Posted with permission of the transcriber, 'Ann'. Geo. SICKNESS & POVERTY IN Nineteenth Century Whitehaven. # 46-B. INCREASED POOR RATES. ______ To the EDITOR of the CUMBERLAND PACQUET. Since the year 1834, up to the period of establishing the Union, there has been alternately two and three rates in a year; but since the establishment of the Union, two years ago, there has been six rates, including of course, the one levied this day, which, being eighteen pence in the pound, is equivalent to a rate and a half. The three rates in 1839 were wholly expended. The fact, no inconsiderable portion of the first rate levied in the year, 1840, went to discharge obligations before the late overseers could put themselves in a position to hand over their accounts to their successors. This is a fact that will admit no dispute; and it is also a fact that the present overseers have more than once, as I have before stated, had no advance money upon the rates. I shall also state broadly as a fact, and I think it is one with which every Guardian of the Union must be acquainted, that the rate, or rather rate and a half, which has just been published, will not enable the presen! t officers to hand the books over to their successors at the end of the official year, which, of course, expires on the 25th of March next. Another rate must therefore be levied before that period arrives, and yet we are gravely told by your contemporary that we pay no more money now than we did before the introduction of the new law into Whitehaven! When I contrast the statement above with the rates collected before the introduction of the new law into this town, I must confess that I am bound to come to an opposite conclusion. On looking over my accounts I find that in the year 1835 there were three rates; in 1836, two rates; in 1837, three rates; in 1838 two rates; in 1839, (the first year under the new law,) three rates; and in 1840 (with only about two-thirds of the year gone - of course I speak of the official year which does not terminate till the 25th of March) there have been two rates and a half! If any intelligent man will take the trouble to show me that I am wrong, I will cheerfully, with your permission, meet him in the columns of the Pacquet. I trust I shall be found as open to conviction as I am to the admission of truth. It will not, however, be sufficient for your contemporary, or any other person, to tell me what is paid to this officer of the Union, or how much is given to that. I profess not to know how much money is expended; it is enough for me to prove that more money has been paid since the new poor law came into operation than used, in the same period, to be collected during the existence of the old system; and that neither the pauper nor the ratepayer have, in the slightest degree benefited by the introduction of the new poor law into Whitehaven. The condition of the pauper, I contend, is unaltered - the condition of the rate-payer is considerately worse. Upon this ground sir, I stake my stand against all comers, and let my opponents spring up in what quarter they may I will be found at my post in defence of the position I have laid down. Political friends, I have none and therefore I need not be afraid of doing wrong to any one on that score, and let me not be told about provoking resistance to the new law - this law like every other has its merits and demerits; and I shall speak of them, if they are brought into question, as I find them, and upon them in public estimation, at least, it must either stand or fall. - I am, Sir, your's most respectfully, MENDICUS. NOV. 21, 1840