The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-22 00:00:00

LONDON REFORMATORY FOR ADULT MALE

CRIMINALS.

On Tuesday afternoon a public meeting on behalf of
this tutitstion, which is conducted in Great Smith-street,
Westminster, was held at Willis's Rooms; the Earl of
SNAP/I/MORT presiding.
The Rev. SAXIIRL MARTIN haying opened the meeting
with prayer,

The CHAIRMAN said the meeting had been called to-
gether for the purpose of hearing a statement u to the pro-
gress of the institution, and of being asked to co-operate in
the efforts they were making to reclaim the criminal popula-
tion. Taking the whole of the country, there win no very
perceptible diminution in the amount of crime. The ticket-
of-leave system had nut resulted in the success which had
been anticipated, and it wee necessary that they should
direct their attention to other means of reclaiming adult
criminals; because, if they dad not, they would have 4,000
added every year to the convict population retained within
the three kingdoms, and In time a gigentio mischief
would be raised up among them. The London Reforma-
tory had pursued the best course of meeting that great evil.
(Hear, hear.) Their system we, to submit the applicant
tint to a period of probation, namely, bread Red water and
14 days' solitude. That was, in fact, the key stone of their
whole system. If the applicant remained in the institution
after that period of probation, be was then subjected to •
course of education during the next twelve mouths; he had
to learn a trade, and had also to conform to all the regula-
tions of the institution. The inmates were perfectly nee
agents. They were told on entering that the doors were
open to them to go out if they liked, but that if they once
quitted the walls without permission, they could
return. The society, therefore, by gradually training the
intimate, usually brought them within twelve months to ex-
hibit a degree of sell-control which they had never before
evinced. Tbegreat object during the period of edu, ation was to
inspire them with the hope and furnish them with the means
of emigrating to a new world, where they would enter upon a
new career with recovered characters and with animated
hearts. That was the grand consummation to which the
inmate* locked. The eye sem had brought about some of
the most et merkable instances of reformation that had hap-
pened ranee the world began. With all that, the society was
constantly on the verge of bankruptcy, and it celled upon
that meeting to mist it in its difficulties, end to encourage
the establishment of simi:ar ihentntions throughout the
country,
Mr. ese, governor and, corresponding secretary, read
the report for the last year, which stated, Mier mire, that
the number of inmates is the Reformatory was on an average
100, from the age of 17 upward,. Among the applicants (or
admission were several tickebotleave men, who had ulnae-
ceasfully tried to obtain employment. Of the 400 men who
had gone out of the institution since its establishment, very
few had ranee back into evil habits. The amount of money
stolen by the 100 men now in the institution was at kali
76,4001.; and taking the same amount of money to have
been stolen by the 400 who had left the institution, the 600
who had been rescued by it from degradation and misery
must have robbed the public of about 382,0001. (Hear )
One of the men who had left the institution had since given
61. to its funds, and had promised to double his subset': -
tion next year.
Mr. Selrant ADAMS, in moving the first resolution, said
they were persons who had for nearly 40 years been endea-
vouring to discover a mode of uniting punishment and re-
formation; but they had never succeeded, for they went on
an erroneous principle. In 1t;04 there were committed for
ttial and tried in the whole of England for every offence,
except smelts, 4,803 persons. Now, the populatica in the
lest 60 years, he would tate it had been doubled. The
number of commingle in the 60th year after 1804 for crimi-
nal offences was 28,740, being an increase of 6-6ths. And
all that when education, as it was called, had been
gradually increasing, ben every effort had hem
mad* to promote the retormation of the criminal.
Did not those figures shrew that reformation and punishment
could net work well together f In this reformatory they
had now stood the difficulty, namely, that reformation
should begin when punishment had ceased. (Hera, hear)
The learned Serjeant concluded by moving :—" That this
meeting, convinced that the adult male criminal is reclaim-
' able, pledgee itself to encourage the ex.rtions made in the
Loudon Reformatory for the attainment of so great an tab-
, iect, and responds to the appeal now mane for at:di:jowl
tends."
Thu motion was seconded by Sir JOHN WARRANDER,
; Bart., supported by Mr. E. Ball, M.P., end canted unaek•

mously.
The Rev. R. ALPORD, 8.D., of Quebec Chapel, then
moved—" That the inadequacy of the regular subacrils ions •
to carry cut the society's operations, is a subject of greet
anxiety ; sod therefore, the increased exertions of all friends
of the Reformatory, are earnestly required to increase its
Missal income."
The motion was 'Hooded by Captain O'Bitistir, and also
carried unanimously.
Mr. WooD, the treasurer, explained the financial posi-
tion of the institution at tb.' present time, which showed
that it was a little in debt Funds are immediately wanted
for the emigration of 25 lemates, besides increased subscrip-
tions to Shier the income to about 3,0001. per year. The
annual subscriptions do not exceed 7001.
On the motion of Mr. JosiPa PAYNE, barrister, the
thanks of the meeting were unanimously accorded to the

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