The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-12 00:00:00

LANCASHIRE FEMALE REFUGE

ANNUAL MEETIKG, YESTERDAY

The annual meeting of the Lancashire Female Refuge,
was held at the Bible Repository, Slater-street, at half-
past two o'clock yesterday. There was rather a thin
attendance. Among these present were, Messrs. J. B.
Barclay, Adam Hodgson, William Rathboue, John S.
Mansfield, George Holt, Gregson, &C.
The chair was taken by Mr. J. B. Barclay.
The Chairman expressed his regret, that some more
influential person was not called on to take the chair, and
opened the proceedings by merely requesting the atten-
tion of the meeting to the report of the committee.

The Secretary (Mr. Gregson) read the following
REPORT.

At a time when the subject of reformatory institutions is
engaging so large a share of public attention, it is with deep
regret the committee of the Lancaster County Prison Refuge
are compelled to announce that the claims of that long-tried
institution are but little appreciated among the numerous
charities in this neighbourhood, although its principles and
system as a Reformatory are in accordance with the most
enlightened views of the present day.
The object of the refuge is to afford a temporary home to
those females who, on their discharge from prison are anxious
to return to the paths of honest industry, but have no friends
to assist them, and too often have connections bent on defeat-
ing their good intentions. In such cases, what would become
of these poor creatures in their first struggles against evil
habits and associations but for this house of mercy ? Whereas
now its door, on the recommendation of the chaplain of
any of the county prisons, or of the borough gaol, is open
to receive them, and the best agencies—industrial, moral,
end religious—are assiduously employed to promote their
reformation.

The institution is conducted on the domestic principle. It
presents the aspect of a well-regulated family, under the gentle,
yet vigilant, supeiintendance of the matron. The inmates are
assembled every morning and evening for prayer, and for
reading the Holy Scriptures, and they have also the benefit of
receiving religious instruction and kind exhortation from a
Committee of Ladies who frequently visit the house. On
Sunday they attend the neighbouring church, St. Mary's,
Edge-hill, the incumbent of which, the Rev. F. M. Harke,

kindly arts as honorary chaplain to the institution. During
the week they are employed in various useful occupations,
such :as washing, sewing. and household work, and they
are carefully trained to habits of industry, obedience, and
honesty. When these qualifications appear to be perma-
nently acquired, the utmost care is taken to provide the
women with suitable situations, in which they may be
enabled to continue a course so happy for themselves, and so
beneficial to society.

The total number of inmates in the liefuge during the year
1855 has been 34. Of these 18 have left, 9 having been
placed in service, one restored to her mother, and eight left
the house at their own request, being discontented with its
restraints. There remained, at the beginning of the present
year, 16. Of the nine in service, three have disappointed the
expectations formed of them, but the rest are believed to be
doing well.

Although the institution possesses good accommodation fur
22 inmates, it has never had more than 16 at any one time,
and the funds are utterly inadequate to meet oven this ex-
penditure, notwithstanding the strict economy of all the
arrangements, and the partly remunerative nature of the work
on which the inmates are employed.
A painful crisis has at length arrived, and unless immediate
measures are adopted for placing its finances on a sound
foundation, this institution, varich, though small and obscure
in the eyes of men, has been favoured with many tokens of
the Divine blessing, must fall into hopeless embarrassment
and ruin. But the committee feel themselves bound by the
highest motives to strain every nerve in order to avert so
deplorable a result. They look with confidence to the well-
known liberality of various friends to enable them to discharge
the present debt. Their real diffi-mlty will be to raise the
permanent income of the institution, which has been much
reduced by the deaths of several of its oldest and best friends,
to such an amount as will in future meet the annual expen-
diture. After all, they require no large sum for the purpose,
bat quite the reverse ; and they hope and trust that the same
benevolent spirit, which has recently led so many persons in
this neighbourhood to establish a Reformatory for boys, will
not refuse its generous aid to an institution of a kindred
character for the weaker sex, especially when that institution
has preyed its value by the fruits of long experience.

With a view to the benefit of the Refuge, the committee
have undertaken a revision of the rules ; in which they have
carefully adhered to the original design and principles, but
have added such provisions as are usually in the rules of
similar institutions, and essential to their due and regular
administration. They now submit this revised code to the
consideration of the subscribers, hoping that it may commend
itself to their approval; and the meeting will, in that case, be
called upon to appoint a committee for the ensuing year,
according to the new rules. The great benefit, however,
which they anticipate from the meeting is, that tho public
may be made better acquainted with an institution which is
silently, but usefully, labouring amongst us, and which is well
entitled to the sympathy aad liberal support of all who desire
to advance a most interesting and important branch of the
great work of social reformation.

Mr. Adam S. Gladstone read the statement of accounts,
from which it appeared that the balance to be carried
over against the institution this year had increased to
12312 s 4d. During the past year thezLiverpool subscrip-
tions were only 1041 7s 6d, being a decrease on previous
years, owing to deaths of subscribers, and the inheritors
of their fortunes not extending the same measure of sup-
port to the institution. The donations were 881 6s 3d ;
the receipts from washing, 261 Iss 8d; and from work,
12/ 18s sd.

Mr. Mansfield said : Mr. Chairman, perhaps one of the
most valuable acquisitions we make in our course through
life is that of true and dear friends. A still greater
advantage than that is to inherit the friendships which
have been contracted by our families, to improve and to
retain them. I have, fortunately,lbeen able to do so in
the instance of two of those who are in the room, Mr.
Rathbone and Mr. Barclay, who were acquainted with
my family before I was born; and it has ever been one of
my greatest pleasures since my residence in this town to
have continued and retained that friendship. In obedience
and deference to their wish I appear before you to-day to
move that the report: be adopted. Unfortunately for me,
this institution is almost new to me—l know little of its
working. I haie not been a subscriber, and lam therefore
afraid I can do little more than bid you God speed
in your good work. A similar institution to this, has for
a considerable time been at work with most beneficial
results in France. The object of it is to reform persons
who have been confined in prison, and to obtain situations
for them, and watch over them as long as they require
assistance. This has produced the most beneficial results,
and it has been extended to both sexes. I am afraid,
however, that the number of its occupants is confined
principally to womer. Any person who;reilects upon tie
position of a prisoner discharged from jail, will see at
once that there are two great evils which that prisoner
must encounter, if she has any desire to leave her evil
courses. One of these is, the prevalence of the evil habits
which she has contracted for a long course of vice and
crime. The other is, the difficulty of obtaining a situa-
tion in society at large, with such a blemish upon her
character. There is naturally a very great objection
among the public generally, to take into service or give
any employment to a dishonest person, one who has been
convicted of dishonesty. Of course they would incur
great risk in so doing. But I think by the exertions of
this institution, this difficulty has been in a great degree
removed. lf I understand rightly the proceeding of this
institution, you do not at once, after the expiration of the
imprisonment, recommend the liberated convict to be
taken into the employment of any one, but you take her
under your own charge, you instruct her in her duties,
and when you have such ground as your experience shows
is sufficient for believ'ng that the person under your charge
has really altered her habits, and is seriously determined to
leave her evil courses, then you recommend her for
employment, and employment has, I believe, very fre-
quently been obtained for those persons when they leave
your charge. A great amount of good has been done also
by Mr. Wright, of Manchester, whose name is well known
to you, but he, however, has been able to deal hitherto,
only with male convicts. He found that the means at his
disposal, prevented him from doip -; that which you have
so successfully done during a long course of years I
—.
think there can be little doubt that the etr"‘:s of the
...
ladies who have kindly undertaken tb" most onerous
portion of the duties, are deservina. of the highest praise,
;,e they are struggling
when we consider the great
for, and the loathsome nature of the task. All England
has been ringing, and justly and deservedly so, with the
praises of Florence Nightingale, for the privations she
exposed herself to—the loathsome sights and sounds she
experienced in the hospitals of the British Army, when
she went there as a volunteer to alleviate their sufferings;
but, if I were asked my opinion, I should say that it
would be an injustice to those ladies who have laboured
in V this institution, to place even the name of
Florence Nightingale above theirs. A wounded spirit is
surely a subject which deserves sympathy as much as a
wdunded body, and unless the wounded spirit be
healed by kindness and sympathy, there is little
hope left for one of those unhappy women in
whom you have felt such an interest. The first
step towards restoring character, is the restoring of self-
respect. The objects of your care must be taught that
they are still worth something in the eyes of God and in
the eyes of man, for until that is done there is nothing for
one of those fallenlwomen except despair and misery. A
case occurred:before me once which was tried at the last
assizes which very forcibly :impressed itself upon my
mind. A wretched woman of the lowest order was
seized by a brutal ruffian, who assaulted and very nearly
killed her. Some persons attracted by her cries rescued
her from him, but they treated her just as Inman beings
might have treated an animal, a dog who had been served
in the. same way—they just saved her from death and
nothing more. The wretched woman crawled away, sat
down under an arch, dripping with wet, half murdered,
and was fond there by a policeman. When she was
brought before me she seemed to me to be astonished that
any body should regard her. It seemed to her, wonder-
ful that, knowing how she had fallen, the strong arm of
the law was raised for her protection. Now, this was a
very remarkable feeling, and one which clearly showed
that that woman had still a sense of shame. That sense
of shame could _ have been worked upon and could, no

Rao immainil,2m,awlk.4.

doubt, have been turned to such account with good and
proper management, that that woman would have been
reclaimed from the vicious course of her past life. These
are questions with which the ladies who have aided in the
management of this institution are better acquainted than,
I am, and I need not therefore dwell upon the subject.
am afraid I have very inefficiently discharged the task
which has been pressed upon me by two dear friends,
Mr. Rathbone and Mr. Barclay, I shall therefore conclude
by thanking you for the attention you have given me, by
moving the adoption of the report, and adding my own
name as a subscriber to this institution. (Hear, hear, and
applause.)
Mr. George Holt seconded the motion. He said that the
services of the institution should not be judged simply 1)1
the number of reformed women which it sent forth, though
that number was in itself considerable but its reflected
influence should also be taken into consideration. (nor,
hear.) lie considered that it was owing to such institationsi
that reformatory institutions were now becoming recognise"
by the legislature, though long a social want, and he there.
fore thought they had every reason to congratulate
themselves on that circumstance, as well as to derive
encouragement from it in their future labours. (Hear )
The motion was unanimously adopted.
Mr. Adam Hodgson, in moving the adoption of the rules
cf the institution, which have just been published, to' 1r
occasion to refer to its objects, in order that it might be
better understood and :supported by the public at large.
He had no doubt that a great many persons, when they
would first bear of the society, would say that such
institutions were being too largely multiplied, and would
ask why it could not be managed with some of the other
reformatory institutions ? The reason was very obvious.
(Hear, hear.) The committee had given the subject their
fullest consideration, nhey elt tat he object f the
institution was so distinctt fromf that oft any othero 1)041
and required such constant and indefatigable attentionf
that it would be impossible to combine it with any °
the projected societies. (Hear, hear.) Prisoners in gaol
were largely pitied, but those persons who had long
observed and considered the matter, thought that ;bet
t
prisoners who had just been released from confinetnee„,
were much more deserving of commiseration. Their 01"
associates were waiting outside the prison gate to lure
them back to their evil courses, and the object of the
society was to provide for them a place of refuge whe,ree
they would be removed from ail temptation, and t"
opportunity afforded them of leading a good and stainlel
life in time to come. (Hear, hear.) The public should,
therefore, be aware that the institution could not he
hoped with any of the projected reformatories, an°,,,',„
hoped that it would accordingly receive from them """
support which it deserved. (Hear, bear.)
Mr. A. Gladstone seconded the motion, which Was
unanimously adopted.
h
Mr. W, Gregson, in moving the third resolution, w—eb
was to the effect that the claims of the institution were serf
as to commend it to the sympathy and liberal support 0,
all who desire to advance a most interesting and imports
e:
branch of social reformation, took the opportunity also to
point out why it was that it could not be combined with
any other Reformatory. It filled, no doubt, but a rarrolor
ground, and to that circumstance, probably, the ignorance°,
the public in regard to it was attributable; yet, if it We
ti
abolished to-morrow, no other institution in the town could
supply its place. The Magdalen Institution was intend%
for a particular class of women, who, by their rules, unless
very exceptional circumstances, were excluded frog
their house; and therefore, with that society, it would bg
impossible for them to combine. (Hear, hear.) Their
object was to provide an outlet, by which those whom theY
received into their institution could obtain honest eropler,
ment ; and, as ladies would naturally have an objection '"
take servants from any-Magdalen Institution, an amalgam
tion of the two would be advantageous to neither. (Sear
hear.) As to the Juvenile: Female Reformatory, about
be established in Liverpool, that was a gentle name for 0,,
as it was really a prison. (Hear, hear.) The parties wl3"
would be sent to it would be subject to strict regulation;
and confine for a long period; they could not leave of theor
own free will, and if they escaped they could be re-taken
and re-committed. On the other hand, their institutil
dealt with a very different class of persons, and as it aver a
be useless to attempt to reform persons when they arrive,t
at a certain age, against their will, the inmates of the;
house were allowed to leave it whenever they thought Elia
Their institution should therefore stand alone, and it should
be supported by the public, for the special object which 1
had in view was required by the circumstances of society',
and merited support. (Hear, hear.) In conclusion, oii;
Gregson paid a high compliment to the matron, throe%
whose exertion several of the inmates of the institution he
obtained situations.
Mr. W. Rathbone secondel the resolution, and in doing be
so urged thet the responsibility for' the performance
society of its duties in this matter chiefly rested on 0'
women ; for if they performed all their obligations thl
would compel the men to follow their example. Many lecii` t
did perform their duty in the matter, and he felt assured 0.30
if all knew one tenth part of the depravity existing 10
Liverpool, they would unhesitatingly sacrifice their o°.
feelings, and take part in the work of social reformatil:
(Hear, hear.) At present the poor man's home was a fail,
lacy, and it would continue to be so, and he would contin.,,
to resort to the gin-palace, until his wife was reared in habit;
of thrift and goodness, and his children educated and kerrio
free from the contamination of vice. (Hear, hear.) 61
eonclusion, Mr. Rathbone, though he expressed his benlis
that gifts made public lost half their value, begged to hi
.°0
his name put down for a donation of £lO, in the con Yietio.6
that many in the community, who up to the present 113
been ignorant of the existence of the institution, we°,
cheerfully come forward and swell the list. (Hear, hear../0.
The motion was unanimously adopted, and the follows;
donations were immediately afterwards handed in' e,
Chairman, Mr. T. B. Barclay, £lO ; Mr. A. Gladstone
£10; Mr. W. Gregson, £10; and Mrs. J. 0. Bold, 45.,;,5''
Thanks were then unanimously voted to the Law-ef
Committee, to the Chaplain, the Rev. Mr. ° ;
Edge-hill, and to the Chairman, after which the meet
separated.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE

LIVERPOOL, FEBRUARY 12

\VIND YESTERDAY—South-west.

HIGH WATER—Morn.,3 27—Eveg. 3 50—HeiEr,ht, 16 ft 711'

ARRIVED.

Feb. 10.—John Melbuish, ('alcutta—lceni, Paraiba—Astor.l3oP
Sylvia, Charleston—Egyptian (s.s.), Alexandria—Fiassaini",V(llol
deaux. Feb. 11.—Ameriea, (R.M.S.), Boston—Mary Ann '
Asia,
(new ship), NV oikington—Eastern Queen, Cbarleston—..-
Detroit, New Orleans.

SAILED. eA
14
Feb. 10.— Great: Britain (s.s.), Balaklava— Harvest Quee!tet,
York—Ebro (s.s.), Corunna Golden Cross, Trieste --boc0:
Havanna—Shakrpeare, New Orleans—Jane Clark, Fernall,;•101.
Feb. 11.—Billery, Bombay—Union, Bordeaux—Elvira Owen,P
—Normandy, New Orleans—John Coster, Apalachicola.

OUrPORTS.
Falmouth, Feb. 9.—Sailed—Ma;tland, Liverpool.
Bre4
Milford, Feb. 9 —Arrived —Malvina, from Liverpool for

MARITIME EXTRACTS.
tsrP' ,e d
o
Liverpool, Feb. 11.—The America (R.M.S.). Shannon, d
from Boston, left Jan. 30, and Halifax, Feb. 1. Feb. 1, Pa%,011;
Arabia (R.M.S.), for Boston. and on the 9th passed the f
(U.S.M.S.), for New York, in lat. 11 N., lon. 14 W.--Tnroo4
arrived to-day with cargo, ex Ocean Rover.—'lhe Lochnagar,
Canton, encountered a hurricane on the 29th Jan , off Fhlrpief,
experienced heavy weather ever since.—The Bell Buoy vragaolal
from her moorings yesterday by the Semaphore (s.), from meoloo'
The duplicate Bell Buoy will be sent out immediateiy.—The;
fcail
which arrived on Saturday front Paraiba, encountered a 8,91 e ,pd
S.W. to N.W., off the Western Islands, Jan. 24. Lost Io'd bbd
main royal masts, main topsail yard, &c,, and split topsails,,e°
a continuance of gales ever since.
v,vetro'
Mary Bentley, from New Orleans at Key West, for •-•
leaky; would lighten a foot, to caulk her upper work.. OP
Mary Hale, from New Orleans to Trieste, was totally lost rear
West, Jan. 8. Part of cargo saved. toy
Savanna, Jan.—The John Howell, loading for Liverpoo
00 foe,
fire list night, which was extinguished in about two hours'o,
she had five feet of water In her hold; some timber, and fruta,
900 to 1090 bales of Cotton were on board, all of which are r"..,re
less damaged.
Alerd
New York, Jan. 24.—The Ocean Bride, frets - tO de
andria, wes at anchor, Jan. 11, below tjao . Liverpuu cb 01
..rrived here.
by the ice.—The Mary Dnilhana, 'atter port, inue.„o,
abandoned, Jan. 11, in lqt, Ltis .n New York to Glasfle"cie"
saved by the Tafismat,..- lon. ;1 VV., of Water' do
. 2.—Thomas Ritchie, Smith, of St. Jobria, fr.„,
ri.;l
_ -.irk to Dordt, was abandoned Jan. 7, dismastilioliv
lee:ttowater in her hold, Crew taken off by the Chas.
f;bo,ChaaN.r:
...rived here
Newry, Feb. 7.--The Elizabeth, of Port St. Mary, hence t 0 00P
pool. went ashore last night near Rostrevor, in a gale 11'00 rti
Damage not known
Ardmore, West Coast of Islay, Feb, 7.—The Mobile, 5t9,11::
from Mobile to Liverpool, struck on this part of the coast nd
el
last night, during a violent gale from S.W., beat over a reel,' fe'l
ramains perfectly quiet, with mainmast cut away and
S°"-toes
O Os,
seriously injured. Cargo and materials will be saved. coes
of cotton have been washed ashore a little further down the

FOREIGN PORTS

Emily, Gandy, hence at Paraiba.
Pride of Canada, hence at Char eston

Shepherdess, hence at Apalachicola.
Swan (?), Williams, hence at Poston, after being ashore.
10 :
Ed nburgh (s.s.), from the Clyde at New York. 01.° op;
Envelope,;Power ; Ann Washburn, Mlnnot; Thorwaidsell4ogDs;
ffi Senator, Con ; Prince of Wales, Mowatt ; Goliah, Polito!: Horizon, Reid ; Jno. Duncan, Kinney; R. D. Shepherd, lc Me 0.
Oliver Putman, Smith ; Calender, Dickman; Assyria, Wail liePe wald, Shepherdson ; Ironsides, Bomarsund, Emigrent---0' BtNew Orleans.
Oregon, O'Flaherty; Speed, Baxter; Plantaganst-911
000.
Mobile.

Lady Milton, Richardson, from the Black Sea at Mobile. to
Arabia (R.AI S.), hence at Halifax. ded
Elizabeth, from Newfoundland at Pernambuco, and ProCee pd
Rio Janeiro.
tied
J,
Meranda ~Tecvfo
, James Stewart, and Balclutha—all from ,
at Pnmbuco, and ailed for Bah a.
Ch erasea, Esther Ann,s and Spirit of the Times—all from 140/ft'
land at Pernambuco.

Queen, and Ro<arlo—both hence at Pernambuco.
M
4; 041
Amythest, from London at Pernambuco.
i.
Westmoreland sailed from Pernambuco for Llverpoel,
Meteor for the Channel, Jan. 8.
Serafina, from Pernambuco at Paraiba. 5f
Woodman, Galilee; and Annie, Mantle—both hence 14 111119'
ham.

Hilton, from Sydney at Akyab.
Keepsake, hence at Ragusa.
Heldas, hence at Trieste.
Preciosa, hence at Copenhagen.
Verwsseling, Lence at Constantinople.
Carnspoke (?), Ranah, hence at Galveston
-------

%felll
0
Printed and Published by CHARLES wiLLME—i2f , 9l, °,oe-
street, at his General Printing aed Stationery Establie••
South John-street, Liverpool.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12