The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-11 00:00:00

COURT oF ALDERMEN.

"11
THE
BM'LORABLE CONDITION OF THE POOR IN THE
CITY LOCALITIES.
pea Inquest InqUeSt of the Ward of Farringdon Within ap-
ial-`1 at the bar with a presentment, to which they
It PLered the most attentive consideration of the Court.
tit:lts follows :
ie Inquest of Farringdon Within in dispensing
led annual bounty of the inhabitants of the Ward. were
their ° prevent any imposition on the funds committed to
tati cioo, personally to visit the poor at their own habi.
°LW. In
qu,in„the performance of this task they became ac-
feri„ In
with a mass of heart-sickening misery and suf-
thi"g, ef which they had never previoudy formed any-
feelng like an idea, and at the existence of which they
e the most painful regret. All the relief that the
ti,tflue't could give was far from being adequate to sat-
-0,4 the claims on their sympathy ; and so it mus
and 130 all future occasions, unless a more systematic
titliamaPettnancut mode of giving relief can be established
the that
which depends on the casual generosity of
vie,..losperous inhabitants of the Ward; and with a
tht," bringing something of the kind into operation
sealmdrieetll it their duty to make the following pre-
t
sir; The district to which the Inquest are most dc-
St, Ls °I drawing attention is situated in the parish ofl
1-":,4rtio, Ludgate-hill, and St. Ann, Blackfriars.
dt
40edu"s Holiday-yard, Ireland-yard, Glassbouse-yard,
,
411 a great many yards and courts adjoining ; and
I:titittsazeste.
dye•arrds consist of buildings or houses. which,
exceptions, are in a state of decay, in a greater
g ee. It can scarcely be said that they
the xey other accommodation than a roof—none
,oltkAristian feeling would assign for a fellow-creature
t these wretched places are let in tenements
fro„,gc,ting Of 4 single apartment, each for sums varying
pro— 4B• 6d. to 4s. weekly, a most enormous rent in
it is to the value of the property, especially when
th: considered that the tenants arc of the poorest of
Ishe°°r• And the occupiers, who are mostly persons
ee subsistence mainly depends on casual employ-
me i° in the City, are compelled to pay this amount of
8..,..e; for, when through any misfortune any of these
r their rent to go behind-hand for a few weeks,
what little household furniture they may possess is
le_ to be instantly wrested from them by a summary
1, dlrocess, and too often they arc treated by their
eise rds with a ruthless severity that people in better
are ueenstances cannot conceive. Many of these houses
I,tyhicsrowded, some of the rooms containing fa-
uoutivof six, seven, or eight persons, old and young ;
heapmariner of living is rendered doukly un-
end Y °Y the
filth
aievvers, and by
buildings being dest:tute of drainage
, the consequent accumulation of
"Y n the vicinity, which, however cleanly disposed
also b" family may be, cannot easily be removed ; and
teas, Y a very scanty supply of water, as that very ne-
dam?' article is only to be obtained for two hours on three
• a the Week, and then it must be fetched a mini-

uesday a Court was held for the despatch of

dcrable distance frcm some of the houses, under c+rcum•

Flances of difficulty and annoyance.
" From much conversation which the Inquest have had
with many of the poor people, they are fully persuaded
that most of their acute distress arises from their having
such high rent demanded of them ; thus at times when
they may be out of employment, or labouring under
some other misfortunes, forcing them into a state of
despair and deplorable recklessness. By this species of
property being let in the manner described, the rental
of eAcli house amounts to as much as 30/. or 601. per
annum, according to the size, at which rate two or
three )ears' rent amounts to the actual value of the
property ; and after a strict investigation of all the cir-
cumstances bearing on the subject, the Inquest are of
opinion that the loss to the landlords, from bad tenants,
or having a tenements occasionally vacant, dces not
average more than 5/. per cent. on the gross rental, for
the number of dwelling places used by the most indigent
of the labouring classes being very inadequate to the
demand for them, tenants of that description have little
inducement to remove from any place into which they

may have once entered.
" It is not fit that such a state of things should continue
in the opulent and renowned city of London. There is
abundant reason why its remedy should be made the
business of various classes of the community. The
plelanthropist will be moved to promote a remedy, by
his kindly nature ; the faculty will acknowledge, that in
such places contagious diseases often arise ; and the po-
litical economist will equally acknowledge that a worse
infection, in the shape of vice, may have acquired a
baneful influence that is utterly incompatible with the
interests of society at large.
" The Inquest have no intention to reproach the Cor-
poration with having evinced a culpable neglect of
the domestic comforts of the poor ; but the fact cannot
be denied, that the numerous improvements in the
main thoroughfares of the City, and the embellistrments
of the same (within a few years past) have so diminished
the number of the humbler class of dwellings, as to con-
stitute one cause of the evil of which the Inquest com-
plain ; and therefore they trust it cannot be thought
unreasonable to solicit from the Corporation some effi-
cient assistance for an amelioration of the grievance.
There is-still much labour which the poor are required
to perform in the City, and it is of importance to those
who may be employed, that they should dwell as near
as possible to the place where their services are in re-
quisition, for if any one of them be .not at hand when
wanted, he will soon be supplanted by another and it
is this fear of any such consequences that causes them
to submit to the inconveniences to which they are sub-
jected ; otherwise, for the sum which they pay for one
dark unhealthy room, they could get a decent little house
with a patch of garden ground attached, on the outskirts
of the metropolis. Under these circumstances the In-
quest earnestly hope that the Corporation will heartily
sanction the plan they are about to suggest.
" Having shown, as they trust they have, that a prin-
cipal cause of the distress arising from the poor having
to pay nearly as much every week for rent as in unfa-
vourable seasons they earn during the same space of
time, the Inquest now propose their remedy. It is
that the Corporation, in the course of the numerous
improvements which they still contemplate carrying into
effect, should, in available situations (say Farringdon
Market), cause to be erected as an experiment several
capacious houses contiguous to or adjoining to each
other, to be called " the Working Man's Home,"
or by any other name that might be deemed
more appropriate, in which should be constructed
rooms of a comfortable size, which might be let
to the industrious poor in weekly sums, varying
from Is. to Is. 3d. each, or, if the Corporation should
consider it pi &rabic, that twenty-four small houses
should be erected, each to contain four rooms, the two
lower to be let at Is. each per week, and the two upper
ones at ls. 3d. per week, which, altogether, would
amount to 45. 6d. per week for each house. The In-
quest have ascertained from various inquiries they have
made, that the cost of erecting one such small house in
a neat substantial manner, with accommodations of a
superior kind to any thing poor persons can procure, at
the rent which they are at present compelled to pay,
would be about 1301., or about 3,0001. for the twenty-
four. The gross amount of rent which these tene-
ments would return in one year, would be 2801., and
allowing a diminution of one-seventh, or 40/. per annum
for repairs and casualties in the occupancy, (and the
probability is that the diminution on that account would
be much less), 201. for taxes, 28/. being a per cent sge
of 101. per cent., for remunerating the person employed
in collecting the rents and letting the premises, there
would then remain as interest for the capital refunded
the sum at least of 2001. per annum, which would be
quite sufficient to repay the Corporation, who must, in
this instance, be actuated by the purest principles of
Christian benevolence. But in the event of the Cor-
poration, from prudential motives, declining to enter so
extensively into the speculation, the Inquest propose
that they should place a piece of land (say the vacant
piece at the end of Farringdon-street) free from the
charge of ground rent, for a certain term of years, at
the disposal of suitable trustees, in order to enable a
few philanthropists to make the experiment on the same
plan ; the parties in whose favour the land may be
granted to give ample security that no person who
should join the speculation should receive more interest
for the money so invested than 5 per cent., and that if
the proceeds of the speculation should amount to
more than this, it should he handed over to the Cor-
poration to recompense them for the use of the land ;
and the Corporation to give security that when the pe-
riod for which the land might be granted should have
expired, the buildings should continue to be directed to
the same purposes for which they were respectively
erected. On such terms as these the Inquest are al-
ready prepared to give the sum (one gentleman will
advance the sum of 1,0000 towards effecting the
object they have at heart—the amelioration of the
domestic condition of the poor in general. Thev have
not the slightest doubt that this plan would be emi-
nently successful ; on its beneficial effect; being wit-
nessed, it would be adopted by many other Corpora-
tions and private philanthropists ; and in the course of
a few years there would be manifest a richly gratifying
neatness and cheerfulness in numerous localities where
poverty in its most squalid and loathsome aspect has
borne permanent sway.
" BENJAMIN STEIL, Foreman."
Sir MATTHEW WOOD said that the presentment
was one of a most important nature, and required the
utmost deliberation. He should therefore move, that
it be referred to a Committee of the whole Court, for
the examination of evidence on the subject.—(Hear.)
Alderman Coreearm asked whether the Inquest had
made representations upon the subject to the Board of
Guardians?,
Mr. STEIL replied that they had not. It was, how-
ever, their intention to apply to that Board, as well as
to the Court of CommoniCouncil, for their co-operation.
Alderman COPELAND asked whether the Inquest
had conferred with the landlords of the tenements in
the districts alluded to, with respect to the condition
of the industrious poor occupying them ?
Mr. STEIL said that in one. instance a landlord of
several of the miserable tenements handed over to them
ten shillings towards ameliorating the distress of the
labouring poor, and the same landlord took spec'al care
to send his own tenants to participate in the bounty of
the district to which he had contributed. Indeed the
tenants were objects worthy of compassion, and the In-
quest felt it so keenly that they distributed amongst
them 10/.—a pound for every shilling which the charity
of the landlord had so liberally produced.—(A laugh.)
Mr. STEIL was then about to address the Court,
but the proposition of Sir Matthew Wood was at once
adopted.
THE FARRINGDON WITHOUT WARD ELECTION.
The Court was then cleared of strangers, for the pur-
pose of discussing the appeal of Mr. Marriott, the late
Common Councilman of the ward of Farringdon With-
out, against the return of Mr. Wells, on the ground of
illegibility. After a short deliberation the doors were
opened, and
The RECORDER announced that the election of Mr.
Wells, as Common Councilman of the ward of Farring-
don Without, was confirmed.
The announcement evidently occasioned much sur-
prise amongst both parties interested.

RIOTOUS PROCEEDINGS AT

GLASGOW.

We copy from the Glasgow Papers the following ac-
counts of two meetings, held in that town, called for
the purpose of supporting Lord Morpetles Registration
Bill :

MEETING IN GLASGOW.—On Tuesday evening, the
2d instant, a public meeting was called, and held in the
Justiciary Court Hall, Glasgow, by residenters in that
city connected with Ireland, and principally of the Ro-
man Catholic persuasion, for the purpose of supporting
Lord Morpeth's Registration Bill, and expressing their
dissent from the measure proposed by Lord Stanley.
The hall was crowded to suffocation, principally by
Irishmen ; but, nevertheless, a very large body of the
Chartist host contrived to wriggle themselves into. the
meeting. The Right Rev. Bishop Murdoch having
been proposed as Chairman by the promoters of the
meeting, Mr. Ross, the Chartist shoemaker, was nomi-
nated by his friends. On a division the Chartists were
beaten by a large majority, and a scene of the most up-
roarious kind ensued, the Irishmen fairly bearing down
the Chartists by their own weapons, and in the midst of
the tumult several smart blows were struck, and it was
with difficulty the Irishmen could be restrained from
inflicting severe chastisement upon the spot. Indeed,
the efforts of the superintendent and the police alone
prevented a regular Donnybrook, in which the men and
boys cf the Charter must have come off second best.
The business went on for a considerable time in dumb
show, but eventually resolutions were carried, and a
petition, founded on them, agreed to be transmitted to
Parliament.

The Chartist leaders, deeply mortified at their defeat
in the Justiciary Court Hall, on Tuesday evening, re-
solved, on the following day, to make an attempt to
reconquer their title to the championship by a second
match, on Thursday evening, in the Bazaar, where they
expected to be more powerfully supported by their

bacieers than they had been on the night referred to,
and hoped to regain some portion at least of the charac-
ter for "pluck" which they had so miserably lost on that
occasion. Accordingly, the city was extensively pla-
carded, with intimations of the approaching meeting,
the usual private means of securing a large gathering
were resorted to, and circulars, as we have been in-
formed, widely scattered over the suburbs, and through
the public works known to be devoted to the cause of
the Charter. The placards announced that the object
of the meeting was to denounce the Registration Bills
both of Lord Morpeth and Stanley, and to petition
her Majesty to dismiss from her presence. the Whig
Ministry. True to the summons, a large body of Char-
tists were found surrounding the door of the Bazaar
before seven o'clock, though the business was not
to begin till eight ; and it soon became apparent
that a large concourse of Irishmen had also as-
sembled to assert their particular views on the
questions to be submitted for discussion. When
the doors were opened, the crowd, which now amounted
to several thousands, rushed eagerly into the place of
meeting—at one end of which the leaders of the two
parties were found seated on a platform erected for the
purpose—and began at once a war of hooting and
howling, which scarcely intermitted for even a single
second during the whole of the proceedings that fol-
lowed. It was impossible to ascertain at first what the
precise object of all the counter-howling and groaning
could be, lbr no exclamation from either party could be
heard amid the deafening tumult which filled every
corner of the building. There seemed to be a general
notion in the minds of both parties that there must be
somebody or something on the opposite side they were
bound in duty to groan down—who or what these were
was of course little to the purpose—and most vigor-
ously did they put forth all the powers of annoyance
with which nature had gifted them. At last, after a
vigorous effort on the part of the leaders, a momentary
silence was obtained, when Mr. John Rogers, a
very honest Chartist, and, by the way, a very
respectable young man, announced that two gen-
tlemen were to be nominated to the chair,—viz. Mr.
George Ross, on the part of the Chartists, and Mr.
Charles Bryson, on the part of their opponents. This
intimation again let loose the vociferations of at least
4,000 throats, and the noise and confusion became
more astounding than ever. Fully a quarter of an hour
elapsed before it was possible to divide the meeting,
which was ultimately found, by a large majority, to be
in favour of Mr. Ross. Before this was ascertained,
however, a pugilistic encounter came off at one side of
the hall. From the platform it Was impossible to tell
how this originated, all that was seen were the fists of
several persons vigorously pitched into each other, and
the increased confusion which a recourse to physical
force necessarily created amongst that portion of the
multitude placed in their neighbourhood. A long line
of police penetrated at once to the scene of action,
and took four of the parties into custody. Some
idea of the confusion which generally prevailed in
the hall may be formed from the fact that, while
this pugilistic scene was enacting at one side of
the meeting, those placed at the other side, and
even in the centre, appeared to be utterly uncon-
scious that any thing of the kind was going on. Mr.
Ross having taken the chair, Mr. Bryson addressed a
few words to the audience, expressing a hope that no
friend of Ireland, or Chartist, would act a part unwor-
thy of himself in the cause he espoused. Both parties
had the same object in view—their differences were as
to the means of obtaining it, and though the Chartists
had not behaved as they ought to have done, let the
friends of Ireland show that they are Christians as well
as patriots, and return good for evil. This admonition
having been partially heard, the cheering, groaning, and
yelling were resumed with even greater vehemence
than before. The business was proceeded witb,—the
farce of moving and passing resolutions—not one
word of which was heard by any living being
but the movers themselves—if even by them—was gone
through—the opposing parties cheering and groaning
just in accordance with the signals which they ob-
served given by their leaders on the platform. When
a Chartist spoke, he was cheered by his friends,
and groaned, and hooted, and grinned at by his oppo-
nents ; when an Irishman spoke, the thing was reversed
—and thus one continued round of the most tumultuous
and outlandish noises prevailed to the very last. The
Chartists (thanks to the pains they had taken to secure
a gathering of their friends) had an evident majority :
but the Irishmen showed themselves ready adepts in
making use of the Chartists' own weapons, and com-
pletely prevented both their speeches and their resolu-
tions from being heard. Of this, of course, the Char-
tists can have no reason to complain, seeing it was only
following up the example they have so often them•
selves given, and which they had so strikingly exhibited
before the eyes of their Irish brethren at the late meet-
ing in the Justiciary Court Hall. We are always pained
and even disgusted, with these unreasoning exhibitions
at public meetings ; but we must admit that, on this oc-
casion, we scarcely felt sorry to see the impracticable
Chartists so effectually caught in their own snare ; we
could not help thinking that alfew more such meetings—
and we arc mistaken if the Irish working men don't fels
low up their advantage—might lead the Chartists to a
little reflection, and the absurd conduct which they could
not see in themselves, might, when exhibited in others,
become in time so manifest as to be at last departed
from altogether. It is needless to continue further de-
scription of the scene at this meeting ; suffice it to say
that the proceedings went off in dumb show. We un-
derstand that resolutions were passed against both the
Irish Registration Bills now before Parliament—the
principle of Universal Suffrage insisted upon—the
Queen petitionsd to dismiss the Ministry—aud the
meeting in the Justiciary Court Hall denounced as not
a public meeting at all. Of all this, however, not a
single word was heard. An amendment in favour of
Household Suffrage was proposed, but it was voted
down by a majority of the meeting, though they knew
nothing whatever of its nature. Having enacted this
farce, there was a long series of cheering and groaning
for the Charter—for Feargus O'Connor, the martyr—
for Daniel O'Connell—for Scorpion Stanley—for the
Ministry, &c.—after which the vast multitude quietly
separated.
The four men who were taken out of the meeting
were on Friday placed at the bar of the Police Court.
Their names and occupations were stated to be—
James Railley, labourer ; Thomas Higgins, brickmaker ;
John O'Neill, mason ; and Dan. MeGinnes, hawker.
They were all charged with disorderly conduct at the
meeting, and Higgins and MeGinnes were further
charged with assaulting Allan Pinkerton. The litter
deposed, that after the vote for the Chairman was taken,
and Mr. Ross was placed in the chair, the accused con-
tinued to call out in a disorderly manner, and when he
checked them, Higgins struck him. A number of that
party then got about him, seized him by the hair, and
thtew him down and kicked him, leaving the wounds
which he exhibited to the Court on his face and head.
O'Neill and Higgins were fined each in one guinea ;
and the case against the others was continued for fur-
ther consideration. On Saturday, M‘Ginnes was fined
in a guinea and a half ; O'Neill not appearing, his
pledge was forfeited.