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The million-peopled city

Garwood, John

1853

Description of the adjacent notorious " Thieves' Houses."


	" Great excitement has lately prevailed on my district, in consequence of the houses, Nos. 2 and 3, West-street, being open for the inspection of the curious, previous to their demolition to make way for the new street about to be made in continuation of . Many thousands of individuals visited and inspected these houses during the month of August, among whom were his [late] , and several other persons of high rank and station in society. A general surprise was expressed that such places could so long have existed in the very centre of the metropolis, and within so short a distance of one of its leading public thoroughfares, and been notoriously used for the worst of purposes.
	" They are said to have been built in the years , by a man named or , chief of a tribe of Gipsies, under pretence of being a tavern called , but for the more direct purpose of concealing stolen property, and harbouring thieves. The dilapidated buildings behind were used as stables, where the fleetest horses were kept in constant readiness for pursuit or speedy flight. From all accounts it appears that these houses have ever been the resort of the most notorious and abandoned individuals of the metropolis. The names of their inhabitants stand conspicuous in the annals of crime, for among others are , , , and Dick Turpin.
	"Many are the strange incidents said to have taken place within these walls, and though there are many exaggerated statements made, there is no doubt, from their situation,- being by the side of , the rapid current of which could at once sweep into the Thames what might be thrown in-their dark closets, trap-doors, sliding panels, and means of escape, they were among the most secure erections
46	for robbery and murder. In the shop No. 3, there were 2 traps in the floor, one for the concealment of property, the other for a means of escape in case the felon should be pursued. His method of escape was by lifting a covering of wood about 3 feet square, when he immediately was in the cellar beneath; and by putting a plank kept in constant readiness, across , and drawing it over after him, he was at once in B, cut off from pursuit.
	" The cellar was a most filthy dismal place. Its light emanated from a small window or hole immediately above the Fleet Ditch. In one corner was a cell or den, made by parting off a portion of the cellar with brickwork, well besmeared with soot and dirt to prevent detection. It measured about 4 feet by 8. Here a chimney-sweep, who escaped from the prison of Newgate a few years since, was concealed for a considerable period, and fed through an aperture made by removing a brick near the rafters. Although repeatedly searched for he remained safe till informed of by one of his associates.
	" In a corner on the opposite side were the brickwork remains of a small blast furnace, which was used some years since by a gang of coiners. A private still was long worked successfully in this dismal place, till at length it was dis- covered.
	" The most extraordinary and ingenious part of the pre- mises I consider to be the means of escape. If a prisoner once got within their walls, it was almost an impossibility for his pursuers to take him, in consequence of the various outlets and communications. There was scarcely a chance for the most active officer to take a thief, if he only got a few yards in advance of him. He had 4 ways of escape. The staircase was very peculiar, scarcely to be described, for though the pursuer and the pursued might only be a few feet distant, the one would escape to the roof of the house,
47	while the other would be descending steps, and in a moment or two would find himself in the room he had just left, by another door. This was managed by a pivoted panel being turned between the two. A large room on the first-floor back is said to be the place where the abandoned inmates held their nightly orgies, and planned their future robberies. From the upper room there were means of escape by an aperture being made in the wall leading to the house No. 2, containing no less than 24 rooms, with 4 distinct staircases. Here, also, level with the floor, was a shoot, or spout which remained covered, except when required, about 2 feet in breadth, and 3 feet in length, by which goods could be conveyed to the cellar in an instant.
	" In short, a more suitable place for theft and murder could scarcely be made, as the premises from bottom to top evidently showed.
	" Immediately behind the premises just described stood a dilapidated building, lately used as ' penny lodgings,' where men and women slept promiscuously. Scenes commonly occurred here, and in the court adjoining, far too gross and revolting to be described. What has been actually seen by one of the general superintendents of the Mission in the middle of the day in the public street, before this house, is so bad as actually not to be credited, except it were thus confirmed.
	"In these lodgings your missionary found the associate of Good, who was executed for the murder of , about 2 years since. Indeed they were a receptacle for the most abandoned, so that every session some of their inhabitants were before the justice.

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Table Of Contents

This object is in collection

Edwin C. Bolles papers

Subject

London (England)--Description and Travel

Temporal

1853

Permanent URL

http://hdl.handle.net/10427/14815

ID:: ks65hp537
Component ID:: tufts:UA069.005.DO.00028
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	Title Page
	Preface
	Chapter I: Criminal and Destitute London Juveniles, or the Ragged School Class Criminal and Destitute London Juveniles, or the Ragged School Class A distinct Class from Adult Thieves Their extreme Youth, and sometimes Childhood Great Severity of British, as compared with French, Law on Juvenile Offenders Their especial Claim, when resident in London Their supposed Numbers The Classes from which they are drawn The Training for Crime which they receive Their Gradations in Proficiency Importance of Missionary Operations among this Class The Ragged School Movement The Connexion of the Ragged schools with the Operations of the London City Mission Ragged Schools in an especial manner free from the Difficulties of Difference of Creed and Interference with the Duties of Parents Early Approaches to the Ragged School System The first Ragged School in Lonon, as established in 'the Old Stable' at Westminster The Report of this School, as printed by Order of the House of Commons Mr. Charles Dicken's Account of the Plot of Ground on which this School stood, called 'The Devil's Acre' Letter of the Children of this School to the City Missionary New Pye-street Girls' School, April 10, 1843 Dickens's narrative of Emigrants from this School The Field-lane ragged School described, as a second Illustration of these Institutions Description of the adjacent notorious 'Thieves' Houses' Formation of the School Dickens's Narrative of different Visits to this School, and of the Improvements effected in the interim Narrative of a Visit to this School, from 'Chambers's Edinburgh Journal' This School first interested Lord Shaftesbury in the 'Movement' Erection of a New Schoolroom with a large Dormitory Review of the subsequent Progress of London Ragged Schools to the present Time Industrial Schools Refuges Emigration Sergeant Adams's Eulogy of the Efforts of Ragged School Teachers Three Cases of Usefulness from the Ragged School Union Magazine Case of Usefulness reported to the Author by a Clergyman Two other Cases of Usefulness from the 'London City Mission Magazine' The Shoe-blacks a most remarkable Illustration of the Success of the Efforts made to benefit this Class Broomers, and how they might be made to cleanse London Messengers Steppers and Ragged Nursery Comparison of the Expenses of Schools and Prisons The especial Claims of Girls Voluntary Effort, and that by the Masses, rather than Government Aid, to be especially rested on Appointment of a Missionary by the London City Mission Importance of Increased Exertions, in order to bring the whole of this Class under Ragged School Instrution Concluding Remarks
	Chapter II: Greenwich and Chelsea Pensioners Greenwich and Chelsea Pensioners Greenwich and Chelsea Hospitals fit Adornments to the two Shores of England's Metropolis Greenwich Hospital The Pensioners Their Ages Their Present Number The Yearly Deaths The Infirmary for the Sick and Dying Religious and moral Character of the Pensioners, and Providsion made for their Instruction The Pensioners not allowed to marry, and the bad Effects of this Rule The Royal Hospital Schools Law Agency in a peculiar manner important with these Men The London City Mission, the only Agency of this Character in the Hospital Need of a Second Paid Lay Visitor Description of the Meeting of Pensioners held daily by the Missionary Striking Cases of Usefulness among the Pensioners by this Agency In A.D. 1851 In A.D. 1852 In A.D. 1853 Case of Usefulness among Out-pensioners, from the Scripture Readers' Association 'Occasional paper' Chelsea Hospital Its Origin Nell Gwynne's Grant of the Building Number of In-pensioners admitted Their Character Out-pensioners The Pensioners' Opinions of the late Duke of Wellington, and of Lying-in-State The Crowds of the Public who assembled to see the Spectacle Number of Out-pensioners in different Years, according to the Prevalence of Peace or War The immense Cost of the Pensioners to the nation, even at the Present Day The Hotel des Invalides in Paris, established before Chelsea Hospital in London, and a Standing Army established in France before its Establishment in Enbland How the Disabled and Aged Soldier was previously supported in this Country The College was not completed till the Revolution The Interest of William the Third and Fourth in the College The College is for Invalids also Ages of the Pensioners Number of Deaths annually The Burial-ground of Chelsea Hospital, and its Remarkable Epitaphs Burial Registers The Funeral of a Pensioner described Flags and Trophies recently removed from St. Paul's Cathedral to Chelsea Hospital Specimens of Certificates of Service given to Pensioners on their Admission to the College by their Commanding Officers The Clasps worn by Pensioners to denote the Number of Battles in which they have engaged Guard kept at the College in Military Style Foreigners and different Creeds among the Pensioners The heavy Manner in which Time hangs on their Hands Cards, &c. introduced by the Authorities of the College to remedy this Library, and its Defects Gardening introduced by Lord John Russell These Gardens were the former famed Ranelagh Great Abuses in the Management of Chelsea Hospital abolished by Lord John Russell Regulations as to Marriage more favourable to Morals at Chelsea than at Greenwich The Royal Military Asylum for Boys The Wellington Fund now raising for the Children of Officers Gratitude of the Pensioners for Religious Instruction, and their Visit to City Missionaries, when the latter had been ill Their Interest in Religious Tracts Their Desire of Further Instruction Number of Out-pensioners resident in the Metropolis Facilities for, and Importance of, Benefitting these Men Extracts from the Reports of a Missionary of the London City Mission The especial Claims which Pensioners present on the Christian Benevolence of the Nation, and not of the Inhabitants of London only Thankfulness for Peace Immense Cost of War as compared with the Insignificant Amount which would now add greatly to their Comfort, and promote their Best Interests Danger of Delay with Men so Aged
	Chapter III: The London Cab-Driver The London Cab-Driver The Introduction of Coaches into London in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth The riding Horses in previous Use Coaches when introduced only by the very Highest Class of Society, and regarded as an effeminacy On other Classes beginning the use of Coaches, the higher Classes continued to add to the Number of the Horses by which their Coaches were drawn, in order to retain a Superiority The Introduction of Hackney Coaches kept at Inns, in the Reign of James I Hackney Coach-stands in the Public Streets established These Prohibited by the Proclamations of succeeding Kings, but in vain The Two Centuries of Hackney-coach continuance The Last Days of London Hackney-coaches The Cabriolets of Paris Their subsequent Introduction in London The immense Increase in their Number during the Twenty Years of their Existence Their present Number The Cab-driver The extensive Use of London Cabs on Sundays, and its injurious Effects on the Drivers The Extortion complained of in Cabmen The unlicensed Driver, and the extreme Depravity of this Class Cab-drivers as a Body exposed to unjust Odium Recent Alteration in the System of Licensing, and its Effects Great Difference in the Character of London Cab-stands The Waterman First Efforts for the Religious Welfare of Cabmen as a Body, as made by the London City Mission A Missionary appointed by that Society to visit them, and his Great Success A Second Missionary appointed, but soon discontinued, through want of Funds for his Support Cases recorded of his Usefulness The Emigration of the First Missionary, and the Appointment of his Successor, with Review of his Efforts and Success Cases of Usefulness recorded by the Cab Missionary of the London City Mission, last Year
	Chapter IV: The London Omnibus Man The London Omnibus Man The Introduction of Omnibuses into London, and their previous Establishment in Paris The Enterprise of Mr. Shillibeer, in starting Omnibuses in the English Metropolis, the Difficulties he encountered, and his subsequent Ruin The Paris and London Omnibuses of the present day compared The constant Litigation between the Proprietors of London Omnibuses after Mr. Shillibeer's Failure, and the consequent Establishment of large Omnibus Companies for the sake of Mutual Protection The Immense Amount of the Capital and Annual Expenditure of the London Omnibus Trade The vast Sums of Money spent by the London Population in Omnibus Riding The Large Amount of Revenue which London Omnibuses produce to the Government The very small Number of Omnibuses in the remainder of England, as compared with the Number in London The almost incredible Length of Distance traversed periodically by the London Omnibuses The constant Increase in the Number of London Omnibuses The Metropolitan Omnibus Traffic greater in the Number of Passengers than the Metropolitan Railway Traffic The Condition of the London Omnibus Men, and their present Numbers Their Sunday Occupation in the Metropolis of a professedly Christian Country scarcely less than on Week-days, and sometimes greater, while an Extreme Amount of Toil is imposed on them during the Week Lord Shaftesbury's Testimony of the Success of an Omnibus Proprietor who Discontinued Sunday Work Testimonies as to the Toil of Omnibus-men from the Early Closed Association From an Occasional paper of the Church Pastoral-Aid Society From the Rev. J. T. Baylee's 'Statistics and Facts in reference to the Lord's-day' Extract from 'Silverpen' as to the Wives and Families of Omnibus Servants Medical Testimony as to the Injury of Labour so hard on the Constitution of the Men Testimonies given to Mr. Mayhew as to the Severity of the Labour, by a Driver, a Conductor, and a Time-keeper Their Wages Their Temptations to Drink Their Temptations to Embezzlement Urgent Appeal as to the Heathenism of so Large a Body of Men Reference to the Efforts of the London City Mission, in a Pamphlet entitled 'The Omnibus Men of London' Recent Efforts of Omnibus Servants themselves to Improve their Condition The Grand Junction Omnibus Comopany The Introduction of Omnibuses has brought more together the different Parts of London Concluding Appeal
	Chapter V: The Irish of London The Irish of London Their Numbers Their Country and their Race St. Patrick Subsequent Wars Conquest of Ireland by Henry II, and its subsequent Oppression by the English The Reformation in Ireland The Protestant Colony of Ulster Established The Battle of the Boyne, and its Consequences The Union Remarkable Increase of Population in Ireland during the close of the 18th and the commencement of the 19th Centuries The pleasing Peculiarities in the irish Character Their Hospitality Their strong Natural Affection The Native irish Poor more virtuous than the English Poor Even the Good Qualities of the Irish cause them especially to need Faithful and Judicious Counsel and Visitation Their Claim as Immigrants into, to them, a Strange Land The Excellences of the Irish Character are beheld in London in their rudest form How Popery has Marred and Debased the Irish Character The Irish have been made thereby Idle They have no Proper Feeling of Independence Their Disloyalty Their Spirit of Persecution and Hatred to Protestants The Irish of London require 100 Missionaries or Scripture-readers, in order that the Gospel may be brought to their Abodes The same Agency, for the effecting the same Results, is what is especially required for the Irish of London Cardinal Wiseman's recent Denunciation of this Agency in London Soundness of Protestant Feeling among the English working-classes 'The testimony of no single missionary is materially different' The Persecution which the recent London Converts have had to endure General Expectations of Irish Romanists that Ireland will soon become a Protestant, and England a Popish Country The Causes of the Extensive Immigration of Irish to London in Recent Years The better Class of Poor emigrate from Ireland to America, and the worst Class to London The Divisions of the Irish of London into Cockneys and Grecians The Irish of London, as divided into Connaught and Munster Men Immigration of Immoral Irish Women The Numbers of the Irish of London who can read English and Irish respectively estimated Irish Protestants possess more Scriptual Knowledge than English Protestants Extreme Ignorance on Scriptural Subjects of Irish Romanists, illustrated by Examples The Irish, on arriving in London, rapidly lose their previous Religious Habits London considered by the Irish as an Infidel City, in which, without Loss of Character, they may live in the Neglect of all Religious Observances The Prevalence of Drunkness among the Irish and English compared The Rookeries are the Parts of London in which the Irish Chiefly dwell The Occupations of the Irish of London Especial Suitableness of Irish Scripture-readers and Misisonaries for Irish Districts and the more Especial Facilities with which they may be obtained Future Hopes
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