. Gardner, Esq., B.
Taylor, Esq., the Rev. C. R. lawson, H. Mackenzie, J.
Cattley, C. Lane, &c.
His GRACE said the efforts which had been made during late
years toimprove the condition of the poor almostgave 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 accusal of engendering the wants it
was destined to relieve. Political economists complained
that iu administering to the immediate wants of the needy
they, instead of removing, only caused those wants to mul-
tiply. 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 buial for themselves comfort-
able dwellings, and the object of thu 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 SHAFTESB CRY observed that his grace occu-
pied a vary appropriate position as their chairman, con-
sidering 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 classes. He had not the slightest doubt that if capi-
tal to the extent o 1,000,0001. or 2,000,0001. were invested
in purchasing houses for the poor, the return 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 he fruitless. Unfortu-
nately it was his experience with ragged school children that
on retaining to their homes they often speedily relapsed into
their former depravity, leaving the friends 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 man
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 said-
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 mor-
tality of 24 in 1,000, and in which, in consequence of scans
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 maul
social evils, and that the community is not justified in an'
ticipating any great change in the habits of the peoPle
until they are provided with more cleanly and healthful
habitations."
The Rev. C. B. DALTON, 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 being 22, and in the
latter only 7; while in regard to children under b'A
years of age the difference was greater, being 49 to 10in the 1,000. The association, in some cases, proposed
purchasing houses already built, with the view of fitting
them up as healthy and commodious dwellings, Pnt'
this would enable them to provide for a larger num.
ber than if they were to expend the money entirelf
in new buildings. He hoped the present opportuniti
would not be lost, nor the movement fall into abeyance. kr,i,
influential lady had already offered 5001. towards the object
of the association, and Mr. Wilkinson, M.P., another 5001•'
and he might mention that his Royal Highness Prince
Albert had taken an interest in their prosperity, and th!
a communication had been received from his Royal Higu•
ness promising his support.
The Earl of CARLISLE said, as a member of the Council
of the Duchy of Cornwall, which possessed extensive Pru;
perty in the district, he could bear testimony to the get,
interest which his Royal Highness Prince Albert took 1n
.
the physical and moral welfare of the people. His lord'
ship read the communication from Prince Albert, which
in substance conveyed the regret of his Royal Highno,
that other engagements would not permit of his takt,
the chair at the meeting, but feeling a great interest iu the
success of so benevolent an enterprise, on the 10,0001. bong
subscribed, he would have much pleasure in directil
shares to the extent of one thousand pounds to be taken
behalf of the Prince of Wales, the dividends to be Ono
cable to charitable purposes within the district, and
the extent of one hundred pounds for himself, the
lends to be similarly applied, besides transferring r°,, A
"
of buildings to the association on liberal terms, if 1127
were thought eligible for its purposes. His lordship ma?
" That any association, to be sufficiently comprebensl/c1
to provide improved owellings for the poor must cowmen
itself to the capitalist, and that the results of the rneblo,
„,,b
",
politan and similar associations clearly show that this Bf
cies of investment affords a fair return for money, at the
same time that it procures a lasting and most value,'
benefit."
Mr. WILKINSON, M.P., seconded the resolution, uel.;
plaining, in allusion to the statements of Mr. Dalton, trii
he had subscribed 500/. as a shareholder, while the rich
lady referred to offered her 5001. as a gift.
Mr. GRISSELL moved a resolution, commending the e?.
ciety to the support of the influential and philanthroPlu
public.
Mr. CORDEROY seconded the motion, which was unsul,
mously agreed to, and after a vote• of thanks to his Grace
for his conduct in the chair, the meeting separated.