The Sun.
London, England, 1841-10-22 00:00:00

MORNING

ft t 44.
riat.-4,
-44
, ,
L.

. —
:sheet, in order to ascertain the correctlief the ga,i6.,:iNi
justly due the praise of having originated and corn- se.and said, " Let ua just go over eve e2ase on this ‘n>
did so, and so far from their. being over.
pkted this moi.l. important enumeration.--(Cheers.)
It would be well ir all the operatives throughout the :meats." They
kingdom would follow their example. It had been said etetecl lie must say in some cases families had be
The :eases of distress--of extreme distress --that had
by some parties, that the Report which had been read, ot erlooked, and cases had been omitted in order not beet
was exaggerated, and that fs was impossible for so. great. present anything like exaggeration before the public,
en amount of misery to exist in the town. He did,
not wonder at this assertion, for truly the amount come under his notice that morning, he must a bad
was so appalling, that it seemed almost increcliblie e harrowed up his very soul.—(Hear.) There wasaa3' ne
but when he knew, as he did, that the enumer Atom case which he would particularly mention. He hado
and the t existed, iedividuals might satisfy themselves
were strictly instructed to be extremely guartioil noted down the name and he was sure if any doubts
and cautious in their accepttenee of evidence,
as to
the families visited had no interest to exaggerate their . the correctness of the statements. At the end, of
statements, he must say he was fully persuaded that Brook-street, there was a small cellar dwell-
the Report was as nearly correct as it was possible far ing, nine feet by twelve, into which they were
reports of that kind to be. He would venture to say, introduced by the enumerator. The dwelling was
there were scores of individuals present, who had for I so. considerably beneath the street, that only half of the
the last three or four years not been more than h a alf winnow was above it. It was a damp, disagreeable, ill.
employed, and whose earnings, when employed, were- lighted, ill-aired den.—(Hear, hear.) In that apart-
barely sufficient to supply themselves- and families meat they found three families, consisting of sixteen in•
with the commonest necessaries of lire.—(bear, dividuals, nine who slept in it every night,--(Sensation.)
i
hear, And cries of " True.") It was impossible to f: There were four adults and twelve children. Six indi-
aform correct estimate of the amount of distress I viduals, constitutiug one family, slept upon a litter of
footle the number of those who applied for pariet li straw, huddled together, not like human beings, not Even
assistance t for there were hundreds of the work- l like animals, for their situation was not to be compared
ing classes, end he was proud to say it, who being , with the comfort of our dogs and horses in our stables.
is the vigour of manhood, could, not soh for any- 1 —( Hear, hear.) Other four or five slept on a bed of'
thing in the shape of relief, for wnich they could not l', shavings, and the remaining five slept on another miser.
give no equivalent in retadn—(Loud cheers)—and who, a hie bed in the apartment. When they entered, the
sooner than be dependent on the parish, would lie pt .or mother Wes weeping, her infant was on her knee
down and de.—(Repeated cheers.) It would be well in the last stage of a fatal disease, dying without any
for teed country if more of this spirit existed amongst mei limit assistance.—(Sensation.) The family was en-
certain clitsseet whom he would not patricularize on that tire, y destitute, no means cf subsistence, no weekly
occasion.—(Lorta cheers.) 'rile step talon by his fel- e arrange, no parish relief.—( Hear.) That was one in-
let"; operatives wrt.!l most important, and het trusted it s tance. He believed it was an extreme case, but he cbal-
would be highly useful'. In the first place it teould fur- longed investigation into the correctness of the statement.
nish the two HOD. MCM6eI.I for the borough, one of tie hoped that persons would visit this house and afford
whom he was happy and proud
to see present on that the miserable inmates relief. There were other caretoccasion—(loud cheering)—with facts
to show the Go- equally distressing ; with fewer individuals certainly itt
vernment of the country, that distress and destitution an, apartment, but equally distressed. The most dis•
did exist, and that to an appalling extent:.—(Cheers.) , iressing Cases to his mind, were those where they found
Sccendlv, it showed that the working classt4 were not individuals in a clean room, where the sheets seemed
bliud to. the misery and destitution which su.-rounded clean, and an air of comfort seemed to pervade the
them. A spirit of inquiry had gone forth, and the' work- derelling. And yet these persons were struggling with
ing classes began to ask themselves why it was tg %t in destitution:—(Hear, hear.) There was pallid went in
this country, saturated with wealth, and possessing t-uch tls"ir countenances, there was hunger there, and there
vast disease, because want was the parent of disease.--
vast and increasing means of producing still root, 'h.
thousands of the populadon should lack the means of (Hear, hear.) These teen were straggling with iron
subsistence.—(Hear, hear, andcheere.) There were fewd ercumstancee, with want and famine. Several of them
persons of any party, at the present day, who would sal,. i they would not ask for parish relief. They had
assert that the present commercial and political system
be,n accustomed to live on their own earnings, and
was the best or worst that could be adopted. All wished .to do so still.—(Loud cheers.) Not only the
parties were agreed that some change was necessary. poorer cle'sses, not only the tvorking.classes, but the
Tee great problem was, the nature and extent of that middle chis,-s also, had a deep interest in the
change. Some people told them that free trade would question. h..' would refer to the grocers, who
relieve them ; others aeserted that a low rate of duty were just now supplying an immense number of
on corn and other article: of provision would relieve the poor. Thew: sr: all grocers were failing and be-
them : while others as stoutly, and he dared say as coming bankrupts in large numbers. Many were not
honestly, contended that the sole remedy for the distress able to pay their debts. These, again, acted on
of the working climes WaS the obteining of the Chartar. middle class men in a Menem condition of life, cud he
—(Loud and repeated cheering.) Tee various plans could state, what most of theta perhops knew, that a
brought forward to remedy the ceistieg state of things large number of the first class tradesmen had recently
were sufficient proofs of the unsettled end deranged become bankrupts. Many of the teadeemen of Leeds
state of society. It was quite plain to an observing were hi a most distressing condition.—'_Hear, hear,)
and reflecting mind, that unless a remedy ewe applied, They had hope, and that was all.—(A voice in the
and that speedily, it would he too late.—(Herr, hear, meeting, " And very little of that.") 'Tae richer classes
and cheers.) The manufacturers, in many instances, had also a deep interest iu this question ; and they
were compelled to sell their goods for less than ehe ought to see that the working classes wens made cons-
cost of the raw material and production. Ali at- fortable, in order to preseree themselves.—(Hear,
tempts either to Christianise or moralise the people hear.) No feet was better e.ttahlished than this, thitt
of this country in their present deplorable condition etisease originating in the homes of the poor, generally
were futile and vain. How could they expect any one }mend its way into the dwellings of the rich. It tra-
to listen with benefit or with patience to their preach- eeneel about in the shape of fever, and induced disease
inns, while the pangs of hunger were gnawing within of eve,- kind. Where there was want, also there
them?—(Hear, hear.) Could they wonder at the in- would be what they called crime.—(Hear, hear.) He
crease of crime, when so many thousands of the popu- did }eve that those statements would go forth to the
lation of this town alone bad no visible means of sub- world, and indliee all classes to exert themselves to
sistence whatever, and while there were individuals remove that awful distress which was now reducing our
whose inferior propensities were unfortunately predo- population to a condition worse than that of the bretes
minant, and whose education had been totally neg- which perish.—(Loud cheering.)
lected ? Could any one, under such circumstances, D. LUPTON, Esq., and the Rev. T. Scwoes thew
who knew anything of human nature, be surprised at briefly addressed the meeting.
their infringement of the laws of society ? How many There were numerous shouts fer Mr. Marshall to ad-
thousands of their population were still almost as igno- dress them, and the Chairman said he bad a nets' put
rant and uncivilized as the savage ? This was a fact into his hands stating that there was a desire to hear
which reflected eternal disgrace on those who were so Mr. Marshall.
well paid for it, but who so grossly neglected the J. G. Measneem Esq., came forward amidst loud
proper education of the people.—(Loud cheers.) and repeated cheers, and briefly addressed the meeting.
NVILLIA II NICHOLS (an operative) seconded the re- Hed said he came there expecting to be entirely a lie-
solution. He said that the working classes were alone toner, and not to address them at all. He bad listened'
competent to enter into an investigation of this kind. If to the whole of their proceedings with the deepest in-
Sir Robort Peel were to doubt the correctness of the terest They appeared to him to be calculated to accom-
report, and to appoint persons of a higher class to exa- plish the great object they had in view, in the most effl-
mine it, did they think they could find all the wretched cient manner they could possibly adopt. The body of
hovels, called the dwellings, the homes of the working the people had now taken it into their own hands to
classes of Leeds ? He could tell them himself tl,at in inquire into their condition, with a view to ascertain-
canvassing in Holheck he had found places in which 1 ing the causes of their distress and the means of
human beings lived, which he had passed many times relief. Ile hail heard at that meeting, so 'much
before, thinking they were only places for pigs end of a disposition exhibited to 0111th-etc 'between all
beasts.—(Shame, shame.) He dare venture his cha- classes of society friendly feelings, so much of a desire to
meter on the correctness of the report, and from what throw aside unnecessary subjects of discord, end to in-
he had seen of the Committee, he felt sure that they duce all classes to assist in removing the appalling
would court investigation. There were thousands of amount of distress now proved to exist amongst them,
honest industrious working men, who felt ashamed, who that he hoped, with similar efforts in other tower, :hey
felt too degraded, to come forward and declare the actual , would lead to the most benescial results.—(Cheere.)
condition they were io.—(Hear. hear.) 1 Dr. SMILES moved a vote of thanks to the Chid:nal.
ROBERT Drse moved the next resolution. who, he sail, was a honour to his class, for the able and
The CHAIRMAN said that the Hon. Member who efficient manner in which he had discharged his duties.
was present and the Rev. Thomas Scales had expressed T. C. PEASE, Esq., seconded the motion, which was
a wish that some of the enumerators should speak, and passed unanimously and with loud cheers.
simply relate what they had seen with their own eyes The meeting then separated at a little after ten o'clock.
and heard with their oivn ears. lie should therefore The following are the principal resolutions agreed to
call on Mr. Crowther, one of the enumerators. e That the appalling amount of distress which exists
Mr. CROWTHER said that so much did the distress in the Borough at present renders it necessary that tnea-
exceed what he had expected, and so painful was his sures he immediately adopted for its alleviation, this
duty as an enumerator, t hat he thought the first day , meeting feeling convinced that the intensity of the desti.
he should give it up. Many that to ail appearance I tution will be aggravated by the set ethics of approach.,
might be thought to be comfortable, for they had ing winter, and its amount increased by a probable de.
good furnhure and were clean and neat both in them- I pression of trade."
selves, and their houses, were yet destitute of food, and e That a deputation be authorised to wait upon the
so unwilling to make their case known, that in some local authorities, for the purpose of making a represene
instances it was with difficulty that they could elicit ' tinu of the privation which so many of inhabitants
a statement.—(Cheers.) And he had no doubt in his I are enduring.
own mind that there were those who would still " That Great Britain is possessed of elements calce.
continue to suffer on without ever mahing their lated to secure the nation's greatness, and its people's
condition known to any one. Many appeared des. happiness : that notwithstanding these advantages, a east
tituta of every comfort. Some had neither chair amount of destitution exists : that this destitution is
nor table, nor anything worth the name of furniture, not confined to any particular class or localit, painfully
and were almost naked. He would take three cases as proving that disease pervades the whole bogy politic :
a specimen, which he did not think the worst. They that while its ravages are appalling the stoutest hearts,
must allow him to keep back names, as he knew the and fearful forebodings and alarm prevail, confusion,
susceptibility of the poor. One man stated, that from wretchedness, and poverty-begotten crime, are left to
Friday morning to Saturday night, neither he nor his riot in society, without an effort being made by the Go-
wife and family had tasted anything to eat. The verument to check their progress ; this meeting unani-
family consisted of five persons, one as infant at the rowdy "sone that an limbic address he presented to
breast. The wife t ede her best print gown and the Queen, praying her ,Majesty to convene the two
pledged it to get something to eat. Oa Monday Howes of Parliament without delay, in order that mea•
morning, being the day that the enumerators called, sures for the alleviation of the prevailing distress
may be
she had just conic in, having been again to pledge a speedily adopted."
bed-quilt for two shillings, to get something more to e
aid which they have
. derived from the weekly publica-
The Committee being convinced of the important
eat. Sire showed them the tickets. Her husband had I
been upwards of thirty weeks out of employment, hay- tion of' the contributions, beg leave to submit that the
ing only now and then a job of repairing a fire back or thanks of this meeting are due to the Editors of the
setting an oven, or something of that kind. (The Northern Star and the Leeds Times, for their gratu-
speaker mentioned a number of similar painful instances itous kindness in giving publicity to the account'."
of want and distress.) e That this meeting expreises its' gratitude to Mr.
Lewes Rarrnev neat addressed the meeting, and ;Ails n, M.P., by a vote of thanks, for the countenance
eloquently described the greatness of England in her which he has given by his presence to the proceedings of
commerce, her capabilities, and civilization ; and yet, this evening. Likewise to Mr. Beckett, M.P., for the
he said, amidst all this greatness, in this town alone, courtesy and kindness he has observed in his comMuni-
thousands were living on Is. a week ; and thousands cation with the Committee."
had no visible means of subsistence whatever.—(Hear,
bear.) They were told nevertheless, by a number of
the aristocracy, that. it only required industry on the
'
part of the working classes to gain a competency.—
(Hear, boar.) They would dash back with indignation
the assertion to that iron-faced Duke who made rt.—
(Loud cheers.) A former declaration, that the people
should have no reform, compelled the Duke of Wel-
lington to encase himself in Apsley House, and fortify
it like a castle, to protect himself from the people ; his
new declaration, that the people should have no food,
would again rouse their ire, anti they would again
force him to withdraw from his position.—
(Loud cheers.) He referred to the speech of Sir
Robert Peel, at Glasgow, in which he said, that
be hoped he should never see the tawdry emblems of
revolution floating over the bulwarks of the Constitu-
tion. If, however, a powerful aristocracy continued to
refuse to admit the majority of the people within the
pale of the Constitution, and at the same time to tram-
ple upon and insult them, there was a possibility of the
privileged few and the persecuted and insulted many
coming into collision.—(Loud cheers.) It was the fer-
vent aspiration of every well-regulated mind, however,
that these calamities might pass over without unseemly
commotion. He thought the best advice that could
be given was to assure her Majesty's Government that
the poverty was of such a nature, and such intensity
that it. would not brook delay, and for the purpose he
thought the meeting would do well to mcmoralize the
Queen in order that she might call together the two
Houses of Parliament, in order that they might devise
such measures as were calculated to afford relief to the
people.—(Loud and repeated cheers.)
Wm. ALDAM, Esq., M.P., on presenting himself
was received with enthusiastic and prolonged cheering.
He briefly addressed the meeting, and said he had come
simply to listen, he wanted to know the real condition
of the working men in the town, and he would there-
, fore conclude by expressing his own individual thanks
to the Committee, for the very laborious task they' Iced
undertaken, and expressing his wishes that they would
still continue their labourer, and let them know the con-
dition of the town.—(Repeated cheers.)
that meeting, as he thought. it much
conductedinore this in-
quiryaddressed with so much ability, end so
visited a
as his name had been introduce
of the enumere-
should continue to conduct it to
ditsans'cuohnnevliunsgion. But
his t •
to bear testimony
tore, he readily came forward
every particular,—
portion of the East Ward with one
to the correctness of his report in . , ,
entire correctness of the re-
portdoubt as to the .
it very possible that there
(Loud cheers.) He had cortarthe expressed a
be thought . .
;
might have been
to be undeceived in the
exaggerations in some cases,
Galand
et
teenrw.ao:
and the
in company with Mr.
tmiestwein
twuhinililtenhrgaistorv,ichwo, had visited the houses
that morning. In order to be as impartial as possible,
they turned to the first page of the enumeration book,

•
L.l INCENDIARY FIIVN'EAR YoRK.—On Mote-eliel
diy night last a most destructive and alarming tire took .10,4
place:on tho farmstead of 2dr. John Wilson, of Grimstota °Al'
e;mithr, which is situated a short' distance from the {
sage of Grimston, and about three,miles from York. ICci
less than eighteen stacks were completely in flames ; .
they consisted of five wheat, four barley, four oat, and
three straw stacks, one of beans and peas, one of hay
The engine continued to play upon the burning pile
until five o'clock On the following; afternoon) when that!
fire was got under.. it. was immediately suspected t 1
this was the Work of an incendiary, and bills were rir.
culated offering a reward of 1000 for his apprehension.
Dnrine. Tuesday evening., suspicion fell upenclit?ersett
namedThornas Shaekloton, a native of this .
w' as Olken into custody by one Of the city pu,
York. Courai,t.
W ednesday the
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
collection h le of the alli-
ed The ° ed 'ndivi-
winter quarters was complet ,ne hundr
removal of all the animals at tl—iis°n
mals in this collection, exeeedinfcron, yesterday,
duals, are in good health and co "
bo one bird. a em-
ir), the daily list of sick speciat
't°lnt:t'anding the inc.lemency
mon quail, was reported, notwt
well known, are In an ex-
of the season. The gardens, I
:Sd morning, at two o'clock,
posed position, and on Wed3ll6
degree:. There were added
into their
toe thermometer stood at
tion, a
pair a hog deer and a
on Wednesday to the c°lletie Earl „f Derby, the presi_
cross
Ile chimpanzees recently added to
dent. Only two the female entreat and
gibbon alive,n fine health and viesteity. The
the active
are
the gardens lost spring, has at-
y yours;; f v
htilnu upwards of nine feet.
taine7l o 1 .
Instit •
Mechanics Institution cost the collection are
The Liverpoolcontains upwards of 3,300 members—
less than
threels'°tx) day schools-600 pupils in 15 or 16
the
although
s5O in,Pils in
e_hes so teachers regularly employed.
in, classe.
to 5 000/. a year library
with 1,100 readers, and a daily ei;e.rihn
„hoe° salaries amount • rary of
-.000 volumes.
tion of 200 volumes-- and public lectures twice a- N\•eek-:
attended by audiences varying from COO to 1,300.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.--.On Tuesday night last,
about half-past seven tielock, a fire broke out in the
stack-card of Mr. John Clarke, of Kirkly Hardwick..
near Mansfield, and, notwithstanding the most vigorous
exertions, it could not be subdued, the whole of the
extensive and valuable stacks of corn, twenty-nine in
number, falling a prey to the consuming element. The
amount of the damage is eetimated at between 2,000/.
The fire is attributed to incen-
and e,OOOl. Mr. Clarke is insured in the Pluenix-
No damage was done to the house or buildings..
edeittlerei
into. about 1 ,000 /.
ROYAL ARms.—A miens piece of oak carv-
ing has been discovered during the alterations at present
being carried on in the 'Broad Chare, in this town, is She
property of the Trinity House. It consists of the Royal
Arms of England,. tenap. Charlet.T.,; with supporters,
and the initials of that monarch, beautifully executed.
The plaster with which it has been covered has preserved
the
ee wood
been from and when the small pieces which
restored, it is to be placed in a conspicuous part of the
abroken()fi in removing it from the wall are
decay;
Trinity Tyne Mercury.