be always writing usually are, merely for his own edification,
class, and is becoming the torture of the poor, will be abo- or that of a provincial audience. It was the expression of a lished. The first clause of the little bill on a half-sheet of conviction deeply rooted in his mind, and which even then Paper is the deadliest blow ever levelled by an English Cabinet was impelling him towards a measure which, if the people at the sum of human misery, the strongest check officials have accept it heartily, may make thrift of the most provident and ever been enabled to place on recklessness and prodigality.
payment for such annuities in instalments, to be regulated We have little fear as to Parliament ; but the success of as to amount and intervals entirely by the officials, the measure depends upon the people and the co-operation That is all contained in the important clause, and that is has still to be secured. The Bill will i need exposition, and enough in Mr. Gladstone's hands to reform the habits of exposition in a very popular form ; but the penny press and English lower-class life, and, if only the masses can be the clergy can manage that between them. The postmasters induced to accept the enormous privilege conceded, to re- will do nothing, will, indeed, resist as much as they dare, volutionize the operation of the Poor Laws. For it enables the those functionaries hating trouble to an extent which afflicts- Chancellor by simple executive order to create a vast Benevo- them with chronic incivility. Even a relieving officer is lent Society, covering the entire kingdom with its offices, scarcely such a brute to the poor as the average country post- open to subscriptions like the societies which already cover master, a cause which impedes the success of the post- the land, but unlike them beyond risk of fraud, .or injustice, office banks almost as much as the postmistress's habit of or bankruptcy, or the temptation of exhausting trust funds chatter. The poor object to be cursed, except in the in unlimited beer for the throats of thirsty trustees. He way of business, and object still more to hear their can, and we believe will, arrange that payments in pennies savings discussed in the village taproom where though shall be received weekly at all post-office savings banks, the landlord is "safe," and the villagers trusted, the which payments shall secure to the payer an annuity at sixty master's bailiff is neither, and the poor man's relatives of not less than ten shillings a week. John Smith, engineer are greedy for little loans. Still, if the proposal is attrao- journeyman, may, in fact, by sacrificing,—on a rough calcula- tive the people will hear of it and understand it in the taon—about seven pence a week of his wages, guarantee end ; but will it be attractive ? In the towns we think it will, himself against poverty when he can work no longer, or if he and among better-class servants ; but throughout the mass of has a little extra nerve in parting with wages, may buy for the people it will be regarded as having one serious drawback. himself an old age of hearty, welt-fed comfort. The servant What is to be done about sickness ? Old age is far to the who now, after a life of well-fed ease, passed in houses where young, but sickness is always near, " confinements " are- she is as far as physical comfort is concerned herself one of pretty nearly inevitable, and the society which offers allow- the rich, looks forward to the workhouse as her only home ances for illness as well as old age may have the preference in old age, may, by merely paying away her "Tails," secure over the Government, which provides for old age alone. If herself an independence which will make her a welcome guest the idea becomes general that the society is the more beneficial, with all the relatives who now plead that, kindly as Mr. Gladstone's measure will, like every other advance in. they are inclined, they can but just feed themselves. This civilization' benefit the mechanics, but just miss the country payment, moreover, is made for an absolute certainty. No labourer. He may see means for meeting this objection, and blunder of calculation, or fraud by secretaries, or claim we shall wait with some anxiety for his exposition, but for from a pot-house landlord, or vote by half-drunk men, re- ourselves we are clear that to succeed the State must go one ceived as " liberal " by the society and as insane by Mr. step further, and guarantee through the Union medical Tidd Pratt, can impair the State guarantee, or leave the machinery annuities payable in sickness. Without that nation without means to allow the annuity earned by such advance the benefit may be but partial, with it Mr. Gladstone ceaseless thrift. The element of risk, the doubt as to future will have extinguished ataong the honest and the industrious solvency which destroys the instinctive thrift of the poor, is • the horrible dread of old age. Deutsche Treue? Not even three eloquent Professore apolo- removed, and every penny the labourer can lay by is assured gizing for it from the most opposite points of view can make beyond all chances, save those which would destroy the that if the scheme is accepted by Parliament and the people, GLADSTONE DE SENECTUTE. the worst misery of poverty, the vague dread of the future MR. GLADSTONE'S sermon at Hawarden on the value of which deepens and intensifies itself with every advance of thrift was not composed, as the sermons he is said to education, the anxiety which is the harass of the middle- payment for such annuities in instalments, to be regulated We have little fear as to Parliament ; but the success of as to amount and intervals entirely by the officials, the measure depends upon the people and the co-operation
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