Date of letter: 13 November 1886. Poor Law Union: Manchester Poor Law Union
6 Paradise Hill, Nov 13th 1886. Manchester Board of Guardians
Sir
Your letter of the 15th Oct. 1886 notwithstanding the somewhat lengthy letters sent you on this subject your reply is very unsatisfactory. Before I proceed further allow me to cite as follows
The Poor Law, by T.W. Fowle MA
Rector of Islip
London 1881. Macmillan Publisher
(no of Book in the Manchester Reference Library is 519.C11)
The [errors] and ——– displayed by certain members of this Board including their clerk I fear has influenced your consideration of my case However there is ample scope for an impartial investigation into the merits of the matter and hope it is not too late for this to be done. Since I wrote you last I have been out, and am still – of employment – As a matter of necessity I must again apply for relief at the hands of the Board. Of course, I should wish to be legally dealt with – Your Board is the only protection paupers have, and when a pauper appeals it is a pity in fact a Wrong that by any concerted action of the Guardians “trimmed” by the Clerk that any act of injustice or illegality should be “shelved” or left void of a legal remedy.
It is to your province that this lies.
I shall be glad to hear from you again of course the routine of your Board is of a protracted character. However your reply as early as your system permits will oblige
Sir
Yours truly
Chas Leonard
1. This letter reveals a great deal about how the poor were able to access the law in detail and use it to hold their guardians to account. Which book does Charles Leonard reference? Where did he get hold of this book?
2. It was more common than might be expected for paupers to become aware of detailed aspects of the Poor Law. Discuss other ways paupers might have been able to source such information.