The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-03-14 00:00:00

ADJOURNED MEETING OF MAGISTRATES

The magistrates held their adjourned meeting on the state
of the Workhouse, at two o'clock on Friday last, in the
Council-chamber of the Town-ha

uirran,)
'Alton, J. Holmes, NV. RLithborie, R. Y. Yatc
H. Hamby, C. Logan, I'. Booth, R. Bern,

~3 were present

following magis-

Ivor (ci

W. Earle, R

H. Jones, A. Hodgson, C. S. Parker, S. Perceval, T. Ca e,
R. E. Harvey, W. Dixon, J. Crosthwaite, G. Turner, NV.
Potter, and R. Houghton. The Town-clerk and the Deputy
Town-clerk were also present.
The MAvoR opened the proceedings by observing the ma-
gistrates were aware that since their last meeting, Mr. Cle-
sistant poor-law commissioner, had visited Li-
verpool, and that he hal left some written instructions, for a
copy of which he (the Mayor) had applied. The original had
been sent over for the perusal of Mr. Rushton and himself;
nd they would now be laid before the magistrates.

ments, the

Mr. RUSHTON said, that before those instructions were
read, perhaps it would be well that he should deliver the few
words which he had to say upon this important and serious
business. All, or many, of them were present a month ago,
when he had the painful task to discharge of bringing this
subject fully before the magistrates. He had then the duty
imposed upon Whim of proving many very harassing details
and disagreeable facts upon the state of the great mass of the
poor who had taken refuge in the Liverpool Workhouse.
He then endeavoured to show to the justices, and he hoped
with success—at all events, if he did not succeed then he
hoped he would now—that they were the parties responsible
for the management, order, and direction, of the workhouse;
and he had hoped, up to this day, from the time when they
adjourned for a month, he should, have had it in his power to
communicate to the magistrates some more gratifying intel-
ligence than he had to give. The Mayor had alluded to Mr.
Clements : that gentleman came to Liverpool Iwo or three
days after the last meeting, and did him (Mr. Rushton) the
honour to call upon him, requesting that he would go with
him to the Workhouse. Ile had considerable reluctance
in acceeding to this invitation for this reason, that he was
not going to exercise the powers of a justice of the peace;
anti, therefore, he thought it was much better that the
assistant commissioner should go himself. Mr. Clements,
however, pressed his request so strongly that he (Mr. Rush-
ton) communicated it to Mr. Hodgson, and they went
together. Mr. Clements had inspected a considerable part '
of the building, and a great portion of the inmates, before
they arrived ; and they accompanied him through that
portion which remained to be performed. Mr. Clements
took a careful and accurate note of all the matters which fell
under his observation; both Mr. Hodgson and himself, of
course, carefully abstaining from inculcating their own views
upon him. A member of the select vestry and one of the
churchwardens were also present. Mr. Clements saw
and judged for himself. At the termination of the pro-
ceedings they went into the board-room, and Mr. Cle-
ments did him the honour to ask him what he wished
to be done. He told him that from th© state of the
building he knew nothing effectual could be done at that
moment, but that much might be done in the way of
elevating the different officers, and alleviating the miseries
which the inhabitants had endured under the present system ;
above all, he asked, in the first place, that the lunatics should
be removed, and that lie (the assistant commissioner) should
make an order on the part of the poor law commissioners,
that no lunatic should ever be brought there again. That
was the only point on which Mr. Clements expressed a strong
opinion ; but he did give an opinion which led, in a day or
two, to the entire removal of all the lunatics in the Liverpool
.Workhouse ; and that was the only real piece of good which
had resulted. Part of them—those who could sustain the
journey—had been sent to Lancaster, and the others had
been taken to the Liverpool Asylum over the way, where they
ought to have been taken before. Mr. Hodgson and him-
self (Mr. Rushton) then left Mr. Clements speaking with
the parochial authorities. Since that titne various persons—
he might mention that some of them had been official cha-
racters—and among them, Mr. Nightingale, had written let-
ters to the public papers. Mr. Nightingale had written a
letter, in which he seemed to throw some doubt upon many
of the statements which he (Mr. Rushton) had the honour
to lay before the magistrates at their last meeting, and which
the magistrates believe he had amply proved. Now it was
a curious matter that within a few days afterwards Mr.
Nightingale himself had gone before the magistrates, and
given evidence against a woman of the most disorderly cha-
racter, who had been associating with decent people, and
lie then, before himself (Mr. Rushton) and the magistrate
who sat with him, proved that that very woman had
been uttering the most obscene and blasphemous lan-
guage, so that it was impossible that any decent person
could reside with her ; and upon the testimony of that very
Mr. Nightingale, he (Mr. Rushton) had sent the woman to
gaol for 21 days. This sufficiently disposed of that part of
the charge, which also was the strongest he had made, upon
the management of the workhouse. Within a few days of
the present time, fise pauper girls, or rather women, had
been brought before the magistrates for a repetition of the
disorderly conduct which first drew the attention of the ma-
gistrates to the workhouse. These women had sealed two
walls, the one 20 feet high, and the other 22 feet high, in
order to get inta the men's ward. It appeared on that occa-
sion that only three additional female assistants had been
employed since he had produced the proofs of the necessity of
full and competent female officers, and that one paid officer
only was placed over fifty-five of the worst -women ever
assembled within the walls. It appeared, upon that occa-
sion, that that woman had been obliged to go to the relief of
another officer, and during that period this scene of disorder
occurred; and of course he (Mr. Rushton) had but one
feeling for them, which was, to do his duty. Here, again, he
felt,the greatest pain and difficulty, and it was a practical
difficifity which he felt, because the Inspector of Prisons had
decided that the gaol was fit to accommodate only 450 pri-
soners ; it contained to-day 717 ; and it was intolerable that
the magistrates should be called upon, day by day, to punish
disorderly paupers, who would not have been guilty of that
disorder if proper officers had been employed at the time the
last investigation took place. He knew, indeed, of nothing
done, save the removal of lunatics, which had given, or couid
give, satisfaction to the magistrates; for he believed, with
that exception, the workhouse was, to all intents and pur-
poses, in the same state as it was,—there was the same in-
discriminate mixture, the same want of classification, and, lie
was afraid, the same wrong and misery. It was not, how-
ever, his intention to recapitulate them, for they must be
fresh in the recollection of every gentleman who had been
either present or who had the report of the proceedings at the
last meeting; but it was his.intention to show that this work-
house was still under their charge. It might be necessary to
tell some gentlemen that the parochial authorities of Liver-
pool had sought for and obtained an act of parliament to give
in some measure more stringent legal powers to the Select
Vestry—that the Board of Guardians should no longer exist,
that the county justices who were ex officio members [of the
Board of Guardians] shdUld no longer be so, and other pro-
visions ; but that act still contained this important clause
[Mr. Rushton here read this clause, which was to the effect
that the Poor Law Commissioners should have, exercise, and
perform all the same rights, powers, privileges, authority,
and immunities as were given to the guardians]. So that.
call them what you might, the Poor Law Commissioners had
supreme authority over their (the vestry's) proceedings, and
they had power to make rules for the government and direc-
tion of the poor law authorities in the whole of their admi-
nistrative duties, and they had power to make regulations for
the government of the workhouse. Now, if these regulations
were applied to the Liverpool workhouse, he would undertake
to say, that profligacy and wickedness would be effectually
restrained, and the virtuous pauper—made a pauper by
the unfortunate necessities and casualties which might be-
fall any of us—would have a comfortable existence, un-
polluted by any association with the vicious and the
depraved. These orders the magistrates would find in the
appendix to the poor law acts, given in the common
edition of Burn's Justice. Mr. Rushton then read these or-
ders which related altogether to classification, after which he
observed that they afforded to aged paupers a great provision
for the comfort and enjoyment of the remainder of their
lives, and certainly a great protection for those who were
driven by misfortune to seek a temporary shelter in the work-
house. But no rules, orders, and regulations had been issued
by the Poor Law Commissioners for the government of the
Liverpool Workhouse. Ile (Mr. Rushton) had heard that
Mr. Clements upon his visit had communicated to the paro-
chial authorities certain rules, orders, and regulations; and
under that impression he requested the mayor to apply to the
churchwardens and select vestry for a copy of the document.
There was some little difficulty made about it, but eventually
it was obtained, and it now lay before the justices. He was,
however, disappointed to find that it contained not " rules,
orders, and regulations" by the assistant commissioner ; and
his disappoinirnent arose from this, that if these " recommen-
dations, the remedy, as well as the responsibility for their
non-fulfilment, lay with the magistrates, by the a3d section
of the act. (Mr. Rushton here read this clause.) The pe-
nalties were given by the 98th section ; they were very strin-
gent, and he would show how the magistrates could apply
them. (Mr. Rushton read this section, from which it ap-
peared
that if any person wilfully disobeyed the rules and
orders of the commissioners, on being convicted before two
justices they are liable for the first offence to a penalty of
£5, for the second £2O, and for the third liable to
indictment for a misdemeanour). Theism-, therefore, armed
the magistrates with full and stringent authority; and all
which was required in order to enforce this provision was,
that those who had the permanent direction of workhouses
should make such " rules, orders, and regulations," as should
not make the office of justice of the peace, with regard to
workhouses, a sinecure, and prevent the justices from reme-
dying the abuses which they did not find to exist. He ought
to say, too, there was another power which the justices had,
under the 30th George 111., the justices were empowered to
visit the workhouses within their jurisdiction, and to report
the state of those workhouses to the Quarter Sessions. That
authority was originally given only to Justices of the county,
but it had been extended, by one of the clauses in the act he
had just read from, which not only gave power to the justices
to inspect workhouses, but the "rules, orders, and regula-
tions" of the poor law commissioners, were to be enforced ;
so that in fact they had two acts—one that the poor law com-
missioners were to make rules, orders, and regulations ; and
another,that;the state of the workhouse was to be certified by the
justices to the quarter sessions, who had power to make the re-
medy. He did not contemplate that the poorlaw comtnissioners
would hesitate for one moment as to what course they ought
to take when these evils were fully pointed out to them, and
therefore he did not contemplate at present any certificate to
the quarter session, because it was a rule—he did not say rule,
for that was not the proper term—but it was a machinery
which would hardly work for this purpose. Under the mu-
nicipal act all the powers which the justices exercised at
quarter sessions were in the Recorder, and if they imposed
upon the Recorder the remedy, in detail, of all those mani-
fold wrongs which required remedy, there would be no end
to his labour. He therefore did not contemplate, except in
the last extremity, an appeal to the quarter sessions ; and
then he should only contemplate it, not because he expected
any practical good from it, but because then the justices
would have discharged all their powers and duties, and the
responsibility would no longer rest with them. To shew the
necessity for proceeding in this matter, and not allowing
anything to divert them from it, he might mention that if
this disorder went on as it had for the last year, they would
have 117 persons, in all probability, sent from the workhouse
to the borough gaol in one year, Between the Ist of January
and the 30th September, 1842, seventy persons had been
committed to the borough gaol for disorderly conduct in the
workhouse. These two facts spoke volumes as to the want
of proper classification. He knew what the answer to them
emompleony,inthgatte o
couldg o
was ; he knew it was said, " We have active pauper women
to superintend the inmates ; " but he replied that active
pauper women were totally inadequate; they had none of
that moral influence which was the best means of governiog
' such a community • they could not exercise that influence,
for they were of the paupers, and they were divested, by
their situation, of all proper authority ; and it was only by
twelvent,
gi
bey
o van. esor
anticipated y
t oeci
temporary
More than
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ttavehnered,m onnt
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t whilst intelligent
gf
atte
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eoet
women,
oew workhouse—andbuildings were
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opurchasedadio
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upon
iplott a juvenile
ooi groundle workhouse
i n Kirk-
dale, i rk -
otEtirwr
school. The money was borrowed, interest had been paid
upon it, but not a brick was yet laid in the ground ; the plans
had been ready more than a year, yet nothing was done
0; and
this the justices,order
whichw hi which
gave
ee
twhoeul d
sanctionre (1
he held in his hand an order, by the
commissioners.s s i n e t• s
January,
8w412,..h31 n
Rushton then
ntroepatodhne new building, and directed it to be coolie
months from its date, which was the 20th Jantip
It
be served simultaneously upon the parochial authorities was stipulated by the act of parliament that all orders should
justices' clerk ; and the parochial authorities were ()rides and
nothing
rectsed to obey it, and next the justices. Yet
done! Under that order nothing had been done ! Landm g wlhads
been bought, plalls had been obtained, but no practical steps

had been taken ! If that school had been bnfit, a vast space
would have been taken, which might have been applied much
sooner than it could be now applied to the relief of the pre-
sent building. He mentioned this to show that it was ne-
cessary for the justices to exercise a vigilant controul and
inspection until the whole matter had been set right. What
the precise nature of the new building in Kirkdale might be
did not pretend to know; it was sufficient for him to know
that, when erected, it would accommodate hundreds of chil-
dren who were now in different places—and they could not
be removed there without liberating a vast space, which
inig,ht be appropriated in the existing building. But, at the same
time, it was quite clear to him that the buildings themselves
were inadequate to the reception, under the new poor-law,
of the poor who should come in them. If the poor-law bill
were administered in Liverpool—and he had long given an
opinion that it never could be stringently administered here
—its provisions could never be applied to such a population
as we had, without building a workhouse to contain a com-
munity large enough for a town. He believed that the ad-
ministration of the workhouse test in Liverpool would re-
quire a workhouse to contain as least 5000 people ; therefore,
he said it was impossible to work it here; but if it were
worked in any modified form or shape, it was quite clear that
the justices must exercise a perfect and vigilant coutroul over
the rules, orders, and regulations of the poor-law commis-
sioners. He wished it to be understood that he did not

attribute any blame to the parochial authorities for the delay
in the directio❑ of the schools. Mr. Houghton had sug-
gested to him, that there had been some dispute about the
pla6es, that the places had only receutly been finally approved
by the poor-law commissioners. All he (Mr. Rushton)
knew was, that an order of their own had been sent down
more than twelve months' ago, that not a brick was yet in
the ground, and that the justices had had no subsequent
order suspending the operation of that which was before
them.

Mr. EARLE.---I can explain that.
Mr. RUSHTON, resumed. He was strongly inclined to say
nothing about those matters the details of which he had
given upon the former occasion : but as to one or two things
about himself, if the meeting would permit him, he would
say a sentence or two. He had been attacked in the public
prints for the course he had taken with respect to this mat-
ter. That he cared nothing about, every man who meddled
with, or took a share in public business must make up his
mind to be exposed in a free country like this to the fair and
proper criticism of persons conducting the public press, and
he was the last person in the world to shrink from its obser-
vation or to complain at all ; hut in one or more papers,
the Liverpool Courier there was an assertion so false that he
felt it his duty to assure the magistrates of that fact. That
paper, on The very day after Mr. Hodgson and himself had
communicated with Mr. Clements, stated in an editorial
article that he was a member of the select vestry twenty
years ago, and that although he knew of these abuses he
had never thought proper to mentiou them—that as a fact
he had connived at these disorders—that he had neglected
his duty in bringing them to exposure then and insinuated
that he had done so now simply because the majority of the
select vestry were gentlemen of conservative principles.
Now, he felt that that imputation upon him was false—that
it was most injurious ; and it was the only one he thought it
his duty to give his proper and distinct contradiction to.
Having said so much he begged that the recommendations of
Mr. Clements, and the letter from the churchwarden to the
Mayor might be read : after which he should have the
honour to submit three or four resolutions to the considera-
tions of the justices.
The TOWN-CLERK then read a letter to the Mayor, .signed
" Wm. Birkett and R. W. Houghton, churchwardens," in-
closing Mr. Clement's communication. They stated that
they at first felt great difficulty in complying with the request
of the Mayor to allow Mr. Clements' instruction to be placed
in his hands, for the consideration of his brother magistrates,
in consequence of a regulation of the select vestry. On fur-
ther consideration, however, they had come to the conclu-
sion that the magistrates and select vestry could have but
one object in view, and they therefore placed the document
in his worship's hands, requesting, as it was the original
document, it should be returned. Mr. Clements' document
was then read. It was entitled " Memorandums of sugges-
tions for the permanent improvement and temporary amend-
ment of the Liverpool Workhouse." The suggestions were
ranged under separate heads. The first recommended the
appointment of an architect for making the necessary altera-
tions in the workhouse, so as to preserve a proper classifica-
tion of the inmates. The second recommended arrange-
ments for old and infirm men, able-bodied paupers, old and
infirm women, and able-bodied women. This classification
also contained suggestions respecting the sick, and for the
management of the probationary wards. Third classification
contained regulations for fffreen classes of paupers, and re-
commended distinct airing-ground and other conveniences.
Fourth recommended proper provision to be made for old
and infirm people. Fifth, rooms for old and infirm men and
women, and that no class be on the ground•floor. Nos. 6,
7,8, 9, and 10 recommended various plans to be adopted for
the better maintaining of cleanliness and securing the com-
forts of the inmates. No. 11, that provision should be made
for all ehildren above the age of maturity by the erection of
an industrial school. Under the head of " Temporary
Amendments," the document recommended improvement in
the system of management, in which were included all the
officers of the establishment. No. 16 recommended arrange-
ments to be made for placing Lefractory paupers in cells.
No. 17, additional conveniences to be made to each area ad-
joining the chapel. No. 18 recommends a permanent over-
looker to the quadrangle. No. 19 contains regulations
respecting uniformity of dress for the paupers. No. 20,
single beds to be provided for men and grown-up boys.
No. 21 recommended the distribution of paupers throughout
the house to be revised, with a view to reduce the number in
such wards as may be over-crowded, and render classification
as complete as circumstances will admit.
Mr. RustiToN then said that if these recommendations
were adopted as " rules, orders, and regulations," much of
that now complained of would be remedied upon the instant.
He then moved the series of resolutions which appear in out
advertising columns, to which the reader is referred.
Mr. A. HODGSON seconded the resolutions.
A discussion followed of considerable length, in which
Messrs. HARVEY, EARLE, CASE and AIKIN took part ;
after which the resolutions were unanimously adopted.

THE HIBERNIAN SOCIETIES.
The subject of party processions was then discussed at
some length. in consequence of an intimation from the Hiber-
nian Society that they intended to walk on St. Patrick's Day.
T2e conduct of the Welsh, the Orangen:, a, nnd the ship-
carpenters, in yielding to the wishes of the magistrates, was
warmly eulogised; and it was resolved to enforce the regula-
tion adopted by the magistrates on the 2nd of July, 1842, for
the suppression of these processions, as havil:!; a tendency to
endanger the public peace. The meeting was adjourned to
that day month, unless the mayor should see fit to summon
the magistrates at an earlier period. These resolutions will
also be found advertised.