The Express.
London, England, 1849-05-24 00:00:00

LAMB AND FLAG RAGGED SCHOOLS,
CLERKEN WELL.

The fourth annual to et.ng of these schools took
plsee last evening, at the Parochial School-rooms, Arnwell-
- There was a very crowned attendance, including a
a [great rumber of ladies. The Earl of HA ISHOWBY occupied
the chair, and said the scene presented before the au-
dience must impress them with the importance of ragged
schools, whereby so many destitute creatures were disciplined
TO virtue and piety. A short time ego the institution was
rev, and had to be explained and defended ; now its
results were known, and generally admitted to be bene-
ficial, and the most approptiate means of meeting a great
necessity of the age. It was a peculi.rity of the preheat
day no longer to deny existing facts; and it being obvious
that our safety and our duty alike demanded tie spread ed
instruction to the destitute, the call was no longer dime
girded. Every new and improved street opened increased
the mischief of the crowded back throughtiree, whose exist-
ence was scarcely known a short time ago. This knowledge
was owing, not to the great, wise, or learned, but to de-
voted young men and women themselves labouring in the
haunts of industry during the day. who having f,lt the
necessity of instruction, were determined to apply a remedy
to the existing evils, and devoted their leisure on Sabbaths
and in the evening to visiting the abodes of merry and
guilt. At first, this was doc.e as it were by stealth; then
the public approbation stamped the work as a goad one.
He. C. WHITE, the honorary secretary, then read the re-
port. After referring to the increased cost within the
last twelve years of prisons and convicts, the com-
mittee urged the importance of diffusing education by means
of ragged schools. Since the last report, the Queen
and Prince Albert had become muniti eat subscribers
to the cause, having presented 100 gutsiest to the Nagged
&hoc I Union. (Applause.) The number of children on
the books of the day school was 574, and the average stamp
dance wee upwards of 200. 01 these 167 could read well,
283 could read by single words and leaven, 20 could write
very well, 182 could writ* on elates, 30 understood arith-
metic, and 46 of the girls could sew well. In the evening
school for adults there were 104, and the average attene sues
was 60, of from 15 to 60 years of age, meat of whom could
read a little. The success of the adult schools was much
crippled for want of teachers. On the books of the Sunray
reboot there were 250, the average attendance being 160. In
all, the number on the ho les in the pest year had been 028,
and** average attendance 410. The progress of all was most
satisfactory. The annual subscriptions had amounted to
901., but the expense of carrying on the 4 schools would not
be less then 2001. per annum. There had been several donations
including 10 guineas hors the Tellow-chandlen' Company.
Out of eo large a number, only two instances had marred
where the pupils had rendered themselves amenable to the
law: one boy was sentenced to two months' imprisonment,
for a petty theft, and afterwards returned to the school ; the
other was the child of very vicious parents.
The Bishop of NORWICH, in moving the first resole
don, observed that the cause of ragged sell' oh had made
vast proves in the last three years. Within a few dap
Lord Ashley had presided at a meting in Exeter-hall, in
support of tills cause, which wu crowded to excese—a proof
that the public mind went along with his lordship in favour
of these schools. He doubted whether the church of Eng-
land could ever have of jected to schools on this principle ;
he had not had a moment's hesitation as to whether he ought
to patronise them. (Hear, hear.) He rejoiced that the
finances of the Ragged School Union were rapidly
improving. He concluded by moving the adoption of the
re.art.
Mr. H. BELLENDEN then seconded the resolution, and
straggly urged on the meeting the importance of increasing
their contributions to the institution.
The Bishop of ST. ASAPH moved the next resolution,
imploring the divine blueing on the cause of ragged schools.
The Rev. H. HUGHES seconded the resolution. Ho
avowed himself favourable to a democratic education, as the
best means of strengthening the pillars of the constitution,
and securing our national liberties. (Applause.) He hoped
that ragged school instruction would pregress, and that the
Musing of God would rest on the work.
Mr. G. THOMPSON; M.P., eulogised the self-denial of
those who took an active part in the management of ragged
schools, and observed that they were humbly but assiduously
Willing the last command of their Saviour. The resolution
be bad to move recommended ragged schools to their sop-
pert, et the ground of the bull's they had already pro-
duced.
Mr D. W. WIRE seconded the resolution. Looking at
the enormous increase in the annual coe: of gaols—Rom
19,0001. to 84,0001., and remembering that crime in general
coat the country no leas than eight millions annually, a
etroneer argument could not be conceived in favour of insti-
tutions whose object was to prevent rather than punish
crime. (Hear.) Juvenile crime hod recently increased up-
wards of 45 pi r cent., but since the institution of ragged
schools this increase had been sensibly abated wherever such
schools were established.
Some other routine resolutions followed, and the proceed-
ings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

AMENDMENT OF THE BANKRUPTCY LAWS.