[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 07 Dec 1816 - Employment of the Labouring Classes (2)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 07 Dec 1816   (p. 2, col. 6 - p. 3, col 2)

 

Employment of the Labouring Classes. 

 

[continued] 

 

Mr. James FORSTER thought it would be desirable to make foot paths in the vicinity of the city. Most cities and towns were provided
with these conveniences, and every one would be ready to own how useful they would be to Carlisle. 

 

Mr. Richard SUTTON thought the present to be a fit opportunity for the construction of a proper foot path on the Castle Bank, under
the Castle Walls.-It was observed, in reply to this, that the ground was private property, and that there might be some difficulty
on that account. 

 

Mr. R. MOUNSEY concurred most heartily in the opinion that the subscription, whatever it might be, ought to be laid out only in
procuring employment for those who were willing to work. It would be in vain to endeavour to relieve all the poor; that would be
merely giving the money raised to the different parishes, and the largest sum that could possibly be collected would soon disappear.


 

Captain HALTON wished it to be distinctly stated that the fund now raised, and hereafter to be raised, was for the purpose of
employing the labouring classes only, otherwise reports might soon go abroad to the public of a different nature, and perhaps raise
expectations which would only be disappointed. 

 

It was the general opinion that the fund should be so appropriated. After a desultory conversation. the Resolutions were passed, and
a Committee named (see advertisement), who were vested with discretionary power to inspect the different parts of the city and
suburbs and fix on such plans as they shall think proper, to be communicated to a general meeting at some short time hence. It was
also arranged that subscriptions be collected from house to house, as it is hoped that in a work of this nature, every one capable,
will be willing to give something. The gentlemen present subscribed their names to very liberal sums, and the business concluded. 

 

On Thursday the Committee appointed on Monday evening, held a meeting in the Town Hall, when they appointed another meeting to take
place there on Monday next (see advt.) for the purpose of receiving 'applications from the poor Labourers who have been resident
here six months;' and Mr. Thomas ATKINSON, Mr. Paul NIXON, and Mr. J. STUDHOLME, were vested with powers to procure working
implements, and to provide materials for the erection of a stage across the Eden on which to convey the gravel. The Committee also
divided the Town and neighbourhood into districts, in which they will make a general collection from house to house in the course of
the ensuing week; they commenced yesterday. The sums which appear in the advertisement were subscribed at the meeting on Monday
evening. 

 

---------- 

 

This meeting has proved, if any proof were wanting, that the distressed have numerous friends in Carlisle; it was actuated only by
the good spirit of charity. All were agreed as to the existence of distress, but two or three gentlemen were of opinion that relief
should be extended to the helpless poor. The majority admitted that the object was desirable, but were of opinion that it was
unattainable; for if there was not a well-defined plan it would be difficult to know where to stop; no subscription, in times like
the present, when most people are suffering, could be effectual; within certain limits much good might be done; without limits,
little, or perhaps, none.-Nothing tends more to cherish a spirit of laudable independence in the lower orders than the practice of
aiding them by means of their own personal exertions. And at the present moment, every thing possible should be done to keep up such
a spirit in the minds of the poor. Instead of recommending them to apply to the parish, endeavour  to keep them from it. Give labour
then to those who will work-punish those who are able and will not, or rather they will punish themselves-and endeavour to alleviate
the miseries of those who cannot. 

 

Carlisle, we think, has suffered less from the pressure of the times, than any similar sized town in the kingdom, and perhaps
possesses within its limits fewer unemployed persons who are inclined to labour. The plans now about to be adopted will be
sufficient to afford these employment at wages on which they can subsist tolerably well if they are prudent and economical. As
stated above, employment will be given to those only who have been resident in the city or suburbs six months. This is very
important to be well understood, otherwise persons may be drawn hither from a distance, who would lose their labour. 

 

The labouring poor of Carlisle will see and appreciate the difference between this meeting and many others where the relief of the
indigent was merely made the scape-goat of a violent political party. At such assemblies the sufferings of the labouring poor were
only brought into discussion to inflame their minds and excite them to outrage, which in all cases ever has been and ever will be
accompanied with personal punishment, or still severer suffering. The leaders at such meetings never had the most distant intention
of affording relief; they came forward with charity in their mouths; but their hearts were full of uncharitableness. "No man," says
a brother journalist, "in public or private, need be ashamed or afraid to advocate the cause of a warm-hearted practical charity,
against that of a cold, sophistical, and declamatory vanity. Every would-be statesman has his impracticable and inconsistent nostrum
for curing all diseases of the body politic with a touch. Annual Parliaments!-universal suffrage! No two of these plans agree; and
yet their heartless authors go on disputing about them with the most unfeeling pertinacity, while their poor neighbours are starving
before their eyes. How insulting is this conduct to the unhappy sufferers! Nay, it is worse. It stops the current of charity: it
actually prevents subscriptions and thereby robs the poor of their right; for what right can be clearer than that of the distressed
man to the relief which his friends are ready to give? and which is the real friend to the poor, the man who treats them with an
hour's unmeaning rhapsody, or he who subscribes according to his means, five, ten, or fifty pounds, to their relief?"-There can be
no hesitation in answering this question.-We shall conclude this article, grown much longer than we at first intended, with
recommending every one who has the means, to come forward on this occasion. The smallest sums will be useful-even the widow's mite.
The hint thrown out at the Mansion-House meeting in London, of recommending domestic servants to subscribe, might be acted on in
Carlisle, where there are numerous servants, particularly females, in good circumstances. We are sure the call upon them, by every
master of a family, would not be in vain. 

 

 

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