The Victorian Times

August 7, 1834

Editor: Amanda Burt

New Poor Law Put into Effect, Some People Against Slavery Abolished In British Empire!
It
On August 1, 1834 slavery was finally been abolished
throughout
the British Empire. Slavery has been an issue for centuries
After years of costs increasing to support poor people in
in the British colonies, and through the hard work of many, including
Britain, the government has enforced a new "poor law". However not
William Wilberforce, leader of the movement against slavery in
all citizens agree with this new law. The Poor Law ensures that
England, slavery has finally been abolished once and for all.
people have food, water, shelter, and a place to work by placing them
The Slavery Abolition Act received royal assent almost a year
in places called "workhouses." In return, all workhouse habitants
ago,
in
1833.
However, the act became enforced starting on the first day
work for several hours a day.
of August this year. The industry of freed slaves is being promoted by
Supporters of this new law welcome it because they claim it the government. Four year apprenticeships are being given to teach the
is good for the country. They state that the Poor Law will drastically free slaves new trades. Citizens who had slaves that were freed are
being compensated depending on how many slaves they owned. The
decrease the cost of taxes, take beggars off the streets, and give a
government has generously allowed 20 million pounds across the
new mentality that if one works hard one can support themselves.
empire.
However, these people do not understand that the poor law punishes
A man named William Wilberforce has been fighting slavery
people who are poor through no fault of their own. These people
for many years, and despite his trials, he has never given up hope on
placed in workhouses are born into their financial state and it is
abolishing slavery forever. Presently, he is on his death bed and when
virtually impossible to get out of poverty.
he was told the news he stated " Thank God I lived to witness the day in
which England is willing to give 20 million for the abolishment of
Poor people themselves hate these workhouses and the
slavery."
inhuman conditions they contain. The workhouses are prisons for
the poor, and nothing good comes out of placing human beings in
Brave Captain Saves Princess Victoria
them. Inhabitants have a limited food supply, long working hours,
and abusive workhouse masters. The cause of the movement against
In 1833, fourteen year old Princess Victoria and her mother
this law is the recent scandal in the Andover workhouse, where 400 went on a yacht excursion near the Isle of Wight, and while on the
inmates were forced to eat rotting flesh on cow bones.
ship our beloved princess almost came into extreme peril.
The Inventor Behind the Safety Cab
Joseph Hansom, a resident of York has created an
invention that could change transportation forever. On December
23, 1834, Hansom created a new cab that has no stability issues, is
much less expensive, and is able to keep at the same speed as any
other cab one might find on the road.
This new cab is called the safety cab, and is quickly
becoming more and more popular. The cab only requires one
horse, and can seat two people plus a driver.
So who is this man behind the genius of the safety cab?
Joseph Hansom started his career as a joiner, being apprenticed to
his father as a young man. However, a couple years later Hansom
left his father's joinery to become apprenticed to an architect. In his
architectural career, Hansom has designed over 200 buildings, the
most famous of which being the Plymouth cathedral in Devon,
England. While owning a business with his good friend named
Edward Welch, Hansom won the bid to build the famous
Birmingham Town Hall. However they overspent their budget and
their business ended up going bankrupt.

She was standing near the mast of the ship when a large
gust of wind came and cracked the mast. Luckily, the ship's captain
came to the rescue and quickly saved Victoria right as the mast fell
on to the place where she was standing.
The British Empire will be forever indebted to the heroic
actions of the captain, who has been promoted in his job. The royal
family has pledged to take care of his family in the event something
should happen to the captain.
Recently, Victoria has been studying
. very hard, and is
learning to become our country's future leader. Britain is excited to
see more of the Princess, especially after seeing her in her first state
appearance just last year.

Now, to his good fortune, Hansom has had a string of good

luck and has been extremely successful with his new invention of
the safety cab. We can't wait to see what this inventor does next!
Princess Victoria and her mother, the
Duchess of Kent