2.—Circular Letter of Instructions to Clerks of the Boards of Guardians in England and Wales.
Poor Law Commission Office, Somerset House,
12th November, 1839.
Sir,—I am directed by the Poor Law Commissioners to inform you that they have, in compliance with a communication from Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for the Home Department, directed the enclosed letters to the medical officers of your board, together with the accompanying forms for their answers, and I am to request that you will transmit them accordingly.
The medical officers will transmit to you the returns when completed, and by you they will be forwarded when the information required is obtained from all the medical officers to the office. In case of any defect in the returns which cannot be remedied, you will state the nature and extent of the same at the time of transmission.
Before transmitting the returns, you are to read them at a meeting of the Board of Guardians, acquaint them with the answers, and annex any further information which they may be enabled to communicate in aid of the inquiry.
Signed, by Order of the Board,
Edwin Chadwick, Secretary.
To the Clerk to the Board of Guardians.