imperfectly attended to. The expense in this case for better accommodation, once incurred, would be for ever; and there can be no doubt that an ultimate saving of expense would result, from the prevention of contamination, and consequent pauperism of many of the inmates. In many London workhouses a better arrangement is earnestly desired, but is impossible from want of space. The following is the desire of the Poor-law Commissioners on this point: "It is desirable that females of dissolute and disorderly habits should be separated from those of a better character, inasmuch as it is the duty of the guardians to take all reasonable care that the morals of persons admitted into the house be not corrupted by intercourse with inmates of this description." Yet, I suppose there is hardly a workhouse where this advice is strictly obeyed.
As the point of committees of visiting ladies has been dwelt upon, it may be well to mention that the plan has been adopted in two London workhouses; in that of St. Pan eras (containing 2,000 inmates) for nearly two years, and in the West London Union it is just organized. In the first, the plan has met with decided success; in the other there is every prospect of it. The labours of the former committee are not limited to spiritual matters, but their attention is invited to other points as well, and their suggestions are cordially received by the guardians. At the first meeting of the West London Union Committee, the opinion of the ladies was asked by the medical man, and one of the guardians, as to the desirableness of engaging a paid nurse to superintend the sick wards; and, though in itself a small and trifling matter, I may add that the matron immediately asked the help of the ladies in providing her with rag for the sick, for which she was often in great distress.
As to the employment of the inmates of workhouses, many suggestions have been made, but beyond needlework, and hair and oakum picking, nothing is, I believe, provided. The objection to proposals for further employment will, probably, be the want of space for anything like workshops, in which the men might follow, temporarily, their former occupations or trades. Many would be thankful to be employed in some such way. In Paris I was much struck with the sight of a long workshop in the Hospice or Asylum for Incurable Men (containing 500 inmates), filled with persons following their former avocations. Whether much money is gained by their labour or not, it seemed at any rate a merciful arrangement, to give them the opportunity of employing themselves if they are able, which many even of the aged would be. And as to the unfairness of taking work from honest labourers out of doors, I do not see that this can be made an objection, for needlework is already done by the women for the shops as well as for private orders. It cannot be intended
