BythesideofmostrailwaysoutofLondon，onemayseeAlms-HousesandRetreatsgenerallywithaWingoraCentrewanting，andambitiousofbeingmuchbiggerthantheyare，someofwhicharenewly-foundedInstitutions，andsomeoldestablishmentstransplanted。Thereisatendencyinthesepiecesofarchitecturetoshootupwardunexpectedly，likeJack’sbean-stalk，andtobeornateinspiresofChapelsandlanternsofHalls，whichmightleadtotheembellishmentoftheairwithmanycastlesofquestionablebeautybutfortherestrainingconsiderationofexpense。However，themanners，beingalwaysofasanguinetemperament，comfortthemselveswithplansandelevationsofLoomingsinthefuture，andareinfluencedinthepresentbyphilanthropytowardstherailwaypassengers。For，thequestionhowprosperousandpromisingthebuildingscanbemadetolookintheireyes，usuallysupersedesthelesserquestionhowtheycanbeturnedtothebestaccountfortheinmates。
Whynoneofthepeoplewhoresideintheseplaceseverlookoutofwindow，ortakeanairinginthepieceofgroundwhichisgoingtobeagardenby-and-by，isoneofthewondersIhaveaddedtomyalways-lengtheninglistofthewondersoftheworld。Ihavegotitintomymindthattheyliveinastateofchronicinjuryandresentment，andonthataccountrefusetodecoratethebuildingwithahumaninterest。AsIhaveknownlegateesdeeplyinjuredbyabequestoffivehundredpoundsbecauseitwasnotfivethousand，andasIwasonceacquaintedwithapensioneronthePublictotheextentoftwohundredayear，whoperpetuallyanathematisedhisCountrybecausehewasnotinthereceiptoffour，havingnoclaimwhatevertosixpence:soperhapsitusuallyhappens，withincertainlimits，thattogetalittlehelpistogetanotionofbeingdefraudedofmore。’Howdotheypasstheirlivesinthisbeautifulandpeacefulplace！’wasthesubjectofmyspeculationwithavisitorwhoonceaccompaniedmetoacharmingrusticretreatforoldmenandwomen:aquaintancientfoundationinapleasantEnglishcountry，behindapicturesquechurchandamongricholdconventgardens。Therewerebutsomedozenorsoofhouses，andweagreedthatwewouldtalkwiththeinhabitants，astheysatintheirgroinedroomsbetweenthelightoftheirfiresandthelightshininginattheirlatticedwindows，andwouldfindout。Theypassedtheirlivesinconsideringthemselvesmulctedofcertainouncesofteabyadeafoldstewardwholivedamongtheminthequadrangle。Therewasnoreasontosupposethatanysuchouncesofteahadeverbeeninexistence，orthattheoldstewardsomuchasknewwhatwasthematter；-hepassedHISlifeinconsideringhimselfperiodicallydefraudedofabirch-broombythebeadle。
ButitisneithertooldAlms-Housesinthecountry，nortonewAlms-Housesbytherailroad，thatthesepresentUncommercialnotesrelate。Theyreferbacktojourneysmadeamongthosecommon-place，smoky-frontedLondonAlms-Houses，withalittlepavedcourt-yardinfrontenclosedbyironrailings，whichhavegotsnowedup，asitwere，bybricksandmortar；whichwereonceinasuburb，butarenowinthedenselypopulatedtown；gapsinthebusylifearoundthem，parenthesesinthecloseandblottedtextsofthestreets。
Sometimes，theseAlms-HousesbelongtoaCompanyorSociety。
Sometimes，theywereestablishedbyindividuals，andaremaintainedoutofprivatefundsbequeathedinperpetuitylongago。MyfavouriteamongthemisTitbull’s，whichestablishmentisapictureofmany。OfTitbullIknownomorethanthathedeceasedin1723，thathisChristiannamewasSampson，andhissocialdesignationEsquire，andthathefoundedtheseAlms-HousesasDwellingsforNinePoorWomenandSixPoorMenbyhisWillandTestament。I