The Sun.
London, England, 1834-09-15 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

We, on Saturday, called the attention of our readers
to the false and exaggerated statements of the Times,
in its Thames-police report ; and we again revert to it,
as it is evident that that journal is determined, against
proof and conviction—or, " we thank thee, Jew, for
that word," against the clear light of truth," to en-
deavour to mislead the public as to the operations of
this Bill, as it did in the discussions which took place
during the progress of this measure through both
Houses of the Legislature. But facts are stubborn
things, and we leave our readers to judge for them-
selves in the following statement :
Rate-payer and Visitor of the Times Reporter.
Parish of Ratcliffe.
" The out-door relief is re- " Three poor widows, mi-
duced from 341. per week to 181. serably clad, were introduced into
the justice-room—complained
" Workouse capable of bolding that their small allowances,
3.50, contains only 230. which, with the labours of their
own hands, enabled them to sup-
" Personally visited—S. James, port their fatherless children,
M. Higgins, A. Kennedy—of- were taken away, and they
ficers perfectly justified in with- should be compelled, however
holding relief from all—their reluctantly, to go into the work-
dwellings exhibited no appear- house.
ante of want, and their ages, and "An accession of from 300 to
other circumstances, did not ren- 400 inmates is expected in the
der them objects for parochial workhouse, which is already
relief."
crowded."
The operation of the new Bill only takes away from
single and now irresponsible individuals, the indiscri-
minate application of the parochial funds in money
relief to out-door able-bodied poor. Under the old
law, nearly two millions a-year was expended in litiga-
tion as to claims, and removals to settlements to other
parishes however remote, to which paupers were con-
veyed, but which were again abandoned as soon as
their temporary wants or casualties were supplied.
The necessity of such temporary and expensive re-
movals is obviated under the present Act, by which
the overseer can give temporary relief in articles of
absolute necessity, but not in money ; and whether
the applicant be settled in the parish where he shall
apply, or NOT ; and if the overseer shall refuse to give
such relief, the MAGISTRATES may order such tem•
porary relief. in articles of absolute necessity, but not
in money. We have before pointed out the abuse to
which money payments are subject ;—now let us hear
what Lord Brougham says, in his speech on the second
reading, in the House of Lords :
LORD BROUGHAM'S SPEECH, JULY 21, 1834.—" First,
then, we have a constant, and, I may say, almost a regular
proof in every part of the country, in districts agricultural,
manufacturing, and even commercial, whether the people are
superabundaut, scarce, increasing, stationary, or diminishing
in numbers, that able-bodied men prefer a small sum in idle-
ness to a larger in wages, attended with the condition of
earning those wages by labour. We have in one place a
young man saying, ' I have 3s. 6d. a week from the parish—
Ido no work—l have no need to labour ; I would rather have
my 3s. 6d. without working, than toil to get 10s. or 12s. a
week.' This is not a singular instance. But are these per-
sons only idle ? Are they really doing nothing ? Do they
receive their 3s. 6d. and remain inactive ? Do they work no
mischief? My Lords, it is idle in me to put such questions
These persons are making the parish pay 3s. 6d. a week out
of the honest labourer's hard earnings, to maintain the con-
stant promoters of crime, the greatest workers of mischief
in the country ; men who, when they happen not to be
the ringleaders, are the ready accomplices and followers
In every depredation and every outrage that is perpetrated in
this neighbourhood. But those facts are not confined to the
agricultural districts or inland places, and to lazy rustics.
Look to the hardy sailor, who never used to know what danger
was—look to the very boatmen on the Kentish coast—they
who formerly would rush to a wreck, without looking to the
waves any more than to the reward—who would encounter the
most appalling perils to save a life with as much alacrity as
they would dance round a May-pole, or run a cargo of smug-
gled goods in the midst of a tempest, or in the teeth of the
preventive service--those men who, if you had said in former
times, 4 Surely you do not mean to launch your boat at this
tempestuous time of year?' would answer by instinct, Time of
year 1 we take no count of seasons ; by our boats we live ; from
the sea, in winter as in summer, we must seek our sustenance ;
fair weather or foul, our vessels must be afloat, else how could
we keep our families from the parish ?' No such answer will you
get now. The same spirit of independence inflames them no more.
' We have 12s. a week from the parish,' say the Kentish sail-
ors—' we will go out no longer in winter—we will wait till
summer and fair weather—we will live at home the while, for
the parish fund provides us.' Comment upon such facts is use-
less. But the same classes now assume, that they who live
upon the parish have a right to work not only as little as the
independent labourer, but not to work so hard. They have in
many places distinctly set up this claim ; and in one or two
instances appeals have actually been made by the paupers
against the overseers, upon the ground that the latter had at-
tempted, as they say, a thing till then unknown in these pa-
rishes— to make paupers work the same number of hours in
the day as the independent labourers, who receive no parochial
assistance.' These are things which almost force incredulity;
but when we see them proved by evidence, which admits of no
doubt, belief is extorted from us. Again, under the present
law, all shame of begging is utterly banished. The pauper
glories in his dependence—if, indeed, he does not consider the
land as his own, and its nominal proprietor as his steward."
The beneficial effects of this measure are, as we have
seen, manifesting themselves in the parish of Ratcliffe,
and will soon be developed by the Times in many
others ; thus giving additional proofs of the wisdom of
the Legislature in passing it. We shall soon again
advert to this subject : in the meantime, it will be sa-
tisfactory to the public to know that the Commission-
ers and their Secretary (Mr. Chadwick) are earnestly
endeavouring practically to prove that the well-merited
eulogies of the Lord Chancellor were well bestowed.
Since writing the above we have seen (which we ex-
tract) the following excellent observations in the Spec-
tator on this subject :
" It appears that inquiry has been made into the circum-
stances of each case, and the result is stated in the Morning
Chronicle.

" The sawyer's widow is a young and healthy washerwoman
living with her mother, and in no want of the necessaries of
life.

" The second believes that her husband died at sea ; but as
she is young and healthy also, and is earning a livelihood by
needlework, she is not in want of parish relief.
" The third asked for relief, and was ordered to be admitted
into the workhouse ; it turns out that she has a pension from
the Trinity House,

" From-the explanation it is evident that the public must be
very cautious in crediting the stories of parochial cruelty
which will be got up by the aid of penny-a-line eloquence."—
Morning Chronicle.
Entertaining the opinion which we have all along ex-
pressed upon the subject of the Poor Law Act, w are
not at all astonished at the disgust with which its first
operations appeared to be received. Yet enough, we
should have thought, had been said to have induced
those who are interested in its success to soften down,
as far as possible, the alleged harshness of its features ;
in short, to have falsified, as far as in them lay, the
untoward augury of its opponents. This might in
some- measure have been effected, had the framers of
the Bill possessed the good sense and discretion to have
postponed the commencement of its operation till a
period by which time the required machinery might have
Jeen prepared and ready to be put in execution. The
Commissioners' first and most important duty, for in-
stance, is to prepare rules and regulations for parish
officers to act upon in lieu of the present system. Of
course, such rules and regulations require much previous
inquiry and thought, before they can be framed and
brought into action. No wonder, then, that they are
not yet forthcoming. Yet the Act, in all its features
but one (that of the future removal of paupers to their
places of settlements), came into operation on the day
on which it was passed ; so that the protection of the
old system is taken away, while the substitute provided
by the new one, sorry as it is, is and must for some
time be unprepared, and in abeyance. This is some-
thing like striking the shores from under a building,
before the under-pinnings or foundations are complet.
Unless there be, indeed, a fatality, a sort of Deus volt
perdere, about this measure, which its opponents, of
course, will not be inclined to regret, its immediate
results might have been averted in either of two ways
—the one, as we have already suggested, by the framers
of the Act postponing its operation till its machinery
was in a state to act ; the other, by parish officers
taking upon themselves to mitigate its harshness, till
they found their powers or intentions countemanded.
This latter course might, we apprehend, still be adopted.
No one who has prophesied evil from the Act can
wish to see his prophecy fulfilled, or, at any rate, desire
to be himself an instrument in inflicting it ; and until
parish officers are told by the Commissioners what they
are to do, what they ought to do—viz., to relieve un-
avoidable distress, is the point of the compass by
which they should steer. In the mean time, as good
not unfrequently arises out of evil, the Commissioners
themselves may take a useful lesson from what is now
passing. Above all they may learn, that any regula-
tion which they may attempt to make, which has either
for its object or effect the abrogation of the grand
maxim of Christian charity, the relief of actual dis-
tress, will never be tolerated in a Christian community.
Whatever else is done, this, at any rate, must not be

attempted. The very surmise of such an effect, from
the few incidents which have occurred, is sufficient to
denote what will be the tide of public indignation
should any such be the case. Let the Commissioners
direct their rules to the great object of doing away
with the abuses of the poor laws, and so far they will
receive general support. But a law to put an end to
humanity will prove as unavailing as the stupid adula-
tion of Canute's courtiers in presuming to dictate
bounds to the tide.—Morning Herald.
The Bishop of London has published his charge to
the clergy of the diocess at the last visitation. It treats
of the dangers of the church, the malice of its enemies,
and the necessity of seeking safety in redoubled zeal,
in improved usefulness, and purity of example. " Let
us see to it," says his Lordship, " each in his own
case. Let us inquire of ourselves whether, when the
Lord is manifestly dealing with us in the way of warn-
ing and correction, we are in our several stations la-
bouring in all things to approve ourselves as the
ministers (ye God This, and nothing short of
this, it is to give full proof of our ministry--a proof
most open and palpable to the common apprehension of
mankind, that we are indeed what we profess to be,
ministers of a true and genuine branch of Christ's
Holy Catholic Church, apostolical in our doctrine
and our lives, as well as in our commission, and
set apart from the mass of mankind, not more by
our holy calling, than by the sanctity of our daily
conversation, and our superior activity in every
work and labour of love." Curiously enough it hap-
pens that the first thing which strikes the eye upon
opening the publication is an advertisement of the new
Poor Law, with explanatory notes, &c. ; and the first
sentence in the address which follows a page so sug-
gestive of reflections on the misdirection of the prelate's
recent labours, is as follows :
" The interval of time which has elapsed since I first met
you in the character of your diocesan, has been marked by the
rapid growth or developement, of a spirit of innovation. I
would not be understood to use the word in an invidious sense.
but simply as denoting a bent and tendency towards change in
almost all the component parts of the social fabric. It may be
for good or for evil ; we trust that it may be overruled by Pro.
vidence to good ; but whether for good or for evil, the spirit
is gone forth into the world; and while we look with wonder,
if not with dismay, at its past triumphs, it is impossible for us
not to trace its progress with anxiety, and to watch its intents
with something of apprehension, of not of alarm."
Let him who is guileless throw the first stone. At
the very time that this charge was delivered, was not a
work of innovation in progress under the auspices and
under the very hands of the Right Rev. Prelate him-
self ? and was it one of those works signalizing " supe-
rior activity in every labour of love ?" While the
Bishop was preaching, what was he doing ? Making
a grinding statute for the poor,—cutting off the crumbs
that fall to Lazarus for the improvement of the estate
of Dives ! While he raised his voice against the spirit
of innovation, he was forwarding the innovation which
avowedly mixes all possible gall and bitterness with
the bread of poverty. While with the one hand he
was struggling to protect the gauds and luxuries of 'the
Church from reformation, with the other be was
rendering up the poor's box as an offering to political
economy. See him at the head of a commission for
making less the little of the pauper, for adding to the
shame of want, for aggravating the irksomeness of
indigence, for making more grim and fearful the fea-
tures of poverty; and hear him in his pulpit admo-
nishing each in his own case to see that he is in his
station " labouring in all things to approve himself a
minister of God," and giving proof that he is set apart
by " his superior activity in every work and labour of
love." The Bishop is, as it were, taken " with the
red hand." The poor are groaning under the work
over which he has presided, while his mouth is giving
out exhortations to charity and the spirit of Chris-
tianity. Here we mark one of the stumbling-blocks
of the superior clergy, one of those temporal snares in
the paths which should be spiritual, and only im-
pressed by the feet of those who preach the Gospel of
Peace. When we see a Bloomfield in a poor law com-
mission, and a poor law debate steeling the heart with
doctrines of expediency, and arguing for rigour to
the poor and freedom to the libertine, can we wonder
at the falling respect and authority of the Church ?
And is it for him now to declaim against the spirit of
innovation—for him who has been so principal an
agent in spreading the terror of an innovation over the
country—for him who has (in one sense) without
shame and without reproach transferred to the weaker
sex .the penalty of frailty, the whole burden of the-
child of sin ? Does the Bishop in his purple and his
palace imagine that innovations have no alarms except
for him and those of his interests ? May he not with-
out any very great stretch of sympathy suppose that
the poor may say of the innovation he has been instru-
mental in producing, as he says of the spirit of change
generally, " It may be for good or for evil, and while
we look with wonder, if not with dismay, it is impos-
sible for us to trace its progress with anxiety, and to
watch its intents with somewhat of apprehension if not
of alarm I" As he trembles for his mitre, the wretched
may tremble for their bread, or the bare support of
existence. Seeing these things, seeing the Bishop play-
ing the first part in the -most important, the most unpo-
pular, the most distrusted and distateful change of the
present century, he seems the very last man to rebuke
the spirit of innovation, and to take measures for the
safety of the church. Whatever danger he has found in
the church, he has increased; whatever disaffection before
existed he has exasperated by his unfortunate example.
Such parts as he has lately acted cannot be without
their impressions, and in prelates busy in worldly
matters in the most worldly spirit, he might find one
set of causes which have tended in no inconsiderable
degree to the present jeopardy of the church. Having
described the rapid growth or development of a spirit
of innovation, the Bishop proceeds :
" Of one thing we may be well assured, that to all those
persons who are bent, not upon salutary changes and real im-
provements, but upon the utter subversion and removal of all
the ancient landmarks of government and social order in this
country, its established church must ever be an object of espe-
cial hostility, and a point of systematic attack ; for it is to the
established church of this kingdom, to its scriptural doctrines
and formularies, promulgated and exemplified by the active
ministrations of its clergy, and by its decent and solemn ob-
servances, that we are to ascribe, under the Divine blessing,
the general diffusion and maintenance of sound and healthy
principles, and a recognition of moral obligation on the part
both of those who govern, and those who are governed. The
true peace and real prosperity of the country depend, not upon
the multiplicity of minute legislative provisions, nor upon any
economic regulations, however ingeniously devised, and how-
ever useful, as subsidiary aids ; but upon its Christianity : and
its Christianity mainly depends upon the labours of its paro-
chial clergy."

The Bishop does not perceive that his proposition
cuts two ways. He says that to the established
church is to be ascribed the general diffusion and main-
tenance of sound and healthy principles, but he has in
the preceding paragraph deplored the rapid growth or
developement of a dangerous spirit, which could not
prevail if sound and healthy principles were generally
diffused and maintained. The Bishop cannot at once
have his growing evil spirit, and credit for the useful
effects of the establishment. If the church has per-
formed its office as he describes, if it has generally dif-
fused and maintained sound and healthy principles, it
is clear that it would have prevented a mischievous spirit
of innovation from gaining ground. Consequently,
the Bishop must give up one of his propositions, and
must either admit that no evil spirit is to be dreaded,
or that there are faults in the existing ecclesiastical
system which have prevented it from working as an
establishment should do, to the general diffusion and
maintenance of sound healthy principles. If we are
told that an establishment is productive of certain ex-
cellent effects, and, in the sume breath, a state of
things incompatible with such effects is deplored, the
necessary conclusion is, that there is some fault in the
establishment which makes it miscarry of its design
and proper operation. Giving it credit for the virtues
claimed for it, we must look within it for the peccant
causes which have counteracted its natural results, and
allowed evil to spring up where good should predomi-
nate. The husbandman who applauds his system,
must not at the same time wring his hands and lament
that the tares are growing and developing to the destruc-
tion of the corn. If he do, we know one of two things,
either that there is a fault in his husbandry, or he
exaggerates the tares. 'We shall return to the charge,
for in the short views of its author we see the worst
dangers against which the church has to guard.—Times.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.

A man named Wathant, who is employedby the Roches-
ter Oyster Company to assist at Billingsgate, was sum-
moned before the LORD MAYOR, on Saturday, for having
violated the rules of Billingsgate-market, without which
rules it would be quite impossible to keep the various per-
sons in the habit of transacting business there under proper
controul.

From the evidence of Mr. Goldham, the clerk of the
market, it appeared that the defendant, although a person
unable to write his own name, or even to read it when
written, considered himself at liberty to direct the market
arrangements. One of the most important directions in
the markets was that the boats should not be fastened to
the piles, but to appointed parts of the wharf, where they
would be firmly attached, and without producing inconveni-
ence or doing mischief. The defendant, however, insisted
upon fasteninr, the Rochester boats to the piles. Mr. Gold-
ham had no objection to the charges of the defendant, pro-
vided the payment was left to the option of those of whom
the demands were made—but as the defendant had no le-
gal right to make any demand, it was rather too much to
insist upon payment, and give to those who complied with
the demand superior accommodation. His object was to esta-
blish impartiality, and he found it necessary to apply to the
Lord Mayor in consequence of the usurped authority of the
Rochester assistant.

The LORD MAYOR—Does he suppose that because he is
employed by the Rochester Company he is master of the
market ? Mr. Flower (of the firm of Alderman Harmer
and Co.) stated for the defendant, that his client did not
attempt to usurp the authority of those who had a right to
control the market, and that it would be ridiculous to ex-
pect the order which prevailed in other places to be ex-
tended to so well-known a haunt for the votaries of dis-
order. The defendant was obliged, in the absence of the
clerk of the market, to act for the best for his employers ;
and as the boats came in at all hours, Mr. Goldham could
not be always at his post.
Mr. Goldham said that he slept every night, except Sa-
turday night, in the market, within ten yards of the boats,
and was ready at all hours to attend to the business. At
one, two, and three o'clock in the morning, he was fre-
quently at work in administering to the public convenience,
and he had recommended the defendant himself to the Ro-
chester Company ; but he had no idea of allowing that Com-
pany to be accommodated to the exclusion of others.
The LORD MAYOR said, that with respect to the insi-
nuation of want of order in the market, the fact was, the
determination to have order undisturbed was the cause of
this complaint ; and as for the imputed absence of Mr.
Goldham from his duty, there was not one of the Corpora-
tion who was not fully aware of the extraordinary exertions
of that officer, and of the important improvements made by
him.

Mr. Goldham—Favour is shown in this person's case to
those who pay him the fee he demands.
Watham—Did you ever know me to get money unlaw-
fully ?
Mr. Goldham—l consider it to be unlawful to make the
demand.

The LORD MAYOR—Most certainly it is ; you have no
right to do any thing of the kind.
Mr. Goldham—The rules are painted and exhibited at
Billingsgate, and the defendant knows them as well as I dit,
Mr. Flower—My client can't read.

The LORD MAYOR—Then let him get somebody to
read for him. We won't have his kind services as dock-
master, and if he again violates the rules, we shall certainly
inflict a penalty.

Saunders, a ticket-porter, requested that the Lord Mayor
would be so kind as to help him out of a difficulty in which
he was placed in consequence of the death of a jobbing
porter of the same name, who used to be frequently about
the Royal Exchange, caused by the furious driving of a
cart in Cornhill. His house was visited by multitudes of
persons, who, however well they might wish him, greatly
embarrassed and annoyed him by calling, some to know
whether it was true that he was dead, and others to know
when the funeral was to take place. This inconvenience
was occasioned by the mistake that the poor man who had
been killed was a ticket-porter.
The LORD MAYOR—Are not your friends satisfied when
they see you, that you are alive ?—Saunders replied that
some of them when they met him affected to think him
dead, and started ; while others threw up their hands, and
cried, " The Lord bless us, there's Tom Saunders's ghost!"
—(Laughter.)
The LORD MAYOR—Then you may tell them that the
Lord Mayor is of opinion that you are not by any means a
dead man—( Laughter)—but if they refuse to take my
authority upon the subject, I can't help it.—(Laughter.)