[...] It is nineteen years since East London has been blighted by a Mansion House Fund. The lessons then learnt have been forgotten, and it is only a few of those engaged who, like Sir Edmund Currie, have had strength of mind to keep themselves clear of this fund. The lessons, however, pronted themselves deeply, and when I first came to East London I read them in the tales of successful hypocrisy which were passed from mouth to mouth, and inthe spirit at once slavish and vindictive in which alms were begged. By the long service of many who gave better than money some of the evils has been undone, and at the beginning of this winter there was distinct evidence of bravery and independence. A steady flow of goodwill was directed towards real needs, and ground was given for hope that, by the equal co-operation of rich and poor, things would become better.

The new Mansion House FUnd damps the hope. It has broken upon us ina way no one could have expected, At the instance neither of the leading workmen, nor of any trades' society, nor of any body of clergy, but simply moved by men well known as agitators against Free-trade, Thames bridges, or any inerest, the Lord Mayor opened the Fund.

Suddenly the advertisemnet appeared that 60,000 pound were to be given away. People whose imaginations hardly grasp the meaning of 100 pound felt this sum to be sufficient to meet all needs. They came dorward in crowds to make their applications, and found themselves face to face with administrators without organisation, without principles, without even leasure to listen patiently ... The poor are rightly angry. The Crowd who have travelled up from the country for their share feel they have been deceived. The struggling workers who knoe that the wages weekly earned are insufficient, protest that the fund is being wasted. The idle threaten to break more windows if their wants be not more easily satisfied. The servants of the poor break their hearts, They see the work of years undone, as some of their friends give up trying, and waste days begging for relief. They see evil returning as they catch sounds of grumblings, bitter speaking and suspicion. they see people of goodwill hurried and anxious to give money, forgettful of the real needs of brother men, and they lose hope. It seems as if there would be greater poverty in the future, and what is worse than poverty, greater class hatred.