REPORT. Ir affords some satisfaction to the Committee to find that their assistance has been applied for in 25 per cent. more cases, and that they have sent out nearly 50 per cent. more reports during the present year than during the last. As it is not possible that the population of the district has increased in this proportion, nor probable that there has been a material increase of poverty, the result must be mainly due to an increased sense of the usefulness of the Committee. On the next page will be found a few specimens, intended to illustrate the way in which they have treated different types of cases. As to the work itself, that it is incomplete and unsatisfactory in many ways the Committee are only too conscious. They are sometimes deceived in the character of the applicants, and often disappointed in the result of their efforts for them. But the Committee ask those who would condemn them to compare in detail their treatment of cases with that accorded to similar ones by many other societies, and perhaps by the majority of individuals. If it is a week before they are able to assist an applicant, how long is it that he has been known to some society, or private person, and, after receiving some slight temporary help, has been left with no permanent improvement in his position? And on the other hand, when the Committee do help, is not their assistance generally of a permanent kind? With full consciousness of the imperfection of their work, they invite assistance from all those who can improve their methods and increase their knowledge of the poor. At the same time, they believe that the Society is steadily progressing towards a more complete understanding of the conditions with which charity has to deal, and towards more effectual methods of dealing with and improving those conditions. A system of co-operation established by the Central Office of the Charity Organisation Society with a great number of Convalescent Homes has led to much greater certainty and promptitude than could formerly be attained in obtaining rest and change and good food for convalescent patients. A new arrangement has been made with the Rector of St. Giles's, by which the Committee pledge themselves to obtain for cases referred to and approved by them a proportion of the money required for their relief. They would be happy to make a similar arrangement with other parishes, or with the managers of any general charity in the district, and have addressed to all of them a circular letter, stating their willingness to do this. They have also requested the managers of such charities as may be willing to do so, to allow them periodically to see the list of cases assisted by them, in order to prevent the same case being assisted by two or more charities, each in ignorance of what the other is doing. The response to this request, however, has not been sufficiently general to enable the Committee to do much to prevent this over-lapping of charity and systematic imposture which still goes on. The Committee have had pleaure in assisting in the formation of a 'Sanitary Aid Committee' for the district, by lending their rooms for its meetings. One or two gentlemen are members of both Committees, but the two Committees are entirely distinct and independent of each other. This Committee would be willing to receive similar applications from other charitable societies for the use of its rooms at times when they are now unoccupied. A list of applicants for various sorts of employment has been started at the office, and employers seeking servants have been requested to communicate with us. This has resulted in several deserving persons being provided with employment for which they are suited. By the kindness of Mrs. Berry a drawing-room meeting was held at her house, 27 Upper Bedford Place, on the 20th of June, at which Mr. Mark Wilks kindly took the chair. The meeting was well attended by representatives of various charitable bodies in the district, and the principles and practice of the Committee were explained. The meeting further considered the proposal to form a Club and Institute for Boys in the St. Giles's Mission District, a proposal which it is hoped will be carried out under the superintendence of the Rev. D. Rice-Jones, who has the charge of the district, and of a committee. If well managed such a club would be of infinite value to boys becoming members of it. Such have been the principal matters which have engaged the attention of the Committee during the past year. Longer sittings have been necessary, and a good deal of time and trouble have been required from various members of the Committee. A large donation has been received from the Duke of Bedford, and a lady who does not wish her name to be published has assisted in the relief of a great number of cases. The support, however, which the Committee receive from residents in the district does not materially increase, and this is the most disappointing feature in our position. A district such as Bloomsbury ought surely to support its own poor, and to contribute substantially towards those of its less prosperous neighbour, St. Giles. At present, without outside help we could not continue our work; we trust that we have shown that our progress is in the right direction, and that our reforms are animated by the true spirit of charity; and if that is so, we earnestly invite the residents in the district to help us with their money, their time, and their sympathy, so that the large charities of this populous district may, by co-operation and mutual interchange of information, be enabled to grapple more effectually with the causes of poverty, instead of, as at present, merely alleviating the symptoms. SPECIMEN CASES DEALT WITH BY THE COMMITTEE DURING THE YEAR. CLASS I.-NOT ASSISTED. NOT REQUIRING RELIEF. 4456. A widower, in regular work at 243. a week, wanted his five children, aged from eleven to three, got into Homes, on the ground that they would not go to school. He said he would pay 2s. a week each towards their support; but this would not be nearly sufficient, and it was thought he should pay someone to look after them at home. The children were sadly neglected, and the man had left more than one lodging without paying his rent. 4626. A shopkeeper, making £4 a week, was refused a letter for Charing Cross Hospital, on the ground that she ought to pay for her own medical attendance. She had no family. INELIGIBLE. 4625. A traveller, with a wife, but no family, had for a long time been earning 30s. a week, but was now 64, and past work. His character was very good, but as he had saved nothing while in regular work, and as some relations who appeared able to assist declined to do so, he was considered ineligible for help. POOR LAW. 4656. A very respectable man, with wife and one child, was ill with co sumption and unable to earn anything. His wife did a little charing occasionally Five years ago he had been left £600, but had squandered a good deal of it on jewellery, &c., and had also bought a greengrocer's business which he was incompetent to manage, and which failed Latterly he had worked as a scene shifter at 12s. a week. There was no probability of his supporting himself, an he had to be told to apply to the parish. CLASS II.-ASSISTED. 4583. Three young American ladies went out to Germany in expectation of being engaged as teachers in a school, but were disappointed in this and came over to England, where they were without means or introduction. After applying ineffectually at their own Embassy and at many places for assistance and for employment, they came to this Committee, some members of which provided temporary employment for them, and £1 a week was allowed for their support until they could receive money from their relations in the States. This arrived safely, and they sailed for New York about three weeks after their first application here, and have repaid all the money advanced. 4559. A widow, with four young children, had been supporting them on 98. a week, which she earned at Crosse and Blackwell's, and 5s. a week out-relief, but was too ill with consumption to work any longer. Her character was excell. nt, and she was said by the doctor to be in by no means a hopeless state of health. She was sent to a Consumption Hospital, and afterwards to a gentleman's house in Shropshire, where she is gradually recovering her strength. She has already been there nearly six months. Meanwhile her children were at first supported principally by the clergy of St. Giles's parish, and afterwards one of them was admitted into the Parochial Schools, and a married daughter took charge of the three others. 4290. A man had been thrown out of work by an accident, and the employer gave him considerable help while ill, but, when he claimed a legal right to compensation, refused to do more for him. He was a good workman (an electrician), and had a good character, but was a foreigner, and knew little English, and consequently could not get work. A member of the Committee went personally with him to the Health Exhibition and got him employed there, and heard afterwards that he had given the greatest satisfaction. 2934. A man of exceedingly good character, aged 43, a cheesemonger's assistant, was run over in the street and lost his right arm. His friends collected £30 for him, which enabled him to support himself and family for two years, by buying and selling second-hand furniture. At the beginning of the present year this failed, and he was in distress. After considerable trouble in inquiry and advertising, a small dairy and cheese business was found for him, which he was very confident he and his wife could manage. The Committee, by a special subscription, raised the necessary money, upwards of £26, and he has now had the business about nine months, and is gradually improving it. He is thus supporting his family, and hopes in time to repay part of the money advanced to him. 4521. An old man of 73 is in receipt of a pension from the Government of £100 a year, for scientific services. Being an habitual drunkard and almost imbecile, he spends this money as soon as he receives it, and is in the greatest want till the next quarter-day. His daughter requested us to administer the money for him. We advanced money till the quarter-day came, to keep him in respectable lodgings and feed him; and on the quarter-day he was persuaded to hand over to us the greater part of his pension, keeping a few pounds, which he lost in a day or two, after getting very drunk. During the ensuing quarter he was kept comfortably and respectably, under the superintendence of the Committee; his daily amount of drink was limited, and new clothes bought. The Treasury was informed of the facts, but refused to pay the pension except into his own hands, and advised an application to the High Court of Chancery, which of course was out of the question. Consequently, when he received his next quarter's pension he refused to give it up, got very drunk, damaged his lodgings, and has disappeared from London. It is to be hoped he will find his way to a workhouse, but as long as the Treasury persist in paying the money direct into his hands, he must oscillate between the extremes of drunkenness and the extremes of destitution. REPORT. IN presenting their Thirteenth Annual Report, the Committee feel it necessary to direct attention to certain facts, which, though in a sense satisfactory, are nevertheless causing them no inconsiderable anxiety with regard to the future of their work. During the past year their operations have been largely extended, and, as a consequence, the expenditure also has increased. Statistics of case-work alone show a return of 530 cases dealt with, as against 389 in the previous year, being an increase at the rate of 36 per cent.; while the amount spent in relief by or through the Committee (exclusive of loans) has risen from £254 to upwards of £300, which sum does not include a considerable amount of relief, both in money and kind, granted directly by other agencies on the Committee's recommendation. At the same time, the Committee have taken a more active part than heretofore in work in the district and in promoting local schemes for the benefit of the poor. That progress to this extent has been possible without any addition to the office expenses should be matter for congratulation; but it is not equally satisfactory to note that, had it not been for the liberality of an individual donor, the year would have closed with a deficit. The loss of several old subscribers by death or removal from the neighbourhood has scarcely been counterbalanced by the accession of fresh supporters. With a failing exchequer and growing reponsibilities the outlook for the coming year is sufficiently serious. It rests with those who believe that the Committee are making some definite progress on the right lines, and that their work supplies a real want in the district, to see that the movement is not hopelessly crippled for lack of funds. Referring again to relief work, the Committee are glad to note among their applicants an increasing number of persons of a better stamp who have fallen into distress through sickness or other unavoidable misfortune, and whom it has been a real pleasure to help through their difficulties. The following cases may be instanced: A brass finisher, who belonged to the Foresters' Club, and worked for a well-known firm in the district, was ill with consumption. The Committee boarded him out at Bournemouth for ten weeks, his employers contributing towards the cost. During his absence the clergyman and the man's fellowworkmen undertook, at the suggestion of the Committee, to help his wife and family, who had only the club allowance to depend on. On his return, much improved in health, he was recommended by the doctor not to resume his former unhealthy employment, and ultimately, with the Committee's help, he succeeded in obtaining the care of chambers at the West End, and was thus enabled to make a fresh start in life. As we write, he has called to report that he and his family are doing well. Another consumptive case was that of a man of high character and intelligence, by trade a compositor and printer's reader. The rapid progress of his disease had been temporarily arrested by the action of the Committee in maintaining him at Ventnor during the spring and summer of 1883. In January last, on the recommendation of his doctor, who thought that under favourable conditions his health might improve, the Committee sent him to a Convalescent Home at Hastings, and afterwards to Bournemouth. At first he seemed to gain strength, but when the hot weather set in he grew worse, and |