The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-27 00:00:00

THE SEVERE FROST OF 1860-1.

Mr. Benjamin Scott, Chamberlain of the City of
London, read a paper at the recent Social Science
Congress in Dublin, on Intemperance and Pauper-
ism, considered particularly in reference to the
severe frost in London in the winter of 1860-1 ; the
object of which was to show that the lamentable
improvidence manifested by a large class of the
people was to a large extent attributable to intem-
perance, and that systematic abstinence from intoxi-
cating drink tends to promote habits of providence,
self-respect, and self-reliance. After quoting a large
number of facts from Parliamentary and other docu-
ments to show the extent to which relief had been
afforded to the poor during the distress of last winter,
M r. Scott gave extracts from the evidencetaken before
a Parliamentary Committee last spring, showing that
whenever a witness was asked to define the causes
of improvidence, the answer almost invariably
pointed to intemperance as the chief cause, or in-
cluded it in the category of causes. The clerk of
the City of London Union being asked, "Do you
think that if the artisans of the city were not to
drink there would 'be any necessity for applying to
the board of guardians for relief ?" replied, " Cer-
tainly not, if they put by their money." He fur-
ther stated a case in which a person having re-
ceived relief was found immediately thereafter in-
toxicated and quarrelling as the quality of the
drink which had been supplied. The clerk of the
Whitechapel Union was asked, " Have you hear&
in your union whether the consumption of intoxi-
cating drinks fell off very much during the four
weeks of the supposed distress ?" He replied, " I
have not heard; I should say that the probability
is that it did not. The chairman of the Shoreditch
board stated that he made it a practice to inquire,
but that he found that hardly any of the artisans
who applied for relief subscribed to any benefit so-
ciety ; and the same witness instanced a case
of a woman relieved by the magistrate, but
found drunk immediately afterwards. Mr. Yard-
ley, police magistrate, said, " I am sorry to say that I
heard, and I believe it, that there was a particular
public-house in my district where youmight get any
amount of bread for fourpence per quarterti loaf ; in
fact, the bread which was given was taken there
and exchanged for beer, and sold by the publican
at a reduced rate." A gentleman engaged in
distribution of relief informed Mr. Scott, that
finding relief in money abused at the public-
house, he distributed bread, but it was found load-
ing the shelves of the publican ; he then changed
the mode of relief, and distributed packets of tea,
coffee, &c., but the only result was to convert the
publican from a baker into a dealer in gro-
ceries. A very experienced officer con-
nected with the St. Marylebone Union thus writes:_
—" My experience enables me to say, that. a large
proportion of our casual applications arise from the
parties spending their money when in work in in-
toxicating drinks. We have also many persons in
the workhouse who, but for this propensity, would
be able to get their own living; this is especially
the case with females." Another officer writes :
" A large class of those who receive relief will
sacrifice everything in life to obtain drink." It
being desirable to obtain some definite opinions or
reliablepublic
officers on this
point, applicaticn
was made in
the form of queries to the
officers of the several unions of the
relieving
metropolis,
more than one half of whom obligingly
responded,
and affixed their names to the informa-
the query, "Whether tee-
tion afforded. In reply to

totalers were found among those who applied for re-
lief, and if so, to what extent 9" the replies are almost
unanimously to the effect that, as a class, abstainers
from intoxicating drinks were abstainers also from
resort to parochial relief. Having obtained this
negative testimony in favour of the providence and
self respect of the temperate class, application was
made for information of a more positive kind., as it
regarded the number of abstainers on the regis-
ters of the numerous teetotal societies, applying
for parochial relief, and queries were issued to the
principal temperance societies in the metropolis.
The replies received showed that out of 10,226
subscribing adult members of temperance societies
in the metropolis, 7,839 of whom were artisans or
labourers, not more than a score could be identified
as having applied for parochial relief, besides which
it is stated by several of the secretaries that not only
did the members abstain from applying for parochial
relief,but that they kept up almost without exception
their periodical payments to the respective societies.
The statements and figures adduced, Mr. Scott con-
tended, point all of them in the direction of the
conclusions that improvidence is the offspring of
intemperance and the prolific parent of pauperism,
and also that abstinence from alcoholic stimulants
promotes directly a spirit of self-reliance and self-
respect, and of respect, moreover, for the pockets of
the public.

S.PO.RTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALLS'-MONDAY.

The proximity of the great racing " festival" at York
this week was expected to prove sufficiently attractive to
induce a large attendance this afternoon ; but, as will be
gathered from the paucity of our returns, such was not
the case. The room was but thinly patronised, and those
present were most engaged in the settlement of the out.
standing accounts on the last week's racing at Egham'and
Oxford. Several attempts were made to introduce specu-
lation upon the Ebor, which for some time proved abor-
tive, but at last a blow was struck by one of the most indus-
trious offering 6 to 1 agst Lady Trespass, which was readily
taken, and her friends speedily became so numerous that
they tired the layers out, and it was with some difficulty
that 9 to 2 could be had at the finish, and she left off first
favourite, with every prospect of seeing a better price.
Bally Edmond also was in great demand towards the close,
6 to 1 being repeatedly laid to money ; 7 to 1 each was the
highest offer against Voltella, Virgilius, and Cape Flyaway,
the latter, however, was net in such good odour as he ap-
peared in the City on Saturday, his price being repeatedly
laid, with great readiness and a desire to go on. Moorcook,
from the prominent position of his stable companion, did
not appear in much demand, although during the afternoon
several stray shots were fired at 100 to 6, at which price Mr.
Merry's Sir William was trusted with " a pony." Pro-
logue appeared this morning in some force in the city at 10
and 12 to 1, but a reaction set in during the afternoon, and
she was speedily sent to the right about, as much as N to 1
being offered against her, but subsequently 33 to 1 was
booked about her.

THE ST. LEGER.—Kettledrum was in much request, his
price being freely taken in good quarters. 100 to 8 was
taken several times about Mr. Parr's colt, and 20 to 1 each
about Janus and Big Ben, the former being supported for
good money in well-informed quarters. 33 to 1 was betted
against Pagoda to a small amount.

THE DERBY.—The only wagering we heard on this
event was, 1,000 to 15 each against Lady Alice Hawthorne
and Zetland.

During the afternoon Mr. Weatherby posted a notice that
the following horses were struck out of their engagements
at York :

THE EBOR HANDICAP.—WiIdman, Sweetbread, Stock•
ade, Betts, and The Brownie.
THE CHESTERFIELD HANDICAP.—Orion.
The following is a return of the business transacted
EBOR HANDICAP.
9to 2 agst Lady Trespass (taken)
6to 1 agst Bally Edmond (taken freely)
7to 1 agst Voltella (taken)
7to 1 agst Virgilius (taken)
7to 1 agst Cape Flyaway (taken)
15 to 1 agst Moorcock (taken)
100 to 6 agst Sir William (taken)
33 to 1 agst Prologue (taken)
ST. LEGER.
2to 1 agst Kettledrum (taken)
100 to 8 agst Kildonan (taken)
20 to 1 agst Janus (taken)
20 to 1 agst Big Ben (taken)
33 to 1 agst Pagoda (taken)