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their most earnest entreaty they carried her themselves to her grave in a quiet and beautiful cemetery at no great distance, followed by all her Teachers and school-fellows. They sang their favourite hymn," Heaven is my home," with faltering voices round her open grave, when the solemn words of prayer had been uttered over the closed coffin, on which the falling clods had painfully resounded. The other little sufferer's end was evidently approaching; the mother of the departed one, though dwelling in the county, made no effort to give one last look at her child;-but the prison walls prevented this one from having a loving mother's arms around her; for the period of the sentence had not yet expired. The case was represented to the Secretary of State, with an earnest entreaty for pardon, and an intimation that unless that were granted speedily it would be too late. With most kind sympathy in the Home Office the prayer was granted, and within a week the poor mother's arms were around her child. She did not long survive;-her looks had said," Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace." The funerals were conducted with the greatest simplicity and economy, but the kindness of friends put some black crape on the children's bonnets that the solemn impres sion might not soon be obliterated, and a card was given to each in memory of their lost companions, with an appropriate text chosen by temselves.

These peaceful scenes of mourning were soon to be succeeded by very different ones. The Mistress, whom they greatly loved, and who had shown pecuiliar tact in controuling and influencing them, as well as devotion to the work, was about to leave England for a distant home. Their grief was excessive; and manifested it self in very rebellious conduct to her successor, who had been very highly recommended, but who showed herself unfit for her post, as well as utterly incapable of managing their difficult and peculiar tempers. Though another was found, who in different circumstances had shown considerable power of influencing, yet a month's misrule had sown many tares which could not easily be uprooted. Added to this, many young girls who, when they first came, had fallen into the general order, now laid aside the controul which they had at first imposed upon themselves, and displayed the natural bad dispositions which they had at first striven to conceal. This will not eventually be injurious; for it is only as the actually existing evil is fairly grap pled with, that ultimate reformation can be hoped for; but for the present much trouble and inconvenience must arise when these repressed mischiefs reveal themselves. The rebellious feeling of the older girls showed itself in a tendency to abscond. A first offence of two older girls was forgiven, on their returning penitent, as well as an attempt on the part of some others, but at the end of October three of these again absconded, and when brought back in a few hours by the Police, showed such extreme violence and insubordination that it was considered necessary for the welfare of the household, as well as right for themselves, that they should be taken before the Ma. gistrates, who sentenced them to three months' solitary confinement. These are among the painful trials connected with a Reformatory. The numberless encouraging and touching incidents which occur in

it and relieve the minds and hearts of those who are giving to it their daily labour and constant watchfulness and anxiety, cannot be easily described. Nor, indeed, can a stranger enter into the joy of seeing the first awakening of true penitence, or of receiving the yearning of grateful love from these once forsaken ones. These are the soul's secret which cannot be revealed. Yet it may be mentioned what deep sympathy the children felt when they heard that the house of a mechanic, who had worked on the premises, had taken fire, his wife and children escaping utterly destitute in the middle of the night. They subscribed from their little earnings above 30s., and made a number of pretty and neat articles of clothing for the family. They felt amply rewarded by being permitted to present them when finished, and their bright looks shewed that they understood, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." The children shew great delight in their Scripture lessons, and manifest great attention during the services of religion. Many of the girls who for sometime were very unsatisfactory, now manifest an evident determination to improve; one of these, indeed, whose mother was in prison when she came in on a second offence, is now giving much satisfaction in service. Altogether it is felt that decided progress has heen made in the general stability of good order and right feeling in the School; that the actual results have more than ever surpassed our hopes, and that those who are interested in the work have reason to thank God and take courage.

MARY CARPENTER,

SUPERINTENDENT.

Bristol, Feb. 3rd, 1858.

We have frequently referred in our Record to the Park Row Asylum for Hopeful Discharged Female Prisoners at Bristol. We visited this Institution last October, and were extremely pleased with its details. Our satisfaction was certainly not lessened in discovering that the Lady Superintendent is a Tipperary woman. By the way, we may add, that the master of St. James's Back is an Irishman, and the mistress of work an Irishwoman. From the Fifth Report of the Park Row Asylum, that for 1857, we extract the following:

The Park Row Asylum, as we stated last year, is not a "Reformatory School," under the controul of Magistrates or of Government, but a Refuge where the Hopeful Discharged Female Prisoner (above sixteen years of age) enters by her own free will, at her own desire, and under a willing promise to submit to the rules of the house, whither she comes direct from Prison. She undergoes at first a probation of three weeks or a month in her dormitory, associating gradually during this time with the other inmates, first at prayer in the chapel, then at lessons, and lastly at meal times. If after the time of probation she is still willing to remain in the Asylum, she is

then fully admitted, and receives the clothes of the house. Much benefit is derived from this time of semi-seclusion, as the candidate is daily visited by the Lady Superintendent, and by the Ladies of the Committee; and great moral influence is thus obtained before any free intercourse takes place with the other inmates.

The employment of the inmates consist of all sorts of household work; washing, cooking, baking, needle-work, knitting stockings and socks; boys' caps are also made. A few hours are daily devoted to religious instruction, reading, and writing; the first elements of arithmetic and geography are also taught, and singing of psalms and hymns is daily practised.

Since our last Report family washing has been taken in at the Asylum, and proves to be a healthy and remunerative work; the net produce,after deducting payments for ironers, messengers, &c., having been in less than six months £19:6:7.

Seventy-three pairs of stockings and thirty-eight pairs of socks have been knitted in the house during the year, being principally an order received from the Visiting Justices at the Bridewell, for which we return our best thanks. The profit of the knitting has been £6: 12, of other work above £11, during the year

The anniversary sermon in commemoration of the opening of the Asylum was preached in the chapel on February 1st, by the incunbent of the parish, the Rev. W. Knight.

The Rev. Walter Marriott has continued his valuable services as chaplain, officiating in the chapel on Sunday and Wednesday evenings. The Rev. H. Montagu has also continued his visits to the Asylum in the absence or indisposition of the Chaplain, and has often very kindly conducted divine service twice on the Sunday.

With much satisfaction we may mention to our friends that on the day the anniversary sermon was preached at the Asylum a £5 note, folded up very small, was picked up by our youngest inmate, and immediately handed over to the Lady Superintendent, by whom it was restored to the owner on her calling to enquire for it a few hours afterwards.

Also a small gold brooch having been drooped by a lady, while visiting the Asylum, unknown to her, it was found by one of the inmates while cleaning the room, and given to the Lady Superintendent, who after many enquiries at last discovered the owner. These two incidents will, we trust, speak favourably of young women who may through want of education or other causes, have deviated from the paths of honesty, but who with care, kind advice, and persevering good instruction, do not prove irreclaimable. Ten young women have had respectable situations provided for them this year, and in two instances a second has been sent to the same place, at the special desire of the mistress. Of these ten not one has been accused of dishonesty, or again brought before a court of justice.

Since the opening of the Asylum forty young women have been sheltered; in this year twelve new cases have been admitted. Seven from Bristol Gaol,

One, for a week, from Bristol Gaol,

One from Bristol Bridewell,

One from Shepton Mallet Gaol,
One from Taunton Gaol,

One from Gloucester Gaol.

Twelve have been provided for, and ten remain in the house.

At the suggestion of the Rev. W. C. Osborn, Chaplain of the Bath Gaol, an offer has been made by our Committee to leave two or four dormitories at his disposal, if sufficient subscriptions could be secured in Bath. The proposal was taken into consideration, and Mr. Osborn attended a meeting of our Committee, and expressed his hope and that of tho Magistrates of Bath, that it might be so arranged, as no such institution as ours exist in Bath.

At the General Meeting of the Ladies' and Gentlemen's Committees, held on the 20th of January last, presided over by W. Miles, Esq. it was agreed to purchase a piece of ground offered for sale, at the back of the Asylum and to raise the requisite sum by donations. If a sufficient amount could not at once be obtained, it was resolved to accept a loan offered by a friend, at 4 per cent. interest, redeemable whenever funds should permit. The cost of the ground was nearly £600; donations then promised, and a few afterwards obtained, amounted to £248: 14; a loan of £340 was therefore required to effect the purchase, and has been obtained. An old house stood on the acquired premises; this after much careful thought and deliberation it was resolved to pull down, and sell the materials, thus avoiding all expenses, whether for repairs or taxes, which the low rent obtainable might not always cover; and the still more grave objection which letting might involve, namely, intrusion upon the privacy of the Asylum; the principal motive for the purchase having been to secure a large garden adjoining the Institution, for cultivation and for exercise.

Accordingly the sale was advertised in the newspapers by private tender, the Committee excluding the pumps, cisterns, outside boundary wall, and other matters which it was thought desirable to retain.

Considering the bad effect of the ensuing winter upon so old an house, as well as the danger of the lead being stolen, which had happened to some neighbouring houses, it was resolved that no time should be lost.

Mr. Tucker's offer of £60 was considered the most desirable, and we are glad to record that all the conditions named to him have been faithfully carried out; so that we have now our premises clear, surrounded by a boundary wall, and including the large addition to our garden ground, so much desired.

From the foundation of the Calder Farm Reformatory, we have placed its history and progress before our friends, and from its Second Report, that for 1857, we extract the following useful and interesting passages :

From the last year's Report, it appears that up to 31st December, 1856, 26 boys had been received under detention; 24 more have been received up to Decr. 31st, 1857;-50 received altogether ;— besides 9 not under detention, as mentioned in the last Report,

As regards Instruction, the state of the 50 was, on admission, as follows:

15 could neither read nor write; 9 could read imperfectly, but not write; 12 could read and write imperfectly; 8 could read well, and write imperfectly; 3 could write well, and read imperfectly; 3 could read and write well.

As to social condition, 19 had lost one parent; 4 both; 27 neither. 16 were more or less without parental control; 21 had drunken or otherwise disreputable parents. As to age, 21 were under,-29 above-14 years. Of the 50 received, I absconded immediately after admission. Since the last Report it has been ascertained that this boy was re-convicted at Liverpool, and sentenced to penal servitude. 7 were removed to other Schools, by order of the Secretary of State, viz.:-2 to Market Weighton; I to Carlisle; 4 to the Reformatory Ship, Akbar, Liverpool. 42 belong to the School 31st December, 1857, making with 1 not under detention, 43-the present number.

Of moral results, it is yet premature to say much. The earliest admission of a boy under detention, dates from March 19th, 1856. The periods of detention vary from 2 to 5 years, the average being above 4. Hence, no boy under detention has yet been placed out. The Managers believe that the improvement apparent in many of the boys, will justify an application to the Secretary of State for their discharge before their full period of detention shall have expired. But they feel it incumbent on them to exercise the utmost caution in thus seeking to shorten the time during which boys are committed to their care. In all attempts to infuse good moral and religious principles, time is requisite that they be thoroughly wrought into the character, so as to be acted upon habitually, and withstand temptation. Time is needed, even when the seed is sown in soil under favourable conditions, to bring it to maturity; much more is it needed when, as in the Reformatory School, the fallow ground has to be broken up, and weeds resulting from long neglect, bad counsel, or worse example, have to be eradicated.

On the other hand, as soon as there is reasonable ground to hope that a boy's good impressions are confirmed, and he shews himself trustworthy, handy, and likely to be useful to an employer, it is desirable that he should be placed out, both to make room for others, and that he may get into the way of earning his livelihood more independently; and also on higher moral grounds, to test and strengthen his good principles by engaging in the actual conflict of

life.

The object sought in the School is to prepare him for this conflict, not by cutting off all access of temptation, but by letting_the trial come upon him by degrees, as he seems able to bear it. Kept at first under strict surveillance, he is gradually, as he shews himself worthy of confidence, trusted out of sight, sent on errands to less or greater distances, entrusted with money, &c. In no instance of the last kind, and very rarely in any other, has the confidence thus reposed been abused. One boy thus employed, having found half-asovereign which had been accidentally dropped, immediately brought

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