Upon this fact he has founded an energetic appeal for measures to be taken to provide for the education of the adult population, so far as practicable. The Committee trust that the liberality of the Subscribers may put it into their power to co-operate with the Clergy in adopting measures for the purpose, which the limited means at their disposal have up to this time rendered impossible.
[17b] It seems desirable to mention that in both the years 1844 and 1845 the benefits of the Coal Fund have extended over the whole of Kensington—St. Mary Abbots, St. John’s, and St. James’s. A Coal Fund and Clothing Fund have also been established in St. Barnabas’ District supported by local contributions.
[19] “It very gratifying” writes a visitor, “to observe the alacrity with which the women went to their boxes to get out their Clothing Fund cards and money. [The deposits were collected weekly by the Visitor in person.] The exchequer of the poor in this, an Irish district, generally consists of a few shillings deposited within a very small box carefully kept within two or three other boxes, or at the bottom of an old chest. On no one occasion has any bad money been offered to him. The money is generally, indeed invariably, paid by the females. The confidence with which they give their money is a trait not to be unnoticed; it being often difficult to prevent them paying their money in the street, and without any card or check. When the Visitor has been prevented from calling at the time appointed, they have very frankly and very properly reminded him of it.”
[20a] It not unfrequently happens that residents have needle-work, charing, or other work to be done, and are at a loss to know where to find respectable persons to undertake it. A reference to a District Visitor will both supply their want and at the same time obtain employment for some deserving individual to whom it may prove an invaluable assistance. A large number of sempstresses, charwomen, laundresses, &c., depend solely upon the work which they are casually able to obtain.
[20b] The intervention of the Visitors has been productive of most valuable assistance in many other respects. The following instances have been reported as occurring in a SINGLE district:
Mrs. A. came to me in great distress in consequence of her goods being about to be seized for rent. She owed about a pound; she begged of me to save them. She stated that in about a fortnight she should go out as a monthly nurse, and then she should be able to pay. She had told her landlord this but he was inexorable. In consequence of my opinion of her character, I called on the landlord and reasoned with him, and begged a little time for the poor woman; which he granted me. She has since discharged the debt.
In another instance:—“B. had been long out of work; at last he got employment; but on the first week, late on Saturday night, he came to me in great perplexity to tell me that his landlord to whom he owed 3s. 6d. had entered the house during the time his wife and himself had been out, and turned his children and little furniture into the street and locked the door; and where to put his head under with his family he did not know.” The immediate intervention of the Visitor succeeded in obtaining from the landlord permission for the poor family to stop there until they could get some other habitation.
. . . “I found Mrs. C. lying in extreme debility from inflammation of the chest, and in great distress of mind from fears of her destitute condition. She said it appeared almost like an interposition of Providence that I had come to see her. . . . She told me that she and her husband had partly gained a living by selling vegetables to a lady, and by occasionally being employed by her; but for some cause they had been discharged from their employment and ordered not to come near the house. She wished me to get her an interview with the lady, as soon as she could get out. I ventured to write to her stating all the particulars. She promptly, the next morning, sent to tell the woman to come as soon as she was able. An interview taking place, the secret came out that the lady’s cook wanted to obtain that a tradesman in town whom she knew should supply her mistress; and accordingly had represented the poor woman to her as imposing and ungrateful. On vindicating her own character, the lady restored her to her former position. I have since been enabled to give them a character from personal observation that has enabled them to get the charge of a gentleman’s house, who is so satisfied with them that he has personally thanked me. The poor couple’s gratitude has been great to the Society for thus rescuing them from poverty and disgrace, and placing them in comparative comfort.”
. . . “I had known D. and his wife to be cleanly, industrious, and upright people; but the husband having a serious attack of illness was laid up three months, during which time the rent accumulated to £4. The landlord seized on their furniture, which if it had been sold, must have broken up their home for ever. She applied to me in her distress. On making her case known to the managers of the District Visiting Society, they obtained (from private sources) a loan of the part she was not able to make up, and saved them from destruction. A part of the money that was lent has been returned. The continued illness of the man I believe to be the only reason why the whole has not.”
[21] Any person may obtain Bibles and Prayer Books at the prices of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, by applying at the depôt at the Girls’ National School Room, on any Monday, between one and two o’clock only; the Mistress having kindly consented to take charge of them.