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to no amount of severity,-labour, too, full of pleasant associations, and gradually producing habits which secure the crowning result, -permanent reformation. Now this permanent reformation, as regards the proportion of youths attaining it, rises to a height far beyond what I myself, or, as I believe, any one of us ever dreamed of in our most sanguine moments. Ninety per cent. of the colonie become honest and useful members of society, and with regard to the ten per cent., their conduct is generally much better than could reasonably have been expected but for the effects produced upon them at Mettray. And this brings me to the question, how are those facts ascertained? Because it was during the investigation to which this inquiry so naturally leads that my intense admiration of the colonie bad its main growth. I was taken by one of the able and exemplary young men who form the staff of teachers at Mettray, into their comptabilité, and there I was permitted to examine a system of accounts perfectly marvellous, for the detailed information they gave of everything done in the colonie. Each lad's history-I might almost say diary-was recorded and preserved. Each youth when he quits Mettray is put under the care of a patron-some benevolent person residing near the employer to whom the quondam colonist is consigned. This patron reports periodically on the character of his ward, and thus the institution exercises a superintendance over its former members, extending through many years, and registers their conduct. Such a provision for the discovery of failures struck me as implying, first, a thorough knowledge on the part of the conductors as to what is the true test of the genuine success of an institution of this nature; and, secondly, an earnest desire that their own institution should gain no reputation but what it righteously deserved. Let me avow that I recognise in this admirable provision a moral tone in the conduct of affairs, which some experience teaches me to believe is not of every-day occurrence.

But I must bring these remarks to a close. I feel at this moment, somewhat painfully, how impossible it is to convey by words (impossible to me, at least), an adequate conception of the knowledge to be obtained by a visit to Mettray; and, above all knowledge, those impressions upon the mind and the affections (which, whether the metaphysicians would call them knowledge or not) are invaluable to the possessor. But the more difficult the task of transferring these results from head to head by the tongue or the pen, so much the more important is it that the inquirer should see, hear, and feel for himself. Again, Mettray has now a history. It is fifteen years old,-an ample space of time to submit all results to the full test of experience. No similar institution in England now existing has gone through the same ordeal. Stretton-on-Dunsmore has closed its useful life, and has passed

"By the report of the Glasgow House of Refuge for Boys,' for the year 1854, just published, I learn that the results of that admirable institution are most gratifying and yet it suffers for want of funds!" See this Report, ante. ED.

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The fall of any one

away, to my deep concern and mortification. reformatory establishment, for whatever reason, is a heavy blow and a great discouragement' to us. Every fact which requires to be explained away, is a sad obstacle to the spread of new opinions. We have only to reflect for a moment upon the shock which every existing institution among us and every one struggling into birth, would receive by the closing of Mettray, were such an event possi ble, to feel how it behoves us to labour, in season and out of season, to guard against any one of our home experiments turning out unsuccessful. And unsuccessful some of them must be, unless the founders and conductors imbue themselves far more deeply than they have hitherto done with sound reformatory principles; and unless, too, they obtain far greater familiarity than they at present possess, with the expedients which have been devised in various countries for accomplishing the great and most difficult object before them. No Mahommedan believes more devoutly in the efficacy of a pilgrimage to Mecca, than I do in one to Mettray."

These observations from one so fully informed upon the Reformatory question as Mr. Hill, are of the very greatest importance, not alone to all friends of the movement in those Kingdoms, but likewise in France. They show how highly one most capable of judging values the institution; they show to opponents, open and covert, that Mr. Hill values the system, solely and entirely because it is successful, having neither crotchets nor theories of his own to support.

*

Mettray and M. Demetz, naturally suggest the name of Mr. Nash and the London Colonial Training Institution and Ragged Dormitory. We have already given, at length, the history and position of this English city-Mettray. We refer to the institution now, as, during the quarter, January 31st, a meeting was held in the lecture-room of the Institution, for the purpose of taking leave of a number of the inmates, about to emigrate to America. The Earl of Shaftesbury, the President, occupied the chair, and the assembly was addressed by the Chairman, by Mr. Nash, the Hon. A. Kinnaird, Mr. Wood, Rev. Mr. White, and Mr. Vere Foster. One of the emigrants returned thanks for the benefits extended to him and to his fellow emigrants by the Institution; and the "Sanctu," led by the organ, was sung, followed by "God save the Queen," with hearty cheering between each verse.†

The success crowning Mr. Nash's efforts, suggests the great

See "IRISH QUARTERLY REVIEW," Vol. IV. No. 14, Art. "Reformatory and Ragged Schools."

† See "The Philanthropist," No. 2. p. 28.

importance of commencing all private Reformatories with only a small number of pupils: thus it was that the Count Von der Recke commenced at Dusselthal; thus Wicheren at the Rauh Haus; thus Mr. Ellis, now master of Saltley, commenced. Mr. Ellis, writes a contributor to The Philanthropist, was "a shoemaker residing in Albany St., Regent's Park, who, under the impulse of religious feeling for the unfortunate, took a number of delinquents under his care for the purpose of reforming them. Four years ago he began with two, to whom he assigned certain rations. The first movement was an act of self-denial on their part. In order to secure the admission of a companion, who could not otherwise be provided for, they agreed that their rations should be divided with him; and on these terms he was admitted. Soon after the number was increased to fifteen, and with this number Mr. Ellis continued most successfully. The boys were most industrious, and only one was guilty of any offence;" and having brought his little Reformatory to this perfection, the London shoemaker, (worthy to be the brother tradesman of John Pounds, the Portsmouth cobbler, and the founder of the first industrial feeding school,) was induced, by Mr. Adderley, to accept the Mastership of Saltley.

These facts all prove the necessity for beginning Reformatory Schools with small numbers of pupils; and to this subject Mr. Recorder Hill, in his letter to Lord Brougham, adverted, urging the point most strongly. This portion of the letter attracted the attention of a philanthropic and excellent gentleman, Mr. Archibald Prentice, of Manchester, who wrote the following admirable letter to a friend, and as it contains an interesting account of a Reformatory established more than thirty years ago, we have obtained permission to insert it here :

SIR,

"Town Hall, Manchester, 23rd January, 1855.

In Mr. Hill's letter to Lord Brougham, he adverts to the necessity of admitting pupils slowly into the reformatory schools.

In 1824, I became a journalist. I had occasion sometimes to attend the magistrates' courts, and my heart was pained to see the difficulty of dealing with juvenile delinquents.

In 1827, I accompanied the late Lady Carnegie, to see a school she had established in Edinburgh. Previously one had been opened for some thirty, or forty City Arabs.' They were all bad to start with, and their congregation only made them worse. They broke-out of their house in the night, and robbed all their neighbourhood. The scheme was abandoned. Lady Carnegie had more sense than to give

up a thing because it was difficult, she found one lad and put him under the care of a shoe-maker, who had been a soldier--a pious man. The boy soon began to like his employment and the conversation of his teacher. Another boy was then introduced, who had two teachers, the master and the boy first admitted. In a short time a third was introduced with happy effect. New pupils then came into a pure moral atmosphere. The school existed some years, and some of the boys had been sent out into the world and did well, When I came home I wrote upon the matter, in my newspaper, and some halfdozen gentlemen offered to subscribe £100 each, to make a trial in this family way. But one of them was a magistrate and he mentioned the matter at the sessions. Four magistrates and the Chaplain of the Gaol were appointed to carry the thing out. But they wanted a great reformatory school, and could not agree how to go about it, and thus never did anything.

One instance will show the effect of the tone of the school. A boy was introduced who in the absence of the shoe-maker, swore and used slang language. One of the boys said, we cannot have that here. We are here to become better boys. It would be using the kind folks very ill if we did not try to behave ourselves.'

The old man delighted greatly in his pupils, and they loved and respected him. He had what you call a mysterious power over the young.' He was able to teach, but what was more, he was apt to teach. It was his mission-such teachers are not made but born. No system can produce them.

With these views I rejoice to see your opinions as to the necessity of beginning with few pupils.

I am respectfully, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
A. PRENTICE.

P. S. The school attracted little notice and gained no support, and at Lady Carnegie's death it was closed."

In our last Quarterly Record we referred to the Bristol Ragged School known as St. James's Back-and from the Eighth Annual Report, now before us, we learn that—

"The opinion of the Committee with regard to the School, is confirm. ed by that of Joseph Bowstead, Esq., Her Majesty' Inspector. At the Spring examination he expressed his approbation of the state of the School, and his desire to aid the efforts of the Committee, especially in obtaining assistance from the Committee of council on Education, more suited to the needs of such Schools than can be obtained under the existing minutes. The subject of stipendiary monitors wa brought under his notice, and the draft of a memorial to the Committee of Council, prepared by Miss Carpenter, was submitted to him. He entirely approved the memorial, but urged that it should be presented directly to the Lord President of the Council, if possible. Circumstances have not yet favoured such presentation, but the fit time when it comes will be seized; in watching for which the Committee have the kind and zealous assistance of the treasurer, Mr.

Commissioner Hill. These matters are ̄mentioned here to shew the sense which Mr. Bowstead entertained at once as to the worthiness and need of the School to have further and other aid.

The implied prayer of this memorial for stipendiary monitors will naturally cause enquiry as to the pupil teachers granted by the Committee of Council, at the recommendation of Mr. Bowstead, whether they are found to answer in such a School as ours? It will be remembered that in the Report for 1853, the Committee mentioned their appointment, but said that it had taken place so lately that they were not able to express any opinion as to the success of the experiment, for such they decidedly held it to be. The pupil teachers in the Spring passed their examination, but with warnings as to the necessity, in future, for greater diligence and higher proficiency. Mr. Andrews has, through the year, been taking great pains with them, and devoting more than the stipulated time to them, aided also by Miss Carpenter. Whether they will again succeed in passing such an examination as is required for the second year, under the minutes of the Committee of Council, the Committee will not venture to express an opinion: a short time will bring the matter to actual proof. The Committee wait without anxiety, under the full assurance that no endeavour possible has been wanting, on the part of Mr. Andrews to make the experiment successful. If it should fail, they trust they shall only be stimulated to greater efforts, in some other way, to bring the School up to a continually higher standard. They hope never to be content with thinking that very little and very imperfect teaching and training is all that is needed for such outcasts of civilized life as those who are the objects of their care. To bring what is best to bear influentially upon what is worst, so it be done with due consideration, seems to them in the strictest accordance with the spirit of Him who came, in the fulness of the Divine perfections, to seek and to save that which was lost.

Mr. Andrews is continually sent for to meet the boys coming out of the Bridewell, that they may not at once and certainly fall into their old haunts, companionship, and criminal modes of life. Cases also frequently present themselves at the School, in which, without help and care, children must inevitably be ruined. It is evident that, in all these cases, and numerous others might be adduced, considerable outlay of money has been made, for without that no good could have been done. This money has been supplied by private benevolence, for the Committee have no funds applicable to such purposes.

It is due to Mr. Andrews to say that, in this most important and useful portion of his labours, he has spared himself no trouble, no exertion, no anxiety, no fatigue, that might make his ministration thorough and successful. He has faithfully devoted himself to

rescue these unfortunate children from the destruction which threatened them.

In August some of the children of the School enjoyed an excursion to Weston-super-Mare, and were entertained in the Temperance Hall, with the children of the British and Clifton R. S. Union, at Archdeacon Law's expence, which the Committee record with much

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