The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-07 00:00:00

TREATMENT OF FEMALE CHIL-
DREN IN POOR-HOUSES.

Oa Aloaday morning the Maglsl,rates assembled at
Rochester, for the purpose of hearing the charges against
James Miles, the master of the Hoo Union Workhouse.
S trap 13..irnes, a child of 11 years, was first examined.
She detailed a succession of acts of shocking cruelty.
The next witness was a girl of 16 years of age, named
Screese. Her statement was to the following effect :
I live at Miic Town, Sheerness. lamin my sixteenth
y3.ir. I was maintained in the Hoo Union Workhouse.
I left, I think, about fourteen or fifteen weeks. I wit•
punished several timqs by the master, who beat me with
a birch rod on my naked back. I hail all things off but
my " change" and my flannel petticoat, and that was

tied round my waist every time I was flogged. By my
" change" I mean my chemise. I had nothing else on
except stockings and shoes. I had pulled off my other
things by order of the defendant, who then flogged me
birch rod on my naked b wk. He made me pull
the chemise sleeves off, and tic my clothes round my
waist, so that I was naked to my waist. I was beaten
on the shoulders, and as lo.v down as the strings of my
petticoat. I was beaten just the same way more than
once. The master once pulled up my clothes, and beat
me on my bare person. I was beaten each time in the
women's hall. I laid myself on the table. Fanny Ra-
herts and Mrs. Low held me by the hands. Phillis and
1.!:111111d Danes told me that the skin was broken. I saw

others flogged in the same manlier as I War. The de-
fondant's wife is matron, but I never was corrected by
her when I was naughty.
The witness, in her cross-examination, said she ran
away from the workhouse in consequence of the matron
telling her that she should be flogged for ringing the
bell. Mr. Pattison spoke to her first about her flog-
gings. If he had not spoken to her should not have
complained. Tile rod she was flogged with was not a
qaarter so big as a birch broom. I don't think it had
a dozen twigs in it. Her father used to give her a
smack on the hand sometimes. Mary Pearce ran
away from the workhouic with witness. Witness had
dso ran away from a place she had at Eistchurch, and
took some things with her which did not belong to her.
After the floggings she went to play as usual. The
master was generally kind but for the floggings.
The Court having sat seven hours adjourned till
Tuesday, when the investion into Miller's alleged mis-
, conduct was resumed. Several persons spoke to the
birching inflicted on the girls. The last witness exa-
mined on Tuesday was Jernima Danes, who said—l
live with Mr. Cunningham, the surgeon of the Hoe
Union. 1 was in the workhouse for four months before
that. I was thirteen last Michaelmas. While I was

in the Hoo Union I was punished once in the hall, and
twice in the nursery. I was flogged by Mr. Miles with
a birch rod, My clothes were taken up by him, and I
lead about twenty stripes. I was twice punished on my
back. All my cloths I was told by Mr. Miles to take
off, which I did. My chemise was stripped off as low
.ks my waist, and my bosom and the front part of my
body was naked. My flannel petticoat strings prevented
my chemise falling any lower. I received about thirty
stripes each time on my back. Blood was fetched once.

I sa.sv Ai:blood afterwards on my chemise, Mrs. Lowcs

;IA -Mrs. Wilts were present once when I was flogged.
There was no other person but Miles and myself in
the room when I was flogged upon the back. I showed
my person afterwards to Mrs. Pearce. She carried me

. .
up to Mrs. Davison, who also saw my marks. I have
seen Charlotte Barton flogged. Mr. Miles flagged her.
I have also seen him flog Eiza Screese, Sarah &limes,
and Martha Davis.
Several other witnesses were examined, and it being
now above half-past five o'clock, the Magistrates ad-
journed the further investigation of the case.

HURRICANES AND STORMS.

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BOULOGNE, JAN. 4.—About four o'clock on Sends)
morning, two French vessels ran on shore within 100 ) ards
of the Northern P.er, in an attempt to hit the mouth
of the harbour. The wind at this time was b!owing a
perfect hurricane, and the lightning was as vivid as any I
ever saw. The larger of the vessels, a fine West India-
man, of from 200 to 300 tons, laden with sugar and
coffee, fired minute guns for a considerable time, but it
was impossible to render her any assistance. The crew,
upwards of GO in number, remained on bosrd until it was
nearly low water, when they all walked ashore in
safety. The smaller vessel, which was in some degree
protected by the other, was a brig of about 150
tons, laden with wine and brandy, from Bourdeaux,
end bound for Boulogne. Her crew and cargo are
saved, and, were English sailors employed, the vessel,
in my opinion, might be recovered, but it is absurd to
expect much from French seamen. I'he pier all yes-
terday was crowded with persons waiting to see the
West Indiaman go to pieces as all were assured she
would ; indeed, the crew themselves seemed to be of
the same opinion, for they spent the short time the
tides alluded them in cutting off blocks and ropes. Tho
captain of the brig set the foresail, in the hope that his
eessel would drift farther in under the protection of the
pier, which she did ; and there seemed to me to be
gross mismanagement or cowardice, in taking this
course. It was perfectly possible to work the brig
out towards the buoy for 50 yards, when she would.
of herself, have blown into the harbour ; and which,
I think, Deal boatmen would have done ; but the
Frenchmen, however, never made the attempt, their only
object seemed to be to get nearer the shore. At about
o'clock the West Indianian parted, and the next instant
the sea was covered with coffee and splinters of wood
for a considerable distance. This morning the strand for
half a mile towards V imereux was thronged with p,r •
sons collecting fragments of the wreck that lay strewed
upon the beach. A large detachment of Douaniers
were stationed to guard the copper bolts and the ropes,
that were eagerly sought for by the Poissardes. I
counted as many as thirty sugar tubs lying about, but all
empty. Several logs of mahogany have been saved, but
that is, I believe, the only part of the cargo that is
not destroyed. One large fragment of the wreck re-
mains near the pier, and another has drifted down to near
the spot where the Amphitrite was lost. The owners
have been engaged all to-day in ;getting the cargo out
of the brig. None of the wine is, I believe, injured.
If the French instead of going to a great expense in
building forts, had expended the same amount in build-
ing a harbour, all this would have been spared, and much
more beside. I waited until a late hour for the
Boulogne Gazette, which is not yet out, and have
only had time, in consequence, to give you the above
very imperfect accouut.—Evening Paper.