Posted with permission of the transcriber, Ann Selchick. Geo SICKNESS & POVERTY IN Nineteenth Century Whitehaven. # 47-B . TO MR. JOHN SPENCER Spirit Merchant and Poor Law Guardian. You thus follow up the system of which you gave a notable a specimen in the severe winter of 1838, when for a paltry half guinea subscribed you gave away by wholesale to pamper the same bad passion the subscriptions of scores of more liberal contributors than yourself. But let that pass; and with respect to your present career at the Board of Guardians if the gentlemen composing that body do not strip you of the power of doing mischief I shall at no distant day call them to account for gross and shameful neglect of duty. Let me however come to closer quarters with you. As you are a sort of poor law oracle you will not venture to plead ignorance I presume of the most trifling enactments of the new law, much less would you stultify yourself by pleading ignorance of what is required at your hands as a guardian. I will take it for granted them that you are cognizant of the fact that no guardian of the Poor can, except under heavy penalty, furnish any article whatever for the use of the poor in the Union Workhouse. Of this you are well aware as I am, yet notwithstanding, your love of "filthy lucre" prompts you to transgress the laws you profess to administer! I am not aware that a single quarter passes in which we may not find an account for spirit furnished by you for the Union Workhouse - all of which of course is used by the paupers - to the exclusion of every other spirit dealers in the town; and that you are conscious of the illegality of the step you are taking I need adduce no other fact a! s proof beyond your attempt to screen yourself by making your son the vendor to the Workhouse of what a teetotaller like yourself would call the "liquid fire of damnation." This stale and weak attempt to shelter yourself from the consequences of the law is as paltry as it is unworthy of any man who has the least pretensions to even common understanding. If your son be your partner in business he cannot sell without you being as legally responsible for his acts as he is himself; and then again if he be not a partner you must show that he is a licensed spirit dealer, otherwise you make him infringe the law of license, so that in either case the shuffle would avail you nothing. I may perhaps be asked why that pink of poor house governors with the Union is blessed, gives you the preference for the Union Workhouse spirits. I will not mention the reason which instantly stares me in the face, but merely remark, knowing as I do the part you took in that man's appointment, that he betrays at least one good quality - gratitude. Perhaps the Board of Guardians generally will take cognizance of this. And now Sir, do you perceive if the Assistant Overseer were anxious to retaliate for your repeated acts of kindness towards him that he has it in his power to do so effectually. I believe he entertains no such unworthy disposition towards you, though he cannot with ordinary feelings of our nature respect the man who has with so much relentless perseverance sought to deprive him of a means of supporting himself and a numerous family. I have perhaps said enough to you for the present, in order to attract attention to the subject; but if not my next letter shall be addressed to the Board of Guardians generally, in order that what I cannot but regard as a most extravagant and iniquitous career may be arrested. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, A. Z. Roper Street, Nov. 18, 1840. ___________________