Let me first endeavour to arrive at some estimate as to the number and
cost of the vagrant population.
There were, according to the returns of the Poor-law Commissioners,
13,547 vagrants relieved in and out of the workhouses of England and
Wales, on the 1st of July, 1848. In addition to these, the Occupation
Abstract informs us that, on the night of the 6th of June, 1841, when
the last census was taken, 20,348 individuals were living in barns and
tents. But in order to arrive at a correct estimate of the total number
of vagrants throughout the country, we must add to the above numbers
the inmates of the trampers’ houses. Now, according to the Report of
the Constabulary Commissioners, there were in 1839 a nightly average of
very nearly 5000 vagrants infesting some 700 mendicants’ lodging-houses
in London and six other of the principal towns of England and Wales.
(See “London Labour,” Vol. I. p. 408.) Further, it will be seen by the
calculations given at the same, that there are in the 3823 postal towns
throughout the country (averaging two trampers’ houses to each town,
and ten trampers nightly to each house), 76,400 other vagrants
distributed throughout England and Wales.
Hence the calculation as to the total number of vagrants would stand
thus:--