that for twenty-two years preceding the Poor Law Amendment Act in
1834 the average annual disbursement for the relief of the poor
was 6,505,037_l._, while for the subsequent 25 years it has only
been 5,169,073_l._, the supposed annual saving by the new law being
1,335,964_l._ The average annual cost of the new union-workhouses has
been about 200,000_l._, and the salaries of the paid Union-officers
about 600,000_l._
The strikes of 1860 told severely upon the returns. On July 1st, 1860,
there were 1,751 able-bodied men receiving relief more than on the same
day of the previous year. On new year’s day of 1860 there were 40,972
more persons of all classes in receipt of relief than on the first day
of the preceding year. There were 6,720 more able-bodied men in receipt
of relief, and 7,026 more able-bodied women.
REPORT OF THE POOR LAW BOARD (1860).
The usual statistics of this report show that in the year 1860 the sum
of 5,454,964_l._ was expended for the relief of the poor in England and
Wales, being at the rate per head of the estimated population, of 5_s._
6_d._ The net annual value of the rateable property at the present time
(1860) is 71 millions.
The inefficiency of the Poor Law to meet the wants of the destitute in
times of great and prevailing distress has been demonstrated over and
over again, and at no period more pointedly and decisively than during
the year 1860. On this subject we subjoin the remarks of a writer in
the _Times_ (Feb. 11, 1861). “It is an admitted and notorious fact,
that after a fortnight’s frost the police courts were besieged by
thousands who professed to be starving; the magistrates and officers
of the court undertook the office of almoners in addition to their
other laborious duties; the public poured in their contributions as
they would for the victims of a terrible disaster; for a time we had in
a dozen places a scene that rather took one back to the indiscriminate
dole before the convent door, or the largess flung by the hand among
the crowd at a royal progress than to an institution or custom of
this sensible age. To some it naturally occurred that the Poor Law
ought to have dispensed with this extraordinary exhibition; to others
that no law could meet the emergency.... It was the saturnalia if
not of mendicancy, at least of destitution. The police stood aside
while beggars possessed the thoroughfares on the sole plea of an
extraordinary visitation. There was a fortnight’s frost, so it was
allowable to one class to hold a midnight fair on the Serpentine, and
to another to insist on being maintained at the expense of the public.
Was all this right and proper? We had thought that the race of sturdy
vagrants and valiant beggars was extinct, or at least that they dared
no longer show themselves. But here they were in open day like the
wretches which are said to emerge out of darkness on the day of a
revolution.... When such is the fact, and when it is now admitted by
all to have been not only exceptional, but highly exceptionable, we
may leave others to find out the right shoulders on which the blame
should be laid. For our part we hold that a Poor Law ought to be as
proof against a long frost, or any other general visitation--and there
are many more serious--as a ship ought to be against a storm, or an
embankment against an inundation.”
On the occasion here referred to the Poor Law gave relief to 23,000;
but sent away 17,000 empty-handed, who would have starved but for the
open-handed charity of the public, dispensed in the most liberal spirit
by the metropolitan magistrates.
Mendicancy has always increased to an alarming extent after a war, and
during the time of war, if it has been protracted. There is no doubt
that the calamities of war reduce many respectable persons to want; but
at the same time the circumstances which attend a period of commotion
and trouble always afford opportunities to impostors. Mendicancy had
reached a fearful pitch during the last great war with France; and in
1816, the year after the battle of Waterloo, the large towns were so
infested by beggars of every description that it was deemed necessary
to appoint a select committee of the House of Commons to consider what
could be done to abate the nuisance. The report of this committee
furnishes some interesting particulars of the begging impostures of the
time and of the gains of beggars.
STREET BEGGARS IN 1816.
It was clearly proved that a man with a dog got 30_s._ in one day.
Two houses in St. Giles’s frequented by from 200 to 300 beggars. It
was proved that each beggar made on an average from 3_s._ to 5_s._ a
day. They had grand suppers at midnight, and drank and sang songs until
day-break.
A negro beggar retired to the West Indies, with a fortune of 1,500_l._
The value of 15_s._ 20_s._ and 30_s._ found upon ordinary street
beggars. They get more by begging than they can by work; they get so
much by begging that they never apply for parochial relief.
A manufacturer in Spitalfields stated that there were instances of his
own people leaving profitable work for the purpose of begging.
It was proved that many beggars paid 50_s._ a week for their board.
Beggars stated that they go through 40 streets in a day, and that it is
a poor street that does not yield 2_d._
Beggars are furnished with children at houses in Whitechapel and
Shoreditch; some who look like twins.
A woman with twins who never grew older sat for ten years at the corner
of a street.
Children let out by the day, who carried to their parents 2_s._ 6_d._ a
day as the price paid by the persons who hired them.
A little boy and a little girl earned 8_s._ a day. An instance is
stated of an old woman who kept a night school for instructing children
in the street language, and how to beg.
The number of beggars infesting London at this time (1816) was computed
to be 16,000, of which 6,300 were Irish. We glean further from the
report respecting them.
It appears by the evidence of the person who contracts for carrying
vagrants in and through the county of Middlesex, that he has passed as
many as 12,000 or 13,000 in a year; but no estimate can be formed from
that, as many of them are passed several times in the course of the
year. And it is proved that these people are in the course of eight or
ten days in the same situation; as they find no difficulty in escaping
as soon as they are out of the hands of the Middlesex contractor.
A magistrate in the office at Whitechapel, thinks there is not one who
is not worthless.
The rector of Saint Clement Danes describes them as living very well,
especially if they are pretty well maimed, blind, or if they have
children.
Beggars scarify their feet to make the blood come; share considerable
sums of money, and get scandalously drunk, quarrel, and fight, and
one teaches the other the mode of extorting money; they are the worst
of characters, blasphemous and abusive; when they are detected as
impostors in one parish they go into another.
They eat no broken victuals; but have ham, beef, &c.
Forty or fifty sleep in a house, and are locked in lest they should
carry anything away, and are let out in the morning all at once.
Tear their clothes for an appearance of distress.
Beggars assemble in a morning, and agree what route each shall take.
At some of the houses, the knives and forks chained to the tables, and
other articles chained to the walls.
MENDICANT PENSIONERS.
Some who have pensions as soldiers or sailors were among those who
apply by letters for charity; one sailor who had lost a leg is one of
the most violent and desperate characters in the metropolis.
Among beggars of the very worst class there are about 30 Greenwich
pensioners, who have instruments of music, and go about in parties.
A marine who complained that he had but 7_l._ a year pension, said he
could make a day’s work in an hour in any square in London.
A pensioner who had 18_l._ a year from Chelsea, when taken up for
begging had bank-notes concealed in his waistcoat, and on many of that
description frequently 8_s._ 10_s._ or 12_s._ are found, that they have
got in a day.
Chelsea pensioners beg in all directions at periods between the
receipts of their pensions.
A Chelsea pensioner who receives 1_s._ 6_d._ a day is one of the most
notorious beggars who infest the town.
A Greenwich pensioner of 7_l._ a year, gets from 5_s._ to 10_s._ for
writing begging letters.
BEGGING LETTER WRITERS IN 1816.
Some thousand applications by letters are made for charity to ladies,
noblemen, and gentlemen in the metropolis; two thousand on an average
were within the knowledge of one individual who was employed to make
inquiries. Several persons subsist by writing letters; one woman
profits by the practice, who receives a guinea a week as a legacy from
a relation, and has laid out 200_l._ in the funds. Letters have been
written by the same person in five or six different hands.
Persons who write begging letters are called twopenny-post beggars.
A man who keeps a school writes begging letters for 2_d._ each.
* * * * *
These extracts, culled here and there from a voluminous report, will
suffice to give an idea of the state of mendicancy in the metropolis at
the beginning of the century. The public were so shocked and startled
by the systematic impostures that were brought to light that an effort
was made to protect the charitable by means of an organized system of
inquiry into the character, and condition of all persons who were found
begging. The result of this effort was the establishment in 1818 of the
now well-known
MENDICITY SOCIETY.
The object of this Society was to protect noblemen, gentlemen, and
other persons accustomed to dispense large sums in charity from being
imposed upon by cheats and pretenders, and at the same time to provide,
on behalf of the public, a police system, whose sole and special
function should be the suppression of mendicancy.
The plan of the Society is as follows:--The subscribers receive printed
tickets from the Society, and these they give to beggars instead of
money. The ticket refers the beggar to the Society’s office, and
there his case is enquired into. If he be a deserving person relief
is afforded him from funds placed at the disposal of the Society by
its subscribers. If he is found to be an impostor he is arrested and
prosecuted at the instance of the Society. Governors of this Society
may obtain tickets for distribution at any time. The annual payment of
one guinea constitutes the donor a governor, and the payment of ten
guineas at one time, or within one year, a governor for life. A system
of inquiry into the merits of persons who are in the habit of BEGGING
BY LETTER has been incorporated with the Society’s proceedings, and
the following persons are entitled to refer such letters to the office
for investigation, it being understood that the eventual grant of
relief rests with the subscriber sending the case:--
I. All contributors to the general funds of the Society to the amount
of twenty guineas.
II. All contributors to the general funds of the Society to the amount
of ten guineas, and who also subscribe ONE GUINEA annually.
III. All subscribers of two guineas and upwards per annum.
So successful have been the efforts of this Society in protecting the
charitable from the depredations of begging-letter writers and other
mendicants, that now almost every public man whose prominent position
marks him out for their appeals, contributes to the Society, either
by subscriptions or donation. The Queen herself is the Patron; the
President is the Marquis of Westminster, and among the Vice-Presidents
may be counted three dukes, three marquises, eight earls, one viscount,
a bishop, and a long list of lords and members of parliament.
Altogether the Society has about 2,400 subscribers, whose donations
and subscriptions range from 100_l._ and 50_l._ to 2_l._ and 1_l._ The
total amount of the Society’s income for 1860 was 3,913_l._ 14_s._
2_d._, of which 3,010_l_ 13_s._ 9_d._ was derived from subscriptions
and donations, the remainder being derived from legacies, interest on
stock and the profits of the Society’s works. The expenditure for the
same year was 3,169_l._ 16_s._ 10_d._, and the amount expended in the
relief of mendicants, 906_l._ 9_s._
The meals given in 1860 to persons who were found to be deserving were
42,192.
The unregistered cases (that is, those not thought to require a special
investigation) were 4,224, and the registered cases 430.
The vagrants apprehended were 739; of whom 350 were convicted.
The following Table sets forth the whole of the cases that came under
the notice of the Society in 1860.
Number of registered cases in 1860 430
Of which there appeared to belong--
To parishes in London 151
Country 142
Ireland 82
Scotland 0
Wales 8
France 2
East Indies 7
West Indies 2
America 1
Italy 5
Africa 1
China 1
Switzerland 2
Germany 2
Poland 1
Unknown 7
-- 430
Alleged causes of distress.
Want of employment 395
Age and infirmity 1
Failure in business 1
Foreigners and others desirous of returning
home 22
Sickness and accidents 2
Want of clothing 3
Loss of stock, tools, &c. 1
Loss of character 1
Loss of relations and friends by death,
desertion, imprisonment, &c. 4
-- 430
The various cases were disposed of as follows:--
Referred to London parishes; most of whom
were admitted into workhouses, or obtained
relief through the interference of the Society,
some being previously relieved with money,
food, and clothing 15
Relieved with clothing and sent to their respective
parishes 9
Provided with situations, clothing, tools, goods,
or other means of effectually supporting
themselves 8
New apprehended cases by the Society’s constables
during 1860: a large number of whom
were committed by the magistrates as vagrants;
others were referred to the Society,
and sent to work, the men at the mill, and
stone-breaking, and the women at oakum-picking;
and several were assisted with the
means of returning home 376
Proved on investigation to be undeserving 4
Employed at the mill and oakum picking (not
apprehended cases) 1
Placed in hospitals and assisted with clothing 4
Relieved weekly, where distress appeared temporary,
and clothes, blankets, shoes, &c.
given 13
---
Total 430
The following Table exhibits a statement of the Society’s proceedings
from the first year of its formation to the year 1860:--
Years. Cases registered. Vagrants Meals given.
committed.
1818 3,284 385 16,827
1819 4,682 580 33,013
1820 4,546 359 46,407
1821 2,339 324 28,542
1822 2,235 287 22,232
1823 1,493 193 20,152
1824 1,441 195 25,396
1825 1,096 381 19,600
1826 833 300 22,972
1827 806 403 35,892
1828 1,284 786 21,066
1829 671 602 26,286
1830 848 -- 105,488
1831 1,285 -- 79,156
1832 1,040 -- 73,315
1833 624 -- 37,074
1834 1,226 652 30,513
1835 1,408 1,510 84,717
1836 946 1,004 68,134
1837 1,087 1,090 87,454
1838 1,041 873 155,348
1839 1,055 962 110,943
1840 706 752 113,502
1841 997 1,119 195,625
1842 1,233 1,306 128,914
1843 1,148 1,018 167,126
1844 1,184 937 174,229
1845 1,001 868 165,139
1846 980 778 148,569
1847 910 625 239,171
1848 1,161 979 148,661
1849 1,043 905 64,251
1850 787 570 94,106
1851 1,150 900 102,140
1852 658 607 67,985
1853 419 354 62,788
1854 332 326 52,212
1855 235 239 52,731
1856 325 293 49,806
1857 354 358 54,074
1858 329 298 43,836
1859 364 305 40,256
1860 430 350 42,192
------ ------ ---------
51,016 24,773 3,357,834
Total number of apprehended cases in 1860:--
Committed 350
Discharged 389
--- 739
Non-registered cases during the year 4,224
Registered cases 430
----- 4,654
I will now give a few examples of the cases which ordinarily come under
the notice of the Society.
A DESERVING CASE.
A. L. and her sister, the one a widow, 70, the other a single woman,
55, applied for relief under the following circumstances. They had
for many years been supporting themselves by making children’s
leather-covered toy balls, at one time earning a comfortable living;
but their means were reduced from time to time by the introduction of
India-rubber and gutta-percha, until at last five pence per dozen was
all they could obtain for their labour; and it required both to apply
themselves for many hours to earn that small amount; still, to avoid
the workhouse, they toiled on, until the destruction of Messrs. Payne’s
toy warehouse in Holborn, which threw them entirely out of work, and
reduced them to absolute want. It was thus they were found in the
winter having been frequently without food, fire, or candle, nearly
perishing with cold, and in fear of being turned into the streets for
arrears of rent. Inquiry having been instituted as to their character,
which was found to be exceedingly good, they were relieved for three
months with money and food weekly, besides bedding and clothing being
given to them from the Society’s stores.
ANOTHER.
E. W., the applicant, a widow of a journeyman carpenter, who, in
consequence of his protracted illness and want of employment, was at
the time of his death destitute, and in her confinement at the time
she was visited by the Society. She had three young children incapable
of contributing to their own support, and the parish officers in
consequence were relieving her with a trifle weekly; but she was in a
very low state for want of nourishment. The referee expressed it as
his opinion that she was a very deserving woman, and that on two or
three occasions he had afforded her assistance, and had much pleasure
in recommending her case. Assistance was in consequence given her for
several weeks, for which she appeared very grateful.
AN IMPOSTOR.
J. C. This man, who has been seventeen times apprehended by the
Society’s constables, and as many more by the police, was taken into
custody for begging. He is an old man, and his age usually excites the
sympathy of the public; but he is a gross impostor, and for the last
fifteen years has been about the streets, imposing upon the benevolent.
He has been convicted of stealing books, newspapers, and on one
occasion an inkstand from a coffee house. His appeals to the benevolent
in the streets are very pertinacious, and persons frequently give him
money for the purpose of getting rid of him. He had, when last taken
into custody, 2_l._ 9_s._ 4_d._ secreted about his person, part in
his stockings, which he stated had been given to him to enable him to
leave the country, and a variety of what he represented to be original
verses was found in his possession and produced before the magistrate,
to whom he appealed to sympathise with a poor author. “Pray, sir,” said
he, “look at my verses; you will find that they are such as would be
written by a man of scholastic attainments; they breathe a sentiment
of love and charity, and of generosity to the poor; they are of
scientific interest, and fit for the perusal of royalty.” His sentence
to a month’s imprisonment only evidently surprised him, for which he
thanked the magistrate; but he continued in a suppressed tone of voice:
“But, sir, what about my money?” On being informed that, on account of
his age, it should be returned to him when his time of imprisonment
expired, he indulged in a rhapsody of delight, but begged that his
emotion might not be misconstrued. “It is not the love of money, sir,”
addressing the magistrate, “that moves me thus; it is a far higher
feeling; I have an affectionate heart, sir,--it is gratitude.”
ANOTHER IMPOSTOR.
E. M. C. This man applied for relief during the severity of the
winter of 1860-1, representing himself as in much distress for want
of employment; that he had a wife ill at home, confined to her bed,
and having been for a long time out of work, his three children were
wanting food. Work was accordingly given to him at the Society’s mill,
and he was supplied with food for the immediate wants of his family,
pending inquiry into the truthfulness of his story. It was found that
he was a single man, who, for deceptive purposes, had adopted the name
of a woman with whom he was living, and who had separated from her
husband but a short time previously, and was tutoring her children in
all imaginable kinds of vice. It was also ascertained that the police
had strict orders to watch the man’s movements, for he was known as an
associate of characters of the worst description. He was consequently
discharged from the Society’s works, with a caution against applying to
the benevolent for their sympathy in the future.
* * * * *
The following is the case of a person who applied for charity by
letter, whose case was found to be a deserving one:--
J. W. A middle-aged man of creditable appearance, who had for many
years obtained a livelihood for himself and family (consisting of his
wife and six children) as a clerk and salesman to a respectable firm,
being thrown out of his situation through his employer’s embarrassed
circumstances, became gradually reduced to destitution, and therefore
made application for assistance to a subscriber to the Society. It
appeared upon investigation that he had been most regular in his
attention to his duties, strictly honest, industrious, and sober,
and just at the time of the inquiry it fortunately happened that he
procured another situation, but was hampered with trifling debts
which he incurred while out of employment, which it was necessary to
discharge, as well as procure suitable clothing. His character having
proved satisfactory, the subscriber applied to directed a handsome
donation to be appropriated to his assistance, whereby he was enabled
to overcome his difficulties. He showed himself most grateful for the
assistance.
I shall now, by way of contrast, give the case of two beggars by
letter, who were found to be rank impostors:--
H. G. This man and his wife have been known to the Society for
many years as two of the most persevering and impudent impostors
that ever came under its cognizance. The man, although possessing
considerable ability, and having a respectable situation as a clerk
in a public institution, had become such an habitual drunkard as to
be quite reckless as to what false representations he put forth to
obtain charitable assistance; and finding himself detected in his
various fabricated tales of distress, had the impudence to apply to a
subscriber by letter, wherein he represented that his wife had died
after several months’ severe affliction, which upon inquiry turned
out untrue, his wife being alive and well, and they were living
together at the very time the letter was written. Notwithstanding he
was thus foiled in his endeavours to impose, a few weeks afterwards
the wife had the assurance to send a letter to another subscriber,
craving assistance on account of the death of her husband, and in
order to carry out the deception she dressed herself in widow’s weeds.
The gentleman applied to, however, having some misgivings as to her
representations, fortunately forwarded her appeal to the Society, where
it was ascertained that her husband was also alive and well.
A WELL-EDUCATED BEGGAR.
J. R. P. F. A man about 45 years of age, the son of a much respected
clergyman in Lancashire, who had received a good classical education,
and was capable of gaining an excellent livelihood, applied to various
persons for aid, in consequence, as he said, of being in great distress
through want of a situation. He carefully selected those gentlemen who
were well acquainted with, and respected, his father, some of whom,
mistrusting his representations, forwarded the letters to the Mendicity
Society for inquiry, which proved the applicant to be a most depraved
character, who had been a source of great trouble to his parents for
many years, they having provided him with situations (as teacher
in various respectable establishments) from time to time, and also
furnished him with means of clothing himself respectably; but on every
occasion he remained in his employment but a very short time, before he
gave way to his propensity to drink, and so disgraced himself that his
employers were glad to get rid of him; whereupon he made away with his
clothing to indulge his vicious propensity.
I will now proceed to give an account of the beggars of London, as they
have come under my notice in the course of the present inquiry.
BEGGING-LETTER WRITERS.