The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-06 00:00:00

ROYAL ASSENT.

Mr. Pullman, deputy usher of the black rod, ap-
peared at the bar of the House with a message from
the Lords, requesting the attendance of the Commons,
for the purpose of hearing her Majesty's Commission,
and giving the royal assent to several Bills (for which
see Lords' report).
THE CORN-LAW DEBATES.

Mr. FOSTER said, tke corn-law debates had now
been so long, protracted, that groat inconvenience was
felt from the question remaining so long unsettled.
There were a great number of notices of motion
on the paper for this evening, whick must, if persevered
in, be disposed of before the Committee on the corn-laws
could be resumed. He therefore hoped that those Hon.
Gentlemen who had charge of those notices would con
sent to postpone them.
Mr. ETWALL said that this motion had been before
the House ever since the beginning of the session, and
he was surprised at the request which the Hon. Member
had just made. He could not but demur to accede to his
request, for he believed there was an understanding with
the Government, that his motion respecting the
Andover Union should be brought before the
House to-night. He was not aware that any-
thing had occurred to prevent that course from
being followed, but if there was, he was quite ready to
submit to any treason that might be assigned from the
Treasury benches.—(Cries of " No, no," from the
Ministerial side of the House.)
Sir J. GRAHAM said that certainly no under-
standing had been entered into with the Hon. Member;
but if the motion were to be persevered in, he should cer-
tainly feel it his duty to move an amendment, for the
production of all the papers connected with the affair
of the Andover Union. But he thought a better
course might be pursued, and he proposed to place in
the hands of the Hon. Member, and every Member of
that House, copies of all the papers which had passed
relative to the transactions e bleb the Honourable
Member referred, which would pro e all the infor-
mation which rho G ()vat- .tovnt required on
the subject. In additj,en to le, papers to which
he understood the likm Mithaber alludtd, he intended
to print aid forward to each of the Members of the
House the report of Mr. le ,rker. as well as all tht,
tatters which had passed between the Poor-law
Commissioners relative to the Andover Union,
between the Ist of September, 1845, and the Ist of
March, 1846. This would place the House in possession
of all the inf4mation which the Government had re-
ceived, and he thought it would satisfy the Honourable
Member.

Mr. FERRAND hoped that he might be allowed to
make a few remarks.

The SPEAKER (interrupting Mr. Ferrand)—The
House must first know whether the Hon. Member was
inclined to withdraw his motion.

Mr. ET WALL was quite ready to withdraw his, and
would do so, but he thought that in the event of his
pursuing that course, other Hon. Members who had
notice of motion on the paper ought to do the same.
Mr. NEWDEGATE was understood to say that,
owing to the importance of his motion, he could not con-
sent to withdraw it.

THE ANDOVER UNION.
Mr. ETWALL rose to move for a Committee of
inquiry into the working of the poor-laws
in the Andover Union. He was certain that it
was the feeling of that House that the poor.
laws should be administered fairly, impartially, and
kindly, and that the unfortunate inmates of such
d ne.
asdigluenise_should be treated with kindness and in-
hear.) He felt certain that there was
no hope for the poor, nor did they expect a redress of
grievances from any quarter, save from that House.
The Hoe. Member then proceeded to read some extracts
from the minutes of the proceedings before the Poor-
law Commissioners at Andover, but, in consequence of
the perpetual hum of conversation carried on in ali
parts of the House, it was impossible to catch even the
purport of the extracts. He was afterwards under-
stood to say, that the Commissioners during
their inquiries evinced the greatest anxiety to de-
prive the public of the benefit of their proceedings.
He would not touch further upon the subject, but it ap-
peared to him that the Poor-Jaw Commissioners took
great pains to keep the public from knowing the result of
their inquiries, and if they were desirous of administering
the law in a way which would be becoming to them,
surely it was their duty to make themselves perfectly
familiar with the characters of their officers and depen-
dents. The late master of the Andover Union, who
had been discharged, had received an excellent cha-
racter from Mr. Parker, a Poor-law Commissioner.
He hoped that the Right Hon. Baronet would, in all
future investigations respecting the poor-law, see that
they were presided over by impartial persons, and by
judges in no way mixed up with the administration of the
law. He could not but feel surprise that the papers connec-
ted with the Andover case had not been presented earlier.
The bones, which were seized with so much avidity by
the paupers, had lain in a state of decomposition in the
workhouse yard for two or three months. There was no
such instance of ill-treatment of the poor on record as that

_ ...........---_
which occurred at this union. When anew bone was tboos 0
into the yard, there was a general scramble for it!_°..atn
man, in one instance, bad been fortunate enough. tl;',
two bones, and he had to scamper off with them alter i
manner of a dog.—(Hear, hear.) The poor peotle
appeared from the evidence, were a long while no
they could eat the filthy marrow out of the Is'.
ae
All the witnesses at the inquiry stated that there TA.
awful deficiency of bread. Mr. Mundy stated t.hsvrt
gwro
paupers were accustomed to eat potatoes whi°llo,oo
dug out of the ground after the first crop —6-1 lb,
paupers were employed in carrying weights, tr,(l of
to 201b5., and feeling that the labour to
could'wulteete
were subjected was more than their strength
cr
they had applied to the master for an, Indirect
to their allowance of food. Now this was in by
contradiction to the rules of the Commissioners, and do
were the paupers placed in such a position, op
either their health must suffer, or the 000
of the Commissioners be violated. Tbis ores
had been brought under his notice during the iss',,me A
or four years ; for about the beginning of that
_.‘" es
new church was begun to be built on the site etros"uoes.
one. During the progress of layina the otr
tion-stone, a great number of bones''had ive tool
moved. Part of these had been sold to the of
collector of bones in Andover, of wbOml the
had been purchased by many of the farmers 1.3„ as
neighbourho )d, but a large portion was carried "olt
workhouse, where the paupers were employed to.
too
them. It was easy to perceive the difference between mod
human bones and the bones of horses. Nothiagoto
revolting could have been imposed upon then 11 eets
The witnesses collected for the board's inerY 09
collected by the master of the workhouse. 241!) Poee
notice was given of the inquiry, and hat
Etwall) was in a condition to prove thste, aft'
of the persons examined were constraint*" dos
nesses on the occasion. If such matters as Abed
were allowed to pass over, there was no knowing
the system would end; and therefore he felt it 11,7:;rett'
to move for a Select Committee to inquire into tn) els
ing of the system of poor-laws.—(flear, hesrtee
slasi
would not go into the details of the second caseoeoe
the object of his motion was not to disgrace the°wof 00,
the union, but merely to call the attention 000
House to the subject. The gentleman Whobeeo for
these inquiries to be brought forward had toisa
some years the medical attendant in the .01 •
He was elected in March, 1842, and reeeel iss°
higher salary than was usually given. For Ora jet
Mr. Westlake had suspected that the aged ;Inmate°,
paupers id not receive the full allowanceallottea""arei,
and in April, 1844, he suggested to the board de boot'
-that these allowances should be entered ienesiefol!
It might be asked, why did not Mr. Westla""t 00'
the board of guardians of what he suspected, hfueeo,ol
was every allowance to be made for his not suspected or
he alleged as his reason that, until he had a stre_ielet°
vincine case to lay before them, it would be ilnr—ineiso°l
persuade the Board of the correctness of his suer be
He should rather consider it was the duty of tureefee
of guardians to look into the allegations Piteeisl
against the master, and not have shown such 011etessel
to avoid inquiry. 'He could quote numerous 170111
of hardship committed on the unfortunate Psijj,fet I°,
the servants of the Commissioners—he 0, eld 0070
the case of William Lawless, an old man, adseleeke
six years, and twenty-one days in the woo"- epee
was charged with all those little extras of tesy '"
forth, to which he was entitled without any P,1,11,10.1
There was also the case of William Norris, sakileods"
nearly blind, who was set to the work of o'o,o
men, and who chopped his own hands in vides(
to perform it. He would also allude to the case (lile eear
Webster, who was charged with extras which 6 if7o
received, and to which she was entitled. 14,°%tetit°e.
frauds were practised upen the poor, simple' -„, ole
infirm paupers, they surely ought to consent tedest.l
query, with the view of preventing such ceino 07
future. But he found that those frai het
hsis dift:
b,-en committed, and the paupers -te pity
defrauded at the expense of the rs—reelej
There was a certain number of paupers wh°teer
broth on certain days of the week, but whet° tee , 0
let
the broth they were allowed no cheese; and Del if
and infirm, when they received the broth, "T.,f thse,o*-
beer nor cheese. He was not quite awaretieeks7,4
gredients of which this broth was made, for:oose
many things of which the paupers in this "e"eess'',/
partook which was a perfect mystery. Larg,e,,,' Oho
of the butter allowed were saved by the sae.7:lll.dee'
the bacon pot, and sometimes they were treateuede 17
water, and as a luxury were occasionally ail° iesswee
salt. He found, on reference to the books, t,ligiiee. 0101
the quarters the paupers had been put onha" "eit• be
and it had been reduced as much as lir oz. of tefsr.4,
whether it was 2 oz. or 1 oz. it was iminate% ianti
only object was to show thee there was a Bre-herrof
racy in the master's books, which was altoget' erg
over in the Commissioner's report. At ev„eredi, odre
k osl
meeting of the guardians the master was " r ar-10
before the board an estimate of the stock of 116
required fur the ensuing week, for which e elleeceelt°7ell
be given by the clerk and entered in the e,l thel of
Now the check books were never filled up nate" 'Peel
after the goods were delivered and consunTieibv?
was one fraud arose out of that practice whieeeela:oil
mention. The teas and sugars sent to the "b ei
were made up in parcels of half a pound etc :,0(1.1
was not unusual for the master to return Msincirio,,v*)
parcels, and get them exchanged for better lie 0,116 Ye
which he converted to his own purposes.--(Pe 4
There was also another species of peculaticts, mos
peered that out of 901bs. of Chedder cheese.o"v TO to
were converted to the purp ,ses of the unktiplol,o
happened to be. a man named Watt who was
4,--00
..0'
at the union, and this man, when his day's "ikstir4t
over, went home to his family, and said that be;00,...1
the inmates of the workhouse eating raw Ptslooo7l,
neighbour of the man heard the story, and it "be).
abroad until it reached the ears of the helr:at
guardians. The man was summoned before topeeto
when, on being spoken to, he confirmed his id :410001
He was then told that he would be ernPlThe etti
union no longer, and that if he wanted retie' to n-oe
go into the house and eat raw potatoes witha
_o'lo
the paupers. He had never witnessed a oreiteditd
dinary state of irregularity than was exh.e; fe.t7oo
manner in which these accounts had been icePiorys,r,lol,
had received sums varying from ss. to 12s• "reline!
attendances, for which no accounts had heelitee a'e of
Nothing was more detrimental to the charschefrA
Poor-law Commissioners than these freeplenteceeer'es°
cruelty and incompetency. He trusted thatLeteleei
investigation would be instituted into the sirici if
he could assure the House that nothing hat 14,j-dillies,'
of the important nature of these charges e°",:iitentif
duced him to undertake his present disagreela9o:4-14
Sir JAMES GRAHAM confessed he e°,t/.of ear br
regretting that under the present aspect 0000
affairs, so much of the precious time of o°oo
been consumed in a matter, which after all , Pei,
better than a workhouse squabble.—(CheeraiGetios
be his duty very briefly to follow the Hoe. whiell,
with reference to some of the statements' e Aweo.l.,
been advanced with reference to the affnhe Pr
octnetso
at
th e
Andover
action had some time since been stated to: 001140
fteneelinegrusswhiittlhgrensfpbe
which at the time left a very strong imprellee r(sit
employment le me • 0044
James Graham) had in his place expresso. boa
objections to the poor being employed in tba: 00.1
kind of labour, and his regret that it should perti.`ol.o
put in force in so many Unions. When thisoeglikoeet.
overnio'i bilos,
transaction had been mentioned, he had th 0001_Ad11.
duty to call the attention of the poor-law had Oveli
to the subject. The Hon. Member who f the 001
present motion, had referred to the report ° ,jr lie or
mis.ioners in 1833, in which they stated tehepel °AI
the species of labour in which the poor suevt Ore of
played. He (Sir James Graham) thou:11'000y
labour of the pauper should not be of a de the vio
revolting character. So far from vindicetaed of:Jd of
actions at Andover, his previously coneeivtesvinor
had been strengthened. He had now the? theo
stating to the House that by a general order 0014.0
law Commissioners, notwithstanding the r!tao.psorptAi'
of nearly 100 unions, the system of emploYte.lejer:
bone crushing had been suppressed from the 15 ate rsr
and, with the exception of 10 or 12 parishes, the oft,
order had been maintained, and he trust
would never be renewed. He begged to e thst se SI
tion of the House to this remarkable fate",opie lift
abuses which had been complained of vrerea, thire:
the to al management. He did not possel tbs )eti
power of controlling the management wh!,titatrAd'"
law Commissioners might think proper to lobe 01;00
addition to other objections which might, it 001
the employing of paupers in crushing bon% pereettew
mode of labour exposed to many abuses. :1 g'-f 01,
it led to local jobbing; and therefore on e'etarsi,e;eb,l;
whether on account of the objectionable Pt° sw",:igtl.y,
labour itself, or because of the local abuses os ‘," gri
led, this method of employing the Paulo lion_d'- o°.
objectionable. He had already stated to t
sopprs7
effectual measures had been taken t°l, one :00i
employment. But bone crushing was °°,11,001 "feile°,o
many abuses, of which the Hon. Gen't-he iasubetl •-•
scribed a great number. There was roe)) 0:1,11
state of the dietary. He (Sir James L'*" made et d
been 00- r
state that a material alteration had
week sste
dietary, and that during one day in the ~e 01
fed
been substituted. Then, with respect been 0„101
the workhouse at Andover, he had beenrnot.s,iO4
this situation by the poor-law guardians, and
f. that in%
Commissioners. During the progress °. tioa, ,-
esl nt) Pee
the master had sent in his r g
1 d t° gas
of when he had been again called w go of A
office of master by the poor-06 order, t er.
and had subsequently been removed bY..orepliSof.ol
Commissioners. This was not all. A, 'officers etlis:".
been made of the conduct of the medical the Owe";
union. In this case it was not doubtful tne,, int-er
red
officer had been to blame, and had improp.ery.stiostser
Among other complaints which had been..blnarthe ?•1113001
the Poor-law Commissioners, one Wa.stjetet for tP_ ibet;
of the relieving officers was not sun! eeeeired o!.. of ,
quate performance of the duties which a Zutmeogo eoe
The evil had been remedied by the aPP" t hell f oaf'
the . o obi
additional relieving officer. ,He believed
ext° e su 0
mentioned all the objections, with the.
which tbor, le,
and that was, the insufficient manner in
t._ lot y . ogy.
of accounts was conducted. During ta° wee titai bea,
econnts ditor° ot
was of opinion that the audit of a -et an rge f
ficient for the Poor-law Unions. Distri „ diech, 0 0
• the fa" inue tot
been appointed, and were now in
and the of
.1
their functions throughout England :11
_artook ea v
Andover, as well as other unions, now y
comploP., bola
benefit.. The lion. Gentleman had ais°t AndoTetee
the mode in which the second inquiry:l_, did no. _tloll
been conducted. He (Sir James
that in ineelethet
there to vindicate the mode in which tnabf °peso hod g
eth 0(
certainly was °
had been conducted. He certa ,in them Ol
displaie" egio to
good judgment had not been that the r f
„t o „eels
conducting it. He would not say
arose °,,-a
Mr. Parker from his situation
.gation abed Y
mode in which that investi that the
thew
conducted. It would appear oe con lie
• eonsequen • won
law Commissioners, in
the ineestig re
inquiry into into the manner in which. data,
IQ pato
been made bad coeidered it thdr "I"J
I •

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