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were added; and a bason of broth in addition completed the meal. This, of course, is not the kind of allowance every day, but the account of the diet which I received from the master, convinced me that the poor are here much better fed than the bulk of those who honourably strive to retain their independence. The whole appearance of this operation of dining was such, that no one with a reasonable appetite would have been unwilling to partake of the viands.

From the dining room I proceeded to the dormitories. These are up-stairs, and are approached by a sort of verandah going all round the quadrangle, which composes the building. They are well aired. Having seen the bed rooms of the poor of all grades, I must say, that the comparison I made is decidedly in favour of those in the Poorhouse. With every disposition to be clean, it is often impossible for those whose every moment is occupied in procuring bread, to accomplish their wish. Here nothing but neglect on the part of the officers of the house, can prevent cleanliness from prevailing.

Crabbe has enumerated the different classes in a workhouse as follows;

"There children dwell who know no parent's care;
Parents who know no children's love, dwell there;
Heart-broken matrons on their joyless bed,
Forsaken wives, and mothers never wed;
Dejected widows with unheeded tears,

And crippled age with more than childhood fears;
The lame, the blind, and, far the happiest they!
The moping idiot and the madman gay."

Here,

I have no doubt that this is often a true picture. however, I saw but few sights of woe. There were no sick

persons; at least, none confined to their A little babe born blind affected me.

rooms by sickness. Here, I thought,

child of misfortune indeed, thou wilt spend thy days. There were several idiots; one in a deplorable state, the others enjoying different degrees of happiness. One, an old man, presented a round tin snuff box to me as I left the yard, and good-naturedly asked for a copper to fill it: the taking of this drug is the summum bonum of his existence.

One bed room was occupied by two old women, who, together, formed a picture of neatness and contentment. Their door opened full on Buxton wood, which being on a hill, surmounts the walls of the house. This, by the way, is the only one of nature's scenes which the internal arrangement permits, and I was glad that it was made to bless the apartments of the women. These aged persons were engaged, one in sewing, the other in reading; I entered into conversation with them, and found they were well-informed. One stated she had long been a member of the methodist society. She had plenty of books: the one she was reading was "The Dairyman's Daughter."

*

I asked the master some questions respecting education and religious instruction. The children generally, attend the national school; some are taught on the premises. There is no chaplain, the guardians considering the present opportunities of instruction sufficient; they consist of prayers read on sunday by the master, and a sermon read by one of the paupers, who is a pious man; with permission for all christian ministers to enter when they please. How desirable is it that an arrangement should be made by ministers of different persuasions to preach in rotation in the house. This would be burdensome to none; would secure every necessary end, and present a pleasing picture of union in a great work of benevolence.

It would be unjust not to mention the good qualities of the master and mistress, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner. They

It should be observed, that a large piece of ground, without the walls, is being arrange for a garden, in which the inmates will be per

mitted to walk.

presided over the old Luton poor-house, and secured the present situation by their good conduct there. They are both well adapted to their office; the one by judgment and firm-' ness, the other by the gentle and humane characteristics of her sex. When so much depends on superintendence, it is gratifying to find the officers of such situations well chosen.

Much credit is due to the guardians under whose management the whole has been conducted, and brought to its present condition. Indeed, it is only necessary that this Poor-house should be seen, to convince that it is an abode of comfort, where justice will be done to the able-bodied, and kind attentions be rendered to the sick and infirm. Benevolent individuals may confidently advise those who cannot avert the ills of poverty by their own exertions, to seek shelter within it. It is indeed to be lamented, that prejudices should keep the aged and friendless, the proper objects of national benevolence, in abodes of misery, when here their last days would be cheered by the supply of real necessity.

every

My impression after my visit was, that the preventive check upon pauperism was by no means conspicuous in the economy of this institution. I was consequently at a loss to account for the fact, that the number of inmates was so small. There were ninety persons from fifteen parishes; while the old Luton house alone, has had as many as sixty at the same season of the year! I am quite confident that in a short time Luton Poor-house will be a centre of attraction to real necessity. If at the same time it repels idleness and imposture, every end will be gained.

I felt proud of my country, which established such a system, which declares that none of its subjects shall perish from want. The abuses of the old laws had almost made us ashamed of what may now be called our glory. May effective vigorous oversight prevent the entrance of evils by which the present enlightened plans would be robbed of their efficacy.

True as the description of the poet before quoted might once be, to Luton Poor-house it cannot apply:

"Say ye, oppressed by some fantastic woes,
Some jarring nerve that baffles your repose;
Who press the downy couch, while slaves advance
With timid eye, to read the distant glance;
Who with sad prayers the weary doctor teaze,
To name the nameless ever-new disease;
Who with mock-patience dire complaints endure,
Which real pain, and that alone, can cure;
How would you bear in real pain to lie,
Despised, neglected, left alone to die?

How would you bear to draw your latest breath,
Where all that's wretched paves the way for death?
Such is that room which one rude beam divides,
And naked rafters form the sloping sides;
Where the vile bands that tie the thatch are seen,
And lath and mud are all that lie between;
Save one dull pane, that, coarsely patched, gives way
To the rude tempest, yet excludes the day:
Here on a matted flock, with dust o'erspread,
The drooping wretch reclines his languid head.
For him no hand the cordial cup applies,
Nor wipes the tear that stagnates in his eyes;
No friends with soft discourse his pain beguile,
Nor promise hope till sickness wears a smile."

PHILOPTOCHOS.

BRIEF COMMENTARY ON PASSING EVENTS.

National Provident Institution.-We refer our readers to an advertisement on the cover of the last number, calling public attention to this excellent institution. The superiority of this over similar societies consists in the fact, `that while others are commercial speculations, yielding a considerable profit to the share-holders, in this the parties insured are the proprietors; "if, therefore, as there is every reason to expect, there should in a few years be an accumulation of capital, it will be appropriated to the insurers, and will either diminish their regular payments, or obtain for them larger sums than the Institution had originally engaged to pay."

The duty of endeavouring to provide for those contingencies to which human life is liable, and for those persons whom Providence has placed in a situation, in some degree, dependant upon us, is universally admitted. The man who daily expends upon himself more than is necessary for his proper sustenance, and takes no thought for the period of age and decrepitude which is likely sooner or later to befall him, is deficient in that prudence which is the handmaid of every virtue. There are, however, considerable difficulties in the way of those who have but small means, in making that provision for the vicissitudes of life, to which the feeling of a virtuous independance would prompt them.

To meet these difficulties, is the primary object of the institution now established for the community at largeSuch an Establishment has long been thought highly desirable by many judicious individuals. They have frequently observed that those who have been for a long period in situations, either in our public establishments or in private families, when no longer able to support themselves by their personal exertions, are without any resources to prevent

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