The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-26 00:00:00

CHRISTMAS-DAY in the WORKHOUSES.
Yesterday being Christmas-day, the poor in the
various metropolitan and suburban workhouses were
regaled with an extra allowance, in accordance with
the decisions of the respective boards of guardians,
whilst the out-door poor in many instances received
additional assistance in money and kind, so as to enable
them to participate in the enjoyments and festivities
of the season.
The following report will be found to contain not
only a succinct detail of the Christmas-day fare
allowed by the guardians of the respective parishes
and unions to the poor inmates of the workhouses,
but it shows the number in each, distinguishing the
adults from the children, as well as the sexes of the
inmates, compared with the number in those esta-
blishments at the corresponding period last year; as
also (where the returns could be obtained) the number
of out-door poor. The gross number is summed
up at the end of each report, with other interesting
particulars.
ST. MARYLEBONE.-Inmates of the workhouse and
infirmary, Christmas-day, 1850, 1,741 (last Christ-
mas day the numbers' were 1,989, and in 1848 no
less a number than 2,222), viz , males, 697 ; females,
1,044; of infants under two years of age, there are
99. In infant school, 60. In the boys' school, 159;
in girls' school, 152. The Christmas day fare is tills.
of roast beef (free from bone), We. plum pudding,
1 pint of porter, with bread, potatoes, and other
vegetables, with loz. of tea and ilb. of sugar extra
to each adult. The adults who used it were provided
with tobacco and snuff, and the children regaled in
the evening with oranges, nuts, sweetmeats, &c., pro-
vided for by a subscription amongst the guardians.
The Christmas pudding for the inmates of this large
establishment consists of upwards of two sacks of
flour, one quarter of a ton of fruit, together with suet,
lemon peel, spices, &c. in proportion. The guardians
attended Divine service in the chapel, and were pre-
sent, with a large number of ladies and gentlemen, to
see the inmates sit down to their substantial dinner.
The number of out-door poor this year is 4,731,
being in the ratio of 1 in 22, as compared with the
population of Marylebone. Last year the number of
out-door poor in this parish was 6,500, and at Christ-
mas 1848, as many as 7,280. Gross number at pre-
sent receiving relief, 6,472. Total receiving relief
last year, 8,489. Thus it will be seen that there is,
as compared with last year in this parish, a decrease
in the in-door poor of 248, and in the out-door poor of
no less than 1,769. Total decrease of pauperism in
Marylebone, and a consequent reduction in the rates
of upwards of one shilling in the pound, 2,017.
ST. PANCRAS.-Inmates of the workhouse, 1,350
(last Christmas-day 1,320) ; adult males, 440 ;
females, 650 ; children, 260. The inmates were re-
galed with alb. of roast beef, free from bone, with 1
pint of porter, bread and vegetables, to each adult,
with an extra allowance of tea, sugar, &c.; 251bs. of
tobacco has been provided for those who smoke, and
snuff for those who like to take it. The children
were fed at discretion, and partook of fruit and sweet-
meats in the afternoon. The financial condition of
this parish has, under the new management, adopted
within the last two or three years, flourished in a most
extraordinary manner, the principle now adopted
being the abolition, except at the option of applicants
for relief, of the workhouse list and a more extended
principle of out-door relief. As a:proof of the success
of this principle, although the authorities have had to
pay 5,0001. or 6,0001. for the erection of a splendid in-
dustrial training school fur boys during the year,
and have reduced the rates from 16d. to lid.
in the pound, they have a rest of upwards of
7,0001. at their bankers, and there is a probability of
the rates being reduced another penny or twopence
in the pound. The diminution of pauperism has
evidently in this instance resulted from the improved
state of trade. A large number of ladies and gentle-
men and ratepayers, as well as the guardians, at-
tended to see the Christmas fare distributed at the
workhouse. The pudding was pronounced excellent;
and the children, who had tastefully decorated their
hall in the industrial training shoo' with mottoes and
evergreens, sang some very pretty and appropriate
pieces of music. The whole arrangements reflect the
highest credit on the authorities and on Mr. and Mrs.
Eaton, the master and matron of the establishment.
Out-door poor, 5,000 (last year, 7,054); increase of
in-door poor, 30 ; decrease of out-door poor, 2,054.
Sr. JAMES'S, WESTMINSTER.-Inmates of work-
house, Poland-street, 596 (last year, 700); viz., men,
187 ; women, 327 ; boys, 60 ; girls, 13 ; infants, 9.
The whole of the inmates regaled with roast beef,
baked potatoes, and plum pudding, and every person
above the age of sixteen one pint of porter in addition
to what they usually have. The children to have tea
and bread and butter at five o'clock ; and on boxing-
day to have buns, apples, and oranges, &c. Oat-door
poor about 600 (last year 700). Decrease of in-door
poor, 104, and out-door poor 100. Total decrease,
204. Total receiving relief, 1,196.
Sr. MART ABBOT'S, KENSINGTON.-Inmates, 263
(last Christmas, 313). Males, 72; females, 115 ;
children, 76. Fare-Half a pound of roast beef of
the best quality, one pound of baked potatoes, three
quarters of a pound of plum pudding, and one pint of
Barclay's porter. Out-door poor, 900 (last year
1,481). From what fund this number of poor is sup-
ported is a mystery, for the master of the workhouse
" is happy to state at the present time there is no need
of a poor-rate in Kensington." Decrease of in-door
poor, 50 ; and of out-door, 581. Total decrease, 631.
ST. MARY, ISLINGTON.-In this parish, in which
there is at present a spirited contest going on, result-
ing from mismanagement, not only with regardto the
poor but in every other department, and where at
this moment the authorities are endeavouring to fix
upon the ratepayers a rate of no less than 3s. Bd. in
the pound, the number of poor in the workhouse is
360 (last Christmas the number was 420 ; viz., males,
132 ; females, 216 ; children, 12). In addition to
which there are 90 boys and girls at the Islington
Infant Establishment, Park-house, Hackney (last year
there were 120 children at the latter establishment) ;
thus showing a decrease in the children's department
of 30, and in the workhouse, 60. The Christmas-
day fare is 6oz. of roast beef, free from bone, with
bread and potatoes, lib. of boiledi plum-pudding and
1 pint of London porter. The number of out-door
poor is under 1,000. Total decrease of pauperism, as
compared with this period last year, 90.
ST. MART, LAMBETEL-The inmates of the work-
house of this extensive parish amount this year to
935, viz., men, 380 ; women, 494 ; boys, 34 ; girls,
27. Last Christmas the number was 1,028 ; men,
424 ;. women, 526 ; boys, 39 ; girls, 39. In the pa-
rochial establishment, belonging to the parish at Nor-
wood, the children amount at present to 4g4 (in
1849 they were 494), thus showing a decrease in the
workhouse establishment of 93, and in the infant es-
tablishment of 40. Christmas fare-6oz. of baked
beef free from bone, with baked potatoes, lib. of
boiled plum-pudding, and 1 pint of porter, with 1
pint of tea morning and evening for all. Number
of out-door poor this Christmas, 4,543 (last Christ-
mas, 5,773, the decrease of in -door poor, 133 ; decrease
of out-door poor, 1,230. Total decrease of pau-
perism in Lambeth, as compared with last year, 1,363.
ST. MART, NEWINGTON.-Inmates of the work-
house (this Christmas), 374 :- viz., men, 148,
women, 190 ; boys, 17; girls, 19 (last year there
were men, 144 ; women, 191 ; boys, 16 ; girls, 13 ;
total, 364). The Christmas-day fare for adults is-
roast beef; baked potatoes, plum-pudding, and 1 pint
of Huggins and Co.'s porter for dinner. In the
afternoon each adult will receive 1 ounce of tea, 8
ounces of sugar, and 6 ounces of butter ; to all who
smoke, an ounce of tobacco and a pipe ; and to those
who take snuff, a like quantity of that article. The
children in the workhouse have the same fare, with
tea in the afternoon. There are also 160 children at
Grove-hall establishment, Brixton-hill (Drouett's),
regaled at the expense of the parish with roast beef
plum-pudding, porter, fruit, &c. (last year the num-
bers were 180). These children are at present farmed
out, but in the early part of the ensuing spring they
will be removed to the newly-erected infant schools
on Walworth -common (situate in the parish), and
erected to contain 300 children. The present number
of out-door relieved adults, exclusive of children de-
pendent on them, is 1,240. There is a decrease on
in-door poor of 10, and on out-door poor of 188 ;
total decrease, 198.
ST. MART, ROTIIERHITHE.- Inmates of work-
house, 226 :-viz., males, 71 ; females, 96; children,
59 (last year, males, 72 ; females, 107 ; children, 71 ;
total, 250). The adults regaled with roast beef,
plum pudding, and 1 pint of ale each, with potatoes,
none weighed on that day. The children at discre-
tion. Tobacco and snuff for adults, oranges and
apples for children. The number of out-door poor
not stated, bat they receive no extra allowance.
Decrease of inmates as compared with last Christ-
man, 24.
ST. GILES'S, CAMBERWELL--411mates of work-
house, 400 :-viz., men, 107 ; women,ls6 ; children,
147 (last year, men, 105 ; women, 155 ; children,
139 ; total, 389). Christmas fare to inmates over 16
years of age-Boz. of roast beef, 11b. potatoes, 11b.
plum pudding, 1 pint of porter ; inmates under 16-
2oz. of meat and pudding less. For supper-tea,
bread and butter, to every inmate, and, by the kind-
ness of the guardians, snuff, tobacco, oranges, and
nuts in addition. Out-door poor, 1849-men, 431 ;
women, 865 ; children, 1,218 ; total, 2,504. Out-
door poor, 1850-men, 407 ; women, 729 ; children,
1,203 ; total, 2,339. Increase of in-door poor, 11 ;
der se of out-door poor, 175 ; total decrease, 164.
.„eritillata,LoesoN UNION.-The number of adult
jeopel-Tite-Ae new and splendid establishment, Bow-
j' toast bout 50 children, is this Christmas
‘."-.Bsolo.aster -710 adults). The children belonging
to.nnio inga go placed at the Central London Dis-
trieteSch! o,'",(Aubin's), Westow-hill, Norwood,
Cossetting: 1af4,000, of which number 250 be-
,le;lonfict Ist ;fleet city of London. The Christmas
-fare beef, plum pudding, and a pint
'oetr -alai adult, and the children at Nor-
usual fare given at that establishment,
where all the children belong to the City of London