THE DISTRESS IN CORNWALL.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In the controversy respecting the condition of Cornwall the following facts may be of value. The four Unions named are the principal mining centres of this county. I intended to include the Truro Union in my list, but the Circumlocution Office having its votaries in that locality, I am denied the necessary informa- tion NUMBER OF PERSONS RECEIVING PAROCHIAL RELIEF DURING THE NINTH WEEKS OF MICH AFIMAS QUARTERS IN 1864, 1865, 1866.
Indoor.
Outdoor.
Unions. 1864. 1865. 1866. 1864. 1865. 1866.
St. Austell 181 ... 179 ... 194 1,656 ... 1,659 ... 1,678 Redruth 225 .. 231 ... 241 1,254 ... 1,173 ... 1,319 Penzance 125 148 ... 151 697 ... 720 ... 818 Liskeard 118 124 124 1,372 ... 1,474 ... 1,562
Each Union shows an increase of pauperism, but I am certain, from personal observation, that the returns convey no adequate idea of the distress which exists, nor the heroism with which it is borne. I heard one of our chairmen of Quarter Sessions state a few days since that he "had witnessed an amount of squalor in the St. Blazey district that surprised him." The tide of emigra- tion continues. There is, however, not the faintest demand for national aid.—I am, yours obediently, W. H. WORTHY. Penmellyn, St. Columb, August 28, 1866.
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