Star.
London, England, 1821-01-06 00:00:00

LIO USELESS POOR.

This excellent Charity is now in full operation.—
On Thursday night 180 individuals partook of its
benefits, and last night the number was rapidly in-
creasing. Two other receptacles will be opened so
soon as suitable premises can be obtained. The ex-
ertions of the Committee are unremitting, and a ro-
tation of attendance has been adopted, which ensures
the presence of a certain number of the Members
every night. The duty devolving on these indivi-
duals is to superintend the admission of applicants,
and it generally occupies them until past midnight.
There has also been a perambulation through. the
City by some of the Committee, who presented a
very interesting Report as to the state of the streets
at present ; and the immense benefits arising from
this association are universally felt and admitted.
MA NSION•4IOIUSE.-.4IOUBELESS Poo*.—Yesterday
Ferguson, the seafaring man, who the day before ap-
peared before the LORD MAYOR against the Jew, who
robbed his friend at Liverpool, and whose case was
stated to the Committee of the " Houseless Poor,"
attended at the Mansion-House, to express his thanks
to the LORD MAYOR, for his Lordship's humane in-
terference with the Committee.
It seems that, on Thursday, Sir C. Hurrign had
waited upon the Committee, of which he is a Mem-
ber, with the recommendation of his Lordship that
the case of Ferguson should undergo examination,
and that the small sum of money necessary to defray
the expenses of the unfortunate man back to Liver-
pool, should be advanced by the Treasurer.
Sir C. HUNTER, after having, with all due cere-
mony, introduced the subject, and • stated the Lord
Mayor's recommendation, returned to the Mansion-
House, and expressed his deep regret, and that of the
rest of the Committee, that the case of necessity to
which their attention had been called did not come
within the class of misfortunes to which their funds
were applicable, and that OR this ground the Com-
mittee found it incumbent upon them to withhold
the means of relief recommended by the Lord Mayor.
The Loan MAYOR said, it was scarcely worth
while to make so much fuss about the sum of thirty
shillings, which would be sufficient to bear the ex-
peases of the poor man. It was not without pain that
he observed the Ccsanntittee were now so completely
governed by forms, as to disregard a case which cer-
tainly had as strong a claim upon a Society profess-
ing " to do good to the stranger," as any that had
been brought before them. His Lordship asked Fergu-
son whether the Committee had given him anything ?.
Ferguson said, they expressed sorrow at the unfor-
tunate situation to s.hich he was reduced, but had
given him nothing. Mr. Campbell, the Chairman,
had cei tainly given him 625. 6d. but that Gentleman
at the same time stated, that the money was from
his private purse.
The LORD MAYOX—P There were occasions last
year, on which the Committee then sitting adminis-
tered relief to persons who could not make out such
a claim as that which has been rejected. They have
considerable funds, and can have more, if they think
proper to solicit the Public ; and certainly the appli-
cation of nit-,ney advanced so freely by the Public,
cannot be better administered than for the relief of
thoe who fall into unforeseen and unavoidable cala-
mity. To the Public it is that an account must be
rendered of the disposal of the funds: and if the
Committee should overstep the bounds set down by
themselves, when a great object presents itself, that
Public will scarcely reprove, as an error, an act
which had its origin in the very best feelings."
Ferguson said, that he should be enabled, soon
after his arrival at Liverpool, to remit whatever sum
the Committee might have thought proper to ad-
vance to him.

The LORD MAYOR observed, that there were con-
stantly men upon the Committee of very great dis-
cernment and discretion, but he could not help re-
gretting much, that a little of the feeling which in-
duced them last year to extend the bounty of the
Public to persons whose cases were not exactly within
the pale of their regulations, did not exist this winter.
The case of Ferguson was of an affecting nature.—
The Committee bad certainly offered to accommo-
date him with lodging and a meal ; but what must
he the consequence of their refusal to aid him in any
other way? Their regulations prevented them from
giving much more than a nights entertainment ; of
course the poor man must go Into the streets and beg,
and perhaps perish ; for if the Committee adhered to
their arrangements, they could not admit a man
more frequently than a night or two, whatever might
he the state of misery to which he should be reduced.
The LORD MAYOR could have easily obtained a
subscription in the Justice-Room from those who
heard the case, but his Lordship preferred the alter-
native of supplying the applicant from his own funds.
Mr. Wontner, the Marshal, suggested to his Lord-
ship the propriety of permitting the applicant to re-
main under the protection of Mr. Teague, the bene-
volent Keeper of the Compeer, until the arrival of the
police officers from Liverpool, as Ferguson would pro-
bably be entitled to a part of the reward for appre-
hending Woolf.
Those suggestions were immediately adopted, and
Ferguson w as very grateful for the treatment he had
experienced at the hands of his Lordship.