in number than THIRTY THOUSAND!

"These 30,000 are quite independent of the number of mere pauper
children, who crowd the streets of Londen, and who never enter a
school: but of these latter nothing will be said here.

"Now, what are the pursuits, the dwelling-houses, and the habits of
these poor wretches? Of 1600, who were examined, 162 confessed that
they had been in prison, not merely once, or even twice, but some of
them several times; 116 had run away from their homes; 170 slept in
the "lodging-houses;" 253 had lived altogether by beggary; 216 had
neither shoes nor stockings; 280 had no hat or cap, or covering for
the head; 101 had no linen; 249 had never slept in a bed; many had no
recollection of ever having been in a bed; 68 were the children of
convicts,"--Vol. i. 394.

In the towns of the manufacturing districts there are, says the same
author--

"A great number of cellars beneath the houses of the small
shopkeepers and operatives, which are inhabited by crowds of poor
inhabitants. Each of these cellar-houses contains at the most two,
and often, and in some towns generally, only one room. These rooms
measure in Liverpool, from 10 to 12 feet square. In some other towns,
they are rather larger. They are generally flagged. The flags lie
"directly" upon the earth, and are generally wretchedly damp. In wet
weather they are very often not dry for weeks together. Within a few
feet of the windows of these cellars, rises the wall which keeps the
street from falling in upon them, darkening the gloomy rooms, and
preventing the sun's rays penetrating into them.