The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-17 00:00:00

RELIEF OF THE POOR.

Yesterday was a remarkable day at the Thames
Police-court. The magistrates having adopted diffe-
rent systems of administering relief to the unem-
ployed and destitute population of the large
district assigned to them. Both, however,
have effected much. good. Mr. Selfe commenced
by relieving poor women whose poverty and
misery were verified by the clergy of various
denominations in the district and ' others of re-
pute known to him, and in this way he has
given temporary relief to about 700 women, princi-
pally widows, and a few men. Mr. Yardley com-
menced by relieving a few unemployed labourers
on Thursday evening last, and their numbers in-
creased daily until Tuesday, when 1,100 out of
1,500 were assisted, about 900 with ls. each, 100
with 6d. each, and another 100 with 2s. or 2s. 6d.
each. It was announced on Tuesday that women
only would be relieved on the following day, and
that only letters of verification from the clergy, or
from ladies and gentlemen known to the magistrates
would be attended to. At noon a vast number of
poor women, thinly clad, many suffering from cold
and hunger, assembled in the street. They con-
tinued to increase until 3 o'clock, when they
amounted to at least 2,000, and as they completely
blocked up Arbour-street East, directions were
given to admit them into the station-house yard,
the great gates of which were thrown open for that
purpose. About 1,000 letters were handed to Mr.
Selfe in the course of the day by the half-famished
creatures. A selection was absolutely necessary,
and the letters from tradesmen and landlords not
known to the magistrate, and not a few of whom
were suspected of recommending applicants for the
purpose of obtaining payment of debts and arrears
of rent, were thrown aside. The presence of so
much poverty and the eagerness of the poor crea-
tures to obtain some temporary assistance caused
much extra trouble to the magistrates, clerks, and
officers, and also to a large body of police from the
adjoining station-house, who were under the direc-
tion of Mr. Hayes and Mr. James Griffin, inspectors
of the K division, and performed their arduous
duties in the most praiseworthy manner. Soon
after 4 o'clock upwards of 3,000 women and about
200 men had assembled, and the scene was the
very reverse of that of Tuesday, when the men out-
numbered the women in the same proportion.
At 5 o'clock the magistrate received the shiver-
ing creatures, who had been so long waiting till
the ordinary business of the court was disposed of,
in batches of 20 and 30 each, and explained
to them that he could only relieve those provided
with letters from persons known to him. He bad
opened a thousand or more that day, and great
numbers were useless.

Mr. Selfe then relieved 300 poor women with
sums varying from ls. to ss. each, making some
inquiries of every one who entered the witness-box
of the court. The grief and anguish of those who
could not obtain anything was really painful. Mr.
Selfe, who was ably assisted by the chief usher, and
by Denny, Kent, Martin, Taplin, and Smith, officers
of the court, did not finish his arduous and humane
labours until half-past 10 o'clock at night, and ho
will recommence giving relief to those who bring
the printed forms to him properly filled up at 3
o'clock this afternoon.

Mr. Pyer, the chief clerk, was solely occupied
from 11 o'clock in the morning until 8 in the even-
ing in opening the letters containingchecks, bank-
notes, money orders, and postage stamps, and
recording the same in a book.

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