A Real Casual on Casual Wards - St. Martins (1866).

St. Martin's in the Fields, Charing-Cross.—Taking in at six o'clock, by a paid porter; sit down a short time, and then comes forward the said porter with a slate. I had the imprudence to go up to this gentleman from my seat with my hat on, and very gruffly commanded mo to "take that hat off." Oh, of course, in the presence of gentlemen it is usual, as I am perfectly aware, especially in the gentleman's own house, to show some mark of respect, so I apologized for my rudeness and did as I was ordered. It is best to be civil and circumspect in your manner towards your "superiors," I was told in effect by the aforesaid porter, and I was. A good bath with clean water! and clean towels!! and a good bed!!! Yes; the bed is composed of a very clean mattress, and a very clean bolster: a very clean, good blanket, and a good clean rag; sorry I can't say so much for the food. It is only a piece of bread (six ounces) night and morning; not a drop of "skilly." Get up at seven, and pick a pound of oakum, or be kept in "durance vile" until eleven o'clock. Not so very many casuals patronize this workhouse, and I am inclined to think it is because the "skilly" is not forthcoming. I was there the last time a little after Christmas, and the first about three months earlier than the last, and I never saw above twenty or twenty-five there. This is very small when compared to the seventy, eighty, and one hundred, some of the workhouses get. This will show the grounds of complaint some of those who give good food have against workhouses of this description.