Note 95 — CHAP. XIII.

An office has for some time past been instituted under the direction of Mathew Martin, Esq. assisted by one or two philanthropic individuals, for inquiring into cases and causes of distress.—The generality of the poor persons have been invited to the office by the distribution of tickets, directing them when and where they are to apply. On such occasions a small relief has been afforded, arising from a fund constituted by private benevolence;—but the chief advantage which these poor people have derived has been from the consolatory advice given them, and still more from the assistance afforded by the indefatigable industry, and laudable zeal of Mr. Martin, in getting those into workhouses who have parochial settlements in the Metropolis, or assisting in procuring the means of passing them to their parishes, where such settlements are in the country. Seasonable pecuniary relief has been also extended in certain cases, and small loans of money, made to enable those who are able to work to redeem their apparel, and tools to rescue them from despondence, and to help themselves by their own labour, in such employments as they could either themselves obtain, or as could be procured for them.

From the beginning of the year 1796 to the end of the year 1797, Mr. Martin investigated the cases of 120 poor persons, who attended him in consequence of the tickets which were distributed.—Of these 21 were men; the greater part maimed or disabled by age or sickness, only two of whom had any legal settlement in London.—Of the women, 99 in number, 48 were widows, about one-third were aged—some crippled, and others distressed for want of work, while many were embarrassed by ignorance of the mode of obtaining parochial relief, or by the fear of applying for it—of the wives, in most cases, the difficulty arose from want of work or incapacity of doing it, on account of a child in arms. There were cases of very great distress. Above half had two or more children. Some of them infants, and the chief part too young to work. Of the women 24 claimed settlements in London and Westminster—33 in different parts of England—22 belonged to Scotland and Ireland, and the remaining 20 said they could give no account of their place of settlement. In most instances by an application to their parishes, and in some to their friends, Mr. Martin was enabled to obtain effectual relief to all of them; the gift of a little food, and hearing their melancholy story, afforded some comfort; and had a small fund been appropriated to this object, it might have been possible to have enabled those who were in health to have earned a livelihood. See 12th Report of the Society for bettering the Condition of the Poor.