in the evening, an earthquake happened in Deal and the villages adjacent. It was but a momentary shock, but of such a character as to occasion some consternation. Some persons thought that their beer casks had got loose in their cellars, the glass bottles in the chemists' shops chattered as though each one had fallen upon the other, and in the rooms overhead a rumbling noise was heard as if the bedsteads and drawers were in motion.

In 1832, a small gasometer was erected on private speculation; but this improvement had to sustain much opposition before the streets were lit up with it. It is remarkable that almost in every case, whenever any invention has been made for adding to the comforts and convenience of mankind, it has met with opposition, and it required the utmost pressure on the powers that be to bring it into use in Deal. These works are now in new hands, who have the confidence of the publictheir customers, which adds a permanency to it as an establishment.-Good water and good light in our streets were desideratums which our forefathers desired and wished for, but died without the enjoyment of either. We cannot help wishing that the streets could be well scoured with water, accompanied with the free use of the broom in early morning, before our visitors are out and about: this in a great degree would lesson the evil of surface drainage, which is so much complained of, for at present, in hot weather, it most assuredly is a very great nuisance.

REMOVAL OF THE POOR TO EASTRY UNION.

In 1834, at the recommendation of the House of Commons, the Crown appointed Commissioners for enquiring into the Administration and practical operation of the Poor Laws. The instructions given to the Commissioners were to the following effect, namely, “To make diligent, and full enquiry

into the practical working of the laws for the relief of the poor in England and Wales, and into the manner in which those laws are administered, and to report their opinions as to whether any and what alterations, amendments, or improvements may be beneficially made in the said laws, or in the manner of administering them, and how the same may be best carried out."

The Commissioners made a very voluminous report, upon which an Act of Parliament passed, giving full effect to the suggestions and recommendations of the Commissioners. This enactment of 1836 entirely changed the whole Poor Law administration of the kingdom. It was generally admitted (and Deal was no exception to the rule) that the old Workhouse method of sustaining the poor population of the country was attended with much evil and contrary to the original design of the Poor Law when first enacted, which was no doubt to maintain the aged and impotent in comfort. The abuse of parochial charity which had been so patent, necessarily demanded a rigid alteration in the whole economy of the workhouse system. There was an absence of that supervision of the parish funds as would check an improper distribution of the ratepayers money. The able-bodied inmates found themselves when in the establishment so generously supported with food and drink, as led them to prefer the taking up a permanent residence there, rather than employ themselves in independent labor. In many cases the Workhouse was looked upon as an almshouse in which young of both sexes, were trained in idleness, ignorance and vice. The aged and infirm were thus exposed to all the misery that is incident to dwelling in such society, without government or classification, and the whole body of inmates subsisted on food far exceeding both in kind and amount, not merely the diet of the industrious labourer, but that of the majority of the persons who contributed to their support. This is a fair representation of the

state of affairs, when the parish of Deal became one constituting the Union of Eastry.

In 1836 on the New Poor Law coming into operation the poor of the parish were removed to Eastry Union. It became necessary therefore to appoint Guardians for the Parish, as the Statute directed. A vestry was called to elect two persons to perform the office of Guardians. Not coming to any agreement at that meeting, the vestry was adjourned to the Town Hall, when the question was again discussed, which ended in the appointment of Mr. Thomas Reader, of Middle Deal, and Mr. Stephen Pritchard, Beach Street, Deal, as the Guardians of the parish of Deal.

These gentlemen took their places at the Board of Guardians the following week. The trouble and vexation that arose in carrying out the rules and orders of the Poor Law Commissioners far exceeded what they had been led to expect. To the aged and infirm poor it was felt to be a great trial, severing the ties that existed between them and their families and friends, without any hope of ever seeing them again, unless without a permissive order and trudging a distance of full twelve miles to Eastry, there and back. Mr. Reader attended the Board but once, having become alarmed at the display of so much opposition on the part of his fellow parishoners. The result of his determination threw the onus of the burden in working out the new system on his colleague, Mr. Pritchard. To go a distance of six miles every Board day, and to attend Committee Meetings whenever appointed, no matter whether wet or sunshine, was not only inconvenient but very expensive, all which had to be borne by the Guardian at his own cost and charges. But that was not all, To attend to the interests of the parishioners without receiving as much as their thanks for so doing, led to Mr. Pritchard's sending in his resignation at the end of the year.

Now that well nigh thirty years have elapsed since the

poor of the parish of Deal were removed to the Union at Eastry, it must be expected that the opposition which once existed has died out. All the old inmates have been numbered with the dead, and their places filled by such as were in the meridian of life, when the Union was established, who can feel no dislike to the machinery now in operation. The Guardians at this present time must find the administration of the Poor Laws comparatively easy compared with the past.

REFORM OF THE CORPORATION.

In 1835 by the Municipal Corporation Act, the Charter which was granted to the Borough of Deal by King William III., underwent the process of transmutation, or, in other words, a total repeal, as the preamble of the Act testifies as follows-"Whereas divers bodies corporate at sundry times have been constituted within the cities, towns, and boroughs of England and Wales, to the intent that the same might for ever be and remain well and quietly governed; and it is expedient that the Charters by which the said bodies corporate, are constituted should be altered in the manner herein aftermentioned, be it therefore enacted by the King's most excellent Majesty and so forth in the present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same. That so much of all laws, statutes, and usages, and so much of all royal and other charters, grants, and letters patent now in force relating to the several boroughs named in the schedules to this Act annexed or the inhabitants thereof, or to the several bodies or reputed bodies corporate named in the said schedules, or any of them, as are inconsistent with, or contrary to the provisions of the Act, shall be, and the same are hereby repealed and annulled.”

But to shew the state of the Corporation of Deal at this time, and of the change effected by this Act, it is necessary to recite the Act of Charles II. Stat. 13, Sess. 2, Chap. 1; which

enacted that all Mayors of Cities, Boroughs, Cinque Ports, and other towns in England, shall take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, and this oath following, "I. A. B. do declare and believe that it is not lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take arms against the king, and that I do abhor that traitorous position of taking arms by his authority against his person or against those that are commissioned by him." They were also to subscribe a declaration referring to the solemn league and covenant. The following Proviso enacted "That no person shall hereafter be elected or chosen into any of the offices or places aforesaid, that shall not have within one year next before such election or choice taken the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, according to the rights of the Church of England."-Thus all Non-Conformists were turned out of all the branches of Magistracy at once, and rendered incapable of serving their country in the meanest offices of a CommonCouncilman, or a Burgess, or Bailiff of a Corporation, and this law remained in force till the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, which rendered it obligatory on Parliament to pass a general Corporation Act, placing all subjects of the Crown on an equal footing irrespective of creed, or religious convictions and sentiments whatever, provided that in virtue of their office no injury is done to the Established Church. This admitted Dissenters of all denominations into Town Councils and to fill an office of whatever description in a Corporation.

1836. Another grand plan was brought forward by Mr. Cundy, an engineer of some standing. This was for the formation of a harbour at Sandown Castle with spacious docks, &c., connected with a railway from London direct to Sandwich and Deal. This project contemplated embracing Woolwich, Greenwich, Deptford, Chatham, Sheerness, and Canterbury—a proposition worthy of a nation. But alas! abortion seems characteristic of this locality. From some