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Leader (1850-1860), 24th December 1853, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1228, Untitled Article

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      settled conviction ' shall pervade the entire union , that nothing short of the highest tone and standard of public morality marks every part of the administration and legislation of the general government . Thus will the federal system * whatever expansion time and progress may give it , continue more and more deeply rooted in the love and confidence of the people . " That wise economy , ; which is as far removed from parsimony as from corrupt and corrupting extravagance—that single regard for the public good , which will frown upon all

      attempts to approach the treasury with insidious projects of private interest cloaked under public pretexts—that sound fiscal administration , which , in tbe legislative department , guards against the dangerous temptations incident to overflowing revenue , and , in the executive , maintains an unsleeping watchfulness against the tendency of all national expenditure to extravagance— -while they are admitted elementary political duties , may , I trust , be deemed as properly adverted to and urged , in view of the more Impressive sense of that necessity , which is directly suggested by the considerations now presented . "

      This remarkable Message winds up with a brief , but kindly notice of the death of Vice-President King , and ah expression of trust in the wisdom of Congress ,

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      REFORMATORY SCHOOLS . & . conference was held at Birmingham on Tuesday , for the purpose of promoting the establishment of reformatory schools for young criminals . The committee by whom the conference was convened ( induing Lord Calthorpe , Sir J . Pakington ,. M . P ., Lord Xyttelton , the Earl of Denbigh , the Bishop of Worcester , Sir R . Peel , M . P ., Lord Leigh , &c ) , make the following statement in their circular ot invitation ;—" The propositions which the conference of 1851 laid down as the basis of their discussion , and the resolutions which they passed , have , we believe , in the mam gained the general sanction of public opinion . Legislation , however , las not taken place , and there is much need of continued impulse being given to it by a repeated public attestation of the increasing urgency and importance of the subject , while it will also be highly advantageous that the additional expej-ience and more matured convictions which have been acquired should be collected , compared , and ^ recorded . Throughout England private experiments have been , indeed meanwhile rapidly increasing in number ; but such efforts , however praiseworthy in themselves , are and must

      be wholly inadequate to the great object in view , while unassisted by legislation . Scotland has also established local reformatories in six of her chief cities , and one of them , Glasgow , has obtained an act authorising local taxation for the purpose . The increase of crime , and loss of honest industry thereby occasioned in this country , are lamented by all ; yet still have we to regret that England remains almost the ' only civilised country in which the Legislature deals with the moral destitution and crimes of children by means of imprisonment alone , and hesitates to establish the remedial institutions which other nations have learnt to reckon among primary provisions for the welfare and safety of the community . The fact that transportation , as a chief means of secondary punishment , is now ceasing , aggravates the perplexity and mischief arising from this national neglect . Since the last conference a most useful and extensive

      inquiry into the condition of criminal and destitute children has been carried on by a Select Committee of the House of Commons , and a bill for securing the supply , maintenance , and efficient action of reformatory schools throughout England , was introduced into Parliament at the close of the last session , and only withdrawn , after its second reading , upon the assurance of the Government that they would take the matter in hand early next year . It is evident , however , that the Government will bo materially assisted in fulfilling this promise , if supported by sustained public interest and watchfulness . "

      The gentlemen composing the conference assembled at Dee ' s Hotel , and Sir John Pakington was elected to the chair . Not the least significant fact was the array of letters of sympathy and support read at the outset from the Bishop of Worcester , Lord Lovaine , Mr . Matthew Baines , Lord Stanley , Mr . Henry Fitzroy , Lord Radnor , Lord Brougham , the Speaker of the House of Commons , Mr . Joseph Hume , M . P ., Mr . W . Miles , M . P ., the Bishop of Oxford , Mr . Cobden , M . P ., the Mayor of Ludlow , the Mayor of Glasgow , Mr . Mowbray , M . P ., Mr . Houghton , of Dublin ; the Dean of Salisbury , the Mayor of Warrington , the Recorder of London , and the recorders of several boroughs .

      The proceedings wore mainly of a formal character . Sir John Pakington opened them with a long speech narrating the various steps which have been taken in the House of Commons , and out of it , pointing out that while reformatory schools exist in Scotland , throughout the continent , and in the United States , there are none in England , lie went deeply into the evidence taken before the select committee last session : — - ' ' The nblo men who iiddi-osscd Uio conforenco of 1851

      dwelt with much force upon tho uufitnoss of u prison for the correction and treatment of tho child who had boon led into criino . Tho evidence givon boforo tho committee- tended to confirm thin view , and to hIiow that when a , child had boon convicted of criino tho way to ruin hint wan lo Bond him to prison ; while , if thoy wi » hed to redeem and to hiivo him , they would nond him to . school . Tho English Ny / tUnn wmh , when a child had ¦ tnuiHgreflsed tho law , to punish him ; and tbe question they had to consider wiib , whether , when a child had transgressed tho law , wisdom and policy did not combine , to touch thoiri that tho proper way U > trail such n

      child was to reform and to educate him . ( Cheers . ) Their choice lay between punishment and kindness . They did not wish to hold out any absurd idea that children were _ to be exempt from all punishment . They knew , on the highest authority , that children must be corrected , and he thought there was no danger of misapprehension , between the necessity of correcting an erring child and the necessity of dealing with a criminal and destitute child upon sound -instead of upon false principles . The evidence snowed that in all the reformatory establishments proper punishments were not dispensed with , but that kindness was the rule . The Eev . Dr . Guthrie , of Edinburgh , stated , that in the House of Refuge in that city they had hardly any punishments at all . He would now allude very briefly to the portion of the

      evidence which showed what success had attended the efforts that had been made . A hundred cases of children who had been in the Glasgow establishment had been traced and closely investigated , and it was found that there were 70 cases of complete reformation . In Edinburgh similar results had been attained ; at Mettray , in France * the proportion of reformations was 85 per cent . Of 4397 boys and girls received into the New York House of Eefuge , previously to 1849 , it was believed that 3-4 ths had been saved from ruin and reformed . Of the condition of the 2250 received at the House of Refuge at Philadelphia , previously to 1849 , as favourable a report was given . Another matter for the consideration of the conference was the question of cost . He was convinced , from what had taken place at that meeting ,

      and at the conference of 1851 , that the feeling of those who took an interest in the subject was— ' Here is a great and paramount duty to be performed , ' at whatever cost . We . have a great national duty to discharge , from which , as a nation , we ought not to shrink . ' The scheme they contem .-plated was not only wise and benevolent , but it was eisjr nently economical . The cost-of criminals , including the expenses of their trials , commitments , and maintenancev and the value of the plunder they obtained , was far greater than the expense of reformatory schools . He admitted that , tfrey were not totally destitute of such institutions . Tne Government bad given them one at Parkhurst , and benevolence had given them another in the Philanthropic Ins . Wu . tion . The last establishment had done much good for . a long series of years : the Parkhurst establishment was ,

      comparatively new . Although , then , they had not utterly forgotten their duty , they had not performed it in the manner which became a great nation . There had , however , of late been other exceptions . In that town , owing to the benevolent exertions of Mr . Sturge , and through the agency of Miss Carpenter , aided by their benevolent Recorder ( Mr . M . D , Hill ) , some small institutions of this kind were struggling into existence . Still , until Parliament stepped in , until they had adequate control and inspection ,, and an improved criminal law , they could not see these institutions working as they ought to do . He hoped that from this day they might have an adequate supply of reformatory institutions springing into existence , fostered " by the aid of a paternal Government and the benevolence of a Christian people . "

      The conference was then successively addressed by Lord Shaftesbury , Mr . C . B . , Adderley , Mr . Monckton MUnes , the Reverend Angell James , Mr . Joseph Sturge , Mr . M . D . Hill , Mr . Jelinger Symons , and other gentlemen . The following resolutions -were adopted with unanimity : — " That , before proceeding to the consideration of ' Legislative amendments imperatively called for in the national treatment of morally destitute and criminal children , ' this conference avails itself of the earliest opportunity to express its cordial adoption of the opinion of the select committee of the House of Commons , appointed to inquire into the subject , by whom it was declared that a largo proportion of the

      present aggregate of crime might bo prevented , and thousands of miserable human beings , who have before them , under our present system , nothing but a hopeless career of wickedness and vice , might be converted into virtuous , honest , and industrious citizens , if due care wore taken to rescue destitute , neglected , and criminal children from tho dangers and tomptations incident to their position . " " That , properly to effect the great object contemplated in tho preceding resolution , this conference is of opinion that the country requires legislation for tbe encouragement of reformatory schools for children convicted of crime or habitual vagrancy , and that such schools should ho founded and supported in tho manner pointed out by the resolutions of tho committee of the IIouso of Commons—viz ., partially by local

      rates , and partially by contributions from tho btnto . " " That , in the opinion of this conference , every encouragement should bo given to reformatory schools , supported by voluntary contributions , for tho benefit of destitute and criminal children ; end that power should be given to Government , and to counties and boroughs , to contract with the managers of such institutions for tho education and maintenance of criminal children therein ; such institutions to bo under Government inspection . " " That powers Bhould bo created for sending children convicted of criino or habitual vagrancy to reformatory cfltablislnncntH , for auflicient timo for their reformation or industrial training , or until mttisfactory sureties bo found for their future / rO () , l conduct .

      " That powers should bo conferred in certain discs to apprentice boys on their leaving reformatory schools , or to adopt other measures for enabling thorn tocominoncoa c ' oursn of honest industry . " That , as a chuck to any possible encouragement offered to parental negligence , a portion of every child ' s coat of maintenance at a reformatory school should bo recoverable from tho parentm . " Mr . Hill , Q . C ., announced that , in addition to the 200 / . originally given by Lady . Byron for tbe best essay upon tho subject of the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders , her Ladyship had , in consequence of th ' o excellence of tho essays produced , fiont another 100 / . Mutters of formal buBiness followed ; and , thanks being yoted to Sir John Pukingtou for his

      conduct im tile ohair , the meeting bfiofce up ~ -a 3 fthieuffh in fact , © Ely adjourned until tha « public- maethig in the Town-hall ; at seven o ' clocl *; A meeting at the Towiv Halli wa » fieM In the evening , and'fully- attended ; - but thet- Rroceedhigg were remarkable only for tHe sanction : giyem by the public ton the . views put forward "by . the conference ^

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      PBACSffCAI , EDUCATION- EOR' THE : POOR . Last waek there was an * examination ;! of camdSdatea and schoolmasters at the Wolvesley Training ; School and of schoolmasters from the dioceae »» o £ Winchester and Salisbury , for certificates of menfrfronvthe Government inspector ,. Mlv BrookfieM'i . When it \ vas completed , Mr . Brook 3 eM , < . heading the-students and schoolmasters , met Lord : Ashbustan / at Winchester and heard from him a . plan he Lad to > projgound foe teaching " common things . ' * " Among the- auditors were'the Dean of TSUtichetater , Jfcrehdleacott "Wi gram the- Kev . S . Bestj Dr . Wilson , and * Canon Woodroofe ! Lord . Ashburton ' s . speech , an , thei occasion , was so ac&oirable and so . full ; of inJeifisV that we reprint tbet fullest report of : it that ha&come to > band .

      Lord Ashburton snnaunced ; tiiat ,, at tha essaminations for registration at E $$ ter ,. 1854 , the- fbljowong , prizes would be awarded : — -A scholar ' s prize c $ 8 & ,. fdr . -tb » most extensiva knowledge of common things ^ t , wo . teaehJMa * prizes of 157 . and 7 ? ., for the mosfceffecttas-. teaching off common things . The competition would be oatm to mala- students who had finished their training at the Diocesan ; School of Winchester , and to male teachers , of , schools open to instruction in thecounties of Hants and . \ KiJts .. Similar prizes , of similar amounts , to the- female : students , of Salisbury Training School an-i the female teachers , of sehools . open to inspection- ' in Hants and Wilts . Is . the adjudication of the scholars' * prize regard would be liad , to the extent of knowledge dis ^ . nlaved . without reference to . the Dcwver of commiinieat-. iwo it .

      In the adjudication oi the teachers , * prize , knowledge t ^ ouidi only be regarded in s ©> far , as it might be used in teacbjng an , elementary class .. Sufih . were the prizes which he ventured , to offer for their competition . But they "were eoJ ?} le 4 t& kaowmore , they Hiad a ri&bt to know the objects nrjiicb , ; h& had in view ; they had a right to be assured that &&had not lightly and inconsideratel y taken upon himself tb . g-n . art of interfering ia their pursuits . The first pers&fl , whom , he consulted oq the subject was Mr . Brookfield , and they saw him now by his side , cordially assisting lrisa w ^ lus approval and co-operation . He had further consulted tjjsDean of Hereford , and was happy to say that he-had already

      announced prizes oi the same nature in the connjty ot . JtleYerord , in conjunction with Dr . Henry , of Haffield . Sir j . Kay Shuttleworth had also given him his advice , and ; lip had reason to believe that he and Miss Burdett Coutts * Lprd Laasdowne , and Lord Granville , intended to offer siwUai ; prizes in their respective localities . He had , moreover ., the sanction of the councils of the Diocesan Training Schools of Winchester and Salisbury , as ' well as the cordial approval of the Bishop ami Dean of VVinchester , and of the Bishop of Salisbury . It was with confidence , therefore , that he turned to them and craved their assistance in this good work of diffusing among the . people a knowledge of common things . They could show * not only % their lessons in school , but still more powerfully

      by their example out of school , how the garden could best ljp cultivated , how thb dwelling might be most efficiently and economically wanned and ventilated , upon what priwiptes food and clothing should bo selected , bow chronic attt " enta might be averted by timely attention to premonitory symptoms and recourse to the physician . They could teach the measurement of work , the use of tho lever , the pulley , and the windlass . They could , in short , expound those methods , suggested by ever-advancing science , by which toll might be lightened and subsistence economised . AH this was capable of being taught , and well taught . Why was one mother ot a family a hotter economist than another ? Why could one live in abundance where another starved ? Why , in similar dwellings , were the children of one parent healthy , of another puny and ailing ? Why could this labourer do with not luck

      easo a task which would kill his fellow ? It was nor chance that decided those differences ; it was tho patient observation of nature that suggested to some gifted mtnas rules for their guidance which had escaped tho heedlessness of others . Why should not these rules , systematized by science , and illustrated by their didactic powers , not bo imparted to the pupils of their schools , to enable youth to start at once with the experience of age : or , if this were not in a " cases possiblo , why should not all bo taught betimes to road those lessons in tho book of Naturo from whicn somo had derived such unquestionable advantage ? M--member that it was by daily uso of tho powers or naturo that man fed and clothed and housed Jninseii . Ho employed fire in a hundred ways , for a bundled purposes ; why should ho not bo taught tho doctrino of he'icr For Bomo purposes ho might learn to uso it bettor , ana might leurn to uso it for more . -Again , ho passod tho liv - ihv in uio uio muciiiiiuuni i

      »"" K ( application or | w ">"" ,. - should ho not bo instructed in them also ? It was truo tna princes'in thin land were ignorant of them , us well as F- " Hants . In this progressive- country wo neglected nil I " Knowledge in which thcro was progress , to dovoto ,. . oursei only to thoso branches in which wo were scarcely , n atl ' superior to our ancestors . In this practical country , kuowludgo of all that givt-H powor over ntituro wan jolt ^ bo piokocl up by clianco in u liniin's way through lup . j thin religious country , tho knowledge of God ' s works lorn - no part of the education of tho people—no part oven oi v "ducutioii of a gentleman . But therowiis still another < - Hidonition which lie would fain placo boforo thein---a Jai lodge of t , lio principles on which ho had to act would » w AV to tho labourer and to tho mechanic his daily toil . vv t () was it that gave such n zest to our national g / unort » ? divert men from tho duo prosecution of their biiH" - ¦ Thcro wjim at loaat an much labour in cricltot » Ji « ' »' . , „ as in ploughing or enrpentering : but tliero came , m ' [ . o tho labour , that which extracted all that it had ot r < 4 »»

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      1228 THE LEADER . fB ^^ ' '¦ " " . i ^^ mm—MMM—lini ^—H—^ lf ^ WI I—f ^^ t" 1 ^^^^' MWM * ^ 'M ^^^**^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^— - . ^ ^ . ^ ^^^^^^^^^ V ^ M

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 24, 1853, page 1228, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2018/page/4/