The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-09 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 unpara'leted circumstances as
the present, to pass over without offering, to their subscribers, and
the gentry, clergy, and middle clasics of England generally, a few
Words of congratulation and of caution.
The grounds of congratulation will be obvious to every one —that
a Year of co,vulsions to Europe generally should have elapsed in
_
„land almost without any serious alarm, and that this general
tranquillity should have been preserved during the pressure of muck
t•tt.nt of employment. poverty, and privation, may well excite a feel-
ing 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,
has Yet shown itself, though in weaknesr, the best controller of na-
tional perturbations.
Lot, besides these general grounds of thankfulness, the Committee
have much cause to congratulate their subscribers on the progress
11015 in their own more immediate work in the course of the past
Year. Not only has the gracious patronage of her Majesty and her
'4°3'4l Consort encouraged and enabled them to commence a new
Rork
of magnitude and importance—the Model Lodging-house for
atnilies, which will shortly, it is hoped, rise from the ground in the
immediate vicinity of St. Giles's—but the example already set be-
"a, to be extensively followed. Within the last few months the Com-
atittee have had the pleasure of witnessing efforts of a kindred lia-
!nre, and most of them coafessedly in imitation of those carried on
.7 this Society, made or p:atined in several populous and important
Places,
In the great parish of St. Anne, Soho, the rector cad a parochial
Committee have completed and opened a large lodging-hoes,-, in
WhiCh excellent accommodation is provided for as many as 136 per-
Sons of the industrious classez.
Adjoining to this, in St. James's, Westminster, the rec'er, with a
Parochial committee, is employed on a similar undertaking.
At Edinburgh and Glasgow model lodging-houses have bcen opened
and further efforts in the same direction are contemplated.
In the city of Bath a similar work has ecently been undertaken
by the clergy and a local committee, and there can be no doubt of its
'Pe idY and complete accomplishment.
At Brighton, a lodging-house for the worklag-classes is planned,
_,and measures for its establishment have been taken by several of the
clergy,

alt Macclesfield the same object is engaging the attention of the
Inhabitants, and a measure of this kind is now in progress. Several
naher Movements of the same description, in other toe us, are in va-
ntages of maturity.
/for ought we to forget—though an entirely independent move-
ment—the recent opening of the aletropolitan Buildings, near Old
t. *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
twe same time, the Committee feel that there is abundant ground for
scalgratulation; and that it is hardly too much to hope that at no
very distant day the wants and comforts of the town labourers
ugaent 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 tie
active cooperation of the landed proprietors, the clergy, and :sentry,
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, tha
staving prepared plans and speci 'cation"; for several kinds of agri-
cultural cottages, they have receivei, since the month of June last,
no tower than 184 applications for copies of them, the greater part of
Which applications have been made by gentlemen who avowed their
linen ion of immediately beginning to raise, in their respective
heighbourhoods, better d .ceilings for the agricultural poor t: en those
Which have hi herto teen so common In our villages. The Com-
snittea have also issu,d a plan for a Village Lodging-house, adapta I
for unmarried agricultural labourers, quarrymen, and miners, and
they have the sati fact on of knowing that, in v•.riatii places. es, eel-
ally at Brimpto• ‘-park, near Huntingdon, and at Ttna
t is sort of dwelling is now in course of erection.
The Committee also receive most gratify ng account of t' e efforts
making in different part of the county to improve the dwellings of
the poor, among the foramost of to Lich they mast place the rec ant
erection of a considerable number of exec: ent cottages at Amethif
Rnd other villages, by his Grace the I 'Like of Bedford, who is about
to exteed the same system of improvemen over the whole of his
large Property.
Yet while giving utterance to these congratulatioss, the Com-
nlittee feel compelled to add some words of caution. They fear that
eertal
st erroneous notions, which have 'one* been prevalent, are still
entertained in many quarters as to the expediency and prepriety of
ea Or any each attempts to ameliorate the condition of the poor. It
4enss still to be thought by some, that to render the labouring
asses comfortable is to encourage their increase—that to encourage
Thei
•r increase leads to the growth of pauperism—and that pauperism
" the devouring evil which threatens to swallow la, all the pro-
lertY of the country."
e„„,k rnelnent's glance at the statistics of the present century may
—nee to dissipate so:r e of these illusions.
The
Population of England and Wales, in 1817, was 11,349 750 ;
the soot expended in 1817 on the relief of the poor was 6,910,9251. 1847 the
8
population had grown to at 1 act 17,000,000, but the
4'n expended the reli fof the poor in that year was only
21 6. eu
dBal. Thus, in 1817 the pauperism of the kingdom was equal
to levy of more than 12s. en each person ;in 1847 it did not amount
!s• On each.
e"'s,4 1817 a sum of 6,910,925/. was raised on rateable property of the
ipne of 52,000,000/. In 1847 the suns of 5,298,785/. was' raised on
oieli;_ettY valued at 67,000,0001. Thus, in 1817 the rateable property
laaale country had to bear a levy of 2s. Bd. in the pontid, while in
so that levy was reduced to Is. 7d.
-nee. whatever allowance we may make for the stricter adtni-
or trillion of the poor-law, or for the reduced price of the necessaries
f• a, these few figures will show how ungrounded is the alarm
by some, that pauperism is an ever-increasing evil, which
,lust, sooner or later, swallow up all property.
IT° take a contrary view, is it not a striking fact, that a property-
• °f colY 7d. ill the pound yielded, in 1e47, more money than was
ended on the whole pauperism or England and Wales ?
,anallese few facts are adduced solely to quiet al trm, and to restore
Idence. The Committee feel assured that nothing is now wanted
eoahiraijae the English labourer, generally, to a pos lion of moderate
• a °rt, so far as his physical wants are concerned, but an increase
ese"°Pe and confidence—hpe and confidence on the part of the
144'0Yer and proprietor, amid the like feeling on the part of the
urer.
r to be feared that a sentiment of despair, naturally healing to
eela'essness is the principal cause of much of the improvidence and
tt-te2111.1 re'valent orating the working classes. If the labourer is
"1Y poorly fed and clothed, and wretchedly lodged; but secs also
e°,.Pirs°sPect ef improvement, even its the vista of years, who eon won
less ' the least temptation, either to sensual indulgence or t..) rec k-
lea„"gagements, proves too mach for his stability ? T. o_ imbue a
• With self-respect, or thoughtfulasss for the future, it is clearly
17,Itial that hope should brighten the prospect. It is but too pa a
the e that most of the improvident marriaees which occur among
Poor arise from the utter absence of all hope that marriage shall
ta:r be anything ese than improvident. The man who has known
bon
such
of one, home and can look forward to the poves-
h el* such an will not be very likely to throw him-elf wilfully
hence
and wretchedness.
sslenee it may be safely regarded as one of the surest safeguards
4:anst rash and imprudent marriage, to give the young labourer
ah'ia knowledge of the comforts of a respectable home, and to afford
Sac a Prospect of acquiring such for himself, by the exercise of in-
qv, Prudence, and frugality.
soasae Committee wia not further enter into details, or press their
en'','ll,,ctions with undue confidence. Bat they may surely beg, with-
slanslante, the attention of the gentry and middle classes to the
sath j Of the times, and to the vast importance of rendering the con-
tia„ apf the labouring classes as comfortable as their ntaural
Vaal allow. Everywhere the spread oi knowledge and education
au, 'thing the working classes wills power. That power they have
*Co, and are using, in various parts of Europe, to overthrow those
Ime,Pathey consider to have wronged or oppressed them. in Eng-
eeen' naPpily, there exists no real ground for such complaints. Bus
sad the ordinary sufferings of poverty, If net sew hed by sympathy,
tit alleviated by the hand of wealthy benevolence, may be some
IsT„'s Mistaken for the inflictions of injustice. Hence the Divine
thi,:lng sad counsel can never be more seasonably applied than at
to,-; moment The poor shall sever cease out of the land ; there-
thy command thee, saying, thou shalt open thine hand wide unto
brother, to thy psor, and to thy ne.edy in the land."
own conclusion, the Committee would add a few words on their
tlaii„lonediate concerns. The work entrusted to them becomes
Olh of increasing importance. Their correspondence with all parts
leinag,,aland rapidly extends, find appeals are continually made to them
iq involve an increased expenditure. The principal work, too,
tornan(len —the Model Lodging-house for Families, now about to be
littse-`eneed, ll require an exenliture of at least 5 while
0' More than 5,0001. has yet been subscribed for that purpose.
fes,ll, wary ground, therefore, the Committee would earnestly ask
it "", and enlarged contributions. Ndother soc'ety, they believe
aI4Y
of th be safely asserted, devoting itself to the, physical necessities
tobihe Poor, has embarked in so extensive and necessary an under-
thiug as this iu which they are engaged. They desire to do some-
theyarneliorate the condition of the whole labourin pulation
alagdorn; and few and feeble as their efforts haste yet been,
*4l still find encouragement 'to hope that, by perseverance, amid
th, e blessingwho judgeth the cause of the poor and
Y' eVen this great work inay in a measure be accomplished.

kigned for the Committ

ASHLEY, Chairman.

Iter Most
Subscriptions.
4,„'',oat Gracious Majesty the Queen and his Royal ligh-
t/tll Prince Albert .. • - .. • • • • £3OO 0 0
Ile, ItoaJesty the Queen Dowager .. , .. • • .. 150 0 0
tler I,nYal Highness the Duchess of Kent .. .. 100 0 0
'he iti-Tal llighness the Duchess of Gloucester .. 50 0 0
31, Olt Hon. Earl Spencer • . • • .. .. 100 0 0
The b(llePh Copley, Bart., 2d don. • • • • .. • • 110 0 0
11, le`,Zht lion. Lord Feversham .. • • • • • • 100 0 0
I<e• Pete E :'ti .P. .. .. 100 0 0
11 "11 ' sq." • . .'
..
..
Is q"o I 1 and .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 0 0
144. ,saee the Duke of Bedford .. • • • • • • 100 0 0
bkie4r`sortal .. 103 0 0
•• •• • • • • ' '
*NO3% • tarclay and Co. • • • • • • • • .. 100 0 0
441 .. 100 0 0
I.%-d -011th, Esq. .. .. .. .. .. • • 100 0 0
AI
4 oug„ by e reby • • •• • • .• 100 0 0
e4(l, lay L. SulDlivan,s • Esq. .. • • • • • 100 0 0
Total to Jan. 1, 1849 £5,663 3 6
The ,
It Donations since received :
1t• ". Dr. Euerton £25 00' Mrs. Ilugham £2O 0 0
I.l3rielld
1 ,, .. .. 50 00W. F. Angell, Esq. 5 5 0
'ttio.,•-,Nze, Es! • • 5 0 0 Mrs Sch iel .. ' 2 0 0
4. ' ruikshank. •• . 50 C Miss Cath. Stuart. .. 20 0
t.7er Isisbet
0 0 ( !'.. W. 31. L. .. 5 0 0
..
l', 4 0 t ‘fajor Little 1 0 0
• • .. ..
A. taJQP. Esq Murray . 22 0
11.1 r, Es.q ...., 50 i W Jennings, Esq. ..
10 10 0
,110,,:rYisliaw,Esq. 10 0( 1. Wilkinson, Esq. .. 50 0
,wqii„'"ons and annual subscriptions will b e received by Messrs.
tar, ~,,42,5, Deacon and Co., Birchin-lane ; Messrs. Ilerries, Farqu-
,4lNl;."' CO., St James-street Messrs. Coutts and Co., Strand;
41 ..,11• Strahan, Paul, and Co , Temple-bar ; and by Hatch,nrds,
lie'r,e4l3' ; Seeleys, Fleet-street and I,nover-steet ; and Nkbet,
..._...,,...f5-,street ; or by the Secretary, tithe ootce, 21, Exeter-hall.

DOLOREAUX CURABLE.
TOOTHACHE
hit4ibtalllaneols relief from those excruciating complaints may be
Tie Using JAMES'S Celebrated ASTILIAN TINCTURE for
uOLOHEIJX, TOOTHACHE, PAINS In the FACE, GUMS, &c.

(IMPORTANT TESTIMONIALS.]
" Liverpool, Dec. 13, 1248.

"To Messrs. Careen and Co,
It
to„ is with much pleasure I communicate tke great efficacy of
41" Astiltan Tincture' for the Tie Doloreux and Toothache, it
I);:ying cured my wife of the former in a few minute% after the ap-
ttlation. She suffered dreadfully for some time, and could get no
"f tilL your tincture was applied.
'4 (Signed)
14, Itathbons-street, Tosteth-park."

" THOMAS GUT.

" Liverpool, Dec. 14, 1848.

" Messrs.. Carson and Co.,
Nte, la To
with feelings of gratitude that I inform yea of the won-
-11-'et, cure effected by the use of ' James's Celebrated Astllian
41re for the Tic Doloreux and Toothache, prepared by you.
three Y Wife had been suffering the most excruciating agony for
/id:quaW,,celis, night and day ; she tried everything that we thought
• tr „"e of any service, but all in vain ; she was then recommended
Ca ▪ "ur Tincture, which she did, and in four minutes after the
tion she was quite cured.
4‘
ti (Signed)
NAITer-street, Windsor."

"WILLIAM REID.

" Liverpool, Dec. 23, 1848.
;`,btle
ih rnen,—.After six months' experience in its sale I have
fltir Astilian Tincture' to be all but uniformly successful
111r-e of Tic Doloreux and To•thache ; indeed 0..1y one case of
,"tti tb."• I new sf in that time. Although generally averse to
I'llah,lngs, yet you may, if you choose, make public use of this.—l
years, faithfully, " TIIO3LAS LOWE,
41..8"-13illpensing Chemis, 38, Islington, and 40, Norton-street.
'—"reu may send metanother three dozen of the smaller size.
Pri„,
Prers e Messrs Carson and Cs. Pare by d •
40`',•r,.Carson and Cs., St." Anne-street, Liverpool, sole pro-
f,. Uses 'elli whom it may be had, or through any of the Wholesale
014 4 London Birmingham, York Edinburgh, &c., and retail
441exr ' '
—Pectable Medicine Vendor throughout the Kingdom.