The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-03-11 00:00:00

advices are to the 12th Dec. In the Legislative
Assembly the estimates had been brought forward.
The revenue for 1856, which was estimated at
£368,542, would not realise mere than £266,000.
The expenditure of the colony was set down at
£310,937, and the colonial treasurer, in the course
of his statement, asserted that the finances of
Tasmania were never in so bad a state. _ _

In the House of Commons last night the Liver-
pool Docks Committee and Birkenhead Docks
Bill, was withdrawn, and Mr. Spooner gave notice
that if he had a seat in the new Parliament, he
should take an early opportunity of renewing
his motion on the subject of the May.
nooth Grant. The army estimates are to
he brought on to-morrow, Thursday. On the
Income Tax Bill being brought before the
members, a motion that a rate of 5d in
the pound should be declared for the year was
negatived, as was also a motion to exempt incomes
under £l5O from the tax. On the report of the
committee of supply being brought up, Mr. Glad-
stone moved as an amendment that it was neces•
sary to revise and further reduce the national
expenditure. He proceeded at length to prove to
the house that such a revision and reduction
was essential, and that sooner or later it must come.
A general conversation ensued, in which Mr.
Disraeli, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and
others took part, the result of which was, that Mr,
Gladstone did not further press the matter. Lord
Palmerston moved a vote of thanks to thd Speaker
for his conduct in the chair, and eulogised the
temper, forbearance, judgment, and discrimination
of the right hon. gentleman. Mr Disraeli seconded
the motion, and was followed by Lord John Russell.
The motion was unanimously agreed to, as was an
address to the Crown for a reward for the eminent
services of the Speaker.
We have but space to-day to direct the reader's
attention to the extraordinary disclosures, which
will he found reported in another column, in
connection with interments in the Necropolis
cemetery. A perusal of the report will, we feel
assured, in the mind of every man, justify the
heading with which it is prefaced. We can con-
ceive of nothing more shameful or revolting
than the practices which will be found
there spoken to with all the coolness
which a daily participation in them for years
creates. We think the explanation which Mr. Lace
gave in extenuation of this desecration of the dead
but aggravated the indecency. The plain inference
from his words is this—that so long as the practice
was undetected so long was it proper. Detection
alone constituted the impropriety—a sentiment
which we apprehend only those having a pecuniary
interest in the Necropolis will endorse, and which
we, in charity, suppose Mr. Lace only used in
his capacity as an advocate. We think Mr.
M‘Gowan acted wisely in making no comment on
these most shameful proceedings. The indignation
which their perusal will excite among the people
could not be heightened by comment.
The Continental mails, owing to the boisterous
weather, have not reached us this morning, and
there is consequently a dearth of foreign news.

As anticipated, the near approach of the
dissolution of Parliament has led to the with-
drawal of several very important measures. On
Monday night Lord CRANWORTH shelved his
Divorce Bill, and Sir JOHN PAKINGTON postponed
the further consideration of his Education scheme.
Sir GEORGE GREY also moved that the order for
going into committee on the Reformatory Schools
Bill be discharged. To these we may add
another—Mr. HARDY'S Beer Bill. The two first
we have already noticed. The Reformatory
Schools Bill is sure to be brought forward in the
new Parliament.

The preamble of this bill sets out with an
important truism respecting the destitute and
neglected state of a large portion of the juvenile
population of the lower classes, shewing
that destitution and neglect are the nursery
of crime, and that its suppression costs
the country large sums annually. To remedy
this the Reformatory Schools Bill proposes
to invest the State with power and autho-
rity to step forward and rescue all juvenile
delinquents from the poverty, degradation,
helplessness, crime, and ignorance by which they
are surrounded. Liverpool alone furnishes in-
controvertible proof that all our large cities and
towns are swarming with helpless children, who
are sent forth to beg, or are cast adrift on the
street, in consequence of the death or neglect of
their parents, to eke out an existence as best they
may. Helpless, without food or raiment, or even
the shelter of a house'to cover them at night,
they prowl about unheeded and unbefriended. A
short time soon brings them under the influence of
the bait of the recruiting sergeant of crime, by
whom they are taught all the lessons of iniquity,
qualified in every species of dishonesty, and
instructed in the art and science of roguery—
theft, and robbery. Having matriculated at this
university of crime and iniquity, they set out and
daily practice the infernal lessons which they
receive, to the serious cost of society and their
own ruin, the State all the while standing by,
destitute of power to interfere between them and
their sad and melancholy fate. Seeing this
deplorable state of things, many philanthropic
individuals stepped forward and attempted to
stern the torrent of crime and destitution by the
establishment of Ragged Schools. Scotland
originated this praiseworthy design, To their
great gratification, and the advantage of many a
juvenile criminal, complete success has Attended
their efforts. But the disease being national,
requires a national remedy. The exertions
of the benevolent and well-disposed in the large
cities and towns, supported by voluntary contri-
butions alone, are insufficient. They cannot cope
with the extent of national juvenile depravity,
nor are the founders and managers of ragged
schools empowered to take up the young and
wandering vagrant, with the view of reforming
his character, and ultimately sending him forth
upon the world able to earn an honest living,
and thoroughly embued with, and practised in,
the doctrine of keeping his hands from picking
and stealing, his tongue from evil speaking, lying
and slandering, his body in temperance, sober-
ness, and chastity, not coveting nor desiring
other men"s goods, but learning and labouring
-truly to get his own living, and to do his duty
in that state of life into which it should please
GOD to call him. Under such circumstances, it
is no wonder that the ranks of crime are con
stantly recruited, and that, too, by large num-
bers. The Reformatory Schools Bill aims at
putting a stop to this state of things, how we
have already indicated.

The measure in question sets out with the
maxim that prevention is better than cure, and
its primary principle in advocating State inter-
ference with juvenile criminals is, that as it is
the duty of the State to restrain the vicious, it is