The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-13 00:00:00

THE COVENTRY INDUSTRIAL HOME..

We see, by the annual report just published, that
the above small but admirable institution proceeds in its
good work steadily and satisfactorily. According to pro-
mise, we take this opportunity of giving some account of its
origin and oljects; and we cannot do so better than by
quoting an interesting statement made by one to whom the
establiskment is much indebted for her untiring energy and
active /unite in its behalf.

" It was durng the autumn of 1845 that the matron of
the Leamington l'eaitentiary wrote to my mother, recomi
mending to her care a young girl living in Coventry. She
had applied fur admission to the Penitentiary, not being
aware of the meant nature of that institution, but
could not be received, as she was not a suitable object.
We sought her out, and found that she was very un-
comfortable at home, her mother having married ter her
I second husband a severe and selfish man, who treated
his step-daughter very cruelly, and furnished her
with nu merits of gaining • livelihood; so that there
seemed no alternative for her but deAitution or worse.
She was a nice-looking, delicate girl, and so anxious to re.
Min her respectability of character, that she bad walked to
and from Leamington, hoping she should there find an asy-
lum. We gave her needlework, and in other ways endea-
voured to assist her in her struggle for an honest reputation.
It so happened that, whilst we were feeling interested for
this girl, and fearing that there might be many like her
looking our for help and sympathy, we read the story of I
" liosa Covens," as it is given in Claunbers's Journal (the
founder of the establishments ite Italy, called ltosines, into
which destitute young girls arc received, protected, and
taught to gain a livelihood in various arts and manufactures),
and immediately felt that, if we could but rent a small
house, and provide a suitable matron, we might find a
home for at least half a dozen of these unprotected gide.,
who could easily obtain a living by working at the silk
trade. The subject was mentioned to a tew ladies, who
cordially united in the attempt; some ladies at Leamington
also, hearing of what was under consideration, requeiited
to be allowed to form themselves into a branch committee,
and arrangements were accoroingly'made that they should
share in our expenses, and nominate a proportionate num-
ber of inmates. This division of the responsibility induced
us to rent • much larger house than we had at first con-
templated, and during the first year we received 25 inmates.
The total number admitted since the commencement is 91 ;

40 of whom have taken situations of domestic service. The
anticip Ilion with which we started, viz , that the institu-
tion would be self-supporting, has proved a failure; for,
on further consultation, the committee deemed it
important to train the inmates as much as pos-
sible for domestic service, and instruction in any branch
of the silk trade was considered incompatible with this end ;
the character of the institution was, therefore, slightly
altered, and the opportunity of gaining a respectable liveli-
hood is now afforded to each inmate at the close of her
term, as well as • home provided for her during two very
important years of a young woman's life."
This account speaks for itself as to the excellent and true
benevolent purpose of the establishment: and to our know-
ledge it has succeeded hitherto, and been the means of
rescuing many young creatures from vice and misery ; and
when it i► considered that the interesting case cited is not
a solitary ease—that, in many instances, depravity is in a
manner forced upon the young and innocent—every one
will feel how important it is that • large town should be
provided with a refuge of this character, and will wish for
this small institution still farther success.—Coventry herald