Page:The Laboring Classes of England.djvu/14

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8
INTRODUCTION.

convinced that a reduction in the hours of labor is only a preliminary to the measures we must introduce for the benefit of the working classes; but it is an indispensable preliminary. We must first settle this just principle, and then go on, by God's blessing, to draw long advantages from it. Limited as I am in Parliament, and out of it, I cannot undertake more than one thing at a time; but I think of a great many, and hope to be able hereafter to effect a few of them.

Your labors have been very serviceable. It must be a pleasure to you, to find yourself by God's mercy, in a way to be of use to your fellow sufferers, to make at least an ingenuous effect. I hope that your remaining days may be so assured to you in comfort, that you may have leisure and means to pursue your plans for the welfare of the operatives.

Your faithful servant,A——.


[No. 3.]

March 31, 1842.

——. Pray go to the house of Mrs. Torvey, 41 A——t Street, Regent's Park.

You will there see a poor girl whose arm has been torn off by a wheel in a silk mill. Pray talk to her, and tell me what you think of the case.

You will be able to judge whether I can assist her by giving her a false hand, such as you have.

Your humble servant, A——.


My "plans" alluded to in letter No. 2, were chiefly the establishment of a self-acting asylum in the neighborhood of London, for the reception of the thousands of destitute factory cripples, in which they might be provided with the means of spending the remainder of their days in comfort, and in preparing for another and a better world. I had also formed some plans for preventing, as far as human means could prevent, the making of cripples in future. Although I did not succeed in carrying out these desirable objects, it was gratifying for me