of exploring the habitations of the poor, would excuse the transgression of propriety I feel I commit in coming forward so early-would do, as I dowould endeavour to enkindle in the breasts of others those strong emotions of compassion which the sight of such distress would raise in his own, and would feel as I feel, deeply and beyond measure interested that something this day may be done, may be nobly done, for the relief of my poor neighbours sunk as they are to the lowest depths of misery. But first allow me to state the causes in which it originates; because these are generally unknown, because they are very curious and peculiar, and because a knowledge of these may operate as an apology for this public application, as it will shew that this district has claims not only on your compassion, but something like claims even on your justice; not only those claims which distress always has on the benevolence of the affluent, but those intimate and almost legalized claims which the labourer possesses on his own employer, the mechanic on his own master, the pauper on his own parish. Yes, Sir, I make bold to think I can convince you that the persons for whom we plead are your own labourers, your own mechanics, and your own poor. In the Act by which the Poor Laws were established in this country, there is a clause enabling Magistrates, where any parish is too poor to support its own inhabitants, to conjoin with it other parishes more competent. This is right; and if it stopped here, this meeting would be superfluous, as long ago we should have negociated a union between our poverty and your wealth: but one word excludes us from thisthis conjunction is restricted to parishes within the same county, and London is a county within itself. Now, this is very unfortunate, as it has been estimated, by a gentleman highly intelligent and highly respectable, that much more than one half of our poor work for masters who reside in the City. He says, "Here the mechanics of every trade reside who work for their employers in the city: here dwell the carters, porters, and Jabourers, with thousands who are engaged in the most servile employments, down to the mendicants, the lame, and the blind."* Observe, my Lord. bow

Letter to Samuel Whitbread, Esq. en the Distresses of the Poor in Spitalfields; by William Hale, 1506,

unequal a division takes place between us-you have the man, and the labours of the man when he can work, a d we have him and his family when he cannot; you have his strength, and we his infirmity; you his health, and we his sickness; you his youth, and we his age; in short, you have the labourer, and wo the pauper; you have the profits of his labour, and we the charges of his maintenance. But let not any gentleman imagine, that we now ask for aid to our parochial funds-no such misapplication will take place; whether this subscription be large or small, it will still be the duty of the overseers to exact from the householders every shilling that can be obtained. But I shall be asked, why do we not increase our rates, and thus raise sufficient for the support of the poor? Because we cannot-because the majority of those who pay the rates are themselves poor. Till lately, perhaps, they were above the level of absolute poverty; if in distress, yet not in its lowest gradations-but the hand of misfortune which has pressed down others has weighed heavily on them; and perhaps there is no class more distressed, more the objects of pity, than these householders. Great commisseration is due to those who have seen better times; who, struggling against the waves that threaten to engulph, can hardly resist them. Great pity is also due to those who are obliged to support a respectable appearance, and to do so, are necessitated to curtail their food: they pay the present rates though with much difficulty, and with much self-denial-but they stand so on the verge of a precipice, so on the poise of a balance, that the smallest additional weight utterly overwhelms them. Demand more than they now contribute with so much personal privation, and they at once resign all hope and refuse all payment. These are our householders: and experience has convinced us that with these we have arrived at the maximum of parochial assessment: that if we increase the rates, we lessen the amount they produce; that the only consequence of such attempted advance is, that we are obliged to strike their names out of the list of those who pay the rates, and insert it in that of those who receive them. Observe then the hardship of our case: our proximity to the city (which being in another county) deprives us of the benefit of the Poor Laws, while that very proximity overloada na

with poor; the dearness of house rent in the City, its cheapness in the Fields, sends to us all that are too miserable to reside amongst you, and renders Spitalfields what indeed it is, a grand drain for the distresses of the Capital-a kind of metropolitan workhouse, to which all that is wretched resorts."

Among the causes which have materially produced this distress throughout the labouring community of the silk trade, the rage for French silks is very justly particularized; and while we make the extract, we would respectfully recommend the passage to the humane reflection of our fair country women. Englishwomen have ever been distinguished by all who have heart enough to appreciate their amiable excellencies, as much for the graces of the mind, as for the beauties of form; and we presume upon the universal witness of both, when we call upon the characteristic susceptibility of their hearts to decide in the cause of that Christian charity, of which they are always found to be the most zealous, and the most prevailing advocates. What superiority does a French silk assume over an English one, when the frame which its folds envelope, is not a whit encreased in its native symmetry? but how does the foreign robe sink in value, when, by its rival substitution, it deprives a poor industrious countryman and his family of a comparative portion of their subsistence? We remember, when the abhorrence of the slave trade was at its height, sugar was discarded from the tea tables of many families; and the strong and almost hyperbolical, figure, was used in justification of the rejection, that every lump of sugar was stained with the blood of the suffering negro. Yet how much more justly may we now urge, that every gown made of foreign silk is spotted with the tears of starving thousands! What female is there who can make a choice between the manufactures of foreigners and those of her own countrymen, but would, with this impression of melancholy fact, cast from her a dress which clothes her in the garb of selfish vanity, and gives to the most beauteous form the character of unfeminine hardness of heart? When she is prepared for the splendor of the drawing-room, let her sarvey herself in the glass, and let this be her soliloquy: What are the arms of personal beauty and elegance which I possess, if my heart has forgot

ten the best sympathies of my nature? Perhaps at this moment some father may be sinking in despondency; some mother may be drooping with disease; some infant may be seeking in vain from her bosom the sustenance which can alone preserve it in being; and 1, with all the comforts and pleasures of life awaiting my command, have diminished their aggregate stock of earnings in a proportion which may have con duced to increase the cause of their bitterness. O! Fashion, I hate thee, if humanity disclaims thee. Nay, I hate myself, while thus I surrender the noblest characteristic of my sex, to so arbitrary, so cruel, a domination.”

To these honorable suggestions of ber heart, let her apply the following sentiments of our author.

"Other causes also operate:-The depression throughout the country deprives us of our most considerable market for the silk weaver.

"Exclusion from foreign markets; but as this is a consequence of the peace, we do not repiue; we rejoice to think that this which causes our distress, causes also the happiness of others, and subserves the general interests of humanity. But there is one consequence of the peace which we cannot survey with the same complacency, and I mention it the more freely, because we are so highly honoured in one part of our attendance this day (the Ladies)—the introduction of silks of foreign manufacture. This practice, contrary to the laws of the land, is contrary to higher laws, Justice-Charity. I am persuaded that this meeting may check or prevent it; their efforts, and the influence of their example, may draw attention to its cruelty; and I am persuaded that no female of our country would array herself in silks of foreign manufacture, if she knew the groans and the tears it occasions in the deplorable recesses of our district. One visit would convert them from contra band importation: for whoever really saw our distress, would shrink from the responsibility of contributing to produce it."

To those who have hitherto lived at a distance from scenes of indigent woe, we recommend the perusal of the fol lowing pathetic description of actual suffering and, O! ye sons and daughters of affluence, while ye "go on your way rejoicing," think of those ..who have not where to lay their heads,”

"who eat ashes as it were bread, and mingle their drink with weeping."

Every where are to be seen scenes of ruin, hunger, and even death. Physicians well acquainted with the district assure us, that our people are peculiar ly subjected to disorders originating in deficiency of food; and that at this time multitudes of children are swept into an untimely grave by disorders, of which abstinence was the only cause, and for which food would be the only cure. But this is not all; there are scenes of deeper misery, of darker horror, scenes so sad, so dismal, so revolting, that did not imperious duty demand the sacrifice of our feelings. I should gladly bury them in eternal oblivion-scenes of actual starvation. On Friday last I saw a man who was lately found amongst some willows in our district. There were some remains of life in him, but (I hardly know how to convey so loathsome an image), the vermin of all kinds had already seized upon him as their prey. He was found on a Saturday, and his own story was, that the last he recollected was sinking down there on the preceding Wednesday, overcome with weariness and hunger. I asked him if he had a wife? No, Sir, said he, thank God, I can suffer better than many others, because I suffer alone. I could tell you another such instance, but I must throw a veil over these scenes, too sad even for description; and, indeed, our wretchedness does not consist so much in individual instances, as in the mass, the aggregate, the immensity. It is not that some starve, but that so many are on the verge of starvation-it is not that a few suffer, but that so few escape-it is not one of those disorders that are deadly in one street and unknown in the next, it rather partakes of the nature of those more general visitations of pestilence, which spread their disastrous contagion all around and desolate a district, and in which the general contagion envenoms the individual taint. So it is with us-the general distress deepens the private calamity. In ordinary times the poor are the best friends of the poor. There is (and happy is it) a sympathy in affliction (we find it as a ray of light amid the gloom), a fellow feeling in distress, a kind of benefit society to which all the wretched are free: a society not indeed enrolled and registered by Act of Parliament, but by higher authority,

was "

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and with more awful sanction, by the instincts which Providence has implanted in the human heart; but this is a virtue for better times. The poor man can hardly support himself, and therefore, can hardly assist others. I do not mean to say that he does not. have met with instances which have exalted our respect for human nature instances which recal the Widow recorded in the New Testament, who "out of her want gave all her living;". -and the Widow of Sarepta in the Old Testament, whose whole possession a handful of meal in a barrel, and a drop of oil in a cruise," yet she was willing to share them with the afflicted stranger. But if this proves that the poor are not bereft of every ordinary support, is it not a lesson to us?-If the poor man who is obliged to deny his unsatiated appetites-who having divided sufficient from his only loaf to support life, but not to satisfy hunger, hides the remainder for the next day's meal;-if he yet find some place for mercy in his soul, and miserable himself, is yet impelled to share his remaining crust with the more miserable;-if the strong impulse of humanity urges him to so dear a sacrifice, does it not teach the man who is clothed in soft raiment and fares sumptuously every day, to give something more than the crumbs that fall from his table to the wretchedness that surrounds his gate? But why this superior mercy in the poor? Because he has learned it in the school of affliction. He knows what it is to want bread, and this has opened his heart, and enlivened his affections for those who are exposed to the rigour of the season, and the craving importunities of hunger-but. the rich man cannot feel this. He can experimentally know nothing of what it is, when the poor man, willing to strain every nerve in labour, is denied the employment which might staunch the tears of his wife, and appease the cries of his children-when, like the wretch I have mentioned, he is willing to suffer, if he might suffer alone, firm against his own afflictions, but when he looks around him, sunk to the effeminacy of tears."

We conclude our observations upon this affecting narrative, and urgent plea of unexagerated misery, with the author's concluding appeal to the sympathy and justice of his hearers; and among those who listened with delight

tune:-it did not charge me with wanting presence of mind in the hurry of battle, and in the suspence of conflicting armies. No such thing; I wanted courage, it seems, because I did not coolly take a dose of poison, or throw myself into the sea, or blow out my brains. The Editor certainly misunderstands me; I have, at least, too much courage for that. Your papers are influenced by party principles; what one praises the other will abuse; and so vice versa. They who live in the metropolis where they are published, can judge of passing events and transactions for themselves; but persons living at a distance from the capital, and particularly foreigners, must be at a loss to determine upon the real state of things, and the characters of public men, from the perusal of your Journals."

Napoleon appearing, as it were, to be speaking out, and to be in a humour to deliver opinions instead of confining himself to asking questions, I was determined to speak out too; and I had no doubt that I should lead him into an interesting conversation, or induce him to wish me a good day. I accordingly replied, "I really think that you must possess more patience than my countrymen are disposed to allow you, if you really wade through all the columns that have been filled on your subject. You cannot, Geueral, suppose, for a moment, that the extraordinary events which have taken place, and of which you have formed such a prominent part, would not be considered and observed upon with great freedom by a thinking people like the English, and who have the privilege-and they even possess it, of speaking and writing what they think." I was proceeding in full swing and in a very patriotic way, when he thus interrupted me. "This calling of names, and these scolding epithets only serve to amuse me; but there are observations in your papers, which produce far different sensations. You have (he continued) a writer whom. I greatly admire; I believe he is of your country, a Scotchman-Macpherson, the author of Ossian. There is also a person of the name of Belsham: on what subjects has he written?"-I replied, "that I believed he had written an account of the reign of our excellent Sovereign." "Yes (he said), your laws permit you to write of kings, of ministers, and of one another."-" Yes I replied), such is the privilege of

Englishmen; and possessing the infirmities of human nature, they may sometimes abuse it. Misconception, party spirit, and perhaps, factious minds may, at times, tend to propagate and support erroneous, and even violent opinions; but the love of justice and of truth form the genuine character of an Englishman."-"Nevertheless (he observed) you appear to handle my character rather roughly; and more so, since I have been in your power."“To that opinion, General (1 answered rather quickly), I must beg leave to address a direct negative. You have not always had the leisure to examine English publications which you enjoy at present, but I do assure you, that from the time of your becoming First Consul of France, to the moment when you set your foot on the deck of the Bellerophon, the English press has never ceased to fulminate its displeasure against you; and this, without exception, for the parties who differed in every thing besides, expressed but one and the same opinion of you. This, I presume, you must have known at the time, though the vast projects that have occupied your mind, may have prevented your memory from retaining a detail of our literary offences: your official papers, however, marked their perfect acquaintance with the hostility of our journals, and returned their paragraphic missiles in every direction. You were rather angry with Old England, when you ordered the Moniteur to call us a Nation of Shopkeepers.' A great commercial nation we certainly are, and may we ever remain so: for it is that commerce which has proved a fountain of resources, whose failure would have prevented even the native and irresistible bravery of Englishmen from making the late immortal additions to our national glory. But we are also a most noble-minded, maguanimous, and generous people, and were never known to insult a conquered enemy: nay, how often has it happened that both our sailors and our soldiers have risqued their lives to save a fallen foe. Even when you had thrown away one of the brightest diadems in Europe, and bad accepted a slender sceptre in Elba, you were instantly treated with comparative mildness by the more prevailing public opinion in England. And now that you are, as you chuse to term it, in our power, a generous feeling of a generous