The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-18 00:00:00

SOYER'S PAROCHIAL MODEL
KITCHEN FOR THE POOR WEAVERS OF
SPITALFIELDS.

TO THE EDIRTI? OF THE SUN.

Sia,—Having lately been introduced by several
gentlemen of distinction to the Reverend Joseph
Brown, the benevolent pastor of St. Matthew's, Spi-
taltields, with the view of relieving, if possible, at a
trifling expense, the sufferings of the greatest part of
that industrious but distressed class of society, the
weavers of Spitalfields ; and having with that gen-
tleman visited several of their abodes, we found in
many of the houses families of five or six, in a small
room, entirely deprived of the common necessaries of
life. No food or fire, and hardly any garment to
cover their persons, and that during the last severe
frost. In one of the attics we visited, we inquired of
a woman, how they subsisted ? "My husband," said
she, " has had no employment during the last four
months, and that they merely lived upon what they
could get by begging in the streets, and that she and
her children had not touched a bit of food for twenty-
four hours, the last of which consisted of apples
partly decayed, and pieces of bread given to her hus•
band in charity," which food we may consider, if
ever so plentiful, to be pernicious to health. The
only piece of furniture in this gloomy abode of
misery was the weaving machine, now at rest, and
which, in times of prosperity, was used to provide
food ; and made, if not a wealthy, at least a happy
home, for this now wretched and destitute family ;1
and the scientific productions of which has of ten, and
now even adorns the persons of thousands of the aris-
tocracy and gentry of this country.
I am quite convinced, Sir, that the wearers of
these luxuries possess at all times the most chari-
table feelings towards their fellow-creatures in dis-
tress, and that when they are made aware, through
tho medium of your powerful journal, of the fact of
the present lamentable position of those who have by
their industry so often gratified their sight and
kitchenm Am fir a
fthoearl
wishes, none will refuse, I am certain, a small token
of charity towards the relief of those unfortunate
martyrs of industry, whose poverty no one can blame,
but whom every one must pity.
yvti having
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ing subscriptiona tsc enes, I
imodel.
Bramah and Prestige's factory, should be erected,
without loss of time, in the most populous district of
Spitalfields, where there are no less than 10,000 poor
people in one parish, and hardly any wealthy amongst
them to give them relief.
I am happy to inform you, Sir, that my first
experiment, made last Saturday, has been most
successful, having been able to make a most excellent
peas panada and meat soup in less than one hour
and a half, and that at a very moderate expense (the
quickness and saving of which is partly owing to the
contrivance of my own steam apparatus), and which
food was distributed, without any confusion, in less
than twenty minutes, to about 350 children, who
were selects d for the occasion from different schools,
the remainder of the food, with bread, being given
away to many poor families in the neighbourhood.
The kitchen will remain open daily, and nothing
will be given away but to those who are proved to be
quite destitute, old, or infirm. A quart of food or
soup and nearly half a pound of bread will be given
for a penny.
All information respecting the issuing of tickets
will be made known through the medium of the
public press.
I am aware that noblemen, gentlemen, and
tradesmen have to support the poor of their own
parishes, and therefore suggest that not more than a
guinea shall be received from any one as a sub-
scriber, but from sixpence to the above sum will be
must thankfully received, and di-posed of with the
greatest economy.
I beg to observe that any of the subscribers wish-
ing their names kept private will be pleased to make
a private mark, that they may sea it correctly en-
tered in a catalogue, to be published monthly, with an
account of all subscriptions received, expenses in-
curred, the ingredients consumed, with a correct
statement of the poor relieved.
I trust, under these circumstances, you will be good
enough to give a place for this in your valuable
journal. With the highest consideration, I have the
honour to he, Sir, your most obliged,
Reform Club, Feb. 17. A. SOYER.