tiously exposed. In removing physical nuisances, temporary inconvenience, though under aggravated circumstances, cannot always be avoided. It is a question worthy of serious consideration, whether one great cause of juvenile depravity is not the complete seclusion and almost inconceivable isolation courted and enjoyed by the dregs of the population? If this be undeniable, are we to assist in throwing an impenetrable veil over pollution? Will not the privacy sought by the vicious be conceded by the virtuous, if contact with filth and squalor is shunned, or the face is turned away from scenes that disgust and pain? The fear of offence which led the author to erase, was at length regarded as arising from false delicacy. The sense of duty which induced the reinsertion will, it is hoped, be appreciated by considerate readers.

In the Third Chapter the claims of destitute children are presented to the hearts and consciences of the reader. If the matter be regarded as not entirely new, it is hoped that the manner in which this important subject is handled will have a freshness about it that will revive and deepen impression.

The Fourth and Sixth Chapters will be considered, perhaps, too diffuse, as too full of minor details. But that practical results may be thus secured is an opinion in which others have concurred. The following extract from the prospectus inviting competition will be our best explanation of this peculiar feature of the above portions of the Essay: "State in detail the means whereby the objects above named may be obtained, and consider the consequences likely to follow from the adoption of these means to, (1) the children intended to be benefited; (2)

their parents and their families; (3) their parishes, neighbourhood, the Government, and the Christian community."

The desire to carry conviction along with so important a proposal as the total abandonment of juvenile imprisonment has suggested the propriety of conveying not only the sentiments but also the words of official personages. Hence the numerous quotations that chequer the Fifth Chapter. Some of the opinions are not for the first time made public. Nevertheless, reiteration, though not always to be condemned, has been avoided wherever practicable. Individuals desirous of further investigation will be gratified by a perusal of the work entitled "Reformatory Schools," which abounds in authentic statements on this subject.

In the closing Chapter the reader is introduced to the principal objections that are urged against the various schemes that have been proposed, or are in operation, as parts of the great crusade of modern times against crime; and also to the arguments that are or may be employed to encounter the lukewarmness of friends, and the unfeigned or masked hostility of interested parties.

M. H.

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.

CHAPTER I.

AN INQUIRY INTO THE PRESENT STATE OF JUVENILE
DEPRAVITY.

"Read not to contradict and confute, but to weigh and consider. Some works are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be digested—that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention."-LORD BACON.

times.

§ 1. NOTWITHSTANDING the multiplicity of subjects occu- Signs of the pying the public mind, it is highly gratifying to find a growing interest in all that affects the welfare of our race. In this phase of our social history we discern the signs of the times-signs we cannot but regard as auguring well for our country, and consequently, for the world at large. The age is peculiarly restless; a spirit of investigation has burst forth upon the world. Things that have for centuries been lying in peaceful obscurity, are unceremoniously drawn out of their retreats and thrust upon the public gaze. While the men and things of the remotest

B

Spirit of investigation.

Effects

ages are exhumed and brought out from the rubbish of successively ruined cities, the men and manners of the present age are subjected to a scrutiny and sifting process, peculiar to the nineteenth century. In this feature of our social and national history are perceptible the safeguards of our future prosperity.

The immediate consequences of this prying spirit of the age are, inconvenience to some and alarm to others. Those who have lived in seclusion by prescriptive right, and those who have from their humble position in society escaped public notice, naturally enough shrink from the disagreeable and unwonted exposure to universal observation. The class, by no means restricted to a particular age or locality, who have, or wish to feel they have, an immunity from suspicions of danger, are alarmed at revelations of facts, the existence of which otherwise would never have interrupted their peaceful slumbers. According to a natural law, their fears are great in proportion to their former unconsciousness of danger. The slumberer of yesterday on the brink of a volcano is the alarmist of to-day on the broad and lasting plains that lie smiling in a secure distance from the seat of danger.

Temporary pain, even of a distressing nature, seems always to usher in some great good to mankind. That pain has been endured. The "good" is coming. Say not that slow is its progress. Glance at the literature of the day. It teems with works on the welfare of the industrial classes-long overlooked, and when first brought into notice, despised. The lowest hovel sufficed for the honest labourer. But that time has passed away. When the people of every realm were crowding to witness the magnificent spectacle of a world's fair, they saw two model cottages for the poor, exhibited by the consort of the highest and worthiest potentate on earth. Time

was when education was withheld from the labouring classes from prudential motives. Educate! educate! is the cry of the day, or England's flag may be struck, and her sun set for ever in a sea of blood. We have caught the spirit of prophecy; "wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times." Our nobles are now the presidents of Ragged School Unions. Letters are now read by men of aristocratic blood from prosperous settlers in the remote fields of emigration who were ragged urchins or reputed thieves and prostitutes, thanking their noble friends for deliverance from something worse than death.

the day.

If we turn to the parliamentary literature of the day Literature of we find, in the diversified papers and ponderous reports in the blue books, volumes of facts collected from prisons and poor-houses laid before the legislature of the land. Here we see the immense pains taken to effect something for the dangerous or helpless classes. From such public documents and private publications we are made acquainted with the fact, that our highest judicial functionaries, some of the wisest and best of the clergy of the Established Church, are making the jail their enthusiastic study, and bringing their vast professional experience and hallowed sentiments of religion to bear upon the destiny of the most abandoned of mankind.

the subject.

We say not these things in boast. They are stated to Urgency of show the current that has set in in favour of attempts

made by the philanthropist to elevate the degraded, and to save from prostitution the yet innocent of our fellowcreatures. Nor has too much been said on the platform, or written in our daily papers and periodicals, on such subjects. Still less has the silent and unobtrusive effort of the practical philanthropist been either officious or misdirected. "The poor can by no means, prudence, or foresight on their part, avoid the dreadful evils to which