England and the English (Classics of British Historical Literatur Series)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1833. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. THE SOCIAL HABITS OF THE POPULATION. The Physical State of the Inhabitants of Manufacturing Towns--Proportion of Deaths in a Manufacturing and Agricultural District no Standard of the Proportion of Disease--The Childhood of the Poor --Extract from Elia--Evidence on the Factory Bill--Progress to Manhood--Artificial Stimulus--Noble Traits of the Operatives, Desires better than their Condition--Immorality, two Causes, Physical and Moral--Excess of early Labour should be restricted--National Education promoted--Poor-laws are the History of the Poor--Indisposition to work, not want of it, is the Cause of Pauperism--Evidence of the Truth of that Proposition--Fable of Ericl and Mephistopheles-- The Aged worse off than the Able-bodied--Relief considered a Right --Pernicious Influence of the Aristocracy--The Clergy vindicated-- Public Charities, how prejudicial--Present Poor-laws deaden natural Affections of Parent and Child--Cause of Licentiousness--Inundations of the Irish--Remedies, difficulty of them exaggerated-- Governments should be really executive, not merely executional-- Outline of a proposed Reform in the Poor-laws--Concluding Remarks. "MAN is born to walk erect, and look upon the heavens." So says the Poet. Man does not always fulfil the object of his birth; he goeth I forth to his labour with a bending and despondent frame, and he lifts not his eyes from the soil whose mire hath entered into his soul. The physical condition of the Working Classes in Manufacturing Towns is more wretched than we can bear to consider. It is not that the average of deaths in manufacturing towns is greater than that in the agricultural districts. The labourers in the latter are subject to violent and sudden diseases, proceeding from acute inflammation; medical assistance ...