The Press.
London, England, 1854-02-04 00:00:00

FEBRUARY 4, 1854.

REFORMATORY SCHOOLS.
A DEPUTATION on the subject of Preventive and Re-
fortnatory Schools for Juvenils Delinquents waited on
Lord Palmerston, at the Home-office, on Weilneslay.
The members of the deputation were, the Earl of
Shaftesbury, the Earl of Harrowby, Lord Robert
Grosvenor, Lord Lyttelton, Sir John Pakington, M.P.,
Mr. M.D. Hill, the Hon. A. Kinnaird, M.P., Mr. 0.
Power, Mr. Spooner, M.P., Mr. Adderley, M.P., Mr.
W. Brown, M.P., the Mayor of Kidderminster, Mr.
Ball, M.P., Mr. Packe, M.P., Mr. M. Milnes, M.P.,
Lord Lovaiue, Lord Calthorpe, Mr. E. Greaves, M.P.,
Mr. ItrGeachy, the Mayor of Birmingham Mr. Smith
Child, Mr. J. Ball, M.P., the Hon. Mr. Liddell, M.P.,
the Rev. Sydney Turner, the Rev. John Clay, Mr. C.
Tt Cliff, the Hon. and Rev. G. M. Yorke, Mr. Morgan,
M . Scholefield, M.P., Mr. A'Court, M.P., Mr.
bymons,
Sir JOHN PAKINOTON stated
" that they were in attendance to submit a memorial
calling the attention of the Government to the subject of
Preventive and Reformatory Schools, and requesting them
to adopt such measures as would have the effect of prevent-
ing destitute children from becoming criminals, and that
such children as were guilty of crime should be sent to re-
formatory establishments, and afterwards be provided with
employment. There was, he added, a growing feeling in
the country that some .measure to that effect should be
adopted, and the deputation earnestly hoped the sub-
ject would have the attention of the Government. Com-
mittees had sat on the subject, and reported favourably to
the house on the matter. The deputation represented
very nearly all classes of the community, and they hoped
his lordship would take the subject into his serious consi-
deration with a view to legislation. Other countries were
before them in such a course, and he trusted that no fur-
ther delay would take place in meeting and settling the
question. The question was one of great social importance,
and imperatively required the interposition of the Legisla-
ture."
Lord Robert Grosvenor, the Hon Mr. Liddell (who
presented a petition from Liverpool), and other mem-
bers of the deputation, expressed themselves to the
same effect.
Lord PAEmERSTON in his reply admitted the ex-
treme importance of the subject :
" He was quite convinced that this matter ought to at-
tract the attention and excite the'action of Government. It
was manifest that unless they could devise some method of
reforming youthful delinquents they would be driven fnr-
ther and further in the course of punishment. and it was
well known that punishment inflicted in mature years sel-
dom produced the reform desired. He quite understood
that a measure of this sort could scarcely be brought for-
ward with any hope of success by independent members of
Parliament, especially in tie session which already pre-
sented a large bill of fare. fitftla'iwal; ready to admit that
it was the duty of Goverutdedt TO' undertake the question.
At least, he should feel it his anti to do so, and he would
give his best attention to it. He hoped that in the course
of the session they should be enabled to pass into a law
some measure which would put a stop to this growing evil."
The deputation thanked his lordship, and retired.

WRECK OF THE " TAYLEUR."
Arrxis many delays, caused by the tempestuous
weather, the inquest on the late melancholy catas- '
trophe in Dublin Bay was commenced yesterday
week. The jury met at Malahide, on the coast oppo-
site Lambay Island, being the nearest spot to the
scene of disaster that was suitable for the purpose.
Of the numerous victims in the wreck, the bodies of
three were selected for identification, and viewed by
the jury as the formal preliminary to the proceedings.
The investigation lasted three days; several wit-
` nesses, both from among the passengers and crew,
being examined. Captain Noble's evidence was,
hawever, the most importhnt and authentic
" The drift of his testimony was much in accordance
with the general description of the wreck already given iu
this paper. He had three life-boats and four long-boats
on board, which were ready to be launched; but when the
vessel struck no boat could live in the sea that was then
rolling, and lie made no attempt to lower any of those
boats ; at no time from Liverpool to the moment of the
accident did he experience any obstruction from the want,
or efficiency of hands, but he found on some occasions that
the rudder did not answer to the man at the wheel. His
opinion was that the rudder was too small. On the day he
left Liverpool he went ashore and told the owners of the
Taykur that she was ready for sea, and that he was anxious
to put to sea, as the weather seemed favourable. He was
appointed to the I'ayltur by the owners in June last. She
was then in the builder's yard where she was built.
"On cross-examination Captain Noble said that he en-
gaged the crew himself about a week before she sailed.
The entire crew,with the exception of one mate, had been
all strangers to him previous to the time he had engaged
them, and they were all on board on Wednesday, the day
before he sailed. The wages at which he engaged the
crew ranged from Al. 19s. to 2/. a month. He made no
experiment as to whether the vessel would answer her
helm, nor in any other respect did he, or to his knowledge
the owners, make any experiment or investigation into the
sailing powers of the vessel. An examination of the com-
passes was made about a week or a fortnight before she
sailed, and a trial of the helm was made by the pilot in the
tideway, and she answered to the helm on that occasion,
although the trial was not made for the special purpose of
testing whether or not she would answer to the helm ; the
vessel was swung for the purpose of testing the compasses