Chapter 23

[155]Instructional Letter, 1838, in Fifth Annual Report, 1839, p. 76.

[156]At Midsummer, 1838, the children under sixteen in the workhouses of the 478 unions then making returns numbered no fewer than 42,767, out of a total workhouse population of 97,510. (Special Report on the Further Amendment of the Poor Law, 1839, p. 56.) In 1840 the Poor Law Commissioners estimated the total number under 16 to be 64,570, of whom 56,835 were between 2 and 16 (Report on the Training of Pauper Children, 1841, p. iii.).

[157]"It would be said that we should be giving the pauper children a better education than that obtainable by the independent labourer's child. While I allow and lament this truth, I wholly deny its force. Because the schooling of children out of the workhouse is neglected, is this a valid reason and excuse for equally neglecting those who are within it? According to this argument, not a single ray of moral or religious knowledge should be allowed to illumine the mind of a pauper child; he should be brought up a perfect brute, since it is certain that this is the lot of innumerable independent children" (E. Carleton Tufnell, in Report on the Training of Pauper Children, 1841, p. 355).

[158]Official Circular, No. 5, 16th June 1840, p. 56.

[159]General Order, 31st December 1844, and 29th January 1845, in Eleventh Annual Report, 1845, pp. 72-96; 15th and 22nd August 1845, in Twelfth Annual Report, 1846, pp. 60-71; and Arts. 52-74 of General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847.

[160]Circular, 1st January 1845, in Eleventh Annual Report, 1845, pp. 96-7.

[161]Instructional Letter, 6th May 1836, in Second Annual Report, 1836, p. 50.

[162]Report on the Further Amendment of the Poor Law, 1839, pp. 73-81.

[163]Minute, 27th March 1840, in Sixth Annual Report, 1840, pp. 95-96.

[164]Official Circular, No. 9, 10th November 1840, pp. 113-118.

[165]Instructional Letter, 6th May 1836, in Second Annual Report, 1836, pp. 50-51.

[166]Minute, 27th March 1840; in Sixth Annual Report, 1840, p. 95.

[167]Official Circular, No. 34, 30th April 1844, p. 76.

[168]Ibid.p. 74.

[169]Report on the Further Amendment of the Poor Law, 1839, pp. 73-81.

[170]pp. 129-142 of Eighth Annual Report, 1842.

[171]Official Circular, No. 5, 16th June 1840, pp. 51-53.

[172]Letter, 2nd August 1841, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 77.

[173](1) (3) Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, in Second Annual Report, 1836, p. 89. (2) General Order, 24th July 1847, art. 101. (4) Letter of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 111. (5) (10) General Order, 3rd December 1841, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 183. (7) Form of Order, 1839, in Report on the Further Amendment of the Poor Law, 1839, p. 106. (8) General Order, 30th April 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 177. (9) General Order, 5th February, 1842, inibid.p. 80.

[174]Amended Form of Order prohibiting Outdoor Relief to the able-bodied; Instructional Letter, 1839, in Report on the Further Amendment of the Poor Law, 1839, pp. 106-107.

[175]p. 177 of Eighth Annual Report, 1842.

[176]Official Circular, No. 5, 16th June 1840, supplement, p. 9.

[177]Letter, 2nd August 1841, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 77.

[178]General Consolidated Order, 24th July 1847, art. 52.

[179]Minute, 13th June 1840, inOfficial Circular, No. 5, 16th June 1840, p. 56.

[180]General Order, 31st December 1844, art. 2, in Eleventh Annual Report, 1845, pp. 16, 72; General Consolidated Order, 24th July 1847, art. 54.

[181]p. 92 of Second Annual Report, 1836.

[182]Report on the Further Amendment of the Poor Law, 1839, pp. 53, 61.

[183]Official Circular, No. 5, 16th June 1840, p. 53.

[184]Special Report of Poor Law Commissioners on the Further Amendment of the Poor Law, 1839, p. 47.

[185]p. 85 of First Annual Report, 1835.

[186]p. 313 of Report of 1834 (reprint of 1905).

[187]4 & 5 William IV. c. 76, sec. 23.

[188]Ibid.sec. 25.

[189]4 & 5 William IV. c. 76, sec. 24.

[190]Seeante, p. 19.

[191]pp. 306, 307, 313 of Report of 1834.

[192]Ibid.pp. 306, 307.

[193]Ibid.p. 313.

[194]Ibid.p. 314.

[195]p. 313 of Report of 1834.

[196]See the first of such "Orders and Regulations," in First Annual Report, 1835, pp. 96-110; the Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, in Second Annual Report, 1836, pp. 81-89; the General Order, Workhouse Rules, 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, pp. 79-104; and the General Consolidated Order, 24th July 1847.

[197]First Annual Report, 1835, p. 29.

[198]First Annual Report, 1835, p. 16.

[199]Ibid.p. 166.

[200]MS. correspondence of Sir Francis Head.

[201]Ibid.

[202]The possibility was once barely mentioned in 1837 of the one "common workhouse establishment" consisting "of a selection of the better workhouses now existing in each union," instead of concentrating "all the necessary accommodation in one workhouse situated in the centre of the union" (Third Annual Report, 1837, p. 27.)See alsothe reference to this possibility in the Instructional Letter sent in that year to each new Board of Guardians (ibid.p. 82). In June 1837, the Central Authority said that it had always preferred one central workhouse, but had sometimes allowed existing ones to remain. Its two years' experience had now confirmed it in its belief that one central workhouse was better (Letter to Newcastle Board of Guardians, 20th June 1837).Two years later, in describing, with praise, "the consolidation of workhouse establishments" which had been going on in Lancashire and Yorkshire, the Central Authority observes "that very few will ultimately find it desirable to retain more than one establishment" (Fifth Annual Report, 1839, p. 29). In the Special Report on the Further Amendment of the Poor Law, 1839, it is pointed out, as evidence that the Central Authority had not yet had time to put its policy completely into execution, that there were "still about seventy unions in which a central workhouse" had "not yet been built." (Report on the Further Amendment of the Poor Law, 1839, p. 7.)

Two years later, in describing, with praise, "the consolidation of workhouse establishments" which had been going on in Lancashire and Yorkshire, the Central Authority observes "that very few will ultimately find it desirable to retain more than one establishment" (Fifth Annual Report, 1839, p. 29). In the Special Report on the Further Amendment of the Poor Law, 1839, it is pointed out, as evidence that the Central Authority had not yet had time to put its policy completely into execution, that there were "still about seventy unions in which a central workhouse" had "not yet been built." (Report on the Further Amendment of the Poor Law, 1839, p. 7.)

[203]First Annual Report, 1835, p. 29, and end.

[204]Eighth Annual Report, 1842, pp. 13-15, 188-190, 194-198.

[205]General Order, 5th February 1842, art. 11, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 81; amended by General Consolidated Order, 24th July 1847, art. 100; still in force.

[206]Eighth Annual Report, 1842, pp. 14, 188-190.

[207]General Order, 5th February 1842, art. 9, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 80; General Consolidated Order, 24th July 1847, art. 98; still in force.

[208]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, pp. 108-109. In 1845, after the deliberate sending to the workhouse of a smallpox patient had led to an epidemic, the Central Authority goes so far as to suggest to the board of guardians concerned "that it is of the utmost consequence that provision should be made at the workhouse by separate infectious wards for the reception of cases of this description without endangering the health of all in the house" (Letter of 25th September 1845, inOfficial Circular, 1st January 1846, No. 55, p. 15). But even then there was no order made on the subject; no alteration of the classificatory scheme; and no general recommendation to all boards of guardians.The explanation of the omission to provide for the sick will become apparent at a later stage. It was no part of the policy of the Central Authority that the sick should be received into the workhouse at all. It was assumed that they would normally be relieved in their own homes. The incidental scanty references to the sick wards of the workhouses had reference only to the accommodation of such of the inmates of the workhouse as happened to fall sick. Even these were, in serious cases, to be transferred to a voluntary hospital, where such an institution existed. A resolution of the Poplar Board of Guardians, in 1842, to send "all cases requiring extraordinary surgical aid" to the London Hospital was approved (Official Circular, No. 20, 30th July 1842, p. 297). "Any reasonable subscription to a hospital or similar establishment by a Board of Guardians" would be sanctioned (ibid.No. 17, 12th April 1842, p. 250.)

The explanation of the omission to provide for the sick will become apparent at a later stage. It was no part of the policy of the Central Authority that the sick should be received into the workhouse at all. It was assumed that they would normally be relieved in their own homes. The incidental scanty references to the sick wards of the workhouses had reference only to the accommodation of such of the inmates of the workhouse as happened to fall sick. Even these were, in serious cases, to be transferred to a voluntary hospital, where such an institution existed. A resolution of the Poplar Board of Guardians, in 1842, to send "all cases requiring extraordinary surgical aid" to the London Hospital was approved (Official Circular, No. 20, 30th July 1842, p. 297). "Any reasonable subscription to a hospital or similar establishment by a Board of Guardians" would be sanctioned (ibid.No. 17, 12th April 1842, p. 250.)

[209]Art. 99 of General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847; still in force.

[210]Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, sec. 5; in Second Annual Report, 1836, p. 89.

[211]Art. 12 of General Order, 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 82; repeated in art. 101 of General Consolidated Order, 24th July 1847.

[212]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 111.

[213]Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, sec. v. art. 15, in Second Annual Report, 1836, p. 90; art. 10 of General Order of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 82; repeated in art. 99 of General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847.

[214]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842; in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 110.

[215]Art. 111 of General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847.

[216]Art. 10 of General Order of 5th February 1842, and Instructional Letter of the same date, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, pp. 81, 110. In 1847 "casual poor wayfarers" were to be kept in "a separate ward" (General Consolidated Order, 24th July 1847, art. 99).

[217]Letter, 1st April 1839, in Special Report on the Further Amendment of the Poor Law, 1839, p. 293.

[218]Official Circular, 24th December 1840, No. 10, p. 143.

[219]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 108.

[220]General Consolidated Order, 24th July 1847, art. 99.

[221]General Order of 5th February 1842, art. 10; in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 80. It is, we think, not incorrect to infer from the restricted terms of this rule, that the Central Authority was clinging to its former policy in the face of public pressure. Such an inference is supported by the terms in which the covering letter of 5th February 1842 refers to the new proviso, and by the broad hint therein conveyed that "the guardians can allow outdoor relief to any aged couple whom it may be inexpedient to separate" (Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 109).

[222]Letter to Norwich Court of Guardians, 3rd February 1846.

[223]10 & 11 Vic. c. 109, sec. 23.

[224]Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, sec. v. art. 15, in Second Annual Report, 1836, p. 90; repeated in General Order of 5th February 1842, art. 10, proviso 5, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 81; and in General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847, art. 99, proviso 7.

[225]General Order of 5th February 1842, art. 10, and Instructional Letter of the same date, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, pp. 81, 109; repeated in 1847, in more guarded form, maintaining at any rate segregation by sex (General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847, art. 99).

[226]General Order of 5th February 1842, art. 9, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 80; General Consolidated Order, 24th July 1847, art. 98.

[227]Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, sec. v., arts. 9, 13-14, in Second Annual Report, 1836, pp. 89-90; General Order of 5th February 1842, art. 10, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 81; General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847, art. 99.

[228]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 109.

[229]Circular on Workhouse Dietaries, 1836; in Second Annual Report, 1836, pp. 64-66.

[230]Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, sec. v. art. 23; in Second Annual Report, 1836, p. 91.

[231]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842; in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 113.

[232]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 113. This instruction was made mandatory on the medical officer in 1847, but he was permitted to frame in advance, not four only, but as many different dietaries as he chose. The instructions of 1842 were not, however, superseded (General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847, art. 207, sec. 9;see alsounder art. 108).

[233]Official Circular, 30th July 1842, No. 20, p. 301.

[234]Circular on Workhouse Dietaries, 1836, in Second Annual Report, 1836, p. 63.

[235]Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, sec. v. art. 21; in Second Annual Report, 1836, p. 91.

[236]Official Circular, 2nd July 1840, No. 6, pp. 73-74.

[237]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 112.

[238]General Order of 5th February 1842, art. 18, and Instructional Letter of the same date, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, pp. 83, 113; repeated in General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847, art. 109.

[239]General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847, art. 107.

[240]Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, sec. iv. arts. 4, 5; in Second Annual Report, 1836, pp. 85-86.

[241]General Order of 5th February 1842, art. 75; in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 95.

[242]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842; inibid.p. 112.

[243]General Order of 5th February 1842, art. 78; inibid.p. 97.

[244]Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, sec. v. art. 17, in Second Annual Report, 1836, pp. 90, 99; General Order of 5th February 1842, arts. 13-16, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, pp. 82-83, 99; General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847, arts. 102-106, and Form (N).

[245]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842; in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, pp. 115-116.

[246]General Order of 5th February 1842, art. 24, and Instructional Letter of the same date, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, pp. 84, 116. This was repeated in the General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847, art. 117.

[247]Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, sec. v. art. 17; in Second Annual Report, 1836, p. 90.

[248]Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, sec. v. art. 16, in Second Annual Report, 1836, p. 90.

[249]General Order of 5th February 1842, art. 22, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 83.

[250]MS. Minutes, Poplar Board of Guardians, 15th January 1845.

[251]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842; in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 124.

[252]This remained so even in the General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847, art. 167.

[253]General Order of 5th February 1842, art. 10, proviso 6, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 81.

[254]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842; in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 109.

[255]Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, in Second Annual Report, 1836, p. 91.

[256]Letter of 18th February 1842; inOfficial Circular, 13th February 1843, No. 23, p. 43.See alsothe interesting letter of 5th March 1842, giving the reasons for grinding by stones rather than by a steel mill (ibid.30th July 1842, No. 20, p. 298).

[257]General Order of 8th November 1845, and Circular Letter of the same date, in Twelfth Annual Report, 1846, pp. 72-77.

[258]The last instruction of the Central Authority during this period with regard to employment is the Circular of 1st April 1846, stating that the task to be exacted in oakum-picking should be 4 lb. per day for males and 2 to 3 lb. per day for females (Official Circular, 1st April 1886, No. 58, p. 57).

[259]Form of Order, 1840, art. 5; in Seventh Annual Report, 1841, p. 115. This was repeated in the General Order of 5th February 1842, art. 38, and Instructional Letter of the same date, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, pp. 86, 121. But it was omitted from the General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847. And when a board of guardians had made all the unchaste women wear a yellow gown, this was in 1839 disallowed by the Central Authority, on the mixed grounds that the Poor Law Amendment Act had removed all penal consequences from incontinence, and that classification should be by present habits and character, not by past conduct (Minute of 5th March 1839, in Sixth Annual Report, 1840, pp. 98-100;see alsoInstructional Letter of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 121). We are told that the slang term for workhouse wards for immoral women was "Canary Wards," so that the distinctive dress must have been widely known.

[260]Circular Letter of January 1841, in Seventh Annual Report, 1841, p. 121.

[261]Form of Order, 1840, art. 23; in Seventh Annual Report, 1841, p. 118.

[262]Circular Letter of January 1841, in Seventh Annual Report, 1841, p. 121.

[263]Letter of 4th February 1836, in Second Annual Report, 1836, pp. 66-67.

[264]Consolidated Order for the Administration of Relief in Town Unions, 7th March 1836, sec. v. art. 17, in Second Annual Report, 1836, p. 91.

[265]Letter of 6th November 1839; in Seventh Annual Report, 1841, pp. 230-2.

[266]Letter of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 117.

[267]Special Orders, 1st February 1842, 20th April 1842, and 18th January 1845; in Eleventh Annual Report, 1845, pp. 30-1, 132-3.

[268]General Consolidated Order of 24th July 1847, art. 122.

[269]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 117.

[270]Letter of 20th December 1842, inOfficial Circular, 25th January 1843, No. 22, p. 31.

[271]Official Circular, 1st August 1845, No. 50, p. 123.

[272]Circular of 12th March 1838, in Fifth Annual Report, 1839, pp. 71-72.

[273]General Order of 5th February 1842, arts. 32, 33, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 85. Moreover, women after confinement might be "churched," and children were normally to be baptized, in the parish church (Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 117).

[274]General Order of 5th February 1842, arts. 32 and 33, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 85. This was rescinded (but apparently only for 81 unions out of 542) by Order of 7th February 1843, in Ninth Annual Report, 1843, p. 378.

[275]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842; in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 118.

[276]Official Circular, 16th November 1841, No. 13, pp. 187-8.

[277]Answer of 9th June 1842, inOfficial Circular, No. 23, p. 40.

[278]Answer of 10th February 1843, inOfficial Circular, 23rd May 1843, No. 25, p. 94.

[279]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, pp. 114-155.

[280]5 & 6 Vic. c. 57, sec. 5, and 7 & 8 Vic. c. 101, sec. 53.See ante, p. 14.

[281]Answer of 4th January 1844, inOfficial Circular, 31st January 1844, No. 31, p. 187; Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 107.

[282]Instructional Letter of 5th February 1842, in Eighth Annual Report, 1842, p. 107.

[283]MS. letter, Sir Francis Head to S. L., 6th November 1835. It is perhaps a question whether Sir Francis Head really meant what he said; or whether he was not speaking merely of outdoor relief to the able-bodied.

[284]Seethe preamble to Sec. 52 of the Poor Law Amendment Act. [This footnote, like the italics, is in the original.]

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