Sugyestions for its Improvement. 
29 
which I am well acquainted. A man, his wife and family, consisting in 
all of eleven individuals, resided in a cottage containing only two rooms. 
The man, his wife, and four children, sometimes five, slept in one of the 
rooms, and in one bed, some at the foot, others at the top ; one a girl 
above fourteen, another a boy above twelve, the rest younger. The 
other part of the family slept in one bed in the keeping-room, that is, 
the room in which their cooking, washing, and eating were performed. 
How could it be otherwise, with this family, than thai they should be 
sunk into a most deplorable state of degradation and depravity.'' This, 
it may be said, is an extreme case ; but there are many simdar, and a 
very great number that make near approaches to it. To pursue a 
further account of this family : — The man is reported to be a good 
labourer; the cottage he held was recently pulled down, and, being 
unable to procure another, he was forced to come into the workhouse. 
After being in a short time, they left to try again to get a home, but 
again failed. The man then absconded, and the family returned to the 
■workhouse. The eldest, a female, has had a bastard child ; and another, 
younger, also a female, but grown up, has recently been sentenced to 
transportation for stealing in a dwelling-house. The family, when they 
came in, were observed to be of grossly filthy habits, and of disgusting 
behaviour; I am glad to say, however, that their general conduct and 
appearance is very much improved since they have become inmates of 
tile workhouse. I without scruple express my opinion that their de- 
graded moral state is mainly attributable to the wretched way in which 
they have lived and herded together as previously described." 
Extracts from a Letter of the Chairman of the Bedford Union. 
January Atk, 1841. 
" I consider that the improvement has arisen a good deal from the 
parties feeling that they are somewhat raised in the scale of societv. 
The man sees his wife and family more comfortable than formerly : he 
has a better cottage and garden ; he is stimulated to industry, and, as 
he rises in respectability of station, he becomes aicare that he has a 
character to lose. Thus an important point is gained. Having ac- 
quired certain advantages, he is anxious to retain and improve them : 
he strives more to preserve his independence, and becomes a member of 
benefit, medical, and clothing societies, and frequently, besides this, lays 
up a certain sum quarterly or half-yearly in the savings' bank. .Almost 
always attendant upon these advantages we find the man sending his 
children to be regularly instructed in a Sunday-school, and, where pos- 
sible, in a day-school, and himself and family more constant in their 
attendance at some place of worship on the Lord's-day. 
A man who comes home to a poor comfortless hovel after his 
day's labour, and sees all miserable around him, has his spirits more 
often depressed than excited by it. He feels that, do his best, he shall 
be miserable still, and is too apt to fly for a temporary refuge to the ale- 
house or beer-shop. But give him the means of making himself com- 
fortable by his own industry, and I am convinced by experience that, in 
many cases, he will avail himself of it." 
