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St. Giles, Camberswell.
REPORT ON THE SANITARY ACTS IN THEIR
RELATION TO THE HOUSES OF THE VERY POOR.
The subject of the housing of the very poor has
again been brought prominently before the public.
Distinguished members of both houses of parliament,
who have probably little or no real acquaintance
with it, have been parading their views on the nature
and extent of the existing evil, and as to how this
evil may be best dealt with; with the object (if one
may deduce it from the character of their utterances)
rather of bidding for popularity than of dealing with
it in a practical way. Clergymen, who are probably
more shocked at the immorality prevailing amongst
the very poor and at their little knowledge or appreciation
of Christianity than at their actual sanitary
condition, have written highly-coloured accounts of
the wretchedness of the hovels they inhabit. And
public meetings have been held at which all but
those who are best acquainted with the domestic