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

ON the STATE and PROSPECTS of the
LABOURING CLASSES.

January, 1849.
,-,jhe Committee of the SOCIETY for the IMPROVEMENT of the
IiDITION of the LABOURING CLASSES feel unwilling to allow
e °Penlog of a new year, under such unparalleled circumstances as
the present, to pass over without offering to their subscribers, and
•w„? entry clergy, and middle classes of England generally, a few
',LIs of congratulation and of caution.
. grounds of congratulation will be obvious to every one —that
V'ear of convulsions to Europe generally should have elapsed in
;ngland almost whhout any serious alarm, and that this general
;Mu:Minty should have been preserved during the pressure of much
ant of employment, poverty, and privation, may well excite a feel-
inS of gratitude, and lead us to prize more deeply those institutions
""011 have thus " weathered the storm ;" and, above all, that spirit
0,.
religion which, even partially and imperfectly diffused as it is,
tlt, Yet shown itself, though in weakness, the best controller of na-
'tal perturbations.
h.'1,4, besides these general grounds of thankfulness, the Committee
„retouch cause to congratulate their subscribers on the progress
...ad, in their own more immediate work in the course of the past
War. Not only has the gracious patronage of her Majesty and her
:Yal Consort encouraged and enabled them to commence a new
p„_rt, of magnitude and importance—the Model Lodging-house for
it:lollies, which will shortly, it is hoped, rise from the ground in the
Mediate vicinity of St. Giles's—but the example already set be-
,flls to be extensively followed. Within the last few months the Com-
in,,..ittee have had the pleasure of witnessing efforts of a kindred na-
i
P;:e. most of them in of those carried on
thisnd Society, made or plannedconfessedly in severalation populous and important
laces.

In
h the great parish of St. Anne, Soho, the rector and a parochial
,onituittee have completed and opened a large lodging-house, in
~,nich excellent accommodation is provided for as many as 136 per-
"ns of the industrious classes.
ikr dioining to this, in Bt. James's, Westminster, the reeer, with a
k
°thial committee, is employed on a similar undertaking.
~11 Edinburgh awl Glasgow model lodging-houses have been opened
"d further efforts in the same direction are contemplated.
b,241 the city of Bath a similar work has , ecently been undertaken
,Ltile clergy and a local committee, and there can be no doubt of its
11213, and complete accomplishment.
t Brighten, a lodging-house for the working-classes is planned,
,a."-` Measures for its establishment have been taken by several of the
clergy.
tis‘bitaanAt Mcclts,eaud a measure of te same objhis kind is now
is engag
in progress. Several
ing the attention of the
:ta
other movements of the same description, in other towns, are in va-
lorstages of maturity.
or ought we to forget—though an entirely independent move-
:,,e.nt—the recent opening of the Metropolitan Buildings, near Old
~‘`.4 Pancras Church, in which excellent lodgings are provided for as
"40nY as 110 families of the industrious classes.
tbserving all these efforts of benevolence, commencing nearly at
`'esarne time, the Committee feel that there is abundant ground for
congratulation;Dory distant
and that it is hardly too much to hope that at no
distant day the wants and comforts of the town labourers
,j,cmghout England may be generally, or even universally, regarded
"isil Interest.
Turning to the agricultural districts, the Committee feel that the
▪ „7 Way in which these can be effectually attended to, is by the
i',`,4l"re co-operation of the landed proprietors, the clergy, and gentry,
discontent
important work of raising from ignorance, destitution, and
content, a large proportion of the labourers of Great Britain,
ha With this Niew, the Committee are happy to be able to state, tha'
Mg prepared plans and specifications for several kinds of agri-
eiltural cottages, they have received, since the month of June last,
fewer than 184 applications for copies of them, the greater part of
inlch applications have been made by gentlemen who avowed their
ntention of immediately beginning to raise, in their resisective
4elghb ourhoods, better dwellings for the agricultural poor t• an those
hich have hhherto been so common in our villages. The Cora-
relttee have also issued a plan for a Village Lodging-house, adapted
Srf
unmarried agricultural labourers, quarrymen, and miners, and
they have the sati fact on of knowing that, in various places, especi-
vy at Brampton-park, near Huntingdon, and at Tunbridge-wells,
is sort of dwelling is now in course of erection.
The Committee also receive most gratifying account, of a e efforts
• -.lag in different part, of the country to improve the dwellings of
the
Peer, among the foramost of w hich they must place the recent
erection of a considerable number of excel ent cottages at Ampthill
telold other villages, by his Grace the Duke of Bedford, who is about
I extend the same system of improvement over the whole of his
• Prope
_yet, while giving utterance to these congratulations, the Corn-
ntllttee feel compelled to add some words of caution. They fear that
„er,terin erroneous notions, which have long-been prevalent, are still
Itire tained in many quarters as to the expediency and propriety of
s ..?_r any such attempts to ameliorate the condition of the poor. It
4`ols still to be thought by some, that to render the labouring
then comfortable is to encourage their increase—that to encourage
Increase leads to the growth of pauperism—and that pauperism
the devouring evil which threatens to swallow up all the pro-
'erty of the country."
in! moment's glance at the statistics of the present century may
to dissipate some of these illusions.
sh:ne Population of England and Wales, in 1817, was 11,349,750
/„`,Blllll expended in 1817 on the relief of the poor was 6,910,9251.
„I' 1847 the population had grown to at least 17,000,000, bat the
e.P.,,,exPended en the relief of the poor in that year was only
".,7851. Thus, in 1817 the pauperism of the kingdom was equal
7a levy of more than 12s. on each person ; in 1847 it did not amount
7s. on each.
1.„,4 1817 a sum of 6,910,9251. was raised on rateable property of the
'"un of 52,000,000/. In 1847 the sum cf 5,298,785/. was raised on
jdfTertY valued at
ad 67,000,0001. Thus, in 181 the rateable property
. he country h to bear a levy of 2s. 8d.7 in tke pound, while in
%.14 that levy was reduced to Is. 7d.
fence, whatever allowance we may make for the stricter admi-
r ration of the poor-law, or for the reduced price of the necessaries
s Ire, these few figures will show how ungrounded is the alarm
:tenanted by some, that pauperism is an ever-increasing evil, which
4,1!t, sooner or later, swallow up all property.
t,x take a contrary view, is it not a striking fact, that a property-
onlY 7d. in the pound yielded, In 1i47, more money than was
''nded on the whole pauperism of England and Wales ?
to nese few facts are adduced solely to quiet al irrn, and to restore
torindence. The Committee feel assured that noticing is now wanted
hreise the English labourer, generally, to a position of moderate
411 fort, so far as his physical wants are concerned, but an increase
otu,°Pe and confidence—hope and confidence on the part of the
liteomYer and proprietor, and the like feeling on the part of the
It t is
to be feared that a sentiment of despair, naturally leading to
,fi
is the principal cause of much of the improvidence and
e" still prevalent among the working classes. If the labourer is
so-`,,Snly poorl fed and clothed, and wretchedly lodged, but sees also
te,.v,r°sPect offmprovement, even in the vista of years, who can won-
lf the least temptation, either to sensuhl indulgence or to reek-
cs,' engagements, proves tco much for kis stability t?
To imbue a
with self-respect, or thoughtfulness for the future, it is clearly
Wsential that hope should brighten the prospect. It is but too pro-
that most of the improvident marriages which occur among
Door arise frora the utter absence of all hope that marriage shall
th:r be anything e'se than improvident. The man who has known
sio- cofort of a eent home, and can look forward to the posses-
11Ofmuch an s cdnec, will not be very likely to throw hinnelf wilfully
al n e
(Psvert and wretchedness.
n • Y
ce it may be safely regarded as one of the surest safeguards
hrnst rash and im
time
marri age, to give the young labourer
t:4 knowledge of comforts of a respectable home, and to afford
(1:11.4 Prospect of acquiring such for himself by the exercise of in-
Theand frugality.
Committee will not further enter into details, or press their
6 nvietions with undue confidence. But they may surely beg, with-
lit blame, the attention of the gestry and ;middle classes to the
stns of the times, and to the vast importance of rendering the con-
on of the labouring classes as comfortable as their natural posi-
4'n will allow. Everywhere the spread of knowledge and education
w...elothing the working classes with power. That power they have
t,71, and are using, in various parts of Europe, to overthrow those
Lnlti they consider to have wronged or oppressed them. lu Eng-
jg, happily, there exists no real ground for such complaints. But
,e 4 the onlinary sufferings of poverty, if net soollied by sympathy,
, trd alleviated by the band of wealthy benevolence, may be some
h~4' Inisiaken for the inflictions of injustice. Hence e Divine
ting and counsel can never be more seasonably applied than at
for: Toment : —" Te poor shall never cease out of the land ; there-
command thee saying, thou shalt open thine hand wide unto
3' brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy in the land."
In conclusion, the Committee would add a few words on their
‘.',` Immediate concerns. The work entrusted to them becomes
toe of increasing importance. Their correspondence with all parts
x.mngland rapidly extends, and appeals are continually made to them
11,";:c11 involve an increased expenditure. The principal work, too,
London —the Model Lodging-house for Families, now about to be
epmraenced, will require an expenditure of at least 8,0001., while
Lttle more than 5,0001. has yet been subscribed for that purpose.
itfor „0 everY tit ound, therefore, the Committee would earnestly ask
h'cw and enlarged contributions. No other society, they believe
or,ay be safely asserted, devoting itself to the physical necessities
• allae
I Poor, has embarked in so extensive and necessary an under-
thi ng as this in which they are engaged. They desire to do some-
es z:lit to ameliorate the condition of the whole labouring population
til,„„ “e kingdom; and few and feeble as their efforts have yet been,
Wit", find encouragement to hope that, by perseverance, and
st_," ale blessing of MIR " who judgeth the cause of the poor and
N'" even this great work may in a measure be accomplished.
signed for the Committee,
ASHLEY, Chairman.

tier Subscriptions.
Most Gracious Majesty the Queen and his Royal High-
-8,e!! , Prince Albert .. • • •• • • • • £3OO 0 0
114 Majesty the Queen Dowager .. • • •• .. 150 0 0
1t ~.1109a1 Highness the Duchess of Kent .. • • 100 0 0
Tile Royal highness the Duchess of Gloucester .. 50 0 0
4 .:4814 lion. Earl Spencer • • • • .. .. 100 0 0
Th.uoSepli Copley, Bart., 2d don. • • •• .. • . 110 0 0
Is. 4111tht Hon. Lord Feversham .. • • .. • • 100 0 0
Ile, L.,l'eto, Esq., M.P. • • •• •• •• 100 0 0
111% ' r-, Rolland • • • • • • • • .. .. 100 0 0
alit the Duke of Bedford •.. • • • . • • 100 0 0
148:Portal .. .. • • • • .. .. .. 100 0 0
gos:.:. Barclay and Co. • • • • • . ••
.. .. 100 0 0
Ab_, smith, Esq '•
• • • • •• •• .. 100 0 0
L 0
_. ::
4 V Willoughby De Eresby • • • •
end, by L. Sullivan, Esq. • • • • .. • • 100 0 0
Total to Jan. 1, 1849 • • •• £5,663 3 6
The is. Donations since received
A Friend
Dr. Ellerten £25 0 0 Mrs. ilughain •• £2O 0 0
It. iilend .. .. 50 00 W. I'. Angell, Esq. 55 0
m,: Cooke, E. •• 50 0 Sirs. Schael .. 20 0
4—r Cruikshank • • 50 0 Miss Cath. Stuart .. 20 0
•...., Der NT.
4.T - isbet .. 500E.W. M. L. .. 50 0
('‘. s.'lr, .. .. 40 0 Major Little .. 10 0
4. iar, Esq. .. i 0 ( ..ady Murray .. 22 0
.4. ~aluner, Esq. .. 50( W. Jennings, Esq. •• 10 10 0
I.l.lilradsbaw,Esq. le 0 ( :1. Wilkinson, Esq. • • 50 0
Will"alions and annual subscriptions will be received by Messrs.
lisr 'e.ms• Deacon and Co., Birchin-lane ; Messrs. Berries, Farqu-
k...-' and co., St. James-street ; Messrs. Ceutts and Co.. Strand ;
isiZra. Strhan, Paul, and Co , Temple-bar ; and by Hatchards,
itei.7,llll/ ; Seeleys, Fleet-street and iienover-street ; and Nisbet,
"ara-ttf :et ; or by tho Secretary, at the office, 21, Exeter-hall.
....._

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