The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-26 00:00:00

supply us with something more to the purpose than
the ClYtirm:lii's letter. With tlii3 new ilot:iiiee

,

,

possible that an independent audit can be any lon2;er
resiQtvd? Short of this, there is no meaiiii•Q which
will restore confidence in railway stock to the public
mind.

CHRISTMAS - DAY IN THE
WORKIIOUSTS.

For several years it has been the custom to give an
account of the treatment of the parochial poor of this
vast metropolis on Christmas-day, supplying therewith
a variety of statistics showing the comparative increase
or decrease of pauperism, as the case may be, in the
various metropolitandistrics a course which it is pre-
sumed is calculated to afford the public a very fair
criterion for judging as to the state of trade and the
amount of distress actually existing.
The following report will be found to contain not
only a detail of the Christmas fare allowed by the
guardians of the respective parishes to the paor in-
, mates of the workhouses, but it shows the number
in each, distinguishing the adults from the children
as well as the sexes of the inmates, and also the
number in the various establishments last year; as
also, where the returns could be obtained, the number
of outdoor poor, and the gross number summed up at
the end of each report, with other interesting
particulars :
ST. PANCRAS WORKHOLISE.—Number of inmates
on Christmas-day, 1849, 1,360 (last Christmas-day,
1,462. Number of outdoor poor, 7,054 (last year
7,283). The inmates of the house are thus divided :
—Adult males, 450 ; females, 540 ; boys, 170 ; girls,
200. The Christmas-day fare was six ounces of
cooked beef, free from bone, 11b. of potatoes, lib. of
plumpudding, and 1 pint of porter each adult, with
an extra allowance of good tea, tobacco, snuff, &c.;
the children fed at discretion, and allowed fruit and
sweetmeats. It is worthy of remark that in the parish
of St. Pancras there has been a great change in the
management of its affairs, a new party having come
into power, who have abolished as far as possible the
workhouse test, and applied more extensively than
formerly the principle of outdoor relief, which shows
the following results :-1,462 indoor poor in 1848
cost, in the Christmas week of that year, 2041. 10s. 3d.;
this year, 1,287 cost 1691. 14s. 2d., being 175
less in the house, and the cost of 341. 16s. ld., in the
week less than the corresponding week last year.
7,283 outdoor poor in the Christmas week, 1848, cost
246/. 14s. 7d. ; and in 1849 the cost of 7,054 has
been 259/. ; being an increase in relief to 229 less
the corresponding week of last year of 12/. ss. 5d.,
saving on the week as compared with last year,
221. 10s. Bd. (saving of children in the house instead
of Tooting, 201.) making a total saving on the week's
account of 42/. 103. Bd. The diminution in the cost
of inmates is the decrease and cheapness of provisions.
The increase in amount given to outdoor poor,
although much smaller in number than last year,
is caused by a greater amount being given to the
most deserving and necessitous. The affairs of this
parish are now most flourishing, the directors of the
poor having a rest of 8,000/. in their banker's
hands, besides having paid a few days since, 1,2001.
on account of the industrial training-schools be-
longing to the workhouse. It will thus be seen that
there is a decrease on the indoor poor of 10.2, and
on the outdoor poor of 229,
SAINT RIARYLEBON.N.—The returns up to yester-
day show, the number of' inmates of the workhouse
and infirmary to be 1,989. Last Christmas- day the
numbers were 2,222 in the house. Number of out-
door poor about 6,500. Christmas fare Ilb. of roast
beef free from bone, 11b. of potatoes and bread, one
pint of porter, end 11b. of plumpudding, with 1 ounce
of tea and a ;lb. of sugar extra to each adult. The
children are fed at the discretion of the master, and
in the evening are allowed to partake of various
amusements at the expense of the guardians, who had
fruit and sweetmeats provided for them. Decrease
of inmates at the workhouse, 233 ; number of outdoor
poor last year, 7,280 ; decrease of' outdoor poor, 780 ;
total number receiving relief, 8,489 ; total decrease as
compared with last year, 1,013.

ST. MARTIN'S IN THE FlELDS.—lnmates of work-
house, 650 (last year 660), viz., 189 men, 376 women,
35 boys, 50 girls. Christmas fare—to adults, 11b. of
roast beef; Vb. plumpudding; as many potatoes as
they require; a pint of porter (many of them receiving
2 pints for little services rendered.) The majority of
them have also tea and sugar, with leave of absence
after dinner and another day's liberty in the course
of the week. Number of outdoor poor about 600;
outdoor poor (last year), 575 ; decrease of inmates,
10 ; increase of outdoor poor, 25 ; total increase, 15 ;
and total receiving relief, 1,250.
CITY OF LONDON UNlON.—Number of inmates in
the new workhouse of the City of London Union,
Bow-road, this Christmas, 900 adults; last year
(including children at Peckham, Stepney, and
Norwood) 1,132. The children of this union are in
the Central London District School, Norwood, which
comprises the following unions and parishes :
City of London Union, boys, 126 ; girls, 11] ;
total, 237. East London Union, boys, 117 ; girls,
108 ; total, 225. St. Saviour4s, Southwark, boys, 79 ;
girls, 48 ; total, 127. St. Martin's. in-the. Fields,
boys, S 3; girls, 71; total, 154 Total number of
children in the Central London District School—
boys, 405 , girls, 338 ; total, 743. Christmas fare—
roast beef, roast pork, plumpudding, and one pint of
beer each. The outdoor poor to have ls. extra given
them. Number of outdoor poor about 3,000. The
difference between this year and the last in the
house :—Outdoor poor last year, 3,378 ; total receiving
relief, 4,1312_. total decrease, 384.
STRAND UNlON.—lnmates of workhouse, Cleve-
land-street, 644 (last year, 611); males, 280; females,
364 ; 90 children at the new establishment, at Mill-
field-house, Edmonton.—Christmas fare—boiled pork,
potatees, peaspudding, with a pint of porter to each
adult; children without porter in proportion to age.
Number of outdoor poor, 1,529 (last year, 1,768) ;
total receiving relief, 2,1732. total decrease, 355.
Sr. MARY, ISLINGTON.—Number in the workhouse,
420 (last Christmas, 485). In addition to this, there
are 120 boys and girls at the Islington Infant Poor
Establishment at Hackney. Fare-6 oz of roast
beef, free from bone, bread avid potatoes as required,
1 lb. boiled plumpudding, and 1 pint of London
porter. Decrease in the number of poor, as compared
with corresponding period of last year, 65. No
return as to outdoor poor.
ST. LUKE'S, CYRLSBA.—The number of inmates of
the workhouse are 515 (last Christmas there were
541), viz.—able-bodied men, 43; able•bodied
women, 43. Men temporarily disabled, 9 ;
women temporarily disabled, 38. Old and
infirm men, 99 ; old and infirm women, 185.
Boys, from 7to 15 years old, 28 ; girls, from 7 to
15 years old, 18 ; children and infants, 52. Farmed
out in the parish, 75 children (last year farmed out
at Drouet's, Tooting, 127) ; outdoor poor, 2,723 (last
year, 3,l9o—this being a decrease as compared with
last year on the indoor poor, of 26, children farmed
out 52, and on the outdoor poor of 473. Lunatics in
the various asylums 46 (last year 40). Total, receiv-
ing relief, 3,359. The inmates of the workhouse of
this parish are allowed by the guardians, for Christ-
mas-day, to adults, alb. of roast beef, free from hone,
with a liberal supply of potitoes and bread ; 4lb. of
plumpudding, and one pint of Barclay's porter.
Children dieted at the discretion of the master, and
for those farmed out 6,1. per head is allowed for extra
Christmas fare. Total decrease of pauperism in this
parish 551.
STEPNEY UNlON.—Number of inmates in the four

workhouses of this union, 1,209 (last year 1,314)—
viz , men, 281 ; women, 492 ; children, 436. The
Christmas fare for the indoor poor is the good
old English fare of roast beef and plumpudding, with
a pint of porter for each adult, and apples and oranges
for the children. Number of outdoor poor, 3,860,
being a decrease of 105 in the numbers in the work-
house, and an increase of 219 in the outdoor poor as
compared with the corresponding period last year;
total receiving relief in this union, 5,078 ; increase
over last year, 114.
ST. LEONARD, SIIOREDITCD.—Number of inmates,
787 (last year, 870)—viz., men, 231 ; women, 404 ;
children, 152. The outdoor poor are about 1,600
families, averaging 33- to each family, amounting to
about 5,000 persons on the aggregate. About 100
children at the establishment at Enfield ; Christmas
fare to adults, 6oz. of roast beef; ilb. baked po-
tatees, ilb. plumpudding, and 1 pint of ale; to
children, soz. roast beef, ilb. baked potatoes, ilb.
plumpudding, and 1 pint of ale between three.
Ilolydays are allowed on Christmas day as well as
Boxing-day. Total receiving relief about 5,800.
ST. JAMES'S CLERKENWELL.—TotaI number of
inmates 450 (last year 537)—viz., aged and infirm
men above 60 years old, 92; women above 60, 125 ;
able-bodied men under 60 years, 75 ; able-bodied
women under 60 years, 110; boys and girls under
16 years of age, 18 ; boys and girls (including in-
fants) under 9 years of age, 30; besides the children
at the schools at Kentish-town. Christmas allow-
ances :—Each adult lib. of plumpudding, ilb. of
baked beef, 11b. of baked potatoes, 1 pint of porter,
loz. of tea, and f lb. of sugar ; childr"n above 6 years
of age ilb. of plumpudding each, and half a pint of
poi ter. Number of persons now in receipt of out-
door relief weekly 2,035, making a total of 2,485 ;
increase on outdoor poor 670, decrease on indoor
poor 87—making a total increase of 583.
ST. °LAVE'S UNION, SOUTFIWATIN.—InmateR 354
(last year no return)—viz., men 89 ; women 143 ;
boys 73; girls 49. The Christmas-dev fare to the
inmates was roast beef, potatoes, plumpuddieg, and
porter without any defined allowance.

•
ST. MARY, LAMB ran.--Number in the workhouse,
1,028 (last year, 1,095); adult males, 424 ; women,
526; boys, 89; girls, 39; children in the parochial
establishment at Norwood (not farmed), 494, There
are 5,742 persons on the out-relief list, receiving
weekly money and bread, the latter being baked in
the house. Christmas fare, 6oz. of bAked beef, free
from bone ; Ilb, of baked potatoes, ilb, boiled plum-

1 pudding, with one pint of porter, with tea morning
azal evening, to each adult. Total liurnl..-Fr reopivinf:c

~ i.... w~ :.. _.~

with last year, 1,421.

ST. MARY MAGDALEN, BERMOINDSEY.—In the
workhouse, 63J (last year, 684), viz. :—Men, 174 ;
women, 246; boys, 100 ; girls, 110. The inmates
were regaled with roast pork, potatoes, plumpudding,
and a pint of Barclay's porter for dinner. The
children fed at discretion, and to receive two oranges
each instead of beer. Ail the adults are allowed to
go out on Christmas-day. About 1,600 receiving
outdoor relief ; total, 2,230; decrease, 34.
ST. MARY, ROTIIERHITLIE —lnmates of the work-
house, 255 (last year no return), viz., men 72, women
109, hildren 74. The adults had each fib. roast beef,
:Vb. potatoes, with 1 pint of ale, and tobacco and snuff
for the old people. The outdoor poor have nothing
extra provided by the guardians.
' POPLAR UNlON.—Number in the workhouse, 574
(last Christmas 651), viz., men, 171 ; women, 198;
boys, 109 ; girls, 96. Number of outdoor poor
averages 2,300. Christmas fare—roast or baked
beef, with potatoes and plumpulding. Decrease in
indoor poor, 77.
WMTECHAPEL UNlON.—lnmates of the work-
houses, 1,013 (last Christmas, 647), viz., men, 228 ; •
women, 417 ; children, 368 ; outdoor poor, 2,253
(last year, 2,613). Christmas fare, by order of the
directors, roast beef, plumpudding and beer. Increase
in the indoor poor, 366 ; decrease is outdoor, 360 ;
total increase, 6.
EDMONTON UNlON.—lntnates 410 (last year, 426),
viz , men, 228 ; women, 182 ; the children at an estab-
lishment at Enfield. Christmas fare, Goz of cooked
beef with potatoes; lib. of pluinpuddiog, and 1 pint
of porter each. No return of the number of outdoor
poor ; decrease, as compared with last year, 16.
ST. MARY, NEWINGTON.—Number of inmates,
364 (last Christmas, 348), and 180 children at
Drouet's establishment, Grove-house, Brixton-hill.
Christmas fare—roast beef, baked potatoes, plum-
pudding. In the afternoon each adult will receive
1 oz. of tea, Boz. of sugar, and 6uz. of butter. Such
adults as smoke will have loz. of tobacco, and these
who take snuff loz. each. Ilolydays are permitted to
such inmates as may desire them. The children fed
at discretion. Number of outdoor poor 1,428 (last
year 1,576.) Total number receiving relief, 1,792
(last year, 2,052). Total decrease of pauperism, 260.
ST.GEORGETHE MART YR,SOUTHWARK.—No return
of figures given, and all the information obtained is
that the usual Christmas fare will be provided for the
inmates of the workhouse of this parish.
HOLBORN UNlON.—lnmates of workhouse, 708

(last year 918), viz.-206 men, 288 women, and 214
children. The number of outdoor poor is 2,112 (last
year, no return of out-door poor). The Christmas
fare is beef, plumpudding, and 1 pint of porter each
Liberty to go out is permitted to all who make appli-
cation. Decrease this year, as compared with last, 210.
WANDswortilt AND CLAPHAM UNlON.—lnmates of

workhouse, 487 (last Christmas, 551), viz.-85 men,
under 60 years of age ; 124, above 60 ; boys, from
9to 16 years, 42 ; girls, from 2to 9 years, 31 ;
women, under 60 y ears, 70 ; above 60 years, 82 ;
girls, from 9 to 16 years, 23 ; from 2 to 9 years, 20 ;
infants, 10. The Christmas fare was roast beef,
1 lb. potatoes, 11b. plumpudding, and 1 pint of porter;
aged, 1 pint of tea, and tobacco, snuff, &c.; oranges,
nuts, &c., to the children. Decrease, 64.
KENSINGTON.—Inmates, 313 (last year, 267)—
women, 115 ; men, 87 ; girls, 48. Outdoor poor,
1,481 persons, or about 500 families (last year, out-
door poor 900). Fare to adult males and females,
roast beef of the best quality, 11b. of baked potatoes,
ib. of plumpudding, and 1 pint of Barclay's porter.
The whole of the children above nine years of age
same as adults, with exception of porter. Younger
children in proportion. Old women above 60, who
take it, -,),-oz of snuff each, and old men ioz. of tobacco,
with leave of absence to-morrow to all those whose
conduct entitles them to it. After dinner the children
were regaled with oranges, apples, &c. Increase in
indoor poor, 46, and in outdoor, 581 ; total in-
crease, 627.
WEST LONDON UNlON.—lnmates, 395 (last year,
450)—men, 163 ; women, 244; children, 88.
Christmas fare, roast beef, plumpudding, potatoes, and
porter for dinner. No return of outdoor poor. In-
crease of inmates over last year, 45.
ST. MATTHEW, BETHNAL-GREEN.--No return of
numbers given on account of " hurry of business and
limit of time of the masters." Christmas fare to in-
mates, a liberal supply of roast beef, plumpudding,
and ale.
ST. JAMES'S, WESTMINSTEE.—Inmates 700 (last
year 713)—men, 230; women, 390; children, 80;
with about 100 children at the parochial establishment
at Brentford. Christmas fare—ilb. of roast beef,
with potatoes and plumpudding ad libitum. 1 pint of
table ale, and 1 pint of porter ; the children, fruit,
cakes, &c. Outdoor poor about 700 (last year 724),
decrease 37.

ST._ GSOBGB's•IN-TIIE-IdAST.—lnmates 900 (lasi

year 947)—men, 220 ; woman, 467 ; children, 207.
Christmas fare—roast beef and plumpudding, &c.,
ad libitum. Decrease in inmates 47.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS, NORWOOD (Aubyn's).-
1,000 children belonging to various metropolitan
parishes. The children—a plentiful supply of roast
beef and plumpudding, with coffee and bread and
butter in the evening. Sermons were preached and
addresses made to the children by the chaplain to the
establishment.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS, BRITTON.—About 700 chil-
dren belonging to various parishes. Similar fare to
those at Mr. Aubyn's Asylum.
In consequence of the want of courtesy on the part
of the officials some of the parishes have been omitted,
hut the foregoing proves the satisfactory circumstance
that there is a vast decrease in pauperism, with about
two exceptions, in every parish in the metropolis,
amounting in the aggregate to about 5,0001. It also
appeared that there are from 80,000 to 100,000 in the
metropolis who are dependent on parochial bounty for
their Christmas day dinner. It must be remarked
that the number of persons in the workhouses on
Christmas-day must not be taken as a criterion of the
number usually therein, the inclemency of the wea-
ther and the certainty of a Christmas dinner being a
strong incentive to persons to claim parochial relief.

CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN
NORMANDY.

A very singular spectacle presents itself to the
stranger, who, unacquainted with the customs of the
country, finds himself alone amongst the corn-fields
and pastures of the department of the Eure-et- Loire.
On every side he can discover nothing but fire and
flames running over the fields, with every now and
then a certain shrill and modulated noi3e. This
phantasmagoria, which at first astonishes anti even
alarms him, arises from the practice of a very ancient
custom still in use in this country. Every farmer
fixes upon some day in Advent for the purpose of
exorcising such animals as prove injurious to his
crops, and for this purpose he furnishes his youngsst
children with prepared flambeaux well dried in
the oven, and furnished with combustible
materials. If he have no children his neighbours
lend him theirs, for none but young and innocent
children can command certain injurious animals to
withdraw from his lands. After twelve years of age
children are rendered unfit to perform the office of
exorcists. These young children run over the coun-
try, like so many little spirits, set fire to bundles of
hay placed for the purpose, go under the trees and
flourish their torches among the branches, burn the
straw placed underneath, and continuall cry out—
" Taura,s, chenilles, et =lots,
Sortez, sortez, demon clos,
On je von brute la barbe et les os;
Arbres, arbrisseaux
Douni,s moi des pommea a miriot."
Which may be thus translated—" Moles, caterpillars,
and mice, get out of my field, or I will burn your
beard and your hones; trees and shrubs give me
abundance of apples." The simple people of the
country put implicit faith in the remedy, which they
believe infallible.

Establishin ge sst eorudpa yx
ttheci e
nfor C com-
mitteert of n
theNtL
Society
the Poor in the North-West District of the Metropolis,
s
of which Lord Southampton is the President, distributed
ilENlao °r
plum pudding, bread, and soup to about 600 poor per-
sons, each or whom had a pound of bread, a pound of
plum pudding, and a pint of excellent soup. '1 he tickets
were given to the applicants by the Rev. T. Dale, vicar
of St. Pancras; Rev. G. Elliott, rector of Trinity
Church, and the other members of the committee. In
the course of the previous year the society gave 36,335
quarts of beef and pea soup, 49,147 loaves: &c., to 89,515
parsons. At the Foundling Hospital the childron of
both sexes, amounting to about 400, received the usual
Christmas allowance of plum pudding, &c.; and at. the
various unions and prrish workhouses the unfortunate
inmates were provided with an extra allowance of meat,
in addition to plum pudding, &c. At the Debtors'
Prison, Whitecross street, in which there are 215 pri-
soners, the Sheriffs' allowance consisted to each prisoner
of 21b. of meat, 21h. of potatoes, plum pudding, ai d a
pint of porter. At Kensington the destitute inhabitants
have been provided with the usual bounties given by the
Duchess of Kent, in clothing, in,-.)at, coals, eze.; and by
the order of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the
poor residing in Kew obtained a dinner of beef and
plum pudding. The customary gifts granted by the late
Queen Dowager to the poor in the vicinity of Bu'hy-
park were renewed this year. In St. Martin's-in-the-
Fields, in Lambeth, in St. Pancras, an.l various other
parishes, the poor received a sutstantial me,l from
sources of private lienevf Lulu.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]— A Lire Guardsman, one of
the Heroes of Waterloo, cured of Rheumatism by Holloway's
Ointment and Pills.—Mr. Thomas Brunton, landlord of this
Waterloo Tavern, Coatham, York hire, was alicted for many
months with rheumatism and rheumatic gout. His legs were
dreadfully painful, and disfigured with colours of every hue,
frightful to behold. For ten weeks he was wholly unable to
walk, the treatment he receive,i from several medical men not
only failing to do him any good, but leaving him, in fact, in a
considerably worse condition. At this juncture Holloway's
Pills and Ointment were resorted to, and by their sole means
he has been restored to health and strength —Sold by all
Druggists, and at Professor Holloway's establishment, 214,
Strand, London.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

If N. 4p K.

ham Jones, lintnth-4)er, of Newington causeway,
was brought before Mr. A'Beckett, charged with
robbing his employer to a considerable amount.
William Boyce, shopman in the same employ,
stated that suspicion was excited against thl prisoner
in consequence of his having been observed to retain
in his own possession a small sum of triont!v laid out
by a customer, and which it was his duty to have paid
over immediately to fie person authorised to receive
it. Upon this di,covry a pi.diceman was employed
to search the prisoner's house, as it was strongly sus-
pected that this was not his first act of dishonesty. In
the course of the examination a great variety of
articles, consisting of silks, lace, velvet, ribbons, &c.,
were discovered, which were alleged to have been the
prnperty of the complainant, and to have been pur-
i,.ineal at vacious tilies by ;he prisoner the stock.
A solicitor, who ntteeded for the prosecution, stated
that although the accused had not been long in The
complainant's employ, yet he had plundenid him at
least to the extent of 100/.—The prisoner was re-
manded.

Mr. William Collins was charged with furiously
driving a chaise, and running over two elderly per-
sons, a man and woman, who sustained injuries of
serious nature.

The complainants stated that about half- past nine
o'clock on the preceding night, they were about
crossing the Waterloo-road, near the Victoria Theatre,
and had scarcely stepped off the pavement into the
road, when the defendant, in a chaise, came along at
a furious rate, and they were both knocked down,
and had a narrow escape of losing their lives. As it
was they were much b. wised, and incapacitated from
following their occupations.
Mr. John Sinclair, a publican in the New-cut,
stated that on the night in question he was near the
spot when the accident occurred ; that he had just
stepped out of an omnibus, and had a most narrow
escape of being run over by the defendant, who was
driving at the rate of at least twelve miles an hour. I-Ie
(witness) saw from the reckless manner in which the
defendant was driving that he would do some mischief
and in a moment afterwards he saw the man and
woman knocked down in the road and run over by
the vehicle. He (witnes) called "police !" and
afterwards assisted in stopping the defendant, who
was evidently under the influence of liquor. There
was another person in the chaise with him at the time.
The defendant denied that he was driving furiously,
and that the horse was going faster than six miles an
hour, the whip being in the socket, and not used at all.
He then called his friend, who confirmed his asser-
tion as to the rate at which they were going at the
time, and said that the accident to the two old people
was unavoidable, as they had. in fact, walked right
off the pavement into the road when they saw the
vehicle coming along.
Mr. A'BLCKETT said that he believed the evidence
given by Mr. Sinclair—namely, that the defendant
was not only driving furiously, but that he was also
i❑toxicated. He (the magistrate), however, instead
of inflicting the full penealty on defendant, which
would not be appropriated to the benefit of the parties
injured, would give him an opportunity of retiring
with them and compensating them for the injurie3
they had received.

.•
The Magistrate was subsequently apprised that the
defendant had adopted his advice and satisfied the
complainants, hesidei paying their doctor's bill; and
he was therefore discharged on the payment of the
mitigated penalty of 103.

•
FIBER 26, 1849,
rpose than 1 pudding, with one pint of porter, with tea morning POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
ot:a-ice of ural eveniz,g, to each adult. Total liuml.).-2r reopivinfT 17 T/ P
- ,
• it ‘4‘
.•
any lonfzer with last year, 1,421. ham Jone4_