dishonest, are treated exactly alike. The mother of the lawful child, and the mother of the illegitimate one, are confined side by side, which is as injurious to the one as the other. The honest mother feels somewhat of the disgrace, and the other loses all sense of shame. Visitors entering the ward regard them both as mothers of a child of shame. Is this fair to either of them? Besides, it may be that a young girl, the victim of deceit, enters the house, ashamed of her condition, and sorrowing for her sin. And what happens? Turned away from her home, she is thrust into a ward full of habitually sinful women, who laugh at her simplicity, and too often shame her out of her repentance. When, therefore, she is transferred to the Lying-in Ward, what hope is there that the ministrations of the chaplain can take effect? In this, and in other wards where bad women are assembled, the chaplain is well-nigh useless, because he cannot see them one by one, and so, directly his back is turned, his godly exhortations are jeered at, and his advice treated with contempt. How, under such circumstances, is it possible to reclaim even one of such outcasts?
"3. With the diet I had but little acquaintance, but it certainly struck me as excessively hard upon the aged inmates, that nothing but water was allowed them as their dinner drink. Half a pint of the smallest small beer would help to cheer them up, and make them look forward with pleasure to one meal at least in the day. For some time, indeed, this luxury was allowed them, but was afterwards discontinued by order of the Poor- Law Board.
"4. Some difference of treatment and more liberty, might be given with advantage to the old and infirm. That the place should be made as uncomfortable as possible to the young and able-bodied may be necessary, but to those who are well-nigh worn out, it should surely be a resting-place! yet even for the younger inmates the union should be at least as comfortable as the county gaol.
"5. Lastly, if each union had a resident chaplain, gentlemen as guardians, ladies as authorized visitors, and a master with a higher salary, much good might be brought to pass. I should, besides, like to see it ordered that the master and matron had their meals in the hall with the inmates. This would effect a change both in regard to the conduct of the poor, and condition of the food. If some useful employments were introduced among the more infirm, and even some innocent games, puzzles, &c., it would tend to relieve the tedium and monotony of their lives. A reading-room and library might be added with great advantage."
The point of the classification of the inmates is, of course, so fundamentally important, and it has been so strongly enforced by the poor-law rules, that it is surprising it should still be so
