matrons in a similar room adjoining, need we intrude,
as they pronounce themselves "all right."

But we make way past the clothes that are
hanging out to dry, and look in at the laundry
and washhouse, where several strapping pauper
damsels have been busy enough since they heard
us coming. We then cross the court-yard, and
enter the abode of a troublesome class of the
community. Twenty or thirty young women,
many with infants, in a long room, sit or lounge
about with little or nothing to do. Here is the
sore puzzle to those who would fain see their
way to reform and amendment. Among the
number many are more sinned against than sinning.
But the leaven of vice spreads quickly
among them, and there is little or nothing to
check the contagion of bad influence, by day or
night. We are besieged with notices to quit;
all speak together, and apparently the ward will
soon be well-nigh empty. If they will go, there is
nothing to stop them, and if they are destitute
in a week or a fortnight, there is nothing to
prevent their finding their way back again.
Within that time a couple of fairs will be held
in neighbouring towns, so they all mean to go
out, have their fling, and return if they must.
One of the committee tells them he hopes that,
if they are going to leave the house, they will
try to be respectable, and keep out of harm's way.
The remark is received with a suppressed titter.
Another says, he hopes "they may never come
back again any more." They all hope so too,
and sincerely, I think. Two or three apply for
a holiday, which the committee refuse; upon
which one of them gives notice to quit, like the
rest; there will be comparatively a quiet ward
until the fairs are over, after which, as experience
of former years has proved, they will
drop in again one by one, till nearly all are
accounted for. What becomes of those who do
not return? Sometimes they have a chance,
and turn out well. Not unfrequently, however,
they lead a bad life till they get into jail, or die
miserably. The inspection is now complete, and
the visiting committee of guardians return to the
board.

Seven or eight guardians sit at a table, which
is so long as to leave scarcely room for any one
to pass at either end. One or two are magistrates,
another is a clergyman, the rest are
farmers. The magistrates are official guardians,
the others are chosen annually, one or more
from each parish, as the act provides. The
guardians soon get a tolerable knowledge of the
usual duties, which are not always easy or pleasant
to discharge. So long as the ordinary
routine continues, we go on pretty well; but
occasionally some question out of the regular
course will arise, and then action becomes capricious
and blundering. The board has, however,
its adviser in the clerk, who conducts the
correspondence and keeps minutes of proceedings,
and who in the long run puts matters to
rights: though it is not usual to ask his advice
until the British farmers have spoken a bit of
their minds.

Applications for relief are taken as soon as
the minutes of the last meeting have been read
and confirmed, and any business arising out of
them has been disposed of. The report of the
visiting committee, the examination of accounts,
and orders for payment and for relief,
with any miscellaneous items which happen to
require attention, constitute the proceedings of
the day.

Where magistrates make a point of attending,
the duties will, generally speaking, be done properly.
In one Union, the lord-lieutenant of the
county acts as chairman. This condescension
is the means of securing the attendance of other
magistrates in the district, and sets a good
example in the county. But it frequently happens
— and the increasing work thrown upon
country gentlemen is partly the reason of this—
that the official guardians do not take much interest
in the Union. In some Unions they are
seldom or never known to attend, unless when
there is an appointment to be settled. When it
is considered that recent legislation has created
a highways committee, a union assessment
committee of which one-third must be magistrates
similar in many respects to the board of
guardians, the question may be asked whether
more magistrates are not required for the additional
duties now devolving on them? At all
events, some precautions should be taken to
prevent the management of really delicate social
machinery from falling into the hands of persons
who are not able to understand the work.

The proceedings are public. As we enter,
the relieving officer of one of the districts stands
on the left of the chairman, making his report,
and receiving instructions how to act in certain
cases. We are a liberal board, and our work
contrasts favourably with that of some others.

Man, married; children dependent, five; reported
by the relieving officer sick. Application
for out-door relief: is on his club; full pay,
eight shillings a week. Ordered medical attendance,
four shillings a week, and five gallons
of flour.

The next is a case similar in all respects but
one. The man is married, has five children
dependent, and is sick, but has been improvident,
and does not belong to a club. Relieving
officer reports that the man said, "Clubs
were so much money wasted so long as we
would reckon, it in with our allowance." The
board is disposed to compel him to come in,
but finally admits the truth of his argument
without reference to its morality, by ordering
medical attendance, ten shillings a week, and
five gallons of flour.

A young fellow has beaten his wife cruelly,
and demands an allowance during her approaching
confinement. Relieving officer, with a creditable
feeling, will make no provisional order,
but directs nim to attend the board. He
swaggers into the room, and scarcely waits to
be called upon for his statement before the demand
is repeated, admits he gave her a punch
or two, and says it served her right. Wants
to know what business it is to anybody what he
does with his own wife?