The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-13 00:00:00

ON the STATE and PROSPECTS of the
LABOURING CLASSES.

January, 1849

The Committee of the SOCIETY for the IMPROVEMENT of the
CONDITION of the LABOURING CLASSES feel unwilling to allow
the opening of a new year, under such unparalleled circumstances as
the present, to pass over without offering to their subscribers, and
the gentry, clergy, and middle classes of England generally, a few
Words of congratulation and of caution.
The grounds of congratulation will be obvious to every one—that
tYear of convulsions to Europe generally should have elapsed in
; ',gland almost without any serious alarm, and. that this general
_sranquilsity should have been preserved during the pressure of much
Tsant of employment, poverty, and privation, may well excite a feel-
ff of gratitude, and lead us to prize more deeply those institutions
Which have thus "weathered the storm ;" and, above all, that spirit
of religion, which, even partially and imperfectly diffused as it is,
,ea yet shown itself, though in weakness, the best controller of na-
tional perturbations.
But, besides these general grounds of thankfulness, the Committee
oave much cause to congratulate their subscribers on the progress
made in their own more immediate work in the course of the past
Year. Not only has the gracious patronage of her Majesty and her
Royal Consort encouraged and enabled them to commence a new
Rork of magnitude and importance—the Model Lodging-house for
Families, which will shortly, it is hoped, rise from the ground in the
immediate vicinity of St. Giles's—but the example already set be-
gins to be extensively followed. Within the last few months the Com-
!suttee have had the pleasure of witnessing efforts of a kindred na-
ture. and most of them confessedly in imitation of those carried on
"y this Society, made or planned in several populous and important
Places.
In the great parish of St. Anne, Sohn, the rector and a parochial
committee have completed and opened a large lodging-house, in
Which excellent accommodation is provided for as many as 136 per-
ions of the industrious classes.
Adjoining to this, in At. James's, Westminster, the rector, with a
Parochial committee, is employed on a similar undertaking.
At Edinburgh and Glasgow model lodging-houses have been opened
and further efforts in the same direction are contemplated.
, In the city of Bath a similar work has f ecently been undertaken
by the clergy and a local committee, and there can be no doubt of its
speedy and complete accomplishment.
At Brighten, a lodging-house for the working-classes is planned,
and measures for its establishment have been taken by several of the
vlergY.
At Macclesfield the same object is engaging the attention of the
inhabitants, and a measure of this kind is now in progress. Several
other movements of the same description, in other towns, are in va-
taus stages of maturity.
Nor ought we to forget—though an entirely Independent move-
runt—the recent opening of the Metropolitan Buildings, near Old
St. Pancras Church, in which excellent lodgings are provided for as
many as 110 families of the industrious classes.
Observing all these efforts of benevolence, commencing nearly at
the same time, the Committee feel that there is abundant ground for
congratulation; and that it is hardly too much to hope that at no
Very distant day the wants and comforts of the town labourers
throughout England may be generally, or even universally, regarded
With interest.
Turning to the agricultural districts, the Committee feel that the
Only way in which these can be effectually attended to, is by the
active co-operation of the landed proprietors, the clergy, and gentry,
In the important work of raising from ignorance, destitution, and
discontent, a large proportion of the labourers of Great Britain,
With this view, the Committee are happy to be able to state, that
having prepared plans and speclecations for several kinds of agri-
Cultural cottages, they have received, since the month of June last,
no fewer than 184 applications for copies of them, the greater part of
Which applications have been made by gentlemen who avowed their
Intention of immediately beginning to raise, in their respective
neighbourhoods, better dwellings for the agricultural poor t• an those
which.have hitherto been so common in our villages. The Com-
mittee have also issued a plan for a Village Lodging-house, adapted -
for unmarried agricultural labourers, quarrymen, and miners, and
they have the sati faction of knowing that, in various places. especi-
ally at Brampton-park, near Huntingdon, and at Tunbridge-wells,
tiOs sort of dwelling is now in course of erection.
The Committee also receive most gratifying account- of the efforts
Making in different part. of the country-to improve the dwellings of
the poor, among the foremost of which they most place the recent
erection of a considerable number of excellent cottages at Ampthill
and other villages, by his Grace the Duke of Bedford, who is about
to extend the same system of improvement over the whole of his
large property.
Yet, while giving utterance to these congratulations, the Com-
raittee feel compelled to add some words of caution. They fear that
certain erroneous notions, which have long been prevalent, are still
entertained in many quarters as to the expediency and propriety of
all or any such attempts to ameliorate the condition of the poor. It
scents still to be thought by some, that to render the labouring
classes comfortable is to encourage their increase—that to encourage
their increase leads to the growth of pauperism—and that pauperism
" the devouring evil which threatens to swallow up all the pro-
l'ertY of the country."
A moment's glance at the statistics of the present century may
Sliftice to dissipate some of these illusions.
The population of England and Wales, in 1817, was 11,349,750 ;
the sum expended in 1817 on the relief of the poor was 6,910,9251.
In 1847 the population had grown to at least 17,000,000, bat the
aunt expended on the relief of the poor in that year was only
6.208,785/. Thus, in 1817 the pauperism of the kingdom was equal
to a levy of more than 12s. on each person ; in 1847 it did not amount
to 7s. on each.
la 1817 a sum of 6,910,9251. was raised on rateable property of the
value of 12,000,0001. In 1847 the sum of 5,298,7851. was raised on
Property valued at 67,000,0001. Thus, in 1817 the rateable property
of the country had to bear a levy of 2s. Bd. in the pound, while in
1847 that levy was reduced to Is. 7d.
Hence, whatever allowance we may make for the stricter admi-
nistration of the poor-law, or for the reduced price of the necessaries
of life, these few figures will show how ungrounded is the alarm
entertained by some, that pauperism is an ever-increasing evil, which
roust, sooner or later, swallow up all property.
To take a contrary view, is it not a striking fact, that a property-
tax of only 7d. in the pound yielded, in 1847, more money than was
impended on the whole pauperism of England and Wales ?
These few facts are adduced solely to quiet alarm, and to restore I
Confidence. The Committee feel assured that nothing is now wanted
to raise the English labourer, generally, to a position of moderato
comfort, so far as his physical wants are concerned, but an increase
el hope and confidence—hope and confidence on the part of the
employer and proprietor, and the like feeling on the part of the
labourer.
It is to be feared that a sentiment of despair, naturally leading to
recklessness, is the principal cause of much of the improvidence and
Vice still prevalent among the working classes. If the labourer is
got only poorly fed and clothed, and wretchedly lodged, but sees also
no Prospect of improvement, even in the vista of years, who can wous
ler if the least temptation, either to sensual indulgence or to reek-
-1555 engagements, proves tco mach for his stability? To imbue a
loan with self-respect, or thoughtfulness for the future, it is clearly
essential that hope should brighten the prospect. It is but too pro-
bable that most of the improvident marriages which occur among
the poor arise from the utter absence of all hope that marriage shall
over be anything eSse than improvident. The man who has known
the comfort of a decent home, and can look forward to the posses-
lion of such an one, will not be very likely to throw himself wilfully
tcpoyerty and wretchedness.
Hence it may be safely regarded as one of the surest safeguards
against rash and imprudent marriage, to give the young labourer
some knowledge of the comforts of a respectable home, and to afford
11)111 a prospect of acquiring such for himself by the exercise of in-
naetry, prudence, and frugality.
The Committee wilt not further enter into details, or press their
eOnvietions with undue confidence. But they may surely beg, with-
out blame, the attention of the gentry and ;middle classes to the
COIN of the times, and to the vast importance of rendering the con-
dition of the labouring-classes as comfortable as their natural posi-
tion will allow. Everywhere the spread of knowledge and education
is clothing the working classes with power. That power they have
used, and are using, in various parts of Europe, to overthrow those
Whom they consider to have wronged or oppressed them. In Eng-
land, happily, there exists no real ground for such complaints. But
even the ordinary sufferings of poverty, if not soothed by sympathy,
arid alleviated by the hand of wealthy benevolence, may be some
times mistaken for the inflictions of injustice. Hence the Divine
Warning and counsel can never be more seasonably applied than at
this moment :—" The poor shall never cease out of the land ; there-
fore I command thee, saying, thou shalt open thine hand wide unto
thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy in the land.
In conclusion, the Committee would add a few words on their
own immediate concerns. The work entrusted to them becomes
daily of increasing importance. Their correspondence with all parts
of England rapidly extends, and appeals are continually made to them
which involve an increased expenditure. The principal work, too,
in London—the Model Lodging-house for Families, now about to be
commenced, will reqaire an expenditure of at least 8,0001., while
little more than 5,0001. has yet been Subscribed for that purpose.
On every ground, therefore, the Committee would earnestly ask
for new and enlarged contributions. No other society, they believe
it may be safely asserted, devoting itself to the physical necessities
of the poor, has embarked in so extensive and necessary an under-
taking as this Its which they are engaged. They desire to do some-
thing to ameliorate the condition of the whole labouring population
Of the kingdom; and few and feeble as their efforts have yet been,
they still find encouragement to hope that, by perseverance, and
Ivith the
eedy,'ebleSSing of Him " who judgeth the cause of the poor and
even this great work may in a measure be accomplished.
Signed for the Committee,
ASHLEY, Chairman.

Subscriptions.
tier Most Gracious Majesty the Queen and his Royal high-
ness Prince Albert .. .. .. £3OO 0 0
her Majesty the Queen Dowager .. .. . • .. 150 0 0
Rer Royal litglmess the Duchess of Beat .. .. 100 0 0
her Royal highness the Duchess of Gloucester .. 50 0 0
The Right Hon. Earl Spencer • • • • •• 100 0 0
Mr Joseph Copley, Bart., 2d don. • • •• •
.. 110 0 0
The Right lion. Lord Feversham .• • • • • • • 100 0 0
15. M. Peto, Esq., M.P. • • • • • • •• .•
100 0 0
. 100 0 0
Rev. E. Holland • • • • • • • • • •
• •
• • 100 0 0
His Grate the Duke of Bedford • • • • • •
100 0 0
kiss ..
Messrs. Barclay and Co. • • • • .•
• • • • 100 0 0
.. .. .. .. .. .. 100 0 0
4 osmos .. 100 0 0
Abel Smith, Esq. • • •. • • ..
.. 100 0 0
Lord Willoughby De Eresby .. .. ..
A Friend, by L. Sullivan, Esq. • • • • .. a
6
.. 100 0 0
Total to Jan. 1, 1849 • • £5,663
Donations since received :--
The Rev. Dr. Ellerten £25 0 0 Mrs. llugham •• £2O 0 0
A,. Friend . • .• 50 00W. P. Angell, Esq. 2
0 0
b 5 0
.... 11. Cooke, Esq. .• 80 0 Mrs. Schad..
'1
major cruikshank •• 50 0 Miss Cath. Stuart .. 20 0
A., per Nisbet • • bOOE.W. M. L. 0 0
.• i 0 0
r• T. .. 40 f Major Little ..
1
C• Saver, Esq. •. b 0 ( ..ady Murray ..
10 2
10 0
2 0
A. Palmer, Esq. •• 501 \V Jennings, Esq. ••
A. R. Uradshaw,Esq. IS 0f 1. Wilkinson, Esq. .. 50 0
Donations and annual subscriptions will be received by Messrs.
)Villiams, Deacon and Ca., Birchin-lane ; Messrs. Berries, Farqu-
har, and Co., St. James-street ; Messrs. Coutts aid Co., Strand
Ueasrs. Strahan, Paul, and Co , Temple-bar and by Hatchards,
Picadilly ; Seeleys, Fleet-street and llKnover-steet ;
E titer Nisbet,
'tellers-Az:At ; or by the Secretary, at the office,r 21, all.

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Illustrated by 26 Anatomical Coloured Engravings on Steel.
ON PHYSICAL DISQUALICATIONS, GENERATIVE INCAPA-
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Drew Edition, enlarged to 196 pages. Just published, price 2s. 6d., or
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THE SILENT FRIEND, a Medical Work on
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