I must go back to the year 1872 to notice one most important step which was then taken by the President of the Poor Law Board, the Right Hon. J. Stansfeld. No one who had any knowledge of the work of the society, or had followed its plans and suggestions, could fail to have observed that the point of woman's work had all along been urged as of the most vital importance. It was alleged, and since that time has come to be almost universally acknowledged, that a great part of the evils which had grown up around the system were owing to the fact that it was carried out entirely by men-that the "female element" (as Mrs. Jameson expressed it) had been entirely ignored, and that the fate and control of the thousands of women and children who came under the Poor Law was

out the infirmary—containing upwards of 1200 patients—and in initiating a training school.

The organization thus begun-a most noble work-has since been continued by the Vestry upon the same basis of trained nurses under a trained superintendent.

in the hands of guardians, who could hardly be supposed to know all that was needful on this subject.

The plea had, therefore, been incessantly put forth in all the writings and statements of the Workhouse Visiting Society for the introduction of the influence of women into all the departments of workhouse management-the household, the schools, the nursery, the infirmary; for how could men alone be fit judges of all that went on there, the one paid and overworked matron (aided by pauper women of the lowest class) being the sole representative of the other sex whose province is acknowledged by all the world to lie in these very spheres of action?

Educated women as guardians, as matrons, as nurses, as inspectors, had been over and over again urged as the one hope of reform and amelioration, ever since the theme was first taken up by Mrs. Jameson in her "Lectures

F

on the Social Employments of Women," and "Communion of Labour," in 1855-56.*

But the idea, like many others, had, with regard to this point, taken more than the allotted "ten years to ripen; yet great was the rejoicing when it was found that it was proposed, by the central and all-important office, to break through the long-established custom and routine, and actually to appoint a lady as official inspector of all the metropolitan workhouse and district schools, with the view of gaining evidence upon the conflicting testimony with regard to the system of boarding out orphan pauper children.

No more fortunate or judicious appointment could have been made for this first experiment in an untried field than that of the late lamented Mrs. Nassau Senior, whose early removal from her work must be deplored by all who had the happiness of knowing her and it. Those who * Now, unfortunately, out of print.

watched her unwearied labours during the short year allotted to her for her arduous task, will know how complete and thorough was her fulfilment of it. The best comment upon the opinion entertained by the office which had appointed her, was, that the resolution was made for the appointment, intended originally for the year, and for one definite purpose, to be extended into a permanent one, as an inspector of workhouses-than which no more important resolution could have been made.

And here, in relating the past, as well as referring to the future (which we have said is the more important part and object of this article), we cannot but lament that this excellent resolution should have been allowed to lapse and to end with the life of her who so ably first fulfilled its duties. It would no doubt be difficult to find one who should unite in so remarkable a manner the qualities necessary for so difficult a task which Mrs. Senior pos

sessed, but still the effort might surely be made to supply her place, and so maintain the onward advance which had been so successfully made.

It must have been long since evident to all who have known anything of the subject, that woman's influence and supervision is absolutely necessary, if these large institutions are to be in any respect worthy of their position in a great and charitable country like England. To give experienced and qualified women a share in the inspection and management of the workhouses throughout the kingdom, would ensure all the improvements that can be required, now that legislation has done so much as regards the machinery.

At the same time, in recording the progress that has been made in the past, the chief object in writing these remarks has been to show that we have not yet attained to all the measure of excellence that is desirable; that it requires still