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Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
lowed up one after another, and houses are covering them. If instead of long and monotonous
streets of low houses, which must soon become the habitations of wretchedness and vice,
loftier houses were built, in flats, and with numerous open spaces, we might anticipate a
better future. Apparently, however, each builder does that which seems good in his own
eyes, and we must submit. I have often wondered at the indifference manifested by Government.
Such was not the case with that of old Rome. The utmost care and watchfulness
was shown in tho erection of houses, both as regarded their position and structure, so that
they might not become the haunts for disease and crime. Shall the Christian City, in the
performance of such important duties, lag behind the Pagan City ? The building of proper
habitations is the greatest want of the time, and the very basis of sanitary improvement.
Without this, our labour is despoiled of more than half its benefits. The placing of a block of
houses here and there is of no avail, except perhaps to show tho greater need of them. It is
high time something should be done; and I earnestly hope that tho bill now before Parliament
to provide better dwellings for artisans and labourers will be tho commencement of a better era.
If modified and carefully carried out, it may prove one of tho most efficient sanitary measures
yet passed. There will, however, be many and great obstacles, the chief being
poverty. A man will not build unless he can see that he shall be remunerated for his labour
and outlay. How can he pull down old bouses, and build now ones, and the rents not be
increased ? To increase rents will render almost nugatory the good done. I say, now, as
I have said before, that I do not believe suitable houses can be built for the poor which
will pay. The philanthropist halts here, and the capitalist will not advance. How much
might be done by those who have been set upon the high places of the earth, did they consider
what their position demands. The gulph now widening between the rich and poor
might then be bridged over. Many of the localities in our parishes, and not only in our
parishes, but in other parishes out in the open country, upon which stand buildings that are
a disgrace and a curse to the age, belong to the wealthiest of the land, yet, they heed not.
Apparently they have abdicated those duties which the possession of property involves. There
is certainly need of greater sympathy between the various classes which form our social condition.
Justice may be most rigidly and impartially enforced, and money payments most
correctly made, but this is not all that is required. There abide other wants within the
human heart. There is much said at the present time about the working classes, and a variety
of means proposed for their benefit; a great deal however remains to be done. For we
must not forget, that it is amongst them is found our highest death-rate; and that it is amongst
them epidemics rage most fatally. The case is hard when a man, even when in full work, can
barely supply the necessities of himself and family; but how much harder still, when seeking
anxiously for leave to toil, that he may eat the bread of diligence, he can find none,
but must stand with folded arms, his heart filled with blind wrath. "A man willing to
work," writes Carlyle, "and unable to find work, is perhaps the saddest sight that fortune's
inequality exhibits under the sun." Beneath the fair aspect of our prosperity, there ever
welters a dark sea of hunger, discontent, and turbulence; and I need not say how such evils
impair tho health of a people.
16th June, 1868.
HENRY BATESON, M.D.