Posted with permission of the transcriber, 'Ann'. Geo. SICKNESS & POVERTY IN Nineteenth Century Whitehaven. # 45. THE POOR LAW COMMISSIONERS Versus THE POOR. _____ The poor-law commissioners, who really seem more destitute of humanity than any other men, are apparently afraid lest the poor under their control should fare too sumptuously in the Bastiles, where their allowance of food is a degree or two above the starvation point, and have consequently put their veto upon any extra food, either in quantity or quality, being supplied to the inmates of workhouses by Guardians of the Unions, on Christmas Days, or on any festive occasions. "The Three Kings of Somerset House," in March last, thus issued their Royal Mandate: - POOR-LAW COMMISSION OFFICE, SOMERSET HOUSE, MARCH 18, 1840. EXPENSES OF CHRISTMAS DINNERS IN WORKHOUSES. Sir, - The Poor-Law Commissioners have perceived that on Christmas days, and other recent festive occasions, the guardians of various unions have provided for the inmates of the workhouses dinners which both in quantity and quality of food, and in its cost, have greatly exceeded the usual diet of the workhouse inmates, and even of many of the less prosperous portion of the ratepayers. The commissioners admit that they are very unwilling to interfere with the proceedings, owing to their respect for the motives which have given rise to them. The commissioners, however, cannot but perceive the injustice of applying the proceeds of the compulsory tax , raised only to relieve destitution, to provide for the inmates of a workhouse luxuries which are beyond the reach of those by whom the tax is paid. They have, therefore, determined to give positive instructions to their auditor, to disallow in the accounts and expenditure which shall henceforth have been incurred in the extra allowance which shall be furnished on the occasion above alluded to. The commissioners have only to add, that where the indulgencies above mentioned are supplied to the inmates of the workhouse at the expense of private individuals, the question assumes altogether a different form, and strictly ____? To nary occasions, seems not to require the interference of the commissioners. Signed, by the order of the Board, Edwin CHADWICK, Secretary to the Poor-Law Commissioners. These Poor-Law Commissioners know as little of the English character as they do of the wants and feelings of the poor themselves, if they for a moment imagine that the humblest rate-payer in the realm would begrudge the inmates of the Union Workhouse a good substantial dinner at the season of festivity when the hearts of so many of the humble poor are made to rejoice through the bounty of their benevolent and more opulent neighbors. This mawkish love of economy comes with bad grace from such a quarter. We would inform the commissioners that it is not the expense of an extra dinner once a year to the poor that any rate-payer would object; but the rate-payers throughout the land do object to the salaries of useless - nay worse than useless - commissioners, assistant commissioners, clerks, and the long train of etcetera, who are required to keep the lumbering machinery of the poor law in operation. To be continued....