Volume 1

A history of the English poor law : in connection with the state of the country and the condition of the people / by Sir George Nicholls.

  • Nicholls, George, Sir, 1781-1865.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A history of the English poor law : in connection with the state of the country and the condition of the people / by Sir George Nicholls. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    A demonstration was needed that both classes could be saved; and the demonstration was forthcoming in Southwell. Before the Poor Law Commissioners had been at work four years it was clear that the danger was over in England,—yet when they took up the reins, how doubtful was the outlook. No doubt the Act of Parliament supplied the machinery, but much more was necessary. The best legal machinery may be spoilt by injudicious handling. At the time, it was prophesied by many that the new law could not be put into operation without riots, or even rebellion, which might be worse than the evils it was intended to remedy. And there was plenty of room for failure outside the Act itself. If the innumerable orders and regulations had not been framed with foresight and moderation, the whole reform might have been wrecked. There were plenty of enemies ready to bear a hand. That all these difficulties were in the main successfully overcome is acknowledged ; but how great they were it is hardly possible now to realise. With regard to Ireland the case is less clear. The unhappy state of that country before the Irish Poor Law of 1838 was due to a vast multiplicity of causes, which no one species of measure could be expected to remove. The “ distressful country ” has her grievances still ; nor can any party or any leading statesman complain of not having had ample chance of trying to remedy them. It may be that that enact- ment did not fulfil all the hopes which were formed of it. It is certain that the form in which it was first passed had to be modified so as to bring it more into conformity with the English Poor Law.1 1 Outdoor relief in Ireland was first legalised in 1847, with Mr. Nicholls’ full concurrence, under the pressure of the great Famine. When that emergency passed, the relaxation was practically discontinued, and the number of outdoor paupers gradually sank to under 2000 for the whole country in October 1853, the number of indoor paupers at the same date being 79,410. The highest figures touched were, in June-July