The averages at the commencement of the Union, amounting to £11,197, and the expenditure, at the end of the year, only to £5,415 18:31, evinces a saving in the disbursements of the last year of £5,781 1: 8; rather more than fifty-two and a half per cent.

On receiving the names of the paupers, in March, 1835, from the respective parishes, the relieving officers returned sixteen hundred on their lists; since then, it appears, the numbers have continually diminished; and, by the favor of Sir J. M. Tylden, since returned, I am enabled to lay before the reader the number of inmates of the house, as well as those now on the books as outdoor poor; the latter, only amounting to 885, whilst the former are thus described: making a total of 990.

Girls, from 8 to 15 years..

from 2 to 8 years...

Infants....

Thus, it appears that the spirit of independence is reviving in this district; and so long as the industrious and sober find employ, at fair wages, and the indolent, drunken, and profligate are discouraged by a judicious coercion, I greatly hope and believe, this feeling will advance in growth. The officers who receive salaries are,

The Auditor, Mr. Bathurst

Chaplain, Rev.

Greaves

Clerk, Mr. R. Hinde, jun.

Master and Matron, Mr. and Mrs. Alderton......

100

80

Medical officer, 1st district >

Do,

2nd do.

Contracts just expired{

150

75

....

Two relieving officers,

(Mr. Tarpe only, one being reduced)

One porter, with firing, candles, and apartments.

Schoolmaster..

Schoolmistress

Treasurer, Robert Hinde, Esq.

..each 100

£36 8s.

15

5

15

The area of the Union is from Milstead to Rainham, ten miles, whilst the width, from Tunstall to Iwade, does not exceed six miles.

The dietary, as I before stated, was fixed on by the chief officers of East Kent, for general adoption, and is as under:

OLD PEOPLE, being 60 years of age, and upwards-The weekly addition of one ounce of tea and milk, also, an additional meat-pudding dinner on Thursday in each week, in lieu of bread and cheese, for those whose age and infirmities it may be deemed proper and requisite.

CHILDREN-Bread and milk for their breakfast and supper, or gruel, when milk cannot be obtained; also, such proportions of the dinner diet as may be requisite for their respective ages.

SICK-Whatever is ordered for them by the medical officer.

I perceive I have omitted to observe on the appointment of a collector of rates, which I am informed is to be adopted; that he is to commence

his employ from the 24th June instant; he is to receive three-pence in the pound on all poor-rates paid him, and ten per cent. upon the return of monies lent, or loans to paupers, which he may, through his good management, be enabled to receive. It is likewise intended to discontinue the services of one relieving officer, who, it is presumed, will receive the appointment of collector; this is thought necessary, from the very considerable diminution of paupers, as well as that they are more concentrated, from the occupation of the Union house.

At the concluding part of his letter, Mr. Hinde states, "in my opinion, the Poor Law Amendment Act', in its operation, has decidedly improved the habits of the poor, exclusive of its pecuniary saving."

The distress of the poorer classes of Milton has, like that of its neighbour of Faversham, been greatly enhanced of late years, by a diminution of employ to the dredgers; this body having been long and expensively involved in law, which has greatly and seriously operated against them, by prohibiting, for a period, their employ, in sending oysters, the staple commodity of their situation, to the London market; this point (the matter of ownership) it is devoutly to be wished, may be so settled, that no further annoyances be thrown in the way of these industrious and deserving men. Since writing the foregoing, I have bee; favored by Sir J. M. Tylden's letter; wherein he observes, "Under the head of general remarks, I would say, that the result of one year's trial has proved that the new poor law has been of the greatest possible benefit, not only to the rate-payers, but to society generally, and particularly the laboring classes; for it has completely solved the difficulty attached to a redundant population; we have not now, and have not had for a long time, a man able to work, unemployed;-the laborers are more orderly and moral in their conduct; more civil in

their behaviour; much more industrious;-more pains-taking and economical; in proof of which, beer shops are shutting up in all directions, and ale-house keepers with brewers are complaining; but the maltsters do not ;--and though one does, now and then, meet with a maudlin, good sort of man, as he is called, who has no pity for any one till he becomes a pauper, or a criminal, yet even this class cannot now refuse to acknowledge the truth of these facts, and can only say 'aye but will it last?' To this I reply, not last as it is, but constantly improve; and I am confident that in ten years time, pauperism will have become merely nominal."

"As to wages, these too have been rising; and 12s. a week is now, I believe, the general average of daily pay; but men are here employed by the piece, or the great, as it is called.

"With respect to the dredgermen of Milton, I believe they are now all employed;--I hope soon to get a memorial out in their favor, to aid them in an endeavour to recover their ancient rights by going into Chancery; but at present I can say nothing certain on this head of your letter."

The foregoing observations, so unequivocally and ingenuously proffered by the gallant knight, speak volumes; here not only pecuniary, but moral good is appreciated; and it seems both have been, to a valuable extent, achieved. Thus are we encouraged not only to hope, but to feel assured, that the "Poor Law Amendment Act" is producing those results which its supporters anticipated.

The board meets every Thursday.

The Blean Union comprises sixteen parishes; six of which are a part of the city of Canterbury; it extends, with little exception, over an area of good land; contains a population of 10,639 persons, with an average poor's-rate, taken in April, 1835, for the three preceding years, of £10,519 11:7; 19 guardians are elected from its board, of which William Hyder, Esq. and Thomas Rammel, Esq.

have been chosen as the chairman and vice chairman; this board meets at their Union house, on the Thursday of each week, and I have reason to believe, from the attention these gentlemen pay to their onerous duties; the method, arrangement, and impartiality now adopted, they cannot but succeed in reducing the rates, improving the moral condition of the peasantry, and diffusing a larger portion of happiness among them. This principle will, I trust and believe, re-create that spirit of independence, which the peasantry of England were wont to possess and enjoy; I say were wont to possess, as we have fearfully waned in this particular, both in extent and degree; and therefore is it that any measure which increases independence is worthy of countenance and support, inasmuch as it advances general happiness; circulating that blessing amongst tens of thousands, who probably, under apathetic servility, would never have appreciated its enjoyment.

This Union has the following officers, with the annexed salaries attached to their respective situations; the order of the Union, and the concentrated position of a large portion of the inhabitants induce the board to reduce the number of their relieving officers, or employ them as collectors.

The board meets on every Thursday, at the Union house, on Blean Common.

The average expense of the maintenance of the in-door poor, as stated on the 22nd of June last, for the preceding month, was two shillings and five pence each individual, weekly; and the area from north to south I find to be eight miles, whilst from east to west there is scarcely any difference in the extent.