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I am glad to see that one result of tho present depression
of trede haa been to direct attention to the enormous amount
of pauperism existing in this country. The recent increase of
the Isst few years indeed is fully accounted for by the
tomporary state of industry, and o fern years of prosperity
will doubtless restore things to what they were. But is there
any time in the present century when we could look at the
undoubted returns of our poor-law relief and say that they
were not a matter of regret and anxiety? Can we say that
we are in a sound social statu when all our triumphs in science,
in rnochanical invention, in manufactures, and in trade leave
us still with on0 million of the people in the state of hopeless
misery and dependence.
It is true that the present generation is not responsible for
the creation of so much wret,chedness. Pauperism is the
general resultant of all the bad and all the omitted legislation
of the last five hundred years. We have enough to answer for
without reproaching ourselves with the deficiencies of our forefathers.
Our reproach must be that, enjoying a greater
amount of wealth, and greater opportunities than ever before
fell to tho lot of auy nation, we have not done more to correct
the results of former neglect. But I apprehend that what we
went is not so much desire to accomplish the work as unanimity
concerning the mode to bo adopted. AS pauperism is the
general resultant of all that is wrong in our social arrangements
it cannot Le destroyed by any single measure; it can
only be reduced by such exertions as raise the intelligence and
provident habits of the people. Material well-being has comparatively
little effect, for, however high the wages of an
artiaan may be, they may be spent intemperately, and on the
slightest reverse of fortune his family or himself may come to
the workhouse. It is distressing to find that a population such
ns that surrounding this city, which, on the whole, perhaps,
has as great a command of good food aud all the oomforts of
life as any in the world, has nothing to fall back upon, no
accumulated savings of consequence, and that they are, there-