Abstract of the proceedings of the public meeting held at Exeter Hall, Dec. 11, 1844 : containing the speeches of the most noble the Marquess of Normanby, chairman ... together with a form of petition.

Health of Towns Association (London, England)

Date:: [1844?]

Credit: Abstract of the proceedings of the public meeting held at Exeter Hall, Dec. 11, 1844 : containing the speeches of the most noble the Marquess of Normanby, chairman ... together with a form of petition. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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$Ills most earnest hope and prayer tliat the objects which they had that day met to promote would receive the bless- ing of that Saviour who, while he on earth, was especially “ The Poor Man’s Friend.” Sir William Clay,M.P., rose to move the next resolu- tion ; and in so doing, said, that to no nobler objects could the exhortations of a Christian minister be addressed than to those they had met to advance, which might be justly ranked amongst the highest aims of benevolence and phi- lanthropy, while they were liable to none of the objections, sometimes justly, urged against plans for the amelioration of the condition of the poorer classes, proposed with the best intentions. Were tlie desire of this meeting realized in practice, the most important benefits would result to the labourer without diminishir,g in the slightest degree his honest pride, lowering his self-respect, or lessening his stimulus to labour. They were ])recisely, too, the be- nefits which it was the least in his own jiower to secure for himself. A working man might by industi), skill in his trade or occupation, steadiness, and good conduct, ac- quire the good-will of his fellows, and the respect and confidence of his employers; he might by those qualities ensure constant employment, and enable himself appa- rently to provide securely for the subsisteni'.e and comtort of those dependent on him,—and \et those qualities in their highest degree would have little or no effect in warding^off evils which might prostrate his health and strength, and neutralize his best exertions. A working- man, everywhere perhaps, but certainly in great towns, must live where ot*hcrs of his class reside , and must take his chance with them of ventilation, of drainage, and of supplies of water. That his dwelling should possess these requisites was indispensable to his health, and consequently to his prolonged powers of exertion ; and yet it was per- fectly obvious that, even as regarded his own dwelling, the cases must be rare in which such a man could provide them for himself, and he was of course absolutely without the power of securing them for the neighbourhood in which he was com]>elled to reside,—a matter almost as important to the welfare of himself and his family as that he should possess them in his own dwelling. These great thesevital objects—as regarded the dwellings of the poor, could only be secured by legislative interference. They were accustomed to admire the munificence wdiich founded and the charity which supported their public hospitals and dispensaries, but the object conte I'plated by the meeting$