§ The EARL of SHAFTESBURY, in moving that the House go into Committee on this Bill (on recommitment), said, he wished to make a few observations for the purpose of showing that the question, however it might be undervalued by individual Barons, was not really below the dignity of that House or of the Legislature, nor at all meriting to be designated as either "petty" or "miserable." He had received strong concurrent evidence from all parts of the country as to the extremely beneficial operation of the present system. At this moment there were in this metro- 554 polis 80,000 persons living in registered houses, and in two months from this time there would be 20,000 persons more living in such houses, numbering in all 100,000 persons receiving the great benefit of the system. In these houses he found order, cleanliness, and decency taking the place of the filth, disorder, and indecency which had previously prevailed, and fever almost banished, He had received the testimony of many persons from the Continent and from the United States of their great astonishment at the extraordinary results produced by the operation of the Act in aggregations of people, among whom the most terrible filth, disorder, and immorality had prevailed previously. He felt it necessary to state this fact, not with any reference to the humble individual who had brought forward the measure, but in order to vindicate the measure from the offensive and odious imputation of cant and pseudo philanthropy. If any noble Lord would go into the localities where these improvements were being effected, would inquire into the misery which had there existed, and hear the persons benefited contrast their present with their past state, he was quite sure that very few of their Lordships, if any, would throw impediments in the way of this remedial legislation.
§ LORD BEAUMONTshould not have troubled their Lordships with any observations if it had not been for the pointed observations made by the noble Earl with reference to an observation which he (Lord Beaumont) had made use of on a previous evening. Now, not only did those observations not apply to the present case, but the noble Earl, had he recollected what had passed on a previous occasion, might have known that he (Lord Beaumont) was then one of the supporters of this Bill. He considered the question with which it dealt one, not only not beneath the dignity of Parliament, but to be one that called for legislative interference; but he did not feel himself called upon on all occasions when he might sympathise with the noble Earl's objects to approve his mode of attaining them. Indeed he owned that on many occasions, where the noble Earl had shown good ground for interference, it had struck him that the course he had adopted was totally erroneous, and not even calculated to accomplish his proposed end. What he desired in such cases was, to look at the practical details, not at the mere sentiment of the matter. In the present case he admitted that legislative interference was 555 needed, and his chief objection to the Bill had already been removed. That objection was, that the phrase "common lodging house" was not then properly defined; he was happy to find that it was so now. He regretted that any observations of his should seem so to have excited and irritated the noble Earl.
§ House in Committee,
§ Amendments made.
§ The Report thereof to be received on Monday next.