The German Dutch Jews, who may amount to from twelve to fifteen thousand have Six Synagogues, the principal of which are in Duke's Place, Leadenhall Street, and Church Row, Fenchurch Street. They observe the particular ritual of the German Synagogue, and also include the Polish, Russian, and Turkish Jews, established in London.—With the exception of three or four wealthy Individuals, and as many Families who are in trade on the Royal Exchange, they are in general a very indigent class of people, through whose medium crimes are generated to a considerable extent.—Their Community is too poor to afford them adequate relief, whence they have resorted to the expedient of lending them small sums of money at interest to trade upon, which is required to be repaid monthly or weekly, as the case may be. Otherwise they forfeit all claim to this aid.—The reproach arising from their evil practices and idleness, is said to have engaged the attention of the respectable part of both Synagogues with a view to a remedy, but all their attempts have been heretofore unsuccessful.
[90] In a Tract entitled 'Observations and Facts relative to Public-Houses,' by the Author of this Work, the mode of conducting Ale-houses in the Metropolis, and the evils arising from this source of iniquity and idleness is very fully explained. By this publication it is discovered, after much investigation, that there is consumed and sold in the 5000 Public-houses in and round the Metropolis:
| 158,400,530 pots of Porter, Ale, and Twopenny | £.2,311,466 | 15 | 10 |
| Gin and Compounds from the Distillers and Rectifiers | 975,000 | 0 | 0 |
| 3,236,466 | 15 | 10 | |
| To which add Pipes, Tobacco, &c. at least | 113,533 | 4 | 2 |
| Total | £.3,310,000 | 0 | 0 |
[91] It is a curious and important fact, that during the period when Distilleries were stopped in 1796 and 1797, although Bread, and every necessary of life was considerably higher than during the preceding year, the Poor in that quarter of the Town where the chief part reside were apparently more comfortable, paid their rents more regularly, and were better fed than at any period for some years before;—even although they had not the benefit of the extensive charities which were distributed in 1795. This can only be accounted for by their being denied the indulgence of Gin, which had become in a great measure inaccessible from its very high price. It may fairly be concluded, that the money formerly spent in this imprudent manner had been applied in the purchase of provisions and other necessaries to the amount of some hundred thousand pounds.—The effects of their being deprived of this baneful Liquor was also evident in their more orderly conduct.—Quarrels and assaults were less frequent, and they resorted seldomer to the Pawnbrokers' shops: and yet during the chief part of this period Bread was 15d. the Quartern Loaf, and Meat higher than the preceding year, particularly Pork, which arose in part from the stoppage of the Distilleries; but chiefly from the scarcity of Grain.
[92] It is in the first stage of Seduction, before the female mind becomes vitiated and depraved, that Asylums are most useful. If persons in this unhappy situation had it in their power to resort to a medium, whereby they might be reconciled to their relations, while uncontaminated by the vices attached to General Prostitution, numbers, who are now lost, might be saved to Society.
[93] See page [81] and [82] for an account of this Charity.
[94] For a specific account of these Institutions, see the [Chapter on Municipal Police].
[95] An office has for some time past been instituted under the direction of Mathew Martin, Esq. assisted by one or two philanthropic individuals, for inquiring into cases and causes of distress.—The generality of the poor persons have been invited to the office by the distribution of tickets, directing them when and where they are to apply. On such occasions a small relief has been afforded, arising from a fund constituted by private benevolence;—but the chief advantage which these poor people have derived has been from the consolatory advice given them, and still more from the assistance afforded by the indefatigable industry, and laudable zeal of Mr. Martin, in getting those into workhouses who have parochial settlements in the Metropolis, or assisting in procuring the means of passing them to their parishes, where such settlements are in the country. Seasonable pecuniary relief has been also extended in certain cases, and small loans of money, made to enable those who are able to work to redeem their apparel, and tools to rescue them from despondence, and to help themselves by their own labour, in such employments as they could either themselves obtain, or as could be procured for them.
From the beginning of the year 1796 to the end of the year 1797, Mr. Martin investigated the cases of 120 poor persons, who attended him in consequence of the tickets which were distributed.—Of these 21 were men; the greater part maimed or disabled by age or sickness, only two of whom had any legal settlement in London.—Of the women, 99 in number, 48 were widows, about one-third were aged—some crippled, and others distressed for want of work, while many were embarrassed by ignorance of the mode of obtaining parochial relief, or by the fear of applying for it—of the wives, in most cases, the difficulty arose from want of work or incapacity of doing it, on account of a child in arms. There were cases of very great distress. Above half had two or more children. Some of them infants, and the chief part too young to work. Of the women 24 claimed settlements in London and Westminster—33 in different parts of England—22 belonged to Scotland and Ireland, and the remaining 20 said they could give no account of their place of settlement. In most instances by an application to their parishes, and in some to their friends, Mr. Martin was enabled to obtain effectual relief to all of them; the gift of a little food, and hearing their melancholy story, afforded some comfort; and had a small fund been appropriated to this object, it might have been possible to have enabled those who were in health to have earned a livelihood. See 12th Report of the Society for bettering the Condition of the Poor.
[96] In the Preamble of the Statute on 3 & 4 William and Mary cap. 11. and particularly § 11 of that Act, in which the sense entertained by Parliament, of the shocking abuses of the Statute of Elizabeth, "through the unlimited power of Parish Officers," is very forcibly expressed—the truths there stated are found to have full force, even at the distance of more than a Century.