The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-09 00:00:00

POOR MAN'S GUARDIAN
SOCIETY. _

A public meeting in furtherance of the objects of this
Society was held last evening in the theatre of the
Marylebone Literary and Scientific Institution, Edward-
street, Portman-square.
Mr. BOND CARRELL, on taking the chair, said he
thought it scarcely necessary for him to detain the
meeting for any time in reference to those objects which
had called them together, as there were gentlemen
present who had been at the forming of the society, and
who would state to them the nature of those ends for
which the society had been called into existence. The
present was the third of those meetings which had been
held for the purpose of establishing that institution—
an institution which it gratified him to say, was en-
tirely separate from any political feeling or party
object whatever. They had before them the good of
the poor—(Hear, hear)—the interest of the needy;
the Society had been formed to direct such to those
sources of relief which had been provided for them, and
also to consider those cases requiring aid, and to ad-
minister the means of relief. Charity prevailed in this
country to a very great extent; the exercise of it was
secured by law, and he found, on looking back to the
time of Elizabeth, that the poor-law provided for three
cases—the protection of infancy, the administration of
relief to the old, and the supply of work to the able-
bodit d, unemployed labourer. Notwithstanding these
provisions, the meeting, he thought, must be aware that
unrelieved poverty existed to a great amount through-
out their population. Many would work, but could
not find employment, and were on that acconnt pressed
with want. One main object of the institution which
they were met to support, was to see that these poor-
laws were properly administered. He said the repre-
sentatives of Marylebone, Sir Benjamin Hall, and Com-
modore Napier, were both communicated with as to the
objects of the society, and both expressed their hearty
concurrence with these objects, but were prevented by
other engagements from being present that evening, and
occupying one or other of these places which he had
been called to fill. For this reason, indeed, he lamented
their absence, but he had no hesitation in saying, that
it would be his greatest pleasure to aid every institution
which had for its object the relief of the poor.
Mr. COCHRANE was called upon to give a statement
of the origin and objects of the society, which he pro-
ceeded to do, detailing those particulars which have al-
ready appeared in the columns of The Sun. Mr. Coch-
rane then stated that a deputation had waited on Mr.
Walter, of Bearwood, in conformity with a resolution
passed at the last public meeting, to request him to
become the president of the society ; and that that gen-
tleman had approved most cordially of the object of the
society, and consented to become one of the vice-presi-
dents. He would have been present that evening, but
for business which had prevented him. The rules of
the society were read, and letters from Mr. Metealfe
and Sir Wm. Ross. Two outline sketches from the pencil
of Sir W. R 093, illustrative of the objects contem-
plated by the society, and intended for engravings on
the cards of membership, were exhibited to the
meeting. It was thought that their intentions could
thus be effectually and eloquently made known
to all in a way which all could appreciate ; and it was
stated that Sir William, on being applied to, undertook to
sketch out a suitable design, which he had done and
presented gratis to the institution.
Mr. COCHRANE moved, and Captain Eveste seconded
the resolution, " that the report and proceedings of the
comenittes be approved and adopted."
An amendment was made against the money qualifi-
cation for membership.
The resolution was carried by a large majority.
Mr. BUCKINGHAM, after adverting to the interruption
which had occurred in the course of the proceedings of
the evening, said that the principle had been recognised
in the law of Elizabeth, that all had a right to be sus-
tained. He said sustained, and meant not that ex-
periments should be tried, as had been of late, on how
small a portion of food a fellow man could live. The
society had not been instituted to take up and consider
the laws, for the Legislature had not given them power
to alter or to make the laws. But it was a recognised
principle in the laws existing, that the poor, the
halt, the blind, and the lame, yea, and the
healthy should be sustained. Hef saw no reason
why the healthy should be excluded when they are
without the means of existence, for they are the class
who most feel the pressure of want and the cravings of
a good appetite. It was well he thought that this ques-
tion was agitated, for it led to reflection on the principles
which based it He thought there was no claim for
one class before another on the products of the earth,
for all were equally born into the world, its inhabitants,
and therefore had all a claim to be supported.—(Hear,
hear.) They saw societies instituted to prevent cruelty
being exercised towards the brute creation, its agents
and the police were on the watch that the, loirer animals
should not be maltreated ; but, wherefore, he asked,
were men, thinking, reflecting, beings, to be, neglected
in their misery.—(Cheers.) Nowhere ,was there
such an extreme of riches and poverty ;IA existed in
English society, and the reason he theught that they
continued to exist in the same society Was the extent
over which the different classes were spread. On board
of ship it would be different. In a case of calamity,
double rations could not be served in the cabin while
single rations were distributed in the forecastle. The
officer, he was certian, who should attempt to do 80
would fail to retain the esteem of his men. At the
same time he would not be understood as advocating
equality of condition, for that state, if it could be realised
to-night, would be found dissipated on the morrow, and
men quickly returning to variety in their circumstances.
But he did hold it a duty on Government to look to the
poor, and the helpless, and unemployed, that none might
want that sustenance to which all had a right. He con-
cluded by moving—
. . _

" Resolved, that this meeting is of opinion that the
great majority of the poor are animated with an anxious
desire to avoid the humiliation of living upon the bounty
of others, and seek parochial relief only from the pressure
of dire necessity, and that they are entitled to the kind
treatment of those who are by law appointed to dispense
that relief."

It was seconded by Mr. GEORGE JONES, and carried
unanimously.
Mr. SAVAGE, in rising to propose the next resolution,
said he wished it to be distinctly understood that that
society had nothing to do with the proceedings of guar-
dians in their localities ; their object was to aid the poor,
and to instruct them as to what they had a right to get
by law ; and a consequence of the existence of such a
society he believed would be to put guardians of the
poor and their officers upon their guard in doing their
duty. He then stated that the last year's returns were
300,0001. for law expenses in litigation between parish
and parish, as to which was bound to support particular
paupers. But he had asked intelligent gentlemen whe-
ther they had ever known a case where, the guardians
having been brought up before the magistrate for refusing
relief, money had been spent by the parish in defending the
poor man ; but the supposition was admitted to be a
novelty. To do this when necessary, that institution
had been formed. He then referred to practical illus-
trations of the present system. He said they employed
the poor in working throughout the kingdom,
and he thought that was well, but they
had given the poor a kind of labour which
degraded them, and did not call out their better
feelings. He would ask, had they allowed the guardians
of the poor to make their labour an article of merchan-
dise? He thought that ought to be put down. He had
referred to circumstances at the last meeting. He had
referred to bone-crushing. Whether that was healthy
or unhealthy he would not say, but it did appear to him
suspicious that guardians should employ the poor to
crush bones at an under price to manure their own
grounds with. He had made a statement as to female
labour. He had stated the practice at Andover and
other places. Ile knew that persons in London cut outloo
dozen shirts, and sent them down to a manufacturer, who
would employ his influence with the guardians in getting
them
atin done at a much less rate than they could be done
1l A °Hnoduos ne
'ofHe
had said so on the former occasion,
in
and hoped that • quiry would be made into the practice
b y the
in the newspapers, th Commons. After the report appeared
him
e following letter was sent to

S. " High-street
Dear ir—W ill you , Andover, March 12, 1846.
with the address and n favour me, by return of post
woe of the party from whom--
you
received your lamina respecting the sale of shirts
made at the Andover Unionf and sent to the London mar-
ket, as it is said here totboe alse. The statement appears
have been spoken by you at a
imneaetsipoegechhelpduripoorthteod
Investigation Hall, Circus-street,
returnro Man's Guardian Society.
New-road, iroouard,refoprlythbey
" Dear Sir, your post
obedientf will oblige,
servant,
" ROBERT GILBERT."
In answer be sent back a copy of the following
"Dear Sir,—l have not seen the report whichto :
letter of the 12th inst. alludes. I made no referenceyour
the sale of shirts made at the Andover Union, to
but to
information I bad that a guardian of a union in Hamp-
shire, residing at Portsmouth and Gosport, manufac-
tured shirts by commission for the London market, and
that he had shirts made by the poor in the workhouses,
and understood that Andover was one place ; adding, I
trusted the Committee of the House of Commons would
inquire guardians, theractice and put a stop to a profit being
rnude by or others, of the labour of the poor
in workhouses.
" As the object of the Poor Man's Guardian Society
will be promoted by correct information, I shall feel
obliged if you can inform me whether any shirt-making
is carried on by the inmates in the Andover Union, other
than for themselves."
Mr. Savage concluded with moving—" That this meeting
cordially approve of the principles and objects of the Pour
Man's Guardian Society ; deem it worthy the support of
the humane and benevolent of all elasses ; and hereby
recommend them to aid its operations by their contri-
butions, advice, and assistance."
This resolution was seconded by Mr. BURN, and car-
ried unanimously.
It was moved by Mr. WHALEY and seconded by Mr,
llnann--.'." That the Secretary be now authorised to re•
ceive subscriptions, and to enter the names and addresses
of those ladies and gentlemen desirous of becoming
members of the Society."
It was moved by Mr. ASLIBOURNE and seconded by
Mr. JARDINE—" That this meeting has viewed with
feelings of great gratification the sympathy so generally
evinced by the press in favour of the Poor Man's Guar-
dian Society, and take this opportunity of returning
their grateful thanks for the space which has been al-
lotted to them in the columns of the public journals in
recording their proceedings."
The thanks of the meeting were voted unanimously to
Sir W. Ross fur the munificent present he had made
the Institution.
Thanks were unanimously passed to the Chairman,
who replied, and the meeting adjourned.

WooncocKs.—There is an unusual number of wood-
cocks in Sussex this spring. Last week, at Halesmere, a gentleman
found nye woodcocks' nests, with three And four Ms in 'Eh'