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    "W§t <&*n2rittou x>f 3?«c$anfc 11 L&to grira the poor, and llch men rale the la 1 © i'

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    "W§T ≪&*N2rittou X≫F 3?«C$Anfc 11 L&To Grira The Poor, And Llch Men Rale The La 1 © I'

    " W § t < & * n 2 rittou x > f 3 ?« c $ anfc 11 L&to grira the poor , and llch men rale the la © i '

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    DESTITUTION IS TK £ METROPOLIS . On Sunday evenirg , a psor half-famished and halfclad ¦ woman , accompanied by three children , was observed tottering to the gate cf the Royal Free HospifcJ , id the Gray ' s Inn Road , -where she most earnestly iu--plored to be admitted . Her case -was immediately investigated , "when It ^ ras discovered that hanger alone was the cssse of ier illness . Temporary ' relief was immediately afforded , and the xuserabie family were at once directed za the Refuge . Scarcely a day passes bat a similar scene occurs at the Free Hospital , and illness is HmuLted for the purpose of putlripating in the bentfiia and comforts of this noble institution . The diseased and sick pc-CT , however , already fill Ihe sraflable "wards of tMs eBtabli < haiHit , while the increasing numbers of ont-door sick and diseased already on the boots , renders the utmost caution necessary . To ihe Editor of the Times . Sib ., —You have in some recent articles expressed tout strung feeling that the relief ¦ which ia now often con-Teje 3 to eases of distress through other channels , might be more naturally and efficiently admkdsUr ^ d throngb the parochisl « leixy . As the incumbent of a parish of above 34 , 000 souls , in iaeGfuie poorest and most crowded quarters of the inetTupclis ( a parish not a mile in length in any parti , 1 let ! it to "be a &uty both to myself and m % bretberen srsund , vrhoire similarly circumstanced -with ni y- -elf , to mates simple statement of the distress by which 1 am at sH times ibut especially in the -winter seaacn ) snrrounucd . and cf the endeavours ms . de ( through ¦ with m ^ -T imiScquste sad irsuSieierit means ) tc leliere that ieiress , A i-irga portion of our population , and 1 should judge alsf of this eastern qc ^ rtfcr of London gene :. illy , co .-sisU o £ those poor men , aad thtii faml . ies , who have bten drawn , together to tMs part , not only from otLer districts of tfee metropolis , but even from the country and from Ireland , in tie hope of obtaining employment at ihe various docks in the neighbourhood . At the gates of each of those docks hundreds of poor men may be seen , before d 3 ybreat in tie winter , ¦ waiting ibr the OTjeaing of Ihe gates in the hope -of obtaining a day's

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    \ f ori ; and when the youngest and most able-bodied and thosa best fcno'STO fcsve bean taken , hundreds EtUl may be seen returning to their destitute families "with that " sickness of the heart" ¦ which arises from "hopa deferred . ™ In £ uch a neighbour hood it Is neetilesa to say that distress must abound : hunger and icstfficlent food of . hemselves create disease ; and the cumber of sirk , -who sll appTy to tfce minister of the par > h to be Tisited , ia Teiy large . These to the utmost cf our poircz are Tiolud . I rnhjotn some cases eot oe our hands as a rumple of those which are contixrually

    occurring . A young woman dying of consumption , having just loss her ycur ^ tst chila , is ccmpeHvd to get up in a dying state to ruise her husband , ¦ who has come hems 'with inflammation of tke lungs , and has held up for his wile anil chiidrtu ' s sais till the disease has gained great wsy . Sh 9 nurs <~ s him day and ni ght for ten days , at the end of which hs dies {~ &s trust prepared ) , snd she is left -srith two youcg children , -without any means ef support whatever , excepting such as hsr parish csn afford to allow her , and ehe can earn by fasr needle .

    An aged -snaow , between Beventy and eighty years o % ' fi . who in consequence of having broken first her t iSgh , and afterwards her collar-bone , is confined hopelessly to htr bed . She occupies a smsli , damp room , one-third part of which is filled up by the . one bed Trhich sfce ~ and her only daughter <*? 50 a widow ) and her grani-daughter sleep in ^ anoti-Er third by a mangla A Eister , tfLo used to assist her s -irtle , is now dead , leaving hsr entirely dependent 03 -srhat her daughter em earn by her needle and mangle , and any little help we can throw in .

    A respectable poor woman , eo ^ Sccd her bed dangerously ill ; her husbard suEciently iscoTered to leave a hospital , but not trell escngh yet to do anything towards their support , fent only able to nose his sick wife . To these , and such cases * s these , we are compelled to conSse our attention , both for tTast of "time and ttar . s ; And j > o rssny sre these , that ipita -wnat tre ourael' ^ 3 can giTe , with "what a few kind friends place In our bands , and with the sscamsntal al «> B , which the chtjchw 2 n » fc 3 s leave at cut disposal , and which , though the nnmber of the communicants are large , yet from their generally humble means are but small , we are compelled to leave Easy cases which we kcow of almost unassisted ; , and to send many who are , we are assured , both deserving and necessitous , and whom we VoaM gladly help , from our doer .

    So deep , indeed , is tie povtrty by which -we are eutrouuded that "sre have just s ent cnt a circular tetter through the parish f ^ r ttr third tiEDs , to ask for lef t-cfF apparel , to enible tht juorvst children to attend our schools ; and * by mtans uf our district visitors , whose " wtvkly vMta have made them acquainted with the cfcir = «; er tai'i drcniast ^ r cts of the jjeopie 5 u their distfsi ^ , -b « h&Te zc vbs vriBter rexrpntd 200 persons ¦ R ice the left-cfi' sppareJ , sent in 10 us in answer to onr apj ^ il I havs known s-arly thirty per ? C 3 s apply for ai ^ la one meming ; and tfce tickets for tea and sugar , arro ^ -Toat , k = ? o , lice , and seep , given to ihv fiaiilies of - tLe aei slr ^ se , by the cirrgy of the parish , and brtJiuht in at my fcouse in any ons morning duriDg the ¦ winter , npsriy take up tLe tiras of one person to Hipply .

    1 have naiE * A thes ? partlrniars . bsssuss I believe that fi : s is bni o ^ e Cas ? rat ii a class of cases to which many othrT parishes 1 l 'Lib feaitem quarter of London bulotg . ! Tie clergy fc . ve : nc will to help , ana tbe machinery for proper cveriistt and investigation is in our hands by means of our district viaitcrs ; bui the very same causes \ rhicb make us h ^ ts to abound in objects rtquiring aid leave us also without the mians to aid them . Belk-veme , your faithful servant , W . WXJ-DOS CHAilPXETS . Iwctsry , Wtiteciapel , X 07 . 27 .

    D 1 STB . E 55 AT HTSCKI . ET . To ihe Editir of ike Mcrning Chronicle . Sjk —Th = condition of the poor has been repeatedly laia before the public . The labours of the Anti-Corn XtiT » Lfc 2 £ C 5 have done great good ia this respect . They ha ? e inconttstabiy preved that a most numerous , as w « Il n&ispcrtsDt « lass of our countrymen , is suffering an 2 nscuTit cf distress truly horriWe , and that in a land wboaa Ki = a- beast 13 its knowledge , its riches , ard ncbie insiltari ^ ns It tew proved too , that the miseries ¦ wt iw ais ^ race out iisd are tk « jufilcxed by Protiflence ,

    but svring from ignorance , wickedness , or folly , and of course admit of remedy . I am a stocking-weaver , and , thcaixh young in years , am well acquainted with sufferng- " l am surprised ilnt the condition of my-feUow Iabovixe ? 3 has jioteiig 3 gea more of the public attention , espadally s » their miseriss are now bo great , and they tive luilitity boiae them "with mch a noble f oititnde . Their patience , however , is now declining , and their fortitude is giving way to feelings of hopeless despair . In August 1842 . ihssa men thus memorialised the board of guardians for the Hinckley Union : —

    " Gentlemen—Again vte approach you by a deputation , feut with a purpose very different to our last . Then it was to Teturn thanks—^ now it 1 b f 01 the purpose of prayer . Distress , anguish , and sorrow hi > ve liven our feelings , wounded our souls , and destroyed onr comfort Already are we brought-to the rerj brink of despaii . O I plunge ns not into its dark and overwhelming tide . Gut off from the pleasures of lifecompelled to live on the parish rate—willing to work ¦ wfctn iozMraisble lavjonr is offered 'to us—not wiaiing to ba released from toil , or forced to lead a life « jf degrading leisure —? e look upon our condition as entitled to commiseration , as commanding respect . Month af t 3 moath have we looked for a change—only to reap the bitterness of fiieappointment , and experience ' the

    ackcess of heart "which arises from hepe deferred . ' Goad us not , we bsseech you ; add not to oai wretchednfss ; lay no more upon nsj speak to us kindly ; protect us from further suffering ; pity us for our ; inisferisa ; -tt-tbdisw not yam rapport ; but xemember . ds ± the voles of inspiration has ' said ' povetiy will . make a wiss msn mad . " A change , however , bos now 1 conie ; iey tianoloEgei in the stone-yarl , but their 1 Eufferings are not lessened . Since lost TSBtembtT Jheir trapes i-v-iserable before ) have bten reduced ttiirly-jive per ] cenL They are now earning weekly , according toi the masters' books , ( and this account is derfttd ; Irom . the three principal manufacturers at Hinckley ! , Jks . shillings and Eys-pcace at firsi baud . Out of this is j to be dsduded Is . irom the lent of the loom , 7 d- for ; Svnng tto Etockings , 4 d . for needles and soap for"Waiting , 81 for coals and candles , and Is . 8 d- house ; lent , . earing 2 s . 2 d . Jor Jood , doihmg , education , ar . d '¦ ? f ^ 7 ~ and a fraction ptr day . In September 1

    , v Z . " 9 ras eallsa froai hcma - I left them working in ; he ^ one-yard , the lanes , &a ^ September , 1843 , I ; Sftl L * f " ^ d themallat work at tkeirS ^^ asj ^ sr ^ ffarr-ss ; a ^ Sf ^ . ^ sftaa . 'Si ga ^ fs . ^ s s ^ s faded and emaciated forms . VTixm 3 entoed the ! houses of former friends I lodfaa ^^ on ^^ and dingy walls , and a ^ ed what had become of their ftunitnre , " 0 ! " said they , " it is jmae .- *> We are Trerse off np stairs than down ; we have 50 beds a OT bed dotfce * . I' do not know how we shall manage this ¦ w inter : we ' shall be atarvea to death . We have nothing but what we stand in ; and to have never had a sew pals of shoes in our house Otis lour yean . What-Brer we bk to do I don't know . " In oneh « use I found

    odb child dyl ^ g of eonsumptionj saothex covered -with abscesses , and the father very Dl , yet labouring at bia loom . Ab the womsn pointed to the three lufferera ehe Bid , Trith a skh , " This has "been brought on by want of sufficient Soaa . " And let It be boroe in nand that Ihis misery wa 3 not paraded . I should have ksows nothing of it had I cot entered their dwelling . In fits Jt&gKbo&TiODd the Truck Sydem has long pre vailed , adding additional steering and wrong to this poverty stricken people . In many instances individuals are paid whoVy in goods , month after mordh arid year after year . Wilton the last sx weekB , however , great exertions have been made to slay this evil , many

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    iiosterB having been fined and a society titablished for its suppression at Hinchley . A Stockxxoeh . Kovember 23 , 1843 . ?»* - B . At this moment every tovm where stockings are jrade is full of work , and the mastera expecting , nay , daily receiving , large orders ; were tho Truck System put down and the middlemen ( bagmen ) between master and framework-knitter converted into direct agents of the former , the working hands would be gainers of 15 , in some instances 20 per cent , and when , Sir , the loaf is marked , lest too much should be eaten of it at one meal , let me tell you two or three loaveB a week are of no small importance to a family . On the above , the Editor of the Morning Chronicle Tesnarka : —

    " In another part of onr journal will be found a letter from a ' Stockinger , ' describing , we have good reason to believe , with great truth and accuracy , the present condition and sufferings of the stocking "wea-TOrs at Hir . cbley and in its neighb&Mhood . Xou > that the PEOPLE iUS IS POLL -W 0 B . K HERE , ihe amount of icages which they can devote to purchase subsistence does not exceed 2 s . Id , per toeek . Their fnmiture is gone , they have no change of clothing , and some of them have not had a new pair of shoes for four years . That i a the condition , not of idle , diEsolute paupers , but of incusirious , frugal , skilful , and intelligent workmen , and it demands the attention of the Government . Our

    correspondent complains of the continuance of the truck system , notirishstandisg the existence of several stringent enactments against it . If even in such a case the la * cannot te , or is not enforced in favour of the working classes , is there not Borne reason to apprehend that they will wholly cease to respect it . ' Tteir tufffeiinga must be relieved , and they must be convinced thai the law is as powerful to redress as to punish , bafore they can feel attachment to the institutions of the country -Raich is necessary for the public peace and the general welfare . " In the Chronidt of Saturday appeared Ihe following letter from a well-known and warm-hearted philanthropist : —

    Sib . — If it be not giving yon too much trouble , I would request you to rtsrit the enclosed small sum for the relief of that 'Stockinger * cf Hinckley , whose letter in this day ' s Chronicle does too well describe the sufferings of his family and craft . Your most obedient servant , Frederick Pigou . Brookes ' s , St . James ' s , Deo . 1 . [ Note op the Editor—We have received two sovereigns with the above letter , and "will forward them as desired by our correspondent j

    A TALE OF MISERY—DESTITUTION IN SHABVfELL . Eliis , the second usher of this court , made a report to Mr . Brodtrip , the presiding magistrate , relating to the Hoiloway family , -whose cr . se has been already published . It will be recollected tbit a poor man named Hclio-yray , residing in a miserable hovel in Gray ' sbuiHings , Twine-court , Shadwell , waB unable to bury the corpse of his son , who had died from the injuries he received by falling into the hold of a . ship , and that another child of the anfortur ate man was lying ill of the typhus fever in tfce same room where the uecajing body was . The corpse waB immedrately interred in Shadwell churchyard by order of tb . 9 magistrates , and asrislsnce was rendered to the family . Since then about £ 5 has been sent by various benevolent individuls

    for the relief of Hoiloway and his children , ani a portion cl this sum has already been expended in necas-^ aries . Ellis nowatstt . il , that en visiting the Hollo ways on Sunday evening , ne found the family , which consists cf sevenondivHualfl , Btill huddled together in the same miserable and ill ventilated apartment , the window frame of which was filled principally with paper and wood , instead of glass , and afforded very little either of light or ventilation . He found the boy still lying on bis miserable pallet , ai ; d labouring under the typhus fever . The stench was dreadful , and he could not xemain in the room long . He found the mother was a veiy industrious woman , acd aootber female , named Hurley , who , fearing contagion , tret brought the case under the notice of the magistrate , were plying tbtir

    neeclc £ as hard as they were a >! e , and on asking them v » by they worked on the Sitt > ath , they said they were com- elied to do so , and it was the only mtaus of supporting their children , as > the work they were eng&ged upon did not produce more than sufficient to purchase bread , and they were eompelJcd to begin early ana end lz . te to c ^ mmsEd a bare subsist * Dee ¦ whtsn they "were in full work , which was not ofttn the case . Mr . Ross , the parochial surgeon of JSbadTrell , who had fetec assiduous in his attentions , said them was no chance uf the lad getting well , and recovering bis strength until he was provided with cltan lines and nutritious food , and that the smell of the decoiupostd body , as well as the fever , had affected him . After purchasing some necessaries for the family , he was about to leave the

    neighbourhood , when Mr . Boss said he could introduce him to a much worse case , and took him into the ground floor of the adjoining honse ; and here certainly a scene of -misery and destitution presented itself quite unparalleled . There was not a vestige of furniture in the room except an oUl chair , and by the light of few embers in a place where thers hid once been 3 stove , be £ S"w a poor Ir-. &amaa , caused I > aiiiel ? foolan , mending his tro ^ wsers . By his side ¦ was an idiot boy about nine years of age , and the only garment he bad on "was an old pair of bowsers . The rest of his body was quite naksd . ; Tbe creature , who bore none of the outward Eeoibiance oi humanity ,

    jumped about atrf made strange noises when he BiittreJ the place . There was another boy , about eight years of age , in the saws miserable condition . On ii-quiring of the man what had reduced him to such a dreadful state of diatr-M . he said he was a -coal whipper , and that work had been very bad , and that when he was in tmpli > y he could not bring home more than ten shillings per wet-k to support himeelf and two boys , wb >» bud been for several years dt prived of tbeir mother . There were only a few potatoes and part of a leaf in the place , and he expended haif-a-crown . on his own responsibility , in providing fuel ^ nd some meat for the inmates of the wretched habitation .

    Mr . Broderio—You have donb quite right ; but has not the man applied to the parish officers ? Ellis said he had . no t * for he was afraid if he did eo be would be passed with his children to Ireland . The place where he lived was unfit for the habitation of any human feeing . It was tbe rnins of what had once been a substantial house , and was nearly roofless . The window-frame of tbe first floor , snd a portion of the ferickwoTk , hart lone since been removed . There was not a single pane of " glass in the window-frame of the Jowerroom . and tbe rain came through tbe celling . How tbe miserable creatures managed to live there he could not teU ii -was not a fit place for a dog . Toere were a szreal many dilapidated houses of the Bame description in Shs ^ -weil , called Irish freeholds , -without fcgal owners , and no rent had been claimed for many years . Tfce poor Irish got into some of them , and others were inhabited fey the most depraved characters , and by destitut « creatures who had no other shelter .

    Mr . Broderip directed Ellis to act in concert with Mr . Ross , the surgeon , in relieving Holloxray and his family . As for tbe poo * boy laid op with the t 7 phns fe-rer , and who had been compelled for many daya to breathe a poisoueus atmosphere with the decomposed body of his brother by his ride , he should give orders for another bed and clean linen to be provided for him , and l ight and nutritious diet to be purchased . It was truly appalling to hear of such misery . With regard to the manUoolan and his children , further relief must fee extended to them , and if possible admission should be obtained for the idiot boy into some asylum . He should like to know if Noolan was an industrious man snd was wiiling to work . EUis Eaid there was no doubt of it ; but the man , when he had work to do , was obliged to consume a great part of his e&rniDgs in drink .

    Mr . Broderip said he "knsw that to ba generally tbe CP-& 6 with the coalwhipperB , and he was very happy to think feat a 1 Act of Parliament would shortly come into operation which would materially improve their condition . He had tbe greatest eoiifldezce in the humanity and discretion of Ellis , and should leave tbe eases in his hands . He had just received a letter from a benevolent individual , who gave the initials " M . C , " enclosing £ 1 for Hoiloway and his family , which , with other sums forwarded to him , would be liid out for their beneSt . Ejlis said he was afraid the boy would not get better until he was removed from the confined apartment where bo many persona were huddled together . Tho bouse was tumbling to pieces , and was one of the numerous unclaimed housea called " Irish freeholds . "

    Mr . Broderip said , if the family could be persuaded to leave tbe premises for a cleaner and more wholesome apartment , it -would greaily facilitate the boy ' s recovery , and prevent the contagion from spreading , but he had no power to compel them to leave , and it was not likely they would do so while they were living rent free , Mr . Ross has called the attention of the Board of Guardians of the Stepney Union to the filthy and delipidated condition of the numerous houses without legal owners in Shadwell , and measures will 1 » 3 immediately taken to enforce the provisions of the Police Act , by cleansing , fumigating , and whitewashing some of them , and prilling down " others whleh are in a dangerous sMbl The typhus fever is raging in many of thtSB t&nemenfci

    ATTEMPTED SUICJDE FROM "WANT . A youth , named Thomas Gale , who stated that he was only fifteen years of age , was brought up charged with attempting to commit suicide , by throwing himself from "Waterloo-DTiage last night . Tke officer on duty at tbe bridge stated that he saw the prisoner mount one of the recesses of the bridge , and suspecting that he was going to jnmp off , h « seized Mm and conveyed him to the stationhouse . Mr . Jardine aaked the prisoner what he had to Bay ror himself ? The prisoner said he was in distress , and hadno pljkc 6 togoto > p ™ T ~ ardin 6 " 1 = ^ him if be had been feroagbtfop to ^ us inesB ? He said he had been apprenticed to an Mr . Jardine—Where do you tome from ? The prisoner raid he should deriiie answering that que * . non . ° *

    ilr . Jardine asked the officer il he thought the prisoner saw bm coming up , when he got on tbe parapet o ? the tndse ? The office r savi b . e thoutbt he did .

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    The prisoner was remanded , in order that inquiries m " ght be made resreetiDg him .

    DEATHS PB . 0 M STARVATION . Death from want of food im Bbthnai . Green . —Last Saturday evening , on the occasion of an inquest being holden at the Admiral Vernon , Betbnal Green . Mr . Baker , the Coroner , animadverted severely upon the conduct of Mr . Murray , the registrar of the distriot , for neglect of duty by not having sent to him ( the Coroner ) an account of the death of a person named John Thomas ( formerly , during a period of twentythree years , a clerk in Doctors" Commons ) , who was alleged to have died from tbe want of the common necessaries of life . Mr . Murray read the register of the

    death , which was E 3 follows : "Died from general decay , aggravated by extreme privation . " Coroner-Extreme privation . And should it have turned out on an investigation that from the neglect of any one the deceased bad not proper sustentation , that person was charged -with manslaughter . A juror referred to cases of destitution in Whitechapel , having observed that it was a highly proper case for icquiry , asked if there had been an inquest ? Coroner—No ; it is a very bad case , and ought to be seen into , more particularly now , when the publio journals are daily noticing cases of extreme destitution . Mr . Murray—Who gave you notice of the case ? ¦

    Coroner—Colonel Bowan sent an inspector of police to see me , with the whole particulars of the death , so that the duties were performed by the Commissioners of police instead of the coroner . You had better send information to Kie or the parish officer , whose duty it is to attend to inquests . I have written a long letter to the registrar-general . I have no deubfc you will hear from him . The unfortunate deceased it appeared had two daughters living with him , one agod twelve , and the other twecty-six years . He was obliged to give op his employment some weeks ago , in consequence of ill-health , and has not been able for some time to do anything for his livelihood . His eldest daughter says that she , her brother and father , applied for relief , when they were told that their father would be taken into the house . He and the family were unwilling that he should go there . Death from the alleged Neglect op a Relieving Offices .

    Oa Friday , December the 1 st , an inquest was held at the Black Horse Inn , Sidcup , Footcray , Kent , upon the body of Maria Piummer , aged 10 , the wife of a labouring man la the employment of the Right Hon . Lord Bfcxley , who came to her death under circumstances which implicate both the husband of the deceased and the relieving office * of the Bromley Union . From the evidence , which was very voluminous , it appeEred that about six years since the deceased summoned her husband before the magistrates at Footseray for ill treatment , on which occasion he agreed to give her nalf-a-crown a week , wMch ho continued to do with great irregularity , tho result of which was , that she was reduced to considerable distress , wandering about from one relation to another , till each in turn

    ( being poor persons ) were unable to support her any longer . Oa Weiinesday night she slept in a watercloset in Foptscray . On the morning of Thursday she weiit to Mr . Pntchard , a surgeon , of Footscray , who , finding her in r . wretched and deplorable condition gave her a letter to Mr . Banks , tho relieving officer , who lives at Chieelhurat . She immediately went over to Mr . Bankes , whom she saw , and told him that she had slept in a water-closet all night , and wished him to compel hei husband to find her a lodging . He promised to do B 0 , and called to see her husband , but was unable to meet with him . He , however , took no steps to relieve her , and when , after having been spoken to on the subject by Mr . RogerB , a respectable draper of Footacray , he

    replied that if he relieved her without bringing her case btfere the Board of Guardians , they would immediately reprimand him . The poor woman wandered over to Sidcnp , and called at tho Black Horse , where she asked f « r a bed ; this was at first refused , but afterwards granted to her . Her husband was drinking in the house at ths time , and exhibited the utmost indifference to her miserable condition . She retired to bed about half-past nine , being so weak and feeble that she was about half an hour getting up stairs , and fell down in tbe bedroom . In tbe night she was attacked with diarricei , and in tbe morning when the landlady Bent up she was found in tee agonies of death . ' Dr . Pritcbard stated , that be bad made a postmortem examination and four il the stomach entirely * -mpty , without one particle of food ; tbe lungs were healthy , but there was a slight effusion on the peri card i am ; there wob a schirrous indurated tumour on the right lobe of the

    liver ; thegali-fciadder was much distended with biliary calculi , which entirely obstructed tbe passage of the bile , producing diarrt cei . Her whole condition whs one of the most wretched imaginable , her clothes in the most filthy state , and she suffered dreadfully from vrasA of proper caro and attention , which in her condition mrst have hastened her death . The relieving officer was called is , and stated be never received Mr . Pritchard ' s note to him . The Jury expressed their opinion thnt be ought to exercise his own judgment aad not wait for the opinions of the Board of Quardiaiis . Tfcs Coroner told him that if a verdict of man . siangni-er -was returned , it would not be against the Bjard of Guardians , but against himself ; and therefore he ought to have acted on his own responsibility . Th , e inqu-st , after neariy four hours' duration , was adjourned , to enaN-a the Jury to discover what had become of Mr . Pritchard ' s letter .

    The above account we have extracted from the Morninj Chronicle of Saturday . Tbe Times of the same day had a more trended narrative of the horrible atrocity ; and on Monday tbe Editor drew pnblio attention to it in the following justly indignant observations : — It would bo necdk'sa to add another stroke to the speaking horrors of the case of starvation to death which we recorded on Saturday , or to any a single word more in indication of tbe strong plain lesson which it bears graven on its every circumstancesupon and about and within and around it—were it not that its details are so intensely excruciating that we fear very few persons could even endure to read them through , W « ore induced , therefore , now briefly to state the pith of the matter , hi the hope that its instructive moral may be bUU more widely spread .

    Maria Piummer , the wife of a gardener in tbe employ of Lorti Btxley , at Footscray , in Kent , was , some weeks since , driven from her home by her husband , who , although earning 14 s . a week , refused -to receive or support or in any way assist her . Evidence was given that the woman had been treated by her huaband most cruelly * and had been , before she was formally abandoned , " deprived by him even of the common necessaries of : life . " In this condition the poor creature " wandered about the neighbouring fields and villages , utterly destitute , lor weeks , " as it is now , after she has been allowed to starve to death , remembered by

    those who saw her ; and this in a country which professes to have laws for the " relief" of the poor . During this length of time , all that she had to save her from starring was the precarious bounty of her step-father , a poor man himself , and not well able to do more than supply his own necessities . On Wednesday week last , a policeman at Footscray sent her to the " relieving " officer ( bo calied ) ef the Bromley Union . Whether she ilizn made any application is not clear ; but " about halfpast eleven o ' clock on that night" the same policeman found her " knocking from door to door in the village , " praying to be admitted , and allowed a tad . " The policeman

    continues" I told her she must not do that , but go to her husband ' s lodging . She did so , and I followed her . I knocked Piummer ( her husband ) up , and he came and put his head out of the window . I told him the dreadful state his wife was in , and that he ought to see that the had a place to go to . He said he could not live with her , and had no place for her to go to . I said , What , then , am I to do with her ? I can take her nowhere but to the station . He made no reply to this , but shut down the window . I then took deceased with me up to her husband ' s father , to see if I could get her in there . I told him that if he would take her in for the night , she would go before the

    reliovingofficer in the morning ; but he abused mo , and refused . said , Well , you bad better go with me to the station , addressing deceased ; but she begged very hard for me not to taks her there , and eaid she would try to get in at some friend ' s house . I then left her . About half-past three o ' clock on the following morning I found her sitting in an open privy near the church , and not for from her father-in-law ' s bouse . She was not asleep , and I asked her how she was , to which she rep li ed , Oh pretty well . She at that time certainly was in a most distressed state , and appeared in want , but did not appear sufficiently ill for me to remove her . The night in question was a very wet and stormy night . "

    On the Thursday morning the poor woman again went to her stepfather ' s bouBe at Chiselhurst . She was then quite exhausted from want of food . After being supplied by her stepfather with something to satisfy her immediate wants , she applied , at his suggestion , to ; the " relieving" officer of the Bromley Union , a Mr . Bankes . This worthy ascertained frem her that she had had no place to sleep in but a privy , and he saw , or might have Been , that she was labouring under the tortures of gaunt , hollow staivation , witb its attendant complication of diseases . Bat , as it BeemB , be did not conceive it his duty to " inquire" whether the

    woman was in distress or not ! Whether she had a husband , however , he did inquire , and on finding it to be the case , hs took upon him to decide that the Board of Guardians would " reprimand him , " jif he interfered to save a woman who was suffering death by inches , anl would insist that the wife ought not to jbe cared for , because her misery was the consequence of the husband ' s hideous and unfeeling brutality . The relieving officer sent the woman away , bidding her apply the next day . to the Board of Guardians at St . Mary ' s Cray , a place three miles distant from Chiselhnrst Before that " next day" came round , the woman was a cokpse !

    to show in what condition -the woman applied to the relieving officer , and in what condition uhe was referred to the next day , and a six miles' walk , we subjoin the evidence—first , of her stepfather , from whose bouse she proceeded to make the application ; and , secondly , of the surgeon , Mr . Pritchard , who made the post mortem examination of the body . The step-father , Thomas Hisman , deposes"Stecame tome on Thursday week , and said she had t > ttn turned out of the lodging , and that she had

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    Blept in a privy , having no other place to go to but thai . She bad come to see Mr . Bankes to get her into the house . Deceased left me to go to Air . Bankes . She was at this time in the moat deplorable condition and in great want I do not think she was in a fit state to walk about from place to place to obtain relief . The impression of any one seeing her must have been tbat 8 hewa * iU and starving ; she looked so thin . I gave her food . Had she been a stranger to me , her condition was such , that I should at least have given her a piece of bread . Her eyes were fall of water , and ready to start out of her head . '' Mr . Pritcbard said— '

    "I was called to this house to see her on Friday morning last , and found her dead . I never saw a human being in s © deplorable a condition in my life . I have since made a post mortem examination of her body . The chest was generally healthy . There was a large tumour in the tight lobe of the liver ; the stomach and intestines exhibited a great deal of inflammation ; no doubt produced by the severe diarrt cbi to which she had been subjected from want of sufficient bile . The stomach and bowels were perfectly empty . There waa not the slightest particle of food or nourishment of any kind to be found therein . The uterus was much ulcerated , and her entire body showed that she had been & victim to neglect , dirt , and improper attention . She was tbe most wasted and miserably emaciated being I ever beheld . "

    If this was not a case « f plain , sheer , and direct starvation to death—of death from starvation , and from that alone—it is impossible to say what is . We do uot . hesitate to say , for our own part , that a more signal , a mure fi igrant , or a more appalling case cf that most ; horrible form of death—the slow , creeping , wasting torture of starvation—a case in all its circumstances so horribly painful , so unredeemed by a single striking feature of . humanity or kindness , or even common decency , in any one of the persons principally concerned , it has never bs- 'n our lot to bear of .

    Tiie cold , savage brutality ef the husband ; the ' quiet indifference with which the poor creature was allowed by the whole neighbourhouii to knock from door to door in a state of starvation and disease , in a " cold , wet ,: and stormy" night in November , without one single person offering her shelter or food ; and , finally , the offloial reply of the Poor Law menial , referring tbe case '' to "the board , " present altogether a picture which we would hope , for the sake of decency , for the sake of human nature , for tbe Bake of onr common religion , does not often meet ¦ with its parallel in thiB or any other civilised and Christian country .

    But , we ask , could such , a case by any possibility occur under a sound and well-principled system of Poor Laws ? By what law ia it that tha important discretionary truafc involved in tbe administration of " relief " is vested in hireling officials—in a class of persons whoso station and character are scarcely above those of the " paupers" whom they oppress ? By what law is it that that relief which , according to the spirit and letter pi the old common law of the realm , it was once the right of every poor man to have at his door and in his chamber , so far at least as to prevent the public scandal of his starving in the streets—by what law has this

    bounty been not only completely changed in its character , but removed to a distance—to distances of three , and four , and five , and in some coses even , of ten and twenty miles , from the home of tho faint and starving applicant ? By v * hat law , we ask ? By the law of might , but not of right—of expediency , but not or justice—of cruelty , but not of caution—of selfishness , but not of foresight . The changes are those which have been made by the Ne # Poor Law , and this . is the consequence . Could there be conceived a more convincing condemnation of any law or system whatsoever ?

    THE MURDEROUS POOR LAW . The Dorsetshire Poor . —The following extracts from a letter from Mi . A . J . Daniell , published in the Dorset County Chronicle , exhibits the devotedneaa with whicn the poor cliDg to the "homesof their fathers , " wretched though those homes have become ; and the sort of feeling entertained by them towardB the accursed bastik'S : — " . To whom , then , do the delapidated cottages ( for such undoubtedly they are ; belong ? I have said it before ; to tbe leaseholders , or ( as 1 now add ) to the

    poor themselves . Some of the very worst of these tenements are of the latter class ; little ( socalled ) freeholds—encroachments on the manor in ancient days . The poorer leaseholders might indeed be presented in court ; but to compel some of them to put their tenements in repair would be a project as hopeless as the scheme of extracting sun-beams from cucumbers . Some of the little freeholds are in a condition equiliy bad ; but all this , Sir , ia uo argument aa addressed to yourself , who disregard causes , and only concern yourself with effects .

    "And yet tho poor cleave to these joyless tenements , because they are their own ; they prefer—deeply and decidedly prefer—tho shelter of a roof which some of them can scarcely keep in tolerable repair , to the stern though sordid protection of the walls ef the union . ' Tbeir associations cling like ivy to these rugged walls ; it was around these they played in tbeir infaucy—it was among these banks tbi-y strolled as children—it was in the adjacent fields they toiled or playnd , while life was fresh to them , and health unimpaired . Even in old age , therefore , they prefer to be here ; and it must bo borne in mind , by uny visi . ant who may pass a remark upon tho dreariness of tha

    tenement and the age of the inmate—on the decrepitude of both alike—that ( after all ) it ia their choica . They prefer their own cottage to the unaccustomed walls and blank security of tbe union . Besides , the tenement is their own ; it is something to retain , aud to bequeath ; even thin , in their sphere , confers a plauo am ) position ; and retain it they do with an unrulaxing grr ^ p , and bequeath more carefully than ( sometimes / a millionaire assigim bia thousands . All these little freeholds have likewise a garden attached to them , which ia the larger because ( when the common was -enclosed ) considerable allotments were made to each iu ltau of turbary , or the right of cutting fuel on the

    waste . •'• For all these reasons it may be fairly asserted that the poor prefer tbeir little leasehold or freehold tenements to ( that alternative which the poor can always command ) tbe Union-house .

    THE WORKHOUSE SYSTEM , We understand that last week there were in tbe Union Workhouse , Leigbton Buzz rd , no less than 82 individuals belonging to the pariah of Wing . As , however , tbe expense of supporting families , some of which co ? t from 20 a . to 30 s . weekly , pressed heavily on the ratepayers , upwards " of 50 have since been taken home to their own parish , and the fat mere have agreed to employ the labourers at weekly wages of 8 a ., with an extra skilliiig for those who are employed on Sundays . There must surely be something wrong in the management of a parish containing between 5 000 and 6 , 000 acrea of land , to have anj able-bodied labourers in an union workhouse , where no benefit is derived from their labour ; indeed , we strongly apprehend that many of the offences which occur in the rural districts may be traced to the poor not being properly employed , and the inadequate manner in which they are paid for their labour . —Ayleshury Journal .

    ATROCITIES AT THE BIRMINGHAM WORKHOUSE . An inquiry of a most important nature , involving charges of a grave character against the parties immediately entrusted with the management of the Birmingham Workhouse , and more particularly with that department of it connected with the relief of vagrants , or " tramps , " and the casual poor , commenced in the Board Room on Friday Jast , before j . Weale , Esq ., one of the Assistant Poor Law Commissioners . Mr . Weale arrived in Birmingham on Thursday last , and informed the "Vestry Clerk that the Commissioners had received an anonymous letter , containing a series of charges of cruelty , &c , practised towards " tramps , " and in-door paupers in the workhouse ; that it was necessary those charges should be investigated ; and he therefore requested that the members of tue House Committee should be summoned to attend the inquiry on the following morning . Circulars were accordingly issaed and the Committee and a number of Guardians were in attendance at ten o ' clock , the hour appointed .

    Previous to the irquiry commencing , Mr . Weaie , being apprised that reporters were present , informed them that he had a communication of a private nature to make to the Qmrdions , which related merely to the internal management of . the establishment ; and that after he bad made it , 3 f the Guardians expressed a wish that the inquiry about to be instituted should be public , he should be the last to object to the representatives of the press being present . ' The repo . teTS then withdrew , and after the lapse of about an hour were re-admitted into the room , where they found Mr . Lucas in . the chair , Mr . Weaie occupying & seat on his left .

    Mr . Weale , ad . Iressing the reporters , Eaid that the guardians had expressed a wish that they should be present . He would , therefore , state to them that the Poor Law Commissioners had received an anonymous communication , which he had laid before the Guardians , who themselves concurred in the absolute necessity of an enquiry beiug instituted into the charges contained in it . The peints of the enquiry would therefore be these : — lah—As to four boys being conBned eight days and nights in a place called " the blacfe bole , " and ; kept on water grnel all the time , in a complete state of nudity , without a shirt to cover their nakedness , or shelter them from the inclemency of the weather . 2 nd . —That a little boy , ( name unknown . ) waa put into tbe tramp room by the governor , and -when taken out that he was obliged to be placed in a warm bath .

    ? 71 . i V 0 Tin * . WWBU » Mmed Rhoda had teen , put into the tramp room by tbe governor for punishment , 4 th . —That the insane ward had been converted into a place of punishment by the governor , and that a woman named B had been taken from another ward , md had been put into the insane ward for ' punishment . Mr . Weale , in continuation , o bserved , that he could not at all say , for he knew not , who was to be blamed mthis inquiry ; but as the master of the workhouse £ nawed in the charges , it was but fair , on the old English principle of justice , that JerTboSy " w £ o was considered aa accused , should nave an opportunity of heann * the k j t-mony ; and he therefore thought the governor should be present * afl

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    The Governor was then called in , and informed by Mr . Weale of tbe nature : of the charges made against him ; and asked whether be bad any record or books to show whether four boys had been at any time put into this "black bole . " ! First , he would ask whether he kept a punishment book f The Governor replied in the negative ; he did not admit that any person had been punished . The charge had reference to four tramps , who , having torn their clothes , had been put into the tramp ward , ( if they chose to call it confinement ) , bat be had had no orders to punish thsm . ! Mr . Weale—It was necessary to take other evidence on this point ; but he wished to know whether he had any books or documents to show that four persons had been kept for eight days in a tramp room or black hole , or whether any persons had been confined there dnring tbe period xetemA to—trom the 26 th of September last to tbe 3 rd of October following .

    The Governor denied tbat they bad any black bole , ar at all events that it bad ever been used for such a purpose since be had been appointed to the management of the workhouse , j Mr . Weal *—As you have stated that on one occasion four persons were confined a certain number of days in the traBip room without clothing , we will begin with the evidence of the person who had the men in charge . i Mr . Knight here ] begged to read , from tbe books of the house committee , a minute in reference to two men who bad destroyed ; their clothing during the night , and who had been ordered fresh clothing by the committee . He mentioned this to show that the practice was one of frequent occurrence .

    The Governor stated , in answer to questions by Mr . Weale , that the four men to whom he referred were admitted on the 26 th of September last Their names -were William Jonep , ( 15 ;) Daniel Blyth , ( 27 ) ; Henry Cailer , ( 19 ) : Waltisr Young , ( 18 ); they were discharged on tbe 3 rd of October . William Harris , tbe keeper of the tramp room , in which these hi en bad been placed , was then sworn and examined by Mr . Weale . He said ho was twenty-four years of age . He recollected the four men above referred to coming into tbe house in September last . They were plac 9 d in the ; regular tramp room , and during the night they ripped up their clothes , and were found in the morning quite naked , with the exception of one , who bad his shirt and trousers left . On telling the

    governor of tbe circumstance , be ordered him to remove them into the other tramp room , which he accordingly did , giving each man a rug to cover him . They remained in the second room about ten days , during which time they bad no other clothing given them by night or day . There was no fire in tbeSjOom , nor was it warmed as tb » ' other trr . mp rooSffjpib . heated air . They complained { very much of the cold , and said that they -were starved . ! Tbe governor visited them three or four times while they were there . Witness asked the governor for clothing , and he said that he was to give them some the last day they went out . They had no bed or straw to sleep on ; nothing but the bare boards . There was no water closet in the room , only a tub , which was removed by witness and another keeper every morning , for the men never left their room from

    tbe day they went In until they left They bad no soap or water to wash ; themselves , until the morning that they left , when witness assisted in cleaning them . They were very fi'thy ; the room was covered with filth , and it bad a very offensive smell . One of the men complained of illness the day before be left , and the doctor was seat for , who ordered him some medicine . They had nothing but bread and gruel during the time they were under his charge ; he supplied it to them three times ; a day . It was not usual to keep tramps in the bouse more than one night , but he had or- 'ers from the { governor to detain these four men . Tbey did not ask for their discharge ; he had told them that he had orders from the governor to lock them up , The -weather waB rather cold at the time . There were

    about thirteen tramps who had destroyed their clothes before . About two days after they came in witness applied to the governor for more clothing , and told him that the men were ; starving , and he replied " Let them stop there a day or two . " In three or four days after he applied again , and he told him to let them stop till the next morning , and be wculd find them some olothes . He did i give them some , and they left the bouse . The governor gave witness tbe clothes , and he gave them to the men . The reason the governor assigned for removing tbe men into a separate room was , that if other tratnpa came in , they would also be likely to destroy their clothes . Witness had the care of the rugs , but bad none to spare for the men when' he applied to the governor : the rugs are six feet by four and a half feet i

    The Governor deuiedtbat the witness had ever ' asked him for more clothing , and said the man was next to an idiot , and that the whole of his statement was much at variance with the facts of the case . Mr . Weale—I think such a remark quite uncalled for . The man has given his evidence in a v ^ ry straightforward co'leeted wanner . Mr . Rodw&y- ~( to witness!—What is the name of the gentleman who asked you questions on this subject lefora ? j Mr . Weale—With great deference , Sir , thia is a question which I jcannot allow you to put . We'are here to inquire into the truth of certain charges which have been Btattd . * Mr . Rodway—My object is to know the person who sent this anonymous letter , and who had not the manlintas to put his name to it .

    Mr . Weale—Did the men complain more of the cold at night than during the day ?—Witness—They did , Sir . [ Mr . Weale—The tramps have no Btraw allowed them to lie upon in tha ether room?— -Witness—No , Sir . 1 Mr . Weale—I took tbe liberty of inquiring into tbat fact the other day . Mr . Hunt—It was decided some time since that it was more conducive to their health to be kept without straw . I

    Mr . Smith , the house surgeon , was next examined . He deposed to baying been called in to see a person in the tramp ward , in the Infirmary Passage . He found him suffering from pains in bis stomach and bowela , and ordered him { some medicine . The room was so dark that be could not see into it ; the man came to him at the door ; Ihe was naked , or apparently so ; he believed he had a rug round him . Ha did not know what state the place was in , but it must have been very filthy , for the smell was most offensive . He made no report of the case to the governor , nor did he order the man change of diet . He asked after him next day , and found he had . left the house . The men complained ef being kept there for eight or ten days . They appeared to be young men , or boys . They said they had destroyed their clothing , they were so full of vermin . He did not think the patient in a state that called for his removal to the iniiniary .

    William P .-rcival was next sworn and examined . He was a pauper employed in the house aa wardsm . an , and to assist the governor in looking after the clothes . He never gave Harris clothes to give te the four men confined in the tramp room ; witness took the Clothes himself . Harris did not accompany him . He found the men In a state of great wretchedness , and very dirty . He believed they had nothing to cover them but rugs during the time they were confined in the room . There was soap and water allowed them , but he did not know whether they had ! any . He should say that the room was clean , although it had an offensive smell . The men never complained a bit of tbe treatment they had received : they were very glad te get out . They said they were treated ( very kindly in every shape . Mr . Weale—Will you venture on your oath to state that tbese men stated that tbey were treated very kindly and that thiy made no complaint of the treatment which they received while in the house ?

    Witness—They did not , sir . Tbey made no complaint of the cold ; and when he brought them the ctothes , tbey said ] " That ' s right ; we are anxious to get out . " When they were going out , the matron gave them some bread ^ nd meat , and they said they -were much obliged . The matron said , " Yon are all well clothed , and you ought to very thankful that no measures have been taken against you . " With that they touched their hats , and bade her good morning . Mr . Weale—Aid that is what yea call expressing their gratitude for the treatment they received !

    William Hiirris , the forme * witness , w 8 recalled and examined . He said that he went for the clothes the morning the menSleft the bouse , and tho governor sent them to Percival , ' who gave them to witness , and be then took them to the tramps . He believed Percival accompanied him to the tramp room . [ This witness was cross-examined at considerable length respecting the orders he had to supply the men with soap and towels , but nothing material bearing on the main facts of the case ws | elicited . ] The enquiry was adjourned till nine o ' clock the following morning , and the governor was desired , if he preferred that course , to prepare in the meantime a p ! ain , straightforward history of the whole of the transretion , us bis ] explanation of the circumstances which led to the ; confinement of the men for so long a period . . { ¦ Satukday . —On the re-assembling of the Board this morning , the inquiry was resumed .

    Mr . Bynner , the yestry Clerk , was the first ? witness called and examined . He stated that on Monday morning , the 25 th of September , the Governor of the workhouse called upon him at his office , and told him that four tramps , who had been admitted tie previous Saturday night , jhad torn their clothes , and .. reduced themselves to a state of nudity . Witness advised that they should be taken before a magistrate , and be drew up an information for that purpose . The Governor stated that be had been recently before the magistrate * with a similar charge , and that they were disinclined to commit , and that he would first see the House

    Committee . Several ! days after , tbe Governor told him that be had been ordered by the Committee to consult the Messrs . Whateley upon the subject ; that he bad done bo , and found that the information drawn up by witness would not de , as it should have been laid under a late Act , the 5 th and 6 th Victoria , c 57 , sec . 5 , iu Which there waa a special clause for offences of this nature . Witness had before taken men before the magistrates for the same offence , and succeeded with some difficulty in getting a conviction in two cases , when the men were jsentenced to twenty-one days' hard labour . !

    Mr . Weale here said that he should be ready to receive the evidence of the Governor himself , either on oath or otherwise ; oi , if he preferred it , he would take

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    his statement in writing . It rested with himself to make bis choice . It was for tbe Governor to shew that he reported tbe case to the Committee , and to state wfeaf decision tbey came to . Mr . Knight suggested that they could get at the facts as to the diet from Mrs . Hurst , the matron . Mrs . Hurst was called , and after in the first instance objecting to take the oath , she subsequently allowed herself to be sworn . She said she recollected four lads being kept several days in the tramp room , in the infirmary passage . She visited them tbe first evening they went in witb Harris , and teok them four rugs , three of which she gave to tbe lads , snd the fourth to a boy , about ten or eleven years of age , who bad been sent into the bouse as punishment by the relieving officer , at ths request of his mother .

    [ Mr Weale—I would take this opportunity of protesting Strongly against tbe workhouse being used as a place of punishment . I nave on one or two occasions noticed that fact ; and yon , as Guardians , have nothiog whatever to do witb punishing tbe children of tbe poor . It is an act of great illegality and cruelty , and renders yon liable to be punished yourselves . As the case of this boy baa come out , I shall feel . it to be my duty to bunt out every fact connected with it . Mr . Boucher » aid that the Relief Committee bad told the poor over and over again that they should take their children to the magistrates , t

    Mr . Knight also stated tbat be bad always discount tenanced such practices ; and if be recollected rightly in this very case he yielded very reluctantly to tbe urgent ) request of the mother to have the boy admitted into the bouse as punishment , for she could not get him to work . A note of admission was given in the case , but whether any further instructions were issued as to the boy ' s treatment , be was net prepared to say . ] Witness gave each of the men , with one exception , and the boy , a rng a-piece j they were fnmisbed at tbe time with a rug , 89 that this made two for each . The men complained of the heat of the place , and she desired Harris to keep the door open . This was on a Wednesday . During tbe time tbe men were there , Harris applied to her for a shirt for one of the men .

    which she gave him , and on his taking it to the room , the man tore it in pieces before his face . Harris then said that there was no use in giving them any more clothing . Witness directed Harris to give them tha bread and broth , as well aa the other tramps . To the best of her belief , there was meat sent to them on tha Sunday after tbey were put into the room . She did not give it out herself . She ordered Harris to do 80 . Tbey had meat also given the morning that they started . The boy was sent into the workhouse as a punishment , not to be punished when be was there ; they never punished . It was witness who ordered him to be put in the tramp room , to the best of her belief . All tbe

    paupers were sent to the tramp room in tbe first instance , after being admitted , as a probationary ward . The boy was taken out the morning after he had been put thers , and had a bath . She did not know his name , nor how long he remained in the house after this . The men had bread and broth for breakfast and dinner , and thick gruel for supper . She told Harris not to spare the meal , but to make it good ; it was as thick as porridge , although it was called gruel . She gave him particular instructions with regard to these very men . Mr . Hurst , the governor , here put in his own Btatenient ; but , on the suggestion of Mr . Weale , he withdrew it to correct discrepancies and omissions , which appeared upon the face of it .

    William Harris was again recalled , and examined oa the evidence given by Mrs . Harst . He said that ha bad no recollection of the matron bringing four rugs to the tramp ward where the men were confined- During the time the men were there , he recollected a boy , about thirteen years of age , being brought in for punishment , and placed along with them . He could swear positively tbat he never saw Mrs . Hurst at tbe place during all the time the men were there . The men had only a rug each . He did not know ifcat the boy had 9 tug at night to cover him . He did not give him ene . Never heard the men complain of tbe heat ot the room , and never was desired to leave the door open . Never took the men bread and broth , or a meat dinner

    on a Sunday while they were there , nor was he ordered to do so by Mrs . Hurst . Never asked her to give one of the men a shirt ; but on another occasion , some time before , got a shirt for a tramp , which he tore up and trampled upon . It was the practice to give the regular tramps bread and broth for dinner on Sundays ; never gave them meat , and never gave the four men anything but bread and gruel . He acted by the . governor ' s directions . The boy was in the room with them three or four days ; he was taken out before the men left The boy had bread and milk lor breakfast and supper , and bread and broth for dinner . The governor had told him that the boy was bsnt into the tramp room fox punishment .

    Joseph Blick , an aged pauper of weak intellect , was next examined ; but bis evidence merely went to show that four men had been confined in the room , and that the place -was in a very filthy condition . Mr . Weale suggested that while they had sufficient light they should go at once , and inspect the room in which the boy and the men were confined . The whole of the persons present accordingly adjourned to the infirmary passage , on the left of which , at the entrance , is a little nook or b-x , called the keepers ' s lodge , nearly opposite and a little further on , they came to the door of the apartment spoken of throughout the evidence as tbe tramp room ; but on opening it nothing could be seen , although a sickly light was discernible in a grating at the further end . On lights being obtained ,

    all present had au opportunity- of judging of the sizs and condition of this dismal dungeon . It was a low vaulted cell , below the level of the infirmary passage , about six feet by ten feet in sizs . Elevated from the ground about twelve or eighteen inches , was a boarded platform , which slopad from the open grating at the extreme end of tbe vault towards the door : this was explained to be the guard bed provided for tramps . Near the door was a space of about two feet , whieh was left for the open tub spoken of by Harris ; and the floor near this spot was saturated with water , and covered with filth . A more loathsome prison could not well bs imagined even by the fertile brain of a grand inquisitor , versed in all the arts and mystery of torturing yet

    prolonging human life ; and to crown all , the effluvia was so overpowering that it was impossible to remain mote than a minute within the precincts of this noisome den . This was indeed the veritable " black hole , " the dread o refractory paupers , and tbe terror and test of unfortunate tramps , whose evil stars might lead them to seek a night's shelter in this dismal place . The governor , the matron , the bouse surgeon , the keepers , and others , who bad been examined , were summoned to the spot by Mr . Weale , and one and all acknowledged that it was hero the four unfortunate men had been confined in a state of nudity for ten days and nights , and where tbe little boy had Iwen seal to acquire his first lessons in morality , and his early experience of the miseries of human life .

    Tbe Guardians present expressed their indignation and horror at the picture presented to them , and disavowed all knowledge of the existence of such a place as a tramp room ; and Mr . Weale himself , mere familiar to scenes of this description , declared that in no prisoi or workhouse in England had he ever witnessed such den for the accommodation er punishment of human beings . Indeed , he questioned whether Howard , when be commenced bia benevolent mission ever found anything to equal it in the course of his experience . The Governor being questioned upon the subject , said he found the place fitted up in its present state , for the reception of vagrants , when be came into the workhouse . He had put persons frequently into it It was not unlikely that some of their own poor had been placed there , but be could not recollect it . They were obliged to use the place when they were crowded with tramps , which was often the ease ; and they would probably ba obliged to use it that very nigbt

    Mr ; Knight—I am sorry to bear it ; but if I am compelled to stop here all night , I will never suffer this to occur again . If you want room , put the poor into the chapel . Mr . Hollingswotth—You could not appropriate it to a better or more humane purpose . Mr . Knight--We are bound to admit that these men were confined in this place for eight or ten days ; and upon that point , whoever may be chargeable with the offence or consequences of illegally confining them , we must plead guilty . We shall now set about collecting all tbe evidence we can , leaving tbe Commissioner to deal with it as he pleases . If you are satisfied , Sir , with that , we shall undertake to supply you with admissions as full as any evidence you can obtain in this establishment

    Mr . Weale—I cannot pledge myself to anything . I will , if you wish , take tbe statement of this committee . I shall also be glad to see any explanation from Mr . 'Burst : but there are other points in the enquiry to be gone into ; aud if , in their progress , any ttesh matter should come out , I shall feel bound to enquire into it , and auy abuses which may be brought under my notice in the ceurse of the investigation . At present , my wish is to be furnished with some information respecting this boy ; for to be kept in such a place tort

    days or four hours was a grosB abuse , and One that caM for explanation . The whole object of my enquiry i » . w prevent ihe recurrence of abuses more than anytbiog else . I came hero not to criminate you , gentlemen * bat to enquire into certain allegations which were ma < 3 ®'! T order that same authority or another should comet whatever evils may be found to exist . « Mr . Herbert thought , after the enquiry that B » taken place , the town must fed deeply indeDw | ° Mr . Weale for bringing to light such a bornDw state of things , and which , had it been known w the Guardians , would neves have been suffered w

    exist . irffl . The inquiry was then adjourned to Thursday . — " ^ land Cowdies Herald . j , i tfa [ We trust some of our friends will foiwara u , remainder of this " inquiry . " Tbe upshot w * •" looked for . ] RESULT IN " CRIME "! INCENDIARY PIBES . . . ^ Fbitchlbt . —Oa Sunday morning law . " V ^ rf , four and five o ' clock , the stackyard «_ Mr'JS tJ Futchley , of Fritchley , near Crfcb , * * ft 2 S <* be on fire . Fortunately , there was ¦ -8 ° - ?\" S : ' » nd water within a short distance of the 8 tac *»^ aid the fire was got under / but not before toe we . ^ ^ strav stacks were entirely consumed . Tuere fld W 2 io least doubt but that it waa wilfully set on ^ g ^ e a could commit spich a diabolical act v °° , so character ia hard to say . —Derby Reporter . ( Continued in our Seventh V ° 9 ^

    Untitled Article

    $ _ ^__ THE NO RTHK RN R T A R- _ j

• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 9, 1843, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1242/page/6/