very poor.

which they can do by paying from 3d. or 4d. per job, or 2s. per week. From this it will be seen that their earnings are very precarious, and for the most part they are At the same time I believe that a man can do very well at this business if he chooses, and if he is prudent he may get a tolerably comfortable livelihood. I was much struck one day visiting in a house in my parish, on ascending the stairs, to hear most unwonted sounds proceeding from a room on the first floor. It was the voice of a man singing cheerfully, as if he was happy. It was no vulgar boisterous mirth, but the cheering notes which proclaim a light heart. So struck was I with these sounds in this dreary quarter, that I made some excuse to go in and see what it was all about. When I entered I found a cheerful looking little man, surrounded by baskets of very excellent fruit, seemingly engaged in arranging them, and getting them into order for going out to sell them in the streets. After the usual salutation, I said, "You seem happy and comfortable." "Yes, I am, sir," he said. "God has been very good to me." "What has happened," I said. "Well, sir," he said, "it has pleased God to take away my old missis, and I have been a happy man ever since. You see all this fruit-this is my stock-in-trade, and I have saved £20, and I intend this summer to buy a cart and pony, and to do the thing in style." "But what," I said, "has this to do with your wife's death." Everything, sir, for she drank, and was my ruin. A year and a-half ago, sir, I had not a stick of furniture, not even a bed to lie down upon, and now you see what I am. Lord bless you, sir, if I go on as I am, I shall soon be a gentleman." I mention this as illustrating what I said, that a costernonger may do very well indeed in his business if he is only prudent and temperate.

the police-a business which, if it increases to any very great extent, must become an intolerable nuisance to the town. I know it is argued that the trades followed by hawkers are usually such as do not seriously interfere with the regular trader, and that it should be the duty of a wise and Christian government rather to encourage the industry of the hawker, than to discourage it by hounding on police officials, to drive the hawkers about, and render the attainment of an honest livelihood as difficult as possible. But, I put it to any one, whether the town would be bearable if this trade were not kept in check by the police? What would be the condition of the streets if these fellows were permitted to obstruct the thoroughfares with their barrows, and to thrust oranges and steel pens into your face just as they pleased, without any restraint? We all know how soon these things get abused. There is the Shoeblack Brigade, a most useful institution, and one which ought to be encouraged, but what has been the consequence of the introduction of the Shoeblack Brigade? Why, that in many parts of London you can hardly pass for fellows soliciting to black your boots, and, though you protest, and point to your boot shining with all the combined polish of Day and Warren, nothing will abash them. And so it would be with the sale of oranges and other articles, if the vendors did not feel that the eye of the police was upon them. I believe the rule is that a certain number of them are allowed to have stalls, if they do not inconvenience the inhabitants before whose doors they sit, and that others are not interfered with if they keep moving, and do not obstruct the thoroughfare. Whether or not it would be advisable to grant licenses to the more respectable, is a question for Sir Richard Mayne to decide; but I am quite sure that no one, whether he be political economist or philanthropist, would endure the state of the town if these people felt that they were not under the surveillance of the police. This is the first class from which costermongria recruits its ranks-artizans and labourers out of employ. Others are of that class who, fancying that the streets of London are paved with gold, have come up from the country fondly imagining that in a short time they would make their fortunes, and either become Lord Mayor or member for the county, and who, when they found that there was a good deal of dirt mingled with the gold, have been thrown friendless upon the town, but having some knowledge from their country education that there is a difference between a carrot and a cabbage, turn their experience to account, and give their neighbours the benefit of it by hawking fruit and vegetables at their doors. Of this class was my little cheerful friend, who bore his widowhood with so much composure, and who really had been a very respectable market gardener in Bedfordshire, and who, from circumstances, had become what he was, and turned his experience to so good an account. But others, and those in large numbers, are born to the business-inSuch being the trade and habits of a costermonger, herit it as it were from their parents, and are introduced the question arises how does a man become a COS- to it from their very childhood. It is extraordinary how termonger? It surely is not a profession to be coveted this kind of business is carried on by families. In my or to be taken up from choice. Well, a man be- letter to Lord John Russell I mention one old lady of comes a costermonger from necessity and from descent. my acquaintance, a daughter of Cyclops, who herself Some of them are artisans and mechanics, whose trades had a stall, or, as it is called, sat in Whitecross-street. from some cause or other have failed, or who have been | She has had fourteen children, all of whom were in early out of employ for some time, and who have taken to this life brought up to the streets. Some of them died; as a means of living. And this opens out the great social the rest have large families all engaged in the trade; question which is forcing itself upon the minds of one daughter had fourteen children; one grand-daughter thoughtful people at this time, as to the condition of the has already had nine children, though only thirtyregular industrial employments, and whether or not they one years of age. The three generations have all so overstocked with workers that artizans and got their living in the streets. The old block herself labourers are forced to take to the street in order to ob- has lately been removed to the workhouse, but it will be tain a livelihood. If they are, it appears to me to be a seen by the above statements that there are plenty of most unhealthy state of things, and one which cannot be chips to supply her place. Of another family the grandcontemplated without great anxiety, for it is evident father was hung at Horsemonger-lane Gaol, the son was that this kind of business must necessarily be very de-a professed body-snatcher, lived with his step-sister, moralising, engendering wild and unsettled habits, and and had five children, all with families, and all cosbringing those employed in it into constant collision with | termongers. Another man had seven children; all

But for the most part their habits are the very opposite of this, and are so from the nature of their business, which consists in hanging about public-houses and markets, wandering over the town, and walking for miles through the streets. Men, women, and children are all engaged in the business, and acquire such wild and Arabian habits from their occupation, that it is almost impossible to get a ny hold upon them at all. They are, for the most part, recklessly improvident, spending often all their earnings at one sitting in the gin palace, then selling off everything and lying on the floor. Then they will borrow a few shillings at extravagant interest, and begin again. Their homes, too, are most wretched, generally in low courts and alleys, because here there is standing room for their barrows, and consisting of one room in which they live, work, sleep, and manufacture their goods; that is, steam their oranges, boil their winks, fry their fish, smoke their sprats, polish their apples, and make their toys. Men, women, and children, all huddled together in one room; the state of morality can be conceived but not described.

are

to look up. The teachers, too, and managers, are con- enormous vats, labelled "Old Tom and Mountain stantly changing-altogether there is a looseness Dew." On the opposite side of the street is a most about them which fails to inspire confidence-doubt-miserable looking dark, dingy house, called a coffeeless, the ragged-schools have done a great deal of good, shop. I am daily struck by the painful contrast which they have acted as useful pioneers in preparing the exists between Flynn's coffee-house and the brilliant way for a better system, and gradually fitting the lowest Corner Pin in my own district. Now, why should we not classes to mingle on a level of equality with those make our coffee-shops more attractive, more like the Paris immediately above them in their own station; but, I cafés. In that city all classes of people go to the cafés and am sure that some more powerful and permanent agency take their coffee and pipe, together with their petits verres, is necessary, in order really to get hold of this kind of and are content; and I really believe that if we made population, and when the object is to teach them the our coffee-shops more attractive, better lighted, and duties of life, as they ought to be taught. more highly decorated, and at the same time introduced Then, again, it is all very well to talk about into them more games, and healthy publications, &c., not these people going to church, but the fact is, they are omitting a cheerful landlord and an agreeable landlady, neither bodily nor mentally fit to go to church. A man which are very essential elements, and not often found who lives in a crowded room full of children and dogs in a coffee-shop, the keepers of these establishments and pigeons, perhaps engaged all the week in a dirty generally wearing the miserable and cheek-sunken aspect trade, even if he were to take a warm bath every Satur- of teetotalers, I believe that even the lowest class might day night, still his very Sunday best, if he has such a be attracted to them, and might be drawn away from raiment, must get impregnated with the atmosphere he Old Tom and Mountain Dew, to regale themselves with lives in, and he knows and feels that he is not fit to the decoction fresh with "the spicy gale which blows mingle with respectable people; so, even if he would from Araby the blest." I do not advocate teetotalism, wish to come, he is painfully conscious that church is no because I am sure all will have, whether they require it place for him, and that the more respectable shun him. or not, some stimulant. Gentlemen who sit at home at I speak from experience, for during the last two or three ease drink their sherry and port with the greatest comyears a much greater number of these people have at-posure and satisfaction, but when they come to talk of tended my church of an evening, and certainly the a poor costermonger or cabman, who is exposed night and attendance of pew holders and more respectable people day to the most inclement weather, and engaged perhaps has decreased. It does not matter in my case, because in a noxious trade, taking his glass of gin, they look the whole of my parish is composed of this class, and horrified, talk about blue ruin and the misery brought there are very few respectable people in it, so that I am upon the working classes by drink. I do not advocate glad to welcome my parishioners, though at a loss of teetotalism, nor would I deny the costermonger his my pew rent, but it is very different in parishes were there pousse cofe, but I think that we might make the stimu is a mixture of clean and unclean. I very much suspect lant less prominent, and not as it were almost force it that if the costermongers of London as a body were to upon the poor man. I do not enter into the financial take it into their heads to go to church, the tables would part of such an establishment. At first I have no doubt soon be turned, and we should see them making a house it would be a failure; but if funds were found to start it to house visitation in Hanover-square and Belgravia, with and keep it going for a time, it might eventually pay; tracts in addition to their lucifer matches, and oranges in but at all events it might be the instrument of much their hands, inviting ladies and gentlemen to go to church. good, and would repay the loss to the philanthropist in Then, again, a man with the scanty education and loose that way, if not in a commercial point of view. habits of a costermonger, is unable to sit through so long a service, being utterly ignorant of what is going on, and mentally incapable of following the thread of a discourse. We must have rooms for these people where they can be assembled for short prayers and familiar discourses, and among men with whom they are not ashamed to associate. I am quite sure a vast amount of good might be done in this way. Having experienced it in the week days, I am convinced it would answer if it could be adopted on the Sunday. At the same time I feel that it will be almost impossible to work much improvement in their habits while their dwellings remain what they are. The houses of these people in my district are of the most wretched description-houses they are not-mere kennels-and such as should long ago have been condemed by the District Surveyor, but which somehow or other are suffered to escape through the tender mercies of the Paving Board, with a little occasional external whitewashing at cholera time. This, I know, is a most difficult question, for these people are compelled by the nature of their business to live in courts, where there are open spaces and sheds to stow away their barrows and to stable their donkeys. The best method appears to be that lately adopted by the Society of which the noble lord in the chair is president, namely, buying up a whole court or street, and building suitable lodgings for these people, at the same time having regard in the im

provements to the trade and habits of the natives.

Then, with regard to the gin palace. Many of these people I know resort to these places because they are warm, and beautifully illuminated and decorated. Here they seek a refuge from the wretchedness of home, and when they enter they see a nice comfortable-looking landlord and a smiling well-dressed landlady, fronted by a row of most inviting clean glasses, and backed by two

However, I am perhaps now getting a little visionary, so it is time to stop; and I shall conclude by thanking you for your kind attention this evening, at the same time expressing my most sincere regret that the circumstances in which I have been placed have not allowed me leisure to work up my matter more effectually, and to make the paper more interesting.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. KEELING, (of the firm of Keeling and Hunt,) had to thank Mr. Mayhew for his introduction to the costermongers, from the circumstance of his having furnished him with some statistical information for his work on "London Labour and the London Poor," in reference to the particular trade in which he (Mr. Keeling) was engaged. This had induced him to take an interest in that class of persons, and he found that by kindness and sympathy their rugged nature was soon softened. He had encouraged a few to attend his sale-room, and had afforded them the assistance and protection ordinarily extended to more wealthy purchasers, and was glad to say his confidence had not been misplaced. He found they appreciated the good their children were deriving from the education given at the Ragged-schools, but the greatest difficulty they had to contend with was the placing them in life after attaining a certain age. They would gladly apprentice then, but they had not the means, and he (Mr. Keeling) thought that since labour was so constantly sought for by our colonies, if a number of boys and girls belonging to this class could be trained to mechanical, agricultural, and domestic pursuits, they might, by government assistance, emigrate, and be removed from that contamination at home which neutralized the moral influeuce exercised at schools, con

fined as many of these families were, to one room for disgust at a system which compelled them to be so subsistence and existence. The greatest grievance the crowded together-and whilst it would give them keen costermongers reported to him was, the interference of susceptibilities of all that was good in their nature it the police whilst pursuing their precarious calling. He did not supply a provision for its development. He (Mr. Keeling) had been in communication with the threw out these remarks in the presence of the noble authorities on the subject, but the different police acts lord in the chair, because his voice was all potent on were imperative, alleging that obstructions caused crowds, the subject, inasmuch as perhaps no man in this country and gave facilities for pocket-picking. London was not had devoted so much time and labour to the study of like many places on the Continent, where in open spaces the condition of the poor of this metropolis. There was allotted to petty dealers in fruit, flowers, and vegetables, a great social problem to be solved-how could they they could pursue their trade without injury to the pub-provide habitations for the labouring poor. The centre lic, but in this metropolis every inch of ground was of the City was considered one of the most healthy spots wanted, and he confessed he could not see how the dif- in London. Immediately beyond that was a circle conficulty was to be obviated, although it was one that con- taining a festering population, spreading disease, and stantly brought them into collision with the police, and beyond that again was another circle, where they had the punishment necessarily resulting only served fur-cleanliness and health. These circles were being widened ther to degrade them. The profit arising from the sale day by day by the improvements going on in the centre. of their articles was greater than was generally imagined, It was hopeless to attempt to create a healthy condition but he feared much was squandered in vice and dissipa- of morality whilst they left the social and physical contion, and it was only by education-by attention to thedition of the people so degraded and so ill-provided for. improvement of their dwellings, so ably advocated on all occasions by the Noble Lord in the chair, and Mr. Rogers, that the position of this class could be ameliorated. Indeed, it would be eventually found that, under an apparently rude exterior, the costermonger had a mind capable of appreciating the advantages bestowed upon

him.

Mr. GEORGE WALLIS (of the Government School of Art, Birmingham,) said that there were two points upon which he desired to make a few remarks; upon one he would hope for information, whilst on the other he might possibly make a useful suggestion. It must be a matter of satisfaction to all interested in the great question of education, that the parents of the class, the peculiarities of whose Mr. FRANCIS BENNOCH expressed the deep interest with social position Mr. Rogers had been describing, were so which he had listened to this paper. The question deeply interested in the education of their children. Unforwas itself a great social problem, requiring much care tunately, there was this difficulty to contend with, that for its solution. The known kindness and consideration after the extent of school training which parents of this which the firm to which the last speaker belonged had class were able to afford their children, they could not shown to this class of people, deserved the thanks of the alway secure such employment for them as would prevent community. It was chiefly through the encouragement them from falling back into the original position of the given by that firm, as he understood, that those coster-parents themselves. The second point to which he mongers, who had been accustomed to vend the native wished to allude, was that of providing some really effecpippin, had been enabled to take up the more profitable tual means of counteracting the attraction of the gintrade of selling pine-apples and other articles of luxury. palace and beer-shops, by an improvement in the chaBut he (Mr. Bennoch) would more particularly refer to racter of the coffee-shops, as mentioned in the paper. a branch of the subject to which he had given some The allusion Mr. Rogers had made to this point, brought personal attention, in connection with the public im- to his (Mr. Wallis's) mind an experiment which an provements in London, which affected, to a very large eminent glass manufacturer at Birminghan, (Mr. Follett extent, the dwellings of the poorer classes. When he Osler,) had some time ago described to him. No doubt heard of any great public improvement being contem- every person present was aware that the process of glass plated-when he heard of hundreds of houses being manufacture was a very warm one, and consequently the levelled for the purpose of increasing the convenience workmen usually consumed a great quantity of beer. of the public traffic-he could not be ignorant of the Now Mr. Osler had been constantly annoyed at that, fact that the destruction of many habitations of the poor and resolved to try the experiment of a substitute was involved, without any provision being made for re- for this incessant "beering," so he adopted a plan placing them. This was a question which excited the by which, he supplied a really good cup of coffee to deepest sympathy in his mind, and was one which his workmen at a cheap rate. When this plan loudly demanded the serious attention of the legisla- was so far matured as to be brought into operation, ture. When public improvements were carried through there was, as a matter of course, some opposition on the particular localities, some provision should be made for part of the confirmed beer-drinkers, but as the experithe reception of those people who were turned out of ment progressed the workmen found that the coffee they their houses, so as to enable them to live near their work. got at the works was so superior to that which they got Instead of that being the case, they were driven to in their own houses, that they perferred breakfasting dwell miles away from the locality in which they la- there, and ultimately the coffee took the place of the boured, and they frequently had to walk three or four beer as the working beverage. Now, it appeared to him, miles to their work. A few days ago, passing through that if this change could be effected without compulsion the neighbourhood of Smithfield, in company with amongst workmen engaged in a manufacture proverbial Lord John Russell, he came upon the area of ground for consumption of beer, the value of Mr. Rogers's known as the Fleet-ditch, where some thousands of suggestion for the improvement of coffee-shops could houses had been destroyed, and the ground was lying not be over-rated. The coffee ordinarily supplied in a perfect waste. What had become of the population these places was of the worst description, and could of that district? They had been dispersed, but not any one wonder that the costermongers went to the destroyed. The inhabitants of the crowded streets and gin palace and beer shop. It was to hoped, therefore, alleys, formerly existing in that district, must live some- that some attempt would be made to provide them where. Some of them probably had removed to the with their beverage in a wholesome and palatable form, neighbourhood of Mr. Rogers, and added to the already with such other attractions to the coffee-shop as would over-crowded state of that locality. He (Mr. Bennoch) give it a chance of competing with the gin palace. was of opinion, that to promote mental enlightenment amidst such a condition of things as existed amongst the class under consideration, was almost adding insult to injury, because it would tend to produce a refinement of feeling which would more and more fill them with

Mr. HILTON had been brought into contact with families of the class under consideration in crowded neighbourhoods. He considered it most important to encourage habits of thrift among men. He thought much good might be done by establishing savings banks,

Dr. ALDIS remarked that even in the district of Belgravia he had met with the description of dens, or kennels, described in the paper; families were herded together in the most pestilential atmosphere. In such places were to be found the lowest class of fish-dealers, who vended articles unfit for food, and highly dangerous to the public health.

headed by the names of men well known-not as believed the remarks which were directed to this peculiar financiers only, but also as philanthropists. He be-class were equally applicable to other portions of the lieved it would have a wonderful moral effect upon the labouring community, who had been driven to the class of costermongers generally. lowest pitch of wretchedness. It was the misfortune of our present social condition, that while the higher classes in this country were in a better condition than in any other, the lower classes were more degraded. But after all what was the practical purpose to be gained by this paper? They were not to go away, having been merely amused by a humourous recital of the abject condition of a class of their fellow creatures, but they were Dr. WALLER LEWIS said there could be no doubt that to ask what could they each do amend this state of it was useless to attempt to do anything for this class of things? and he felt that every suggestion thrown outpeople without first improving their dwellings. It was whether for improved coffee-houses or improved homes, proved almost to demonstration that a little educationwith-had great value. The question of questions was-the out this wasa mischief rather than a good. There was very improvement of the homes, and while on this subject he great difficulty in providing dwellings fitted for these wished to call their attention to the important point of people. They all knew that the noble lord in the chair, the law of parochial rating. He believed it was imposwho had spent so much of his time in thinking and acting sible to have suitable dwellings for the poor in the neighupon this subject, some time ago placed a notice on the bourhoods where they worked so long as they maintained books of the House of Lords, to the effect that when any the present law of parochial rating. The noble chairlarge number of dwellings of the poorer classes were man had brought these social questions, year after year, swept away by the progress of improvement, the legisla- before both Houses of Parliament; and though he had ture should take some steps to provide dwellings in the gained many battles in the cause, still he had been often deplace of those which were destroyed, but although it was feated. They must support the noble lord who was in acknowledged that this intention was-as were all the the van of this movement, in order to bring about an intentions of the noble lord in this direction-good, yet amelioration of this horrible condition of things. from the tenure of property and other reasons, which he Mr. HENRY COLE, C.B., said there was one point would not go into, the measure was found impracticable. worthy of mention, with respect to Mr. Rogers's schools A great point of difficulty was to know where to erect for the costermongering class, which was, that in conthese dwellings. Many had been erected by the Society nection with these schools he had established some of for the Improvement of the Dwellings of the Labouring the most flourishing schools of art that were to be found Classes, of which Lord Shaftesbury was chairman, and in any district. The great question, however, was the others had been erected by the Metropolitan Society, and houses of the poor. He was one of those who thought those present who had visited the interior of those dwel- that education began rather at home than in the schoollings could not fail to be struck with their cleanly ap- room. It was a happy sign at the present day to find pearance and that of their inmates. The difficulty was that all classes of the community were thinking how to find places where to erect such habitations. He could this great question could be met. The evil was not point out one locality which he thought peculiarly avail- confined to London. In a country parish where he able for such a purpose, that was in the neighbourhood resided during the summer months, a most lovely spot, of Victoria - street, Farringdon - street, where there in the midst of rich resident landowners, he found a was a large vacant space, and he had been told land state of things existing last year which they would might be had there at a moderate cost. With reference scarcely credit. In a wretched hovel, thirteen people lived to counteracting the influence of the gin palace, and in a space scarcely larger than the table at which he doubtless that was very much required, he had last stood. Immediately at the back of that wretched den, autumn, in company with his lordship, visited an the proprietor of the place kept no fewer than 40 pigs. establishment in Paris, at which good unadulterated He (Mr. Cole) remonstrated with some parochial funcarticles of food, &c., were supplied to the people at a tionary on the subject, and even took a legal opinion upon moderate cost, and he was informed that many of the the matter, but he found there was no redress, and was wine shops and cafés in the neighbourhood were abandoned told that if he pressed the matter further the people would for this establishment which was sometimes visited by as be turned out and the pigs would be kept there. Should many as 4,000 persons daily; in fact, it produced a good such a state of things be allowed to continue? In many moral effect amongst the workmen of the whole quarter. of our large manufacturing towns the employers found it Mr. Harry CHESTER would hardly have ventured to a matter of convenience, as well as, in some cases, of address the meeting on this very interesting paper were pecuniary profit, to erect at their own cost dwellings in it not for an observation which fell from the gentle-which their own work-people might be concentrated; and man who spoke last. He stated that a little education was an evil. He (Mr. Chester) contended that, although a little education was not so good as a great deal, yet that a little was better than none at all. If they looked at small beginnings in education as an evil, they could never hope for great results. They must insert the thin edge of the wedge and drive it home as far as possible. Much as he was interested in Mr. Rogers' paper, he could not help fearing that the amount of humour in it might lead them to lose sight of the deep, earnest purpose which the author had in view. He, (Mr. Chester), and many others present, knew very well how long and successfully Mr. Rogers had laboured for the improvement of the poor people amongst whom his lot was cast. It was his (Mr. Chester's) province to know the exertions which Mr. Rogers had made to improve the condition of these people, and to provide education for this peculiar class of the community, and he had not only done this, but had improved their condition in every respect. He

they might also go to some of the agricultural districts and they would find such proprietors as the Duke of Richmond insisting that the labourers should have proper cottage accommodation. What they required was that a child should be placed in a condition to be healthy from its birth. Before they sent children to infant schools at three, or to the parochial schools at five or six, they must have cleanliness, which was next to godliness.

Mr. GLAISHER, F.R.S., gave some details relative to the wretched condition of dwellings which he had inspected in Plumptre-court, Holborn, which, he said, were worse than the cabins of Ireland.

Mr. NASH expressed his gratification at learning that some movement had been made upon the important question of the improvement of dwellings of the working classes, and for elevating their moral and social condition. He believed that success would attend the efforts that were now being made in this direction, and he considered that the exertions of Mr. Rogers were especially deserving support at the hands of those present.