The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-28 00:00:00

NATIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.

The third annual meeting of this association—or
what would have been the fifth of its predeemeor, the Lan-
cashire Public School Anociation—was held on Wednesday
evening last, in the TOO= at 28, Crose.street. Mr. ALux.
HINNY, president of the association, occupied the chair ;
and aeon the other gentlemen present we noticed the
Rem. Dr. WHerrow, W. F. Walker, M.A., of Oldham,
and Dr. Beard; Mesas. Alderman Hervey, R. M. Ship-
man, J. C. Dyer, Wm. M'Cell, Thos. Latterthwaite, S. B.
Johnson, F. Taylor, Dr. Watts, R. W. Smiles, secretary to
the association, Thos. Johnson, A. Winterbottom,i Joe. Ash-
worth, do.

The SicaurAßY read letters of apology from Viscount
Gladerich, Salim Schwabe, the Set. F. Tula, and others.

The Criminate, in hla introductory rawer., congratu-
lated the members of the essesiatkin on the pragrem they
had made since the etri itof the ire Aroma-
don. They were than ieee fluMo with the mast rancorous
virulence by many who hod not only eee u! to abuse
them, but were Hulling this in mei N obtain the esta-
blishment of a system of public eche* te be characterised
by some of those very features on wenat of which the
friends of the sender system had lees disemseed. He had
no hesitation in wing that the erigbades of the Menthes-
-1 tar and SAW eerrt ees mbesnden and the production
of their esheme, and she the appointment of the parlia-
Maury eammittee of inquiry ea education, which sat
Elam Apra M June, 1862, were directly attributable to the
exertions of the National Public School Amociatioe.

Mr. Beirsai, the eseeetary, reed the report of the execs-
the essomielue for the pot year, cad a statement of so-
-491111M. lira them iseemosM, we learn that the opera-
tions of the sieeciation 1862 bad special, and almost
exclusive reference, teprMeeiiage in perhomeut in relation
to the education queen. The report smissedverted on
the policy of the peewees', of the Manche/ger said Belford
Iteeatica Bill, to ~Mg to awry thole muse am •
by yllich heivy engestes and pest elistrue-
, =would have been impusi wen and thrown in the
wog of *use who sought eves the slightest modification in
lie pstielese. The report "teed that the parliamentary
eimmittee had, in its fourteen *liege, examined four wit-
nesses is behalf et the Messbeeest and Belford Education
Bill, tale on behalf of voinsSeylem, sad two of a miscel-
laneous obereater ; bet dist the eissaittee bad sot been able
to issalude the inquiry beheads dissolution of parliament.
ThePablis Schools Association intend, it appears, to press for
the reeppeistment of the parliamentary committee, that
witness, meg be heard es behalf of the secular schemes
The repel Mated that eminently qualified witnesses were
prepared to give evidence on behalf of the association, and
that a large mies of arefully collected statistics, touching
the view el lodisation. in r and school attend-
ee" had bee. 10.211011 1/11 preasstation to the commit-
tee. The report aced that it was hoped these statistics,
" Lemma as they exhibited actual facts, would be re-
garded by the parlisassetaey committee to be worthy of
pests" sesolderatien than some of the ingenious, though
faultiest_ opeseletkas whisk have been presented to
them." Fres the Ineasial statement it appears that the
members eftbe tromiatioa are firm is their adherence, and
that numerals sew subscriptions have been received during
the past year.
_ . .

.
The =Wag was addressed, in eaoh ease, in a most hope-
ful spirit and tone, by Mr. Alderman Harvey, Mr. Thomas
Toplis, Mr. J. C. Dyer, Mr. R. M. Shipman, the Revs. W
F. Welker, Dr. M'Kerrow, and Dr. Beard; Mr. L. B•
Johnson, Mr. Thomas Johnson, sad Dr. Watts. The sub-
stantive business consisted of the adoption of the report,
the appointment of office bearers and an executive commit-
tee for the ensuing year, with votes of thanks to the retiring
execrative committee, and Mr. Alex. Henry, president,
Mr. Henry was re-elected president.
The entire proceedings gave satisfactory evidence of the
vitality of the association, and the determination of its pro-
moters to persevere in their labonrs.

REFORMATION OF JUVENILE CRIMINAL
OFFENDERS.

MEETING AT BIRMINGHAM.

Yesterday a very influential meeting was held at
the Royal Hotel, at Birmingham, for the purpose of esta-
blishing an industrial school for the reformation of criminal
juvenile offenders. Lord CALTHOIII.II presided, supported
Lord Lyttelton, Mr. Seholefisld, Mr. Adderlay,
P. Mr. Frederick Ledsam, Mr. Charles Ilolte Brace-
bridge, Mr. William Chance, itc.
The Noble CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the
meeting, said—lt is proposed to establish an institution the
importance of which can scarcely be o rrrrr ted—namely,
to attempt to reclaim juvenile offenders. In this noble
work efforts have now for many years been made, with
various success. There is an institution at Redhill, which
has been remarkably successful ; and one in France equally
so. The principles adopted at each of these are kindness
instead of rigid discipline. There is a similar in-
stitution in the neighbourhood of Hamburg, which
has been attended with very marked success,
and it is probably known to many present that an indivi-
dual resident in this town has made an effort to reform
juvenile criminal youths. His labours bare alas been at-
tended with a very large amount of success; his influence
over the boys is wonderful. The principle he has adopted
is that of kindness—kindness te the poor boys whom he has
taken under his care, many of whom had never known •
kind word before. (Hear.) Now, it is proposed to esta-
blish here an institution on this principle, and to place it
under the management of the individual to whom I have
referred ; one thing is essentially necessary in conducting sia
institution of this kind, namely, that it should be basted on
religion, for no instiution can effect • permanent and ef-
fective good, unless it be so based. (Cheers.) That is one of
the principles of our proposed institution, and not the moral
principle only. I hope, therefore, that the people of this
great town will come forward and support an institution
which has for its object the reformation of juvenile criminal
offenders. (Cheers.)
His LORIROUP called on Mr. WILLIAM Moaoaw to read
the report of the committee, which was as follows :
" The committee of inspection, which was appointed on
the 23rd December last, at a meeting convened by circular,
held at Dee's Royal Hotel, Birmingham, have great eat's-
factton in reporting to the present assembly the result of
their inquiries into the practical working of the Reforma-
tory Institution for Juvenile Delinquents in the Ryland-
road, whieh was set on foot last summer by Mr. Sturge,
and has been under the superintendence of Mr. Ellis.
Your committee found that the institution consisted
in fact of a family group of twenty persons, of whom
Mr. Ellis is the head, residing together in three
cottages in the Ryland-road. All tho inmates have
been of the criminal class except Mr. Ellie and his son, the
matron, and J. Barkhani, field-labourer. There are thus
sixteen persons in the family who have been criminals.
Their ages vary from 12 to 20, with the exception el one
child of only six years and • half, and one young man of 22
years of age. They are occupied in various ways according
to their capacity, and your committee found that Mr. Ellis
has thoroughly carried out amongst them the principles
which he announced in the following words, in June last,
to the Parliamentary Committee on the Reformation of
Criminal Children, in his evidence respecting a similar
establishment formerly under his care in London
I recognised them as my children ; they looked
upon me as their father, and the latent power
of their souls being brought into existence, there was every
feeling that I could expect from a child towards rte. I
have seen that all they did was to strive to know my will,
and that will was their law. I endeavoured to convince
those lads that honesty was the best policy, in my conver-
sation with them whilst I was at work, and that they were
responsible beings—that they had immortal souls—and that
God, being the ruler of the universe, would know all they
had done, and all that they had said; so that those boys
now, every one of them, move about, although in
my absence, thinking that there is an eye over
them. My principal object always was with those
lads to put in their power the means of getting
them a living by teaching them • business ; with
regard to their morals, I thought I could not do hatter
than set before them a good example, and I ate with them,
and drank with them, and slept with them, and I associ
ated myself with them in every way; and as far as religion
goes (I don't profess to be a religious teacher), I showed
them the law of the gospel as well as I could. lem not
much of a scholar myself, and therefore could not cultivate
their intellects much.' Your committee have satisfied
themselves that the method of treatment adopted by Mr.
Ellis may be relied upon for producing a considerable
amount of success. Three principles appear to be uniformly
kept in view, all of which are essential to the attainment
of the desired reformation of the youthful criminal. Hi*
affections must be acted upon, and the moral faculties
strengthened, by voluntary exertion, which must be directed
towards right objects—he must be habituated to labour
and his intellect must be cultivated. Your committee feel
assured that the neglect of any one of these principles
would be sufficient to destroy all reasonable hope of reform-
ation, and they are disposed to rely very much upon the
vigour and skill with which Mr. Ellis constantly applies
them in the management of his present school. The en-
couragement which your committee have received to at-
tempt the establishment of a reformatory school, does not
however depend wholly upon the success of the Ryland-
road experiment. The Philanthropic Society has for years
had the care of • number of juvenile criminals, of whom
about 75 per cent. are permanently reformed, and
support themselves subsequently by honest industry.
At ilettray, in France, where the boys are very
criminal, but the management extraordinary vigorous,
and skilful, 85 per cent turn out irreproachable. The
Ranken Haw at Hamburg is an institution of the highest
order of merit. It is appropriated to children of the most
unpromising character. Yet only 9 per cent. give any
cause of complaint; and applications from that establish
meat are actually preferred to ordinary boys. There are
Institutions in Wurtemburg where more than half the
children turn out well. An old established institution,
called the House of Refuge, at New York, reclaims 75 per
cent. of its inmates; and boys who have been sent to the
State Reform School of Massachusetts are trusted to col-
lect money and pay bills, and this confidence has never been
abused. The duty and practicability of reclaimirg criminal
children is considered a settled question in the United
States, and reformatcq institutions are spriaging up all over
that country: Your committee feel quite unable to resist
the conclusions drawn from this testimony, and they
unanimously recommend the establishment of a reforma-
tory school in the immediate vicinity of Birmingham.
Your committee estimate that 20 boys will cast, one year
with another (at the rate of 4e. a head per week), a total
annual sum of 2001.; but it is proposed that the candidates
shalt be received into the institution gradually, and there-
fore the full weekly oust will not accrue for the first nine
months. This being the case, 1501. may be • fair estimate
for the expenses of food, clothing, washing, and all do-
mestic current outlay for the first year. The joint salaries
of matron and field superintendent may be put at 11. per
week, or 621. for the year. The first soot of furnituxe,
hammocks for the dormitories, and kitchen utensils, and a
kw teals and mats riala, will not exceed 1001. Them
Ewes, added tegetaer, give 3021. as the entire estimate'
he the cost of 20 boys for the first year, irrespective of
hews rent and taxes and of charges- for head superintend-
ence. In reference to he cost of a suitable dwelling-
house, your committee have had under their cem-
eideration the proposal made by Mr. Add=
at the meeting in December, to the effect that he
buM at Staley a house with workshops and dormitories
far lit boys, and attach to it five acres of land, with spies
reverted for future additions.
" After enumerating several recommendations, the com-
mittee arrnaluda by that the claims of the proposed
misty shoal be fairly considered, vesting as they do, not
may on the ground of public seosonsy,—for it is surely far
less costly to reform than to punish • criminal, but because
they are bead upon the higher platform of humanity and
Christian duty.'
Mr. Moaoaw also read letters from gentlemen, apolo-
gising for their absence. Amongst these was one from
Major Jebb ; also from Mr. Parker, the hon. secretary of
the Edinburgh Ragged Schools ; from Mr. hellinger
mow, her Mye•ty's Inspector of Schools, declaring that he
felt " heartily interested in the success of the proposed in-
stitution ;" and from Mr. Sands Cox, suggesting a modifi-
cation " of the terms for criminal children, ' so as "not to
fix on the inmates the badge of criminals." Mr. James,
the chairman of the Birmingham visiting justices, sent a
return of the number of criminals committed to the prison
between the lit of October, 1851, and the 30th of Septem-
ber, 1862, the object of it being to show that by farthe
Urger proportion were juvenile criminals. This " return"
showed that there were under ten years of age, 7 ; ten and
under fifteen, 181 ; fifteen and under twenty, 380 ; twenty
and under twenty-five, 286 ; twenty-five and under thirty,
163 ; and so on in proportion decreasing—the result being
that, oatof 1,320 committals, 660 of the criminals, or nearly
one-half of the entire number, had not reached the age of
twenty years. -
- - - - -

Captain TINDAL *weed the first resolution, and in doing
so, eulogised the great exertions made by Mr. Sturge, and
warmly complimented Mr. Adderley for the munificent
spirit he had manifested, and far his noble efforts in fur-
therance of this philanthropic design. He moved a resolu-
tion for the adoption of the report, and thanking the corn-'
mittee of inspection for the attention they had devoted to
the subject of the proposed reformatory institutions, tied
for their delineation of its principles, as well as of the means
by which it is shown to be practicable.
Mr. J. W. WILATILIIT seconded the resolution. He
looked on the formation of this institution as calculated to
work a larger measure of good than was calculated upon ;
personally he felt deeply
.indebted to the gentlemen of the
neighbourhood who had interested themselves in this mat-
ter, and he hoped that their philanthropic efforts would be
wall seconded by the town itself. (Hear.)
The resolution was unanimously carried.
Lord Lex-ref:rote moved the second resolution—" That in
the opinion of this meeting some effort ought to be made to
reclaim youthful criminds, and that in order to their
rescue from demoralising influences, it is desirable to pro-
vide for them a home—to afford them the benefits of edu-
cation—and to train them to habits of regular industry,thus
giving them the means and opportunity of reformation."
His lordship said that Mr. Ellis, under whose care it was
proposed to place this institution, had succeeded in the fiat
greet point; he had entirely sumeeded in winning and
softening the hearts of the youths under his can, and in
turning into their frown hearts suck a stream, as bad been
productive of great good. Now, it must always be borne
in mind, that these young men must be trained to
habits of industry—that he regarded as an indispensable
necessity ; it might be difficult to induce government to aid
in establishing institutions of this kind, unless they were
made self supporting ; probably they might be made so to
some extent, but certainly this must not be indispensable ;
the great object was the moral reformation of the people ;

the providing for the destitute a home. and to teach them
habits of regular industry. (Cheers.)
Mr. Wit:a HT, of Manchester, seconded the resolution.
Mr. ADDIRKLIT, M.P., spoke in support of the resolution.
The resolution was carried ; and
Mr. Scum-gym" M.P., moved the following—" That in
in'socordance with the recommendation of the committee,
a society be now formed to establish an industrial institu-
' lion for the care, education, employment, and reformation
' of criminal boys, to be called ' The Birmingham Reforms.
tory School.' "
Mr. It. J. CADBURY seconded the resolution, suggesting
the substitution of "destitute neglected children," for
" criminal boys."
Mr. C. H. BRACHIRIDON, of Atherston Hall, moved a
resolution for the constitution soil laws of the society; a
contribution of 301., or of 101. per annum, is to have the
privilege of nominating one candidate for admission. In
the course, of some lengthened and practical remarks, Mr.
Bracebridge drew the attention of the meeting to the feet,
that in the Daily A'eirs of the previous day, the evidence of
Mr. s'Esckett, before the parliamentary committee, was
published at length ; this he regarded as very important,
and well worthy the attention of the meeting.
Mr. ADDIKHLTY. M.P., said ho regretted that it was so,
but the Daily Neter was the only paint that had published
any of the valuable evidence, taken before the parliamen-
tary committee, on this subject. He believed that the
delay which had taken place in noticing this subject by the
public press was accidental ; he hoped it would now receive
that attention which it deserved, and that the evidence
would be examined and fairly sifted before the meeting of
parliament.
Mr. Ellis, and ono or two other gentlemen, afterwards
addressed the meeting in furtherance of the object. A
committee was appointed to carry out the design of the in-
stitution, and the remainder of the resolutions were unani-
mously carried.
In the Lours: of the proceedings the liberality of Mr.
Adderley was warmly referred to by all the speakers, as
well as the services rendered by Mr. Morgan, the Town
Clerk, who has lent valuable assistance in carrying out the
benevolent scheme. The subscriptions already received
are of a must liberal character.

The proceedings of this day were of a most intertming
character, and terminated with a vote of thanks to the
noble chairman.