ABSTRACT
Inowproceedindueordertogiveanaccountofthecheapclothes tradeintheEast-endofLondon.IdealwiththeEasternslop tailorsfirst,becauseIaminformedthattheslop-tradeoftheWest isofmorerecentdate.
IbelievethatthefactswhichIpublishinmypresentcommunicationwilllaybareasystemunheardofandunparalleledinthe historyofanycountry;indeed,thereappearstobesodeeplaid aschemefortheintroductionandsupplyofunderpaidlabourto themarket,thatitisimpossiblefortheworkingmannottosink andbedegradedbyittothelowestdepthsofwretchednessand infamy.Ifwewishtoseetheeffectofthissystemuponthe physical,intellectual,andmoralcharacteroftheworkpeople,we shouldspendaweekinvisitingthehomesoftheoperativetailors connectedwiththehonourablepartofthetrade,andthoseworking fortheslop-trade.Theverydwellingsofthepeoplearesufficient totellyouthewidedifferencebetweenthetwoclasses.Intheone youoccasionallyfindsmallstatuesofShakespearebeneathglass shades;intheotherallisdirtandfretor.Theworkingtailor's comfortablefirst-floorattheWest-endisredolentwiththeperfume ofthesmallbunchofvioletsthatstandsinatumbleroverthe mantelpiece;thesweater'swretchedgarretisrankwiththestench offilthandherrings.Thehonourablepartofthetradearereally intelligentartisans,whiletheslopworkersaregenerallyalmost brutifiedwiththeirincessanttoil,wretchedpay,miserablefood, andfilthyhomes.
