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the greatest difficulties, and at increased rentals. The
scarcity of accommodation caused them to remove to
houses of a somewhat better description, but having unfortunately
brought their old habits with them, the new
homes have been gradually reduced to the same level as
the former ones. Hence a large number of London houses,
which were formerly tenanted by small tradesmen and
decent people, are now occupied by the poor, whose overcrowding
and bad usage have brought the properties to a
dilapidated condition and premature decay; and so added
to the number of insanitary dwellings in the metropolis.
2.— The bad habits of the people.
1 will not include in my remarks the habits of the artizan
class, who as a rule live respectably, and keep their rooms
in decent order, but it is the poorest of the labouring
classes, the waifs and strays, or the residuum of the population,
that I would speak of, many of whom are so filthy
and destructive in their habits that the sanitary officials
are absolutely powerless to deal with them; for what is
improved to-day becomes bad and dirty to-morrow. For
this state of things a great deal of abuse has been heaped
upon the landlord or middleman, but without being an
apologist for that class, I must say that oftentimes he is
not so blameable as is supposed, and at all times his position
is by no means an enviable one, as it must be most
disheartening for him to continually find his property
destroyed. Covers to dust-bins, and cisterns burnt for firewood,
sanitary fittings sold for a few pence, balusters
pulled out, doors and windows broken in, and this destruction
taking place as soon as the premises have been repaired.
The vestries and district Boards have been charged with
neglecting their duties in not carrying out the several Acts