The Express.
London, England, 1849-12-14 00:00:00

BETHNAL-GREEN RAGGED SCHOOLS.

The annual meeting of these schools tea
evening, at the new school-room, Hare tereet. It wises
made the occasion of celebrating the opening cf the nrrud
spacious school. Lord ASHLEY, M.P., preided, led to
platform was filled with the clergy and it:Climatal ielnir
tants of the district. Immediately in front of the phew:
w.ro placed about 40 of the boys from the ache 01, whose
probably the atfe o! their class, as their appearance wow!
much above that of the ordinary attenders at ragged sank
Lord ASHLEY expressed lilt sincere hope Outlaw
schools might exhibit all the good results which had find
from other similar institutions. These schools wows*
that the public was at length awakening to a sense older
duty towards that degraded and extraordinary climates=
separated in so ne tny ways from their fel.uw.etain
He should be glad to see this /Imp* r 2
more extended, believing that it was not )et suffix 4
manifested. Still they had seen the dawn of a better de,
and Boon he hoped those who would not co-operate is ds
movement would be denounced as heathen men and pie-
cans. (Applause.) Some chosen and faithful men weed
termined to probe the evil to the bottom, and to go
neither time, nor exertions, nor money, to affect a name.
(Cheers ) These institutions were peculiarly well die;:
to the wants of the times. He rejoiced to find thattetah
day, but evening schools had been established in Be'
green ; such schools were indispensably necessary for thug
youths who were partially employed during the day, irle
they in holding horses, selling fruit, pitkiep up cake
manure, or getting their living in still more getstioaski
ways. These evening schools had had an evekol
effect wherever they had been established, owing
the judicious relaxation which had been made in their die
cipline as compared with that of the British asd half
Schools. The results of the ragged schools geeerslly ion
most satisfactory ; numbers of children had been recluse
from vice, rags, and filth, and placed in respectableKtTil
There were hundreds in the ragged schools who dale Ig
recollect ever having slept in a bed ; and it was this drat
which their efforts ought mainly to be directed; their big
ness was in the mire and gutter. (Cheers.) 1 bedistiactie
epithet of ragged schools must be maintained ; none els
knew the working o' the schools would object to it. It it
noted not that the children were to be kept is rage, haute
the doers of the schools were constantly to be open to the
in rags. Ragged schools were now established allover it
country ; and he hoped soon to see them imitated is all tte
nations of Europe, to the immortal honour of this
far
which had b .0 their birth-place. (Cheer...)
The Rev. W. KERRY, the honorary secretary, reed de
report, which stated .—That the establishment of two foe
schools had been originally contemplated; but grate
culty was expetieneed in obtaining suitable pleases, ode
was not till November in last year that the schools ceiM
commenced. The committee had new the satisfied:ad
reporting that three, instead of two, schools hid
Its
opened, and were now in operation—two tv hots and as
'for girls. The first was opened on the 29th of Noe-alSle
the other two shortly afterwards, and since then the to
I number of children admitted had amounted to 273 bees 01
110 girls, while the number at present in attendance's
about 260. The parents of the children attending lho
schools were destitute weavers, shoemakers, dock Mood
hawkers, &c. ; all of them persons without elto
employment, and sunk to the lowest Agee of etreo
edness. Their children, squalid, half naked 0
half starved, were deservedly objects of compels
I They assembled in the schools shoeless and in reel; 10
same without breakfast ; yet the very habit of coded'
school had elevated them in the stale of moral esidso
I Besides the day schools for children, an evening ghee h
adults had been in operation. The average &tending
t
the winter and spring months was 40. Amongst the IV
dante had been some most desperate character,who had
eM
been in prison. At first they were exceedingly violent d
almost beyond control, swearing, whistling, brisk*"
windows, and pelting the teachers, being their great MOP
ment ; yet the force of christian kindness had not bosh
even on them. The formation of an industrial ectool
le
been postponed till more extended support was reCei,
The committee had succeeded in obtaining premix'
mirably adapted for the future carrying on of the sees"
instead of their present inadequate and ineosoo
school-rooms. They had met with a large baits
formerly. occupied as a school, the freell'ld,'
.
which might he obtained for 730/. ; towards which the °
of MR wan yet required. By the purchase of this bates
which, would accommodate 300 children, the annual nee'
the schools would be materially diminished, wild"'
efficiency would be greatly improved. As was tt
b e
peeled, the school had suffered severely from the tenet
the late epidemic; and Mr. M'Rae, the zealous
Bed
master, had nearly fallen a victim. 10
The financial statement, brought down to November
showed a receipt, from donations and subscripUons,
and, from grants, of 701. There had been espended
fitting up premise, and carrying on the schools, WI
leaving a balance of 1361 10s., which had bzen
aPP
wards the purchase of the new school room.
WILLIAM COTTON, Esq , banker, moved,
That this meeting do gratefully acknowledne the met
of success which it has pleased Almighty GOd to vow
to this institution.
The Rev. W. JAMES seconded the resolution. 2
Other resolutions promotive of the objects oldie re:
were advocated by Illesars. W. E. Williams, P. G
f„„,
Phillips, and the Revs. Dr. M'Caul, G. Alston, r.lij;
D. Fenn, and T. Toga, and the proceedings terminer
a vote of thanks to Lord Ashley for his benevolent
of ragged schools generally, and for his kindness sa Pe.
on that occasion.

.—M
EMBEZZLEMENT BY A SECRETARYr.,, lt tt-
late secretary to the Leeds Infirmary, his been sentence',
seven years' transportation, for embezzling upwaa'
1,0001. from the funds of that institution. • le
A SECOND DANIEL LAMBERT.—There nosl.'t
siding at Wellington, a man named Bali.'
_Er.;
of Horsehay, who is supposed to be the heavien. „101-1
1 being in the world. His weight is supposed to be IS•
stone ; he measures 6 feet 6 inches round the hod!, wig
round the thigh, and 22 inches round the arm. 110115.
a bard•wurking man and is very active, notw,•hstattam
immense Cza and weight.—Wolceritaniptoti Chrowde.