The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-22 00:00:00

CONDITION OF THE LABOURERS

IN DEVONSHIRE.
Haying occasion, on the sth ink., to visit a parish
lyine, between Hatherleigh and Holsworthy, in one of
the least frequented and populous parts of the county,
the opportunity was afforded me of seeing, under his
own roof, an able-bodied labourer living upon the ordi-
nary wages of the district. His family consists of him-
self; age 32, his wife, age 29, three girls, aged respec-
tively 8 years, 5 years, and 7 months, with one boy,
aged 3 years. I had known the man and his connec-
tions for several years—was aware that his character was
excellent ; and in the belief that his mode of living af-
forded a fair specimen of that of his class, I made myself
his guest at two or three of the cottage meals, and then
obtained some particulars, for the accuracy of which I can
vouch.

The cottage, built of cob, or mud and straw, has two
rooms, each being about fourteen feet by twelve ; but
the sleeping-room being immediately under the thatch,
and without ceiling or plastering,- is always penetrated
by currents of air, and not unfrequently by rain and
snow. They told me it was impossible to keep a candle
there burning in winter. In this room there are three
bedsteads, one without bedding. The floor of the lower
room is f hardened mud and sand, one window admits
the light. A deal table, a bench, two chairs, a settle, a
cradle, some earthenware on a rude dresser. with two or
three simple cooking utensils, made up their stock of
furniture. Built against the gable end of the house is a
sty; in which he feeds one pig ; but if through disease
or accident this prop fails, animal food is placed beyond
their reach for the rest of the year. In the pig-sty my
honest friend also contrives to keep two or *tree ferrets,
and the penny per tail for rats and vermin destroyed,
brings him, on the average, 15s. per annum, after deduct-
ing his loss of time. These odd shillings suffice to stock
and manure a bit of potato ground behind the house, for
which he pays six shillings ; thus making his total rent
48s. per annum.

Tlie wages, 7s. a-week, are paid monthly, and usually
in money. The outlay for the four weeks stands as
nearly as possible thus : £ s. d.
4 weeks' rent 0 4 0
2 bush. barley 0 8 0
i bush. wheat.. 0 4 0
Candles, soap, starch, salt, soda, &c 0 3 1.
Wood for firing 0 2 0
Milk 0 2 3
Tea, 4oz 0 1 6
Sugar 1 lb. very coarse 0 0 10
Cotton, worsted, tape, &c 0 1 0

£1 6 8

need not describe the meals with minuteness ; in-
deed there is little variety—milk and water, with dark
barley bread, bacon broth, and potatoe pasties, are the
ordinary fare, now and then improved by the addition
of a heavy pudding, and, at rare intervals. of a little
tea or coffee, with a few eggs and some butter as a de-
licacy. An infusion of hot water upon burnt crusts is
commonly made.
For garments they have trusted almost wholly to kind
friends and relations a little better off than themselves.
—Correspondent of an Evening Paper.

EXTENSION OF THE SUFFRAGE•
Thousands who complain of being politically de-
graded in not possessing the elective franchise, are not
aware, or being aware, neglect to avail themselves of the
means already within their power, for their own enfran-
chisement.

We beg leave to call the attention of such persons, and
all others desirous of obtaining the elective franchise, to
the following :
Every person who is in the occupation of any house,
warehouse, counting-house, shop, workshop, stable, shed,
or other building, worth 101. per year, is entitled to be
on ' the register of voters for the city or borough in
which it is situated, if he has been in occupation of such
premises from the 31st of July last (1840), or in several
such premises in succession in the said city or borough.
It is necessary that it should be clearly understood
what the Revising Barristers hold to be " houses, ware-
houses, counting-houses, shops, and other buildings,"
which are as follows—

Houses.—" A house is a separate dwelling, ap-
proached by a door from the open air."
Any person, therefore, occupying apartments, and
having control over the outer door, is held to be a
householder, although he may allow others the use of
such door. As some misunderstanding has existed on
this subject, it should therefore be particularly observed
that the possession of a separate door is only necessary
for those who claim for a house, and not necessary for
the occupiers of warehouses, counting-houses, shops, &c.
Warehouse.—" A warehouse is a store-room for mer-
chandise or goods used in trade."
Counting-house.—" A counting-house is a room in
' which a person in trade keeps his books and accounts,
whether it be a separate building, or only a room in a
house used for that purpose.",
Shop.—" A shop is a place for the sale of goods, or a
room in which manufactures are carried on," as a work-
shop, which may be either a detached place, or a room
in a house used as such ; so that a tailor, shoemaker,
' &c., holding an apartment, or apartments, and working
in one room worth 4s. per week, is entitled to be on the
Register.
Other Buildings.—May be a stable, shed, storehouse,
-stall, separate building used as an office or school, hot-
house, cowhouse, &c.
Any person, therefore, occupying any such premises
as above described, worth 4s. per week, and not rated for
them, should immediately claim to be rated as the Re-
form Act requires ; all persons either to be rated or to
have claimed to be rated. .

The overseer do not always consider it necessary to
alter the rating where the landlord pays the rates, more
especially for shops, &c., being parts of houses ; but if the
party claiming should be rated he can deduct the amount
from his rent.

No form of claim to be rated is absolutely necessary, a
verbal application to an overseer being sufficient, but the
following may be adopted :
A CLAIM TO BE RATED.
To the Overseers of the Parish of
I hereby give you notice that I occupy a
at No. in Street, in your Parish, and I

claim to be rated to the relief of the Poor in respect of
such premises in order that I may be entitled to Vote in
the Election of Members of Parliament for the City
Dated this day of 184

(Signed)
of

INSTRUCTIONS.

Insert the name of the parish, and the nature of the
premises, as house, warehouse, counting-house, shop,
workshop, stable, shed, or as the case may be ; and the
name of the street, court, &c. ; put in the date, and
sign the names of the claimant, and his place of resi-
dence, at full length. Give this claim to an Overseer,
and carefully preserve a correct copy ; the person who
serves the claim should immediately write on the copy to
whom the claim was delivered, and the day of the month.
If any poor's rate be due in respect of the premises occu-
pied by the claimant, tender the amount. If omitted from
the List of Voters on the 31st of July, claim to be regis-
tered on or before the 25th of August.
In those parishes where there have been hut one rate
made since the 31st of July last year, as in St. George,
St...lllargaret, St. John, and St. Paul, Westminster, the
claimant (provided he claims on or before the 31st of this
present mouthof July) will be entitled to be on the forth-
cAnuing register, as he will, in conformity with the Reform
Act, have claimed to be rated to all rates made during
person claiming in other parishes, where more
the
B 3u,et ar
any
.
than one rate has been made since the 31st oflastJuloy;
will be entitled in the following year, whether rated
not.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
S find in your paper a
stateutmr—ent oT.'ail meduisethrepssleoafse Acilrst°. Giles and her family,
through the unexpected death of her husband ; and I
take the liberty to inform you, that, in consequence of
that statement, the family have been visited by the Se-
cretary of the Accident Relief Society, and food will be
given to the destitute family in proportion to the funds.
Thus you have done much good ; and I trust that you
will continue thus to promote the cause of real humanity,
and oblige, Sir, your's, truly,
July 21, 1841. A SUBSCRIBER.

THE WEATHER.—NooN, JULY 21.
ROYAL G Ala.Lr
oEmR
-9• a
eYter 2 b la.
OF SCIENCE, ADELAIDE-STRHET.
B
Thermometer... 59 I Highest 6l 1 Lowest .... ..... 54
Wind S. W.—Freezing Point 32 Deg.

D
DEATH 07 THE DOWAGER LADY CNET-
wrxn.—We regret to announce the death of this much re-
spected lady, which took place on Saturday, the lith instant,
after a few day's Bless. She was relict of the late Sir George
Chetwynd, of Gundon Hall, in the county of Warwick, and
Brocten Hall, in the county of Stafford, Baronet. In her the
poor have lost a kind friend and liberal benefactress, whese
memory will long be cherished by all who knew her.
MORTALITY AMONG LEECHES DURING
STotst.—That atmospheric changes have a remarkable in-
fluences on leeches is a well-known fact. Last summer, AL
Derhelms, of St. Omer, ascribed the almost sudden death of
them, at the approach of, or during storms, to the coagulation
of the blood of these creatures, caused by the impression of the
atmospheric electricity,. This opinion, which at that time was
the result of theory, he confirmed during the present summer
by direct experiment.
_ne:t;itluAaseboD.AorvrunrenA:upNsoo:nnedAw-efGnioltEiuorpsftrhtAohd
tßeuhcl2 leeSleagNerasks::
lane .Express states, that the oil obtained from the seed
InoTmillTESSCUuNx;Fivif ZENahR.
)t,
allo.ngf ditihtienastiullialf"-11°Fheve-efrt°imuCelithei't. necessary
;too withbtaithn
ea
additionalcorresponding
an d
any nauseous
supply or quantum from coal
fromffareermesiutrtpassing in editiecuidviead :)irdsvnalnetlal.geafiobfrbdeiiinlggawhlioglillyt-
He considers
bril-
liancy that obtained from coal, and tn ga lessp r
preferable
bye,
gascudn'ary and domestic purposes,
tlooo4eFteereesigtnhanoilcofeall.
and recommends the cultivation of the flower
to the increasing
as a means
of affording a profitable employment
population of the British empire.