night before she was removed to the infirm ward. She told me she could not describe her sufferings in this shed, with a brick floor and benches, where hair and oakum are picked; there were "the sweepings of six parishes," she said, and the language and behaviour were fearful; she was also placed to sleep with another woman, and she thought she should have died the first night—she did not dare to go to sleep with this fear. Surely this was a case which might have received a little more care and attention, if anything had been known of her previous character, and I had been allowed to say a word about her.
Governors and officials will always look coldly upon any voluntary aid; but surely there has been proof lately that it is unwise to do so, and that the fears and suspicions of its failure are unjust.
On the introduction of a spirit of love and devotion into this hard machinery, rest the chief hopes of those who look for any improvement in the system. Opinions on this point are unanimous. Amongst the various letters I have received, the following is perhaps one of the most useful, from the clearness and practical nature of its suggestions. It is from a clergyman who was for two years chaplain to the large union of a country town.
"In the hope that it may prove of some service, I will state what appeared to me defects in the system as carried on at C——.
"The first great defect is in regard to the chaplain. Every union ought to have a chaplain entirely to itself, and not, as is too often the case, share one with a neighbouring parish. The miserable stipend which is offered by the guardians renders it impossible for any man to devote his whole time to the paupers. At this time I believe it is 50l. per annum; when I was first elected it was but 40l., and previously only 30l. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary that the chaplain should have some other cure, which prevents his giving more than one Sunday service in the union; an arrangement as unfair to the chaplain himself, as to those committed to his charge. Imagine a man having to look after his parish Sunday schools, with one whole duty, and sharing two others, having, besides, to officiate at the union, situated more than a mile from the church! and in the week the care of 2,000 souls, besides the union! Yet this was exactly my case. I maintain, therefore, that the chaplain ought to have no other duty than the union.
"2. The second defect I will mention relates to the Lying-in Ward. The causes which make it necessary for persons to apply for admission to our unions are, I expect, mainly these: amongst the able-bodied—drunkenness in the men, sins of unchastity in the women. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. And the very exceptions prove the evil. Good and bad—honest and
