applause of the whole meeting. A special vote of thanks was engrossed and presented to him, signed by the then Grand Master and the present Secretary, on behalf of the Unity, for "his gentlemanly and impartial conduct" on this memorable occasion.

The death of Mr. Powell, of the Pottery and Newcastle District, then Deputy Grand Master, left the contest for the chair of the Order at the following A. M. C., held at Southampton, entirely amongst the Past Grands who had not served the subordinate office. Mr. Richardson's character, and his conduct, especially at the meeting just referred to, secured to him this distinguished honour.

On the 7th of July, in the same year, a grand soirée was given in honour of his election to the highest office in the Unity, by the members of the Cockermouth District, in the spacious hall in the New Market in that town. About 600 persons were present. A congratulatory address was presented to him by the officers of the District. Similar compliments were likewise paid to him by the Preston, Whitehaven, and some other Districts. In this year, he was elected Treasurer to the Order.

On the 24th of April, 1850, a grand soirée was held in the New Market Hall, Cockermouth, for the purpose of presenting to him a substantial testimonial, the result of a subscription amongst his numerous friends and admirers throughout the Unity. Upwards of a thousand persons were present, amongst whom were some of the most active and influential officers and past officers from Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle, Newcastleon-Tyne, &c. The meeting was presided over by the late General Sir Henry Wyndham, K.C.B, then Lieutenant-General Wyndham, of Cockermouth Castle. The testimonial, which cost considerably more than 100 guineas, consisted of a large and massive silver salver, elegantly embossed; a claret jug, tea pot, salt-cellars, castors, cream jug, sugar-basin, and table, dessert, and tea-spoons, all of solid silver, chaste in design, and of highly finished and costly workmanship. The presentation was made, in the name of the Unity, by Mr. T. Luff, of Liverpool, Mr. Richardson's successor in the Grand Mastership of the Order. In the centre of the salver, the following inscription is engraved :-"Presented to Jno. Richardson, jun., Esq., of Cockermouth, by the members of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows of the Manchester Unity, for his eminent services as Grand Master and Chief Treasurer, April 24, 1850."

Mr. Richardson, during his residence at Cockermouth, took an active part in the management of the local affairs of the district. He fulfilled the duties of churchwarden for about eleven years. During his tenure of office, extraordinary service devolved upon the wardens, owing to the destruction of the parish church by fire, and its subsequent re-erection. He was also for some time vice-Chairman of the Board of Guardians of the Cockermouth Union.

Mr. R. attended, in his official capacity as Treasurer to the Order, each annual meeting previous to 1856. In December, 1855, owing to various causes, which it is unnecessary here to enumerate, Mr. R. was unfortunate in his business speculations, and was compelled to suspend payment. He had, some time previously, in addition to the brewing business previously referred to, succeeded his father-in-law in the management of an important tanning establishment at Cockermouth. He devoted the whole

of his energy and activity towards the complete realization of all his available assets. His honourable conduct under these difficulties gained the approbation of all parties concerned. At this period, he resigned his office of Treasurer to the Unity, and aided to the utmost of his power in securing to the Unity every farthing of the fund entrusted to his care. As this was the first case tried under the new Act of Parliament, Mr. Richardson's hearty co-operation with the Trustees and Directors was of the utmost importance. The following resolution was passed with reference to this subject at a special meeting of the Grand Master, Board of Directors, and Trustees, held at Manchester, Dec. 10 and 11, 1855:-"That this Board, entertaining a due sense of the services rendered to the Order by P. G. M. Jno. Richardson, jun., very deeply regret the unfortunate circumstances which rendered his resignation of the office of Treasurer necessary."

The Annual Meeting held at Lincoln in May, 1856, likewise testified its sympathy in the following resolution:-"That this meeting sincerely regrets the unfortunate circumstances which have led to the resignation of the office of Treasurer by Mr. Jno. Richardson, jun., and begs to tender to him its best thanks for the able and courteous manner in which he for many years conducted the business of the Society; and, in tendering to him its deep sympathy, earnestly hopes he may long continue a Member of the Order to which he has rendered such honest services."

In September, 1856, Mr. Richardson removed his residence to Kendal, having received an appointment to represent a firm in that town in his original line of business. In 1858, he was offered by the official assignee of the Court of Bankruptcy for the Newcastle-on-Tyne district a situation of trust in his establishment, which he accepted, and which he still holds.

Since his removal to Newcastle, he has gained many kind friends amongst all classes of society, by whom he is much esteemed. He has not forgotten his old love for Odd-Fellowship; but has recently advocated its claims both at the anniversaries of several local Lodges and on other public occasions. His labours in the cause of philanthropy have not been exclusively confined to the interests of Odd-Fellowship. He is at present Superintendent of a Boy's Sunday-school, and Lay-secretary of the Church of England Sunday-school Teachers' Association in Newcastle.

Mr. Richardson has suffered several bereavements in his domestic circle, but his intelligent and amiable lady is still living. His only son, and only surviving child, Mr. Charles F. Richardson, now in his twenty-first year, has already joined the Order. The Odd-Fellows of Newcastle have been permitted to form a company of rifle volunteers, which is called the "OddFellows' Company." Mr. Charles F. Richardson is Ensign of this company. The other officers are Captain W. C. Bousfield, Past Grand; Lieutenant Isaac Temple, Past Prov. Grand Master and Treasurer to the District.

"Neglect" and "Runaway" Cases.

FROM THE DIARY OF A RELIEVING OFFICER.

THERE was a considerable crowd in Dash-square to-day, for our brave Volunteers were to muster, and the bugles rang out "the assembly ;" and from every street converging on the square came our noble British youth, casting aside the implements of trade and gain, eager to learn the art necessary for the defence of our homes should ever the audacious foe dare to set foot on our sacred soil. And when the brass band struck up a lively march and the fine fellows stepped out to its spirit-stirring strains, I felt my pulse beat a little higher, and I almost longed to join them in their march. But my march was to be in another direction. My bugle-call was the cry of sickness and distress, and this I obeyed with readiness, such as all good soldiers show. As I walked thoughtfully away, I was struck with something in the appearance of a woman, who stood amongst the throng who had been watching the military display. Her clothes were neither so poor nor so dirty as to call for any special remark amongst a miscellaneous collection of sight-seers; but she struck me as having a sort of crouching look, something like that of the hunted hare peeping out after the dogs have been re-called. She had on no bonnet, but wore her black shawl over her head, as is common in our town amongst women of the poorer class, her style of wearing it almost causing the concealment of her face. I know not whether she had adopted this mode of dress intentionally for concealment; but if so, her object was not attained, for I caught a sight of the eyes and upper part of the face, which convinced me that I ought to know their owner. It was a face I had seen some considerable time ago, but when and under what circumstances did I become familiar with that anxiouslooking figure? The truth flashed upon me "like lightning" when it did come, and I uttered an exclamation which attracted the notice of my nearest neighbour"That is Esther Carter!" I had not seen her for many months, nor had I thought of her for a considerable time; but there she was, the wretched creature, and I had a warrant for her apprehension in my desk at home almost worn away by having been so long carried about in policemen's pockets. Should I let the poor hunted creature go, or should I simply do my duty? The decision was soon come to, and I stepped up to one of the many constables in the square, quietly saying: "Just lock that woman in the black shawl up for me." The officer knew me perfectly well, and I dare say knew what offence she had been guilty of, for in an instant she was walking quietly away to the police-cells, I promising to follow almost immediately to sign "the charge."

"The charge" ran simply thus: Esther Carter, age 42, Widow, of no occupation, offence against the Poor Law Act, viz.-neglect of family:" and then followed a list of articles found in the pockets of prisoner, viz.-" Money, fourpence halfpenny, a thinble, a needle-case, and a leathern purse."

She is the widow of a respectable working man, who was a coachmaker, and who, through sickness (he not belonging to any Friendly Society) had been compelled to seek my aid. They lived in a small house, cleanly kept, and they had five children. I saw on my first visit that his pauperism would not be of long continuance, and truly he was soon removed to that state in which Lazarus, we are taught to believe, is more than on an equality with Dives. Well, our board of guardians provided means for his decent interment, and the widow and fatherless were not grudgingly provided for. She remained in her little house, and it became my duty frequently to visit her. She added at first a little to her means by some

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worse.

industrial occupation; but I gradually perceived a change come over her for the She grew slovenly in her person; the children's faces appeared gradually to become less acquainted with soap and water, and the holes in their little garments remained unmended. I said to myself, "Esther Carter drinks; I am certain of it, although I never saw her lift the cup." Soon the neighbours informed me of the fact of her intemperance, adding intelligence of a still more startling and shocking nature. She had formed an improper acquaintance with a married man who resided in the vicinity. What could an officer in my position do when, after sifting the matter thoroughly, I found that she had I took steps to bring her immediately before become a very worthless woman? the board of guardians; and having reported her conduct and position, they very properly declined to render her any more assistance from the poor's rates out of doors. She was provided with an order which would have given her and her family admission into the workhouse, where she might have remained, at all events, free from temptation to err again; where her children would have been comfortably clothed and fed, and where her evil example could no more have injured them, and where, indeed, they would have received as good an education as that which falls to the lot of most children of the humbler class. But of this order she never made use. On the contrary, she went to her home, sold every article of furniture which still remained to her from the demon drink; and in a few days the children were brought to me by a poor woman who had found them in the empty house almost naked, and absolutely starving over the cold, cold grate, without one ounce of food to put within their little lips. She had left, the savage unnatural mother, taking with her the very shoes of her children to sell for drink.

This is a very large town-quite sufficiently large for one flying from society to find a place of hiding within it. Where she has lived during these many months I know not, but I am quite certain that to-morrow the justices will send her to hard labour in the prison for the space of one calendar month; and richly she deserves punishment say I, who felt some reluctance to cause her apprehension Let us hope that in to-day. Richly she deserves it, and I am glad that I did not allow my feelings to run away with my judgment in this case at all events.

time she may become an altered woman, and again be fit to take charge of the tender plants of humanity, which the Almighty, in his wisdom, has placed under

her care.

Oh, it is a fearful thing to contemplate this child-desertion by the mother! There is One Yet it is by no means so unfrequent as the generality of the public may think. The desertion of family by the father is as common as possible to us. scarcely a week goes over but we have a case of this description to treat. fellow who still lives in my district, by the bye, seemed to have at one time a mania for leaving his wife on the parish. He is a skilled mechanic (an exception and a disgrace to his class and trade), but under the influence, as I believe, of that which our worthy stipendiary magistrate calls "the nasty drink," he absolutely would not stir out of doors to perform the work which was waiting for him to do. His wife is an industrious and hardworking woman; but when after a few days of listless idling about the house and finding the last of the food consumed, he would walk himself off and return no more, what could the poor woman do but come to the parish for aid in the support of his and her family?

I have caused this fellow to be punished no less than three times myself, under the Vagrancy Act, and I know that some of my colleagues have had him under hand also, yet he still continued to run off at intervals, until on the last occasion, having been sent by the police magistrate to the sessions as an "incorrigible vagabond," he was sentenced to six months of the treadmill, he appears to be cured. have not seen him lately, but I am informed that he is now conducting himself like a respectable man, earning excellent wages, and bringing a proper amount of them home to his wife.

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There are many (very many) cases of desertion of families with the connivance of the wife. This may seem strange to some, but when I describe the mode in which the operation performed, cause for wonder will cease, and admiration of the ingenuity of the process will prevail. This stage or description of desertion, I am bound to say, is practised most frequently by a class of our fellow subjects who are not Englishmen or Scotchmen (a Scotch pauper is a rarity with me), but by those to whom we will refrain from giving a nationality, out of respect to the proverbial sensitiveness of their countrymen if anything like fault is found with their compatriots.

The men are generally of a class which may be called "labourers," not but that we all have to labour, and pretty hard too in this town. They are men who prefer not to labour any more than they can possibly help, and, of course, are anything but respectable men, or fair specimens of the working classes as a body. The "desertion" generally takes place about the time when an increase of family is expected. The first intimation we get of it is in this wise:

Enter an old woman in a battered straw bonnet, covering a not over clean cap with very wide and very limp borders. She carries an air of mystery about her, and answers my first query almost in a whisper. Oh, I know her well, this old Rosanna! It is merely a matter of form to ask the question I put, for I know what she wants, she having been so frequently employed on such errands. "Well, Rose, what do you want?" say I. “Oh, Sir, and beggan yer hanner's pardon, it's a docther's note I'm seeking from yer hanner." "Who do you want the doctor's note for, Rose, and what's the matter?" Sure its for a naybor of mine, Sur, and not a dhrop of blood betune us, and I've only come for God's sake; she's Biddy Smit by name, and she's at the down-lying, Sur-all the naybors will tell ye so, Sur." "And why did not the husband come, Rose?" "Och, the poor man! Sure he's up the counthry looking for work this fortnight or more, and he not knowing, the poor craythur, that his wife would be taken sudden."

The old tale, Rose; the old tale! No preparation made for the expected stranger; not so much as a rag procured to cover the little Christian from the chill blast of this cold cold world. Here, then, is the responsibility of life or death thrust upon the relieving officer at once! He dares not for his own sake refuse "granting" that which Nature renders necessary at this most critical period. There is a noble charity in this town which affords assistance of the nature required for the nominal charge of one shilling per case, yet these parents have neglected during the months which precede invariably the crisis, to provide even this almost ridiculously small amount. I have been "knocked up" at all hours of the night to provide the necessary order in such Indeed good practitioners in the art of procuring relief generally prefer to come in the middle of the night for medical assistance. They find by experience, perhaps, that the order is often given without too close an investigation of the case under these circumstances.

cases.

In nine instances out of ten the husband is not out of the town at all, nor is the patient in that strait which the messenger represents. The whole affair is simply a swindle an obtaining of money's worth under false pretences; and many times, on visiting the residence indicated by the applicant, I have found the supposed sufferer hale and hearty, months in all probability from the time at which professional aid is required. However, granting that the period has arrived when the relieving officer finds it incumbent upon him to give aid-in nine cases out of ten, I repeat, the husband is not out of town, but merely keeping out of the way, and many times has the officer with a warrant for the apprehension of the vagabond found him hidden under the bed, instead of being up the counthry looking for work." But in any case the poor woman must not suffer, notwithstanding "a docther's note" means a good deal more than its title expresses. It means, besides professional attendance, out-door relief for a few weeks, and frequently