DEATHS FROM STARVATION-CONTINUED.

N.B.-The Coroner's Inquest is an institution for which England should feel grateful to the wisdom of an age which she is too ready to depreciate. Dr. Hardwicke's efforts for maintaining the benefits of it to all classes alike, "without respect of persons," instead of being condemned should be commended; whilst his fearless, outspoken observations on the cruelties of the Poor-law system, for which occasions are continually presenting themselves, are above all praise. The author lived eight years in Scotland, where the instituting of an inquiry into the causes of sudden deaths by means of a jury, assisted by the representative of the Executive Government, is unknown. The Procurator Fiscal may indeed be applied to; and, if that officer should deem it expedient, he may order a post-mortem examination. This, however, is of rare occurrence. In the sixth decade of the present century an awfully sudden death occured not very far from Edinburgh, about which quite a "fama" prevailed at the time. It was that of a wealthy individual, residing with his family at their country residence. On the Saturday he visited the capital, and returned home in the evening with a friend a medical gentleman-in his usual state of health. In the dead of the night he was taken ill, and attended to by some members of his family, but before the morning light had returned, and before any servant had entered the sick room, he died. The writer does not remember whether the professional visitor were called up or not; but what he does remember, and will indeed never forget, is, that when strange rumours were afloat, and it was well known even the brother of the deceased desired an investigation into the cause of death, a still nearer relative of the suddenly departed one stated in the presence of the writer that she was sure the then ProcuratorFiscal would not order an inquiry into the cause of death to be instituted, because he was a friend of the family. Moreover, this painful event took place on the dawn of “the Sabbath," that awful day in many parts of Scotland, on which few persons are so daring as to appear outside their houses, except on their way to and from the kirk. Of course, when the second day of the week arrived, speedy preparations were to be made for the funeral. But it is more to our present purpose to refer to Coroners' Courts as bearing on the subject of death from starvation. How singular is the fact that as soon as you cross the Tweed, at Berwick, you hear no more of such cases (we had almost said appalling, but we can only now in truth say which ought to be appalling). Is it then that no deaths from destitution occur in North Britain? Those who have read the published accounts of the Wynds and Closes of Glasgow and Edinburgh, written by Scotchmen themselves, will find it different to arrive at such a conclusion. To shew what intense suffering from want is permitted to exist by the pious people of the latter, we venture to quote from a brochure of ours, entitled :- A few more words on the Introduction of the Italian Opera into Edinburgh; or 'Robert the Devil,' &c., versus Lazarus," by "Clericus," M.A.

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"On one occasion, his professional duty leads him to go in search of a poor woman, whose poverty was such that she had cut off the hair of her head, to turn into money for bread. While seeking after this person, he is directed, by mistake, to another bearing the same name. On conversing with the latter, the mistake is discovered; but the woman, who appeared from her dress to be in the most abject poverty, was very loath to allow the visitor at her door, whom accident had thus brought into proximity with her wretchedness, to depart. Supposing him to be a clergyman, she said that her husband was laid up very ill; would not the minister see him?' When assured that the sick man had not been visited by any brother clergyman, of course the invited one could not find it in him to resist such an

appeal. Accordingly he entered, following his guide to the afflicted man across almost bare rafters, which seemed in some parts scarce safe to tread upon. The room was reached; but who shall describe the scene which presented itself? "There lies my poor husband ?' Yes, kind reader, there he did lie, racked with rheumatism, almost upon the bare ground, with just a threadbare coverlet over his absolutely bare person, for not a thread was upon him in the shape of a shirt. But the tale is not yet told. On turning himself, the clergyman discovers that, although it was mid-winter, not a spark of fire was to be seen in the room, or a particle of fuel to make one. But there is yet a corner of the room on which his eye has not yet alighted. To complete the picture of wretchedness, here is crouched in some indescribable manner for not a chair or stool was to be seen—a poor cripple, whose age it would be difficult to divine, as he appeared the very type and embodiment of that cruel neglect of the poor and wretched, which has marked the last quarter of a century. Better off than his miserable father in one respect, he had indeed a shirt on his back. This was but too visible, for he had no jacket. What a sight! father, mother, child, all! But why did they not go into the workhouse or union? Because, reader, they had been there two or three years before, and the treatment was so trying to flesh and blood, that all these extremities were being endured, in preference to the obtaining relief on such distasteful conditions. And here we get at the gist of the whole matter touching this excessive destitution, co-existent as it is with the provision of a poor-law. If you will persist in treating the unfortunate and afflicted among the poor-for such there are in the lowest as well as in all ascending grades-worse than brutes; if you will persist in the aim of making them feel their poverty a degradation and a punishment, shutting them up in bastilles, and assigning them a dietary inferior to that of the felon ;-who can wonder if they refuse your proffered assistance, and pine in want and wretchedness, rather than take your stinted allowance of the coarsest food, in exchange for the last particle of selfrespect, and for the sacrifice at once of the relative affections, rudely set at nought as they are by the strictest separation, and of personal liberty, by imprisonment in these bastilles?* But you reply, the poor's-rates are quite enough at present. True; besides, you must dress and go to the Opera. It is not the world, however, the world in general, with whom the writer has to do in this matter, but with those who call themselves the friends of religion.

* The vexata quæstio touching the extent of out-door parochial assistance, might soon be properly adjusted, were it not for the covetousness of those who begrudge the poor that which is their due. It is admitted that the destitute have a claim to assistance. The question, therefore, is simply one of amount, the principles being agreed upon. Why then, we ask, should not the help afforded be duly proportioned to the exigencies of the need? Why must a poor aged widow, applying to the parish for assistance, be forced to starve out the remainder of her days upon one shilling per week, when it is well known by those who dole out these pittances, that two would barely support her? This second shilling must, of course, be raised by street begging-that standing opprobrium of our country with its "enormous wealth," or by something worse. Some of these poor widows, whose "length of days" it is difficult to conceive a blessing, it would appear get eighteenpence a week from the parish, or rather ninepence, as it is just now seen from the newspapers, that chairmen of parochial boards can stop the payment to the paupers of the remaining ninepence, to pay themselves for rent-rent of dwellings underground, which keepers of packs of hounds would disdain to use as kennels. Sacra fames auri! To what wilt thou not urge the Crassi amongst so-called Christians? Guardians of the poor indeed! Who does not perceive that what they guard is the golden apples for themselves? Siller, Siller! that's the cry-the demand for which, paradoxical as it may appear, is always increased by the supply, and, alas !—

Διὰ τοῦτον ουκ ἄδελφος,
Διὰ τοῦτον, ὁ πονηρός.

Through this there is no brother;
Through this each hates the other.

ἦ που σοφὸς ἦν ὅστις ἔφασκεν, πρὶν ἄν ἀμφοῖν μῦθον ἀκούσης,
οὐκ ἂν δικάσαις.

""Twas a man of invention,

Wise and upright intention,
Who first dared to mention

In a case of dissension.

Never dare to decide

Wasps of Aristophanes.

'Till you've heard either side."

Mitchell's "Aristophanes"

The letter which follows in this Appendix was ready for publication, as will be seen from the date at the end, about a month after the events to which it refers. The author's removal from London into the country prevented its appearance. His subsequent residence on the Continent forced him to conclude that his usefulness as a clergyman was greatly hindered, if not absolutely nullified, by the unjust misrepresentations which are refuted in the letter (see Preface). Were this address to be now re-written, many modifications would be made in it; but it may be better for a discerning public to see what were the impressions of the writer on the occasion of his being so injuriously maligned.