of butter is
added. In other cases bread and water (very meagre fare, and
insufficient to support life for any length of time), are all that is
allowed. Women suckling infants are supplied tea, broth, or gruel in
lieu of water; we can scarce wonder the poor prefer going to jail. I
have seen in jails, and convict establishments, dinners better served
than are earned even by many of the industrious poor. I find during the
last year the 339 agents of the London City Mission had paid 1,528,162
visits during the year; 117,443 of these visits being to the sick and
dying. By their means a large number of Bibles and Tracts had been
distributed, 11,200 children had been sent to school, and 580 fallen
females restored to virtue. At the annual meeting of the Ragged School
Union it was stated that in 170 Ragged School institutions, there were
199 Sunday Schools, with 24,860 scholars; 146 day schools with 15,380
scholars, and 215 evening schools, with 9,050 scholars: of teachers 400
were paid, and 9,690 were voluntary. There were fifteen refuges in which
600 inmates were fed, lodged, clothed, and educated. The midnight
meeting movement, of which we have heard so much, and respecting which
opinions so much differ, according to its report, has been very
successful; through the instrumentality of the committee seven meetings
had been called; 1700 women had been addressed; 7500 scriptural cards and
books had been circulated; and 107 had been reclaimed and placed in
homes, through the agency of which, they would, it was hoped, be restored
to society. In addition to these five had been restored to their
friends, one to her husband, two placed in situations, and one had been
married. In the general charities of England London has its share. It
not merely takes the initiative but it subscribes by far the larger part.
When the Crimean war broke out a fund was raised for the wives and
families of the soldiers engaged in it, amounting to 121,139 pounds;
260,000 pounds were subscribed for the relief of the victims of the
Indian mutiny. Well it was in London that the most liberal donations
were made. Again, look at the Religious Societies. In last year the
income of the Church Missionary Society was 163,629 pounds 1s. 4d.; of
the Bible Society 162,020 pounds 13s. 5d. Of the Wesleyan Missionary
Society, 141,000 pounds 5s. 11d. Of the London Missionary Society,
93,000 pounds. Thus gigantic and all-persuading are the charities of
Lo