This is a collection of primary materials on the metropolitan poor. It includes the writings of urban travellers and social reformers, and contains writings from the last five years of the 18th century, that is, from the time when the poor were first discovered as endemic to the nation.

VOLUME 3 People of the abyss, 1885-1910 W. H. Stead, The maiden tribute of modern Babylon (1885) Anon., Extracts from Indoor paupers, by one of them (1885) A. White, Extracts from The problems of a great city (1886) H.J. Goldsmid, Extracts from Dottings of a dosser (1886) G. R. Sims, Extracts from How the poor live (1889) G. R. Sims, Extracts from Horrible London (1889) C. Booth, Extracts from Life and labour of the people (1889) G. Haw, Extracts from No room to live (1900) C. F. G. Masterman, Extracts from The heart of empire (1902) G. Haw, Extracts from Britain's homes (1902) J. London, Extracts from The people of the abyss (1903) L. Cope Cornford, Extracts from The canker at the heart (1905). C. Malvery, Extracts from The soul market (1906) G. R. Sims, Extracts from The black stain (1907) G. R. Sims, Extracts from Off the beaten track (1911)