56 ^A T INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH RURAL HISTORY 



But public protest was forthcoming from all parts of 

 the country. Within seven days of the trial, William 

 Cobbett presented at the "bar of the House of Commons 

 a petition signed by 12,000 persons in London. A monster 

 petition, signed by over 250.000 persons, was organized 

 by the whole of the Trade Union movement. Orderly 

 processions of countless thousands swept the streets of the 

 metropolis, and a gigantic demonstration was held in 

 Copenhagen Fields, London. But the condemned men 

 were sent to Botany. Bay. 



For more than two years, unceasing agitation for the 

 release of the transported men was kept up. A body of 

 workmen, known as the " London Dorchester Committee," 

 collected 1,300 on behalf of the victims. At last their 

 efforts were rewarded. The Government was induced to 

 issue a free pardon, and the men were brought back in 

 1837. By means of the funds collected, five of the victims 

 and their families were placed on small farms in Essex, 

 whilst the sixth returned to his native place. 



Poor Law Amendment Act. 



It is not surprising that the first attempt to establish 

 a village Trade Union was unsuccessful. There were at 

 the time thousands of unemployed labourers on the verge 

 of starvation. These were willing to work for even less 

 than seven shillings a week, and their condition was not 

 improved by the Tolpuddle failure. 



In 1834, the Poor Law Amendment Act was passed. By 

 this measure the whole of England was grouped into 

 " Unions." Each Union was to have its own workhouse, 

 and was to be controlled by " Guardians of the Poor " 

 elected from the parishes included in the Union. The 

 allowance system was abolished. In its stead the " Work- 

 house Test " was set up, by which all able-bodied paupers 

 were required to become inmates of the workhouse in order 

 to secure relief. " Outdoor relief " was to be granted only 

 to widows, the aged, and others who were not regarded as 

 able-bodied. 



As each parish continued to be responsible for all 

 paupers who settled within its boundaries, every effort 

 was made to prevent " undesirables " from becoming 

 resident. In 1865, however, the Union as a whole, 

 instead of the parish, was made responsible for the pauper 

 residents. 



