substantially, the same account, varied by the special circumstances of
each place. Liverpool, which we will look at next, is probably the
worst. An official enumeration of the court and cellar population of
that town was made two years ago, from which it appeared that 55,534
persons, more than one-third of the working classes, inhabited courts;
and 20,168 persons lived in cellars. There are also cellars in the
courts containing probably 2000 inhabitants.

"With regard to the _character_ of these courts, 629, or nearly
one-third, were closed at both ends; 875, or less than one-half, were
open at one end; and only 478, or less than one-fourth, open at both
ends.

"The cellars are 10 or 12 feet square; generally flagged,--but
frequently having only the bare earth for a floor,--and sometimes
less than six feet in height. There is frequently no window, so that
light and air can gain access to the cellar only by the door, the top
of which is often not higher than the level of the street. In such
cellars, ventilation is out of the question. They are of course
dark; and from the defective drainage, they are also very generally
damp. There is sometimes a back-cellar, used as a sleeping
apartment, having no direct communication with the external
atmosphere, and deriving its scanty supply of light and air solely
from the front apartment."

The above extract, and the numbers of the court and cellar population,
are taken from Dr. Duncan's evidence. He thinks, from extensive data in
his possession, that the numbers, as given in this enumeration, are under
the mark. And it is suggested that, possibly, casual lodgers have been
omitted. Dr. Duncan then gives some further details which enable us more
fully to understand what dog-holes these cellars are.

"Of the entire number of cellars, 1617 have the back apartment I have
mentioned; while of 5297 whose measurements are given, 1771, or
one-third, are from five to six feet deep,--2324 are from four to
five feet, and 1202 from three to four feet below the level of the
street: 5273, or more than five-sixths, have no windows to the front;
and 2429, or about 44 per cent. are reported as being either damp or
wet."

In cellars of this kind there are sometimes 30 human beings, sometimes
more, "furnished," as Dr. Duncan tells us, "with a supply of air
sufficient for the wants of only seven."