The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-03-24
SCENES In ENGLAND

Mn EpIroR:-The sketch of scenes in London.
IN the last Cnlcdonan, presents appalling amount
Of suffering, which can hardly he credited by in
habitant Of this land Of equality and penty;a nd many
may suppose the "scenes peculiar that great city.
But the following sketch by correspondent of the
N Y. Journal Of Commerce, Of the condition OF the
Rural districts OF England EXHIBITS picture not less
mournruI Could the condition of tho great mass of
the people OF England be presented in its colors
the inhabitants of this country. the voice of discon
tent would be hushed and should bless God, that
the demands of nature, easttean be satisfied and
though all may not enjoy in equal degree the lux
uTies of life, yet all, with industry, and tenn
perate habits, obtain enough 10 be comfortable.
j.
"And here I may as well mention that the state of
the agricultural laborers hrou ghou ofthe finest
counties in England is most deporabe. They are in
hundreds, ut particular places, without work, and
refusing receive the relief Of parish poor house
Their condition is frightfuly pitiable than any
thing that almost morbid imagination can depict, for
those with families who get work are enabled TO
aiso only fou six, seven or eight shings per week,
and the MINORITY who procure employ must
either submit 10 go into the workhouse--ihe Union
Workhouse-a word OF bitter derision-there TO be
separated from wife and children, else subsist up
crime in its varied form of arcenies Of urnips,po-
atoes ngots and d reonies of incendiaism, ponehr
ing and murder. '
place the two last together, and a sequence,
because unhappy, the one is but too frequently fol-
lowed by the other. Look at your file of London pa
pers for the past eek, and you will there q
dreadful of recent date. Twenty ponchers, at a
place called Croome, in Woccstershise attacked Ave
gnmekeepers, say ono and slugged the others -
What could have driven those twenty men TO have
hnzarded their liberty for years. and their lives,
but the hunger Of their wives, the starving cries OF
their little ones, and the. utter destituton,
recklessness, and despair. Ia man, who deserves
to be named ms man, 10 let his children perish with
hunger, allow the wife This bosom TO famsh, whilst
tho wild bird flies within shot before him, the ferR
nature pass the muzze Of his gun? Is he to know
that within dozen yards of his dwelling The denzens
of the air may in quiet whilst his wife has ceas-
ed tactical drnughts to her babe for want ofood and
that the hares and rabbits in myrads, field off,
when he himself has the least chance Of getting
farthing for months? repeat it, is he to be aware
OF all these things, facts and realities, and yet NOT TO
be permitted 10 do natnre's work, and, will add,
Gods design TO s'commund the birds of tho air and
the beasts of field? OH The scene here,just now
to those who think and feel is frightul, and makes
them look forward the day of mans retribudoa by
man, as one of the most awful but just judgments Of
indignant Deity ..l.. .-.l-3
In the London Times OF the 3lst ult., you will find
a long leading article dwelling with just sevesity,up-
on horrible OF death by"the inolemency Of the
weather" poor country laborcr cannot procure
work where his wife and children resides, he there
fore starts upon the tramp with the hope of finding it
elsewhere. In doing so he is, of necessity. compeA-
ed to leave his pEtner the infants behind who take
refuge in the poor house Alter enduring great hard
ships he returns without success and hope and final
ly seeks shelter where his family are inmates, The
officials Immediately give him into custody for. de-
sertng his wife and family, he is taken before JUS
tice and committed to hard labor for two months
The surgeon f,he juil finds him suffering from dis
case of the heart, and relieves the unhappy wretch
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