BLUE-COAT HOSPITAL.

141

be surrounded by a cluster of Collegians, each offering some trifling article of his own manufacturing, for sale. College balls, from their elastic and rebounding qualities, were formerly celebrated throughout the town amongst a class by whom such qualities can be appreciated. The visitor having entered the yard, will do well to inquire for a guide, when a juvenile cicerone will be summoned by a bell. The guides are a privileged class, and are duly trained by their own fraternity, to the right performance of their functions. With little preliminary ceremony, they usher the visitor into an apartment, in which he is directed to look here, and gaze there,-at sundry wonderful objects. As if it were profanity to linger too long on any one object in particular, the worthy guide makes a quick transition from one to another; and the curious stranger, if he get a hasty glance, must subdue all further curiosity. The taciturnity of the youthful guide on all subjects not in the catalogue of curiosities, forbids any question in search of explanation, and his imperturbable gravity seems impossible to relax itself into the furthest approximation to a smile, even when he points to the "cock that crows when he smells roast beef." Like the priests of the Delphic Apollo, he appears to have imbibed a peculiar inspiration to fit him for the high duties of his office, and so long as he is officiating its influence remains. After exploring the various galleries and the library, the visitor may descend into the College buttery, and taste the wheaten bread, and take a draught of the wholesome ale, which form a solid foundation for the boys to build a good meal upon. Blue-coat Hospital is under the superintendence of Mr. Luke Hadfield, the Governor.

CHAPTER X.

CONDITION OF MORALS-CRIME-RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS-PLACES OF WORSHIP.

HEN hundreds of thousands of people are crowded together in a city, it were easy to make a sweeping, and doubtlessly a just observation, that there exists in that place a large amount of immorality and crime. This is correct with respect to Manchester. Yet we believe there is no preponderance of immorality in this manufacturing district, when compared with other districts; although many affirm this to be the case.

The factory system is said to have a detrimental effect on the morals of this neighbourhood. There is some interesting matter relative to this subject, in the evidence taken before the House of Commons in 1832, on the State of the Factory Population. The substance of the evidence of forty-five operatives, examined on the morality of persons employed in factories, was :

"That some of them have heard much improper language among the boys and girls in the factories in which they have worked, but only two say that they have ever seen any gross improprieties of conduct, and agree that such conduct, when observed, is always

checked by the other hands. That different factories, however, differ much in the character, language, and conduct of those engaged in them. That the natural tendency of the boys and girls working together during the whole day is much checked by the presence of fathers, brothers, or near relations, and on the other hand is vastly aggravated by the practice of night work in the mills. And that on the whole the children who work in factories are not more immoral than those engaged in other trades, or who remain unoccupied at home. On this last point thirty-eight out of the above forty-five witnesses agree in their opinion."

In the Female Penitentiary of Manchester, from July, 1829, to May, 1833, the number of unfortunate girls admitted was fifty. Of these only eight had been connected with factories, and twenty-nine had been domestic servants.

About eight years ago it was ascertained that there were in Manchester and Salford, 50,429 persons of an age to make a profession of religion; of this number only 4,481 avowed themselves to profess no religion at all. The whole amount was thus classified :

:

26600

12061

7236

51

4481

50429

Since that time, however, the morals of the lower classes in Manchester have suffered considerable damage by the influence of Socialism. That diabolical system has spread itself widely here. Its advocates have erected a large building, in which their disciples assemble, and in which are delivered lectures suited to the tastes of the sect. These are frequently given on Sunday evenings, and are attended with music and other circumstances that tend to destroy, especially in the minds of young people, all respect for the sanctity of the Sabbath. The undisturbed promulgation of Socialism has given a sort of latitudinarianism to immorality. Hence

144

CAUSES OF IMMORALITY.

blasphemous placards have been posted on the walls of the town with impunity, and blasphemous publications sold to a great extent.

There are in Manchester many institutions which have for their praiseworthy object the spread of moral principles. The Town Mission, which employs lay agents to read to the poor the word of God, is one of them. Sunday schools may also be regarded as having a great influence on behalf of morality. So likewise, indirectly, have The Bible Society, The Christian Knowledge Society, and The Religious Tract Society, by furnishing the best sort of useful knowledge to the poor at a very small price.

The places of worship in Manchester are numerous. There have lately been subscribed immense sums for the erection of churches in various destitute parts of the town. The subscribers are members of the Ten Churches Building Society and of The Eccles Church Building Society. Notices of these societies are given elsewhere.

*

A great cause of immorality in Manchester is the prevalence of beer shops and ill-conducted publichouses. From a Manchester Police Report for the year 1841, it appears that in the borough of Manchester the number of public-houses was 498, out of the proprietors of which 233 were summoned in one year before the magistrates for keeping disorderly houses; and 227 convicted. The number of beer housest is 769. Out of this number 229 proprietors were summoned on

*See Sir Charles Shaw's Report.

+ We understand that in some of these beer houses a room is set apart for juvenile drinkers, and boys of twelve and fourteen consort there with girls of the same age, and are screened in habits of drunkenness and dissipation by the keepers of the houses. In conversation with a respectable woman, the wife of an operative, whose husband spends, on the average, nearly half his wages in the beer shop, leaving her to support in the best way she can a family of six children, we are informed that these beer houses thrive because they give the operative credit when respectable publicans refuse. And beer shots are mostly considered debts of honour. On receiving his wages the working man proceeds straight to the beer house and pays his score; and then takes the balance of his wages-if not enticed meanwhile to spend it to his wife. Should an operative, through want of the conventional high principle neglect to pay his debt of honour, the beer house keeper puts him into the hands of a pettifogging lawyer. We believe there are in Manchester some of this contemptible class, who make a practice of visiting beer houses, offering to collect over due debts at a low price; and under the pretence of law, plunder and victimize the poor, but improvident, operative.

PSALMODY IN PUBLIC HOUSES.

145

the same account, and 221 convicted. These are the hotbeds of immorality-the places in which vice is practised and taught; and where the best instructors can always be obtained! Lately there has sprung up among some of the public houses in Manchester a new attraction. In a capacious room in the house a large organ is erected. On Sunday evenings, this is played by some low musician. To decoy the unsuspecting, and to lull the scruples of many, no music is performed except psalmody. By bribes young people with good voices are seduced from Sunday schools to accompany the organ in singing. A crowded room is generally the result of these attractions. Pass by the door of one of these houses on the evening of a Sabbath, and you hear the pious strains of a consecrated instrument. So far, there appears nothing to shock. But enter the room: you perceive an indiscriminate mixture of both sexes, decently dressed girls, and decent-looking working men.-They range in groups; before each are pots of porter or ale; and men,and taller boys, in imitation of men,-are smoking tobacco. Some half drunk, others wholly so, join, or attempt to join, the singing. Here is a scene! Under the pretext of furnishing the poor with religious singing, the landlord fills his pockets, whilst he holds out a premium for the destruction of morals, and lays the foundation for an increase of crime.

These evils are graphically illustrated in a Report* published in 1840. It is there stated that "in all our large towns, the principal taverns and gin palaces have now attached to them spacious saloons, in which, four or five evenings a week, and principally on the Sunday, the operatives assemble in crowds to listen to vocal and instrumental music, generally speaking, of superior character. Those who spend a certain amount in liquor have admission free, so that the expenses, which are large, must, of course, be amply covered by increased custom, i. e. from those who go there for the music and

"Report of the Manchester District Association of Literary and Scientific Institutions."