European History Gobbet Exercise

( 87 )

AT THE MEETING OF THE

SOCIETY FOR IMPROVING THE CONDITION

OF THE LABOURING CLASSES.

[ MAY 18TH, 1848.)

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,-·

vv:aEN Society for thefour years since this Improvement of the Condition of the

Labouring Classes was first established on its present footing, I accepted with great pleasure the offer of becoming its President.

I saw in this offer a proof of your appreciation of my feelings of sympathy and interest for that class of our community which has most of the toil, and least of the enjoyments, of this world. I conceived that great advantage would accrue from the endeavours of influential persons, who were wholly disinterested, to act the part of a friend to those who required that advice and assistance which none but a friend could tender with advantage.

This Society has always held this object before

88 SOCIETY FOR IMPROVING THE

its eyes, and has been labouring in that direction. You are all aware that it has established model lodging-houses, loan-funds, and the system of allotments of ground in different part s of the country; but it has been careful only to establish examples and models, mindful that any real im­ provement which was to take place must be the result of the exertions of the working people them.selves.

I have jus_t come from the model lodging­ house, the opening of which we celebrate this day; and I feel convinced that its existence will, by degrees, cause a complete change in the domestic comforts of the labouring classes, as it will exhibit to them, that with real economy can be combined advantages with which few of them have hitherto been acquainted ; whilst it will show to those who possess capital to invest, that they may do so with great profit and advantage to themselves, at the same time that they are dispensing those comforts to which I have alluded, to their poorer brethren.

Depend upon it, the inter ests of classes too often contrasted are identical, and it is only ignorance which prevents their uniting for each other's advantage. To dispel that ignorance, to show how man can help man, notwithstanding

CONDITION OF THE LABOURING CLASSES. 89

the complicated state of civilized society~ ought to be the aim of every philanthropic person; but it is more peculiarly the duty of those who, under the blessing of Divine Providence, enjoy station, wealth, and education.

Let them be careful, however, to avoid any dictatorial interference with labour and employ­ ment, which frightens away capital, destroys that freedom of thought and independence of action which must remain to every one if he is to work out his own happiness, and impairs that con­ fidence under which alone engagements for mutual benefit are possible.

God has created man imperfect, and left him with many wants, as it were to stimulate each to individual exertion, and to make. all feel that it is only by united exertions and combined action that these imperfections can be supplied, and these wants satisfied. This presupposes self­ reliance and confidence in each other. To .show the way how these individual exertions can be directed with the great.est benefit, and to foster that confidence upon which the readiness to assist each other depends, this Society deems its

most sacred duty. There has been no ostentatious display of

charity or munificence, nor the pretens ion of

90 SOCIETY FOR IMPROVING, E'l'C.

beco~ing the arbiter of the fate of thousands, but the quiet working out of particular schemes of social improvement; for which, however, a.s I said before, the Society has only established ex­ amples for the community at large to follow.

The report of the proceedings of last year will now be laid before you.

I must say- I hope I may say-that the So­ ciety has proceeded satisfactorily towards the ac­ complishment of its objects ; and that is owing particularly to the kind feelings, the great expe­ rience, and undoubted zeal of Lord Ashley.

The next step which we contemplate t.aking is

the erection of a model lodging-house for families. I have no doubt that the meeting will enable us to carry out that step, and that the attention of the public will be more generally directed to the objects which we have in view.