was elevation of character-such elevation of character as would uproot, in the case of those whom it touched, that state of mind which tended to result in poverty and in utter destitution. (Applause.)

Mr. J. A. SLATER (barrister) seconded the motion. He remarked that all present must look upon Mr. Costley as a friend. We all know his good feelings towards the poorer class of people, and we should be very pleased if his ideas for their amelioration could be carried out.

Mr. ABRAHAM STANSFIELD, of Kersal, in proposing a vote of thanks to the chairman, observed that he had been not a little interested by the lecture they had just heard from Mr. Costley, as he had also been interested by the lengthy preliminary discourse of the chairman, Mr. J. G. Slater. The lecturer had, at the outset, claimed for himself a modicum of genius, and certainly, if not genius, he had shown a most remarkable judgment and sagacity in the choice of those he had called to the chair, for it appeared to him that each of Mr. Costley's chairmen, including notably the chairman of that evening, had shown a capacity and competency only less than that of the lecturer himself for dealing with the subjects in hand; and it went without saying that, in the matter of talking, the ladies who had occupied the chair had not been much behind the gentlemen. He had peculiar pleasure in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Slater, in the first place for his lengthy but interesting introductory discourse, and, in the next, for his services in the chair generally. As regarded Mr. Costley, that gentleman had, in his capacity of guardian of the Salford poor, shown a most uncommon energy and zeal-an energy and a zeal that had astonished outsiders, but which his own friends were quite prepared for, knowing, as they did, that whenever he did put his hand to the plough he kept it well on, and ploughed deep.

Mr. IRLAM Seconded the motion, and in the course of his remarks said he believed the time would come when we should have neither workhouses nor poor in the sense that we have them to-day. The workhouse was a clumsy, unwieldly piece of machinery, which the best heads of the country said ought no longer to exist.

Both resolutions were carried with acclamation.

Our Laws in Relation to Tramps.

66

Beggars! the only free men of our commonwealth : Free above scot-free; that observe no laws,

Obey no governor, use no religion,

But what they draw from their own ancient custom, Or constitute themselves; yet are no rebels."

BROWNE.

"The Beggar is the only free man in the universe."

LAMB.