DR. THOMAS CHALMERS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."' SIR,—The reference in your article on "The Safe Alternative" in last week's Spectator I think was intended to be, not to Robert Chalmers, but to Dr. Thomas Chalmers. The story of his successful experiment in dealing with poverty in the parish of St. John, in Glasgow, is well worth reading and studying at the present time, and in considering the well- meant, if not always wise, proposals which are being made for the prevention of poverty, the faot cannot be too strongly insisted on that to a large extent, as you say, quoting Dr. Chalmers, poverty is a moral evil and can only be cured by moral instruments. With the deepest sympathy for the unfortunate and deserving poor, and while admiring the generosity and brave endurance which often shame us, no one can have come into close contact with the labouring classes without learning that poverty is largely due to indifference, unwillingness to submit to the discipline of regular employ- ment, and intemperance, and no reform of the Poor Law can
cure these.—I am, Sir, &c., F. BAWDEN.
57 Island Road, Garston, Liverpool.
[By some carious brain process which we cannot explain, we substituted "Robert " for " Thomas," in spite of the fact, that two of Chalmers's books were lying at our elbow ready to protest at so absurd an error. We do not think, how- ever, that our argument was very seriously impaired by the blunder.—ED. Spectator.]
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