There is a similar society in connection with the Madeley Wood Company’s Works, from which we get no particulars, but the annual subscriptions to which may probably be put at about the same as those at Coalbrookdale. There is also a similar institution in connection with the Madeley Court Works, with about 350 members, who pay annually £113 15s. Adding all these together we find that, without taking the United Brothers and a sick society at Coalport called the Pitcher into account, there are 2985 members of clubs, subscribing a total of £2380 1s. 10d. annually, and possessing a capital of £4721 6s. 5d.!! These facts may be considered as a reply in a great measure to the charge sometimes made against the working classes of an utter want of thrift and forethought, and suggest the question whether men making so much provision for the future for themselves and families ought not to be excused to some extent the payment of poor rates. THE SANITARY STATE OF THE PARISH. The sanitary state of Madeley and Ironbridge is far from what it ought to be. There is not only a sad deficiency of water, but much that is used is impure. Severn water is carried and sold at Madeley Wood and Lincoln Hill at 1d., 1½., and sometimes 2d. per pail, or 6d. for a small barrel. Again, any one who knows the turbid tale of Severn-water after rain, or is acquainted with the amount of sewage thrown into the river, will question the quality of such water for drinking purposes. Just above one of the lading places a sewer comes down near the back of the Police Office and empties its black sludge into the river. Some use filters; but high authorities on the subject assert that although mechanical impurities may be got rid of those which are chemical or organic remain. Let persons who undervalue an abundant supply of good water ask their wives or some medical man as to its importance; or let them beg it or buy it, and fetch it from long distances, often waiting their turns at the well, or count the cost which impure water entails. Let them look at the sickness, the pain and distress of parents watching day by day the fevered or pallid cheeks and withered forms of their household treasures. Perhaps the mother herself is struck down, or the bread-winner of the family; and in case death ensues, added to the crushing force of the blow, there are doctor’s bills, and excessive funeral expenses, which lie as a dead-weight from which the family scarcely ever recovers!