The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-14 00:00:00

TO 7732 IDTTOI or THI rirrars.

Sia,—You will, perhaps, with the usual liberality
dew pram in such matted, %now um a space in your co-
lumns for an appeal on behalf of the Ragged School Unrou
of London. _

The Union, of which I have the honour and the pleasure
to be the chairman, has fallen into great distress by the
efforts which it made to subsidies and keep open the seve-
ral schools during the
_period when so much money was
directed from the scet&med channels to aid the heroic
sufferers in the manufacturing districts.
On the 7th of last mouth the society's balance in their
bankers' hands was only six shillings.
I must remind the public that by the exertion of our
Union, and the self.denricg labours of the committees,
managers, and teachers of the several schools, the blessiop
of social and religions edneatios are gives to 27,000 of the
most destitute and neglected children on the face of this
earth. I do not intend to make this an oeouion of bee
praising our system, or of disputing with those who main-
tain that it might be and ought to be superseded by one far
more regular cad efficacious. I my owe very decided
°pinkie, but I only urge (as I have often urged in debate)
the necessity of immediate action, however imperfect. Let
us do whet we can oo the instant, and simultaneously, both
deliberate ourselves and all me others to do the
same, as to whet shall he the improved and per
leanest mode of dealing with these forgotten chimes.
I shall be excused, I feel sure—for I see it and feel it
daily—ift peas on your attention the value of every nice
meet. Misdeeds from mimes them are yearly passing
sntanglit isto eternity; hundreds are rising Into these,
the opportunities, the temptations, of mime. Foe God's
sake, stand in the breech. It is no declamation to speak so.
The Utica& his bees dose, end it may be date again. Ve •
show oar swore by quoting the opinions of the magistrates,
of the pace ; by citing the diminished swords of juvenile
delinquency:; by stating the numbers we have sent
to her Majesty's colonies, who have there be-
come good, and even &Masai citizens ; and specially
by referring to the thousands we lave placed
is Made and domestic service, whose conduct both justifies
and repays the care their friends have bestowed apes
thus, All classes and denominations have contributed to

this happy issue ; nor is there any part of it more gratify-
log thee the et tend labour and goodwill of churchroea and
noooonformists, who, under the acknowledged pressure ef
the evil, have so freely laid aside their eocleeestical dif-
ferences to work in the cause of their common Mester. It
Is perhaps little knows (sad yet it is right that it should
be known) how deep and how active an interest is takes by
the poorest in this movement, amid how largely they have
given sad entente to give of their time sad their scanty
means to promote its success. A few years ago I received
an address from 2,300 male sad female ragged OCibool
ditchers. The memorialists represented 175 differed cell.
lags, pealing through every gradation of society,
how persons of independent domes to the dockyard
labourer sad the wretched needlewoman. Bondy we may

see is this a social and political benefit. These worthy sail
estimable people are not engaged in works of turbulence
sad sedition ; they do not seek to render their pupils die-
contented, sad array poverty against wealth. Their noble
mad joyous object ie to do what in these lime to pluck the
miserable out of the Mile, to put little children is the right
path, and teach them, under the guidance of Holy Scrip-
tare. " to do their duty in that state of life to which it los
plowed Gad to call them." Bosh a ciosibisatiois wee sever
before 804 S is say 'lotion of the world. I beartiy pray
that their peeress real may not be diseoursged, for should
the apathy or the diespprobation of the public refuse to
them now the imemeary supplies, sorrow sad despair will
seise open marl of thew ; they will be mimed to tie
eight sad to the left, and a miracle will be required to
gates thew together again, to a revival of their 'lngle-
hearted sad biased oo•operatioa.—l Sir,

Year abediset mesa;
SHAFTZSBURY.
P.S. I mini add, by way d bushier, that outlaw
Ram win be gatalally raceived by the saaretary, Xr.
Japed G. Gast, Ragged School Liaise, 1, Izater-hs/1,
swat'. W.G.
Si. Giles% Hama, Dorset, Jaa. 11.

LorrpoiGmoirtOirmsveComnanr(Lntrtio).--,
rams noliple far 4ibe week maims Jr. I% 9,911191. 41p. 1111.