“Servants, labourers, and workmen of different kinds, make up by far the greater portion of every great political society. But what improves the circumstances of the greater part can never be regarded as an inconveniency to the whole. No society can surely be flourishing and happy of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable. It is but equity—besides that they who feed, clothe, and lodge, the whole body of the people should have such a share, as to be themselves tolerably well fed, clothed, and lodged. The liberal reward of labour, as it is the effect of increasing wealth, so it is the cause of increasing population. To complain of it is to lament over the necessary effect and cause of the greatest public prosperity. It deserves to be remarked perhaps, that it is in the progressive state, while the society is advancing to the further acquisition, rather than when it has acquired its complement of riches, that the condition of the labouring poor, of the great body of the people seems to be the happiest and most comfortable. It is hard in the stationary, and miserable in the declining state.” In a visit I paid to a poor patient in Burne Street, I could not help being struck with the cold, damp, dirty condition of this “attic near the sky.” The cold wind pierced through every crevice. The rain had come in plentifully through the ceiling and soaked the bed. The walls were black and grimy; the fire in the grate, like the life of my patient, feebly struggled for existence. What dirt and neglect had done for the room—dirt, disease, and poverty had done for the inmate. I feel sure that had the dwelling been in a better condition my patient would have been in better health, and consequently stood better in every relation to society.