EIRKENHEAD. 65 



It gives employment at present to ten gardeners and laborers in 

 summer, and to five in winter. 



The generous spirit and fearless enterprise that has accom- 

 plished this, has not been otherwise forgetful of the health and 

 comfort of the poor.* Among other things, I remember, a public 

 washing and bathing house for the town is provided. I should 

 have mentioned also, in connection with the market, that in the 

 outskirts of the town there is a range of stone slaughter-houses, 

 with stables, yards, pens, supplies of hot and cold water, and 

 other arrangements and conveniences, that enlightened regard for 

 health and decency would suggest. 



The consequence of all these sorts of things is, that all about 

 the town, lands, which a few years ago were almost worthless 

 wastes, have become of priceless value; where no sound was 

 heard but the bleating of goats and braying of asses complaining 

 of their pasturage, there is now the hasty click and clatter of 

 many hundred busy trowels and hammers. You may drive 

 through wide and thronged streets of stately edifices, where were 

 only a few scattered huts, surrounded by quagmires. Docks of 

 unequaled size and grandeur are building, and a forest of masts 

 grows along the shore ; and there is no doubt that this young 

 town is to be not only remarkable as a most agreeable and 

 healthy place of residence, but that it will soon be distinguished 

 for extensive and profitable commerce. It seems to me to be the 

 only town I ever saw that has been really built at all in accord- 

 ance with the advanced science, taste, and enterprising spirit that 

 are supposed to distinguish the nineteenth century. I do not 

 doubt it might be found to have plenty of exceptions to its gen- 



* " Few towns, in modern times, have been built with such regard to sanitary regula- 

 tions as Birkenhead ; and in no instance has so much been done for the health, comfort, 

 and enjoyment of a people, as by those energetic individuals with whose names the rise 

 and progress of Birkenhead are so intimately connected." Dr. J. H. Robertson. 



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