CAMBRIDGE
Board of Guardians. —At the weekly meeting of the Board, held on Wednesday, Mr. Ald. C. F. Foster, the chairman, presided, and Mr. Cockerell occupied the vice-chair. There were about 20 other Guardians present. Complaints were made against some female inmates, of the ages of 16 and 18 respectively. These girls had been sent out to service, and, as usual, supplied with clothing, but left their situations on account of the wages they received not being sufficient, and the food not good enough, and consequently they returned to the Union. They were reprimanded by the chairman —The woman Tanner, whose case was reported at length last week, had been visited by two members of the University, but they had not succeeded in eliciting any information from her. One of these gentlemen was communicated with in consequence of his card being seen in Tanner’s possession. He explained this circumstance thus:— Tanner met him on the Parade, and asked him whether any difficulty would be thrown in the way of her viewing the interior of the University Library. He said no, and told her to present herself at the door and ask the desired permission of the librarian. She still hesitated, and he, taking her to be a lady, at last gave her his card for this purpose.—The Visitors reported that the woman still maintained her taciturnity, but admitted that she was ‟very comfortable” where she was.—The Clerk said he had written to the Clerk of the Petersfield Union, and read the reply that he had received from that gentleman; but nothing beyond what the woman stated last week was elicited. Mr. Fetch’s correspondent concluded by saying he would make further inquiries if it were thought desirable.—A discussion followed on the case, in which opinions varied as to whether or no the woman is an impostor, and whether or no she is of sane mind. Ultimately, the matter was left in statu quo, the Clerk to press his brother officer at Petersfield to favour the Board with any further information he could acquire.
(See also 19-Nov-1859)