The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-19 00:00:00

The Homeless Boys of London.

The ceremony of inaugurating her Majesty's ship
Chichester as a training school for the homeless boys
of London took place yesterday in one of the dry
docks in Mr. .Oreen's shipbuilding-yard, Poplar.
The movement, of which the Constitution of the
Chichester as a school for nautical instruction is an
extension, began in July, 1852, when a refuge for
homeless and destitute boys was opened at 19,
Broad-street, Bloomsbury. At first only six could
be received, but as the friends of the refuge were
augmented the number was increased, so that in
1857 the present premises at 8, Great Quen-street,
Liecolu's-inn-fields, were taken, and since that time
the returns show th.tt about 100 strays and waifs of
the London streets have been received weekly into
this admirable institution. Since the establishment
of the refuge down to the end of the year 1863
1,016 boys were admi' ted, and during the same
period 758 left for the navy and merchant services,
for situations at home, and for emigration to the
colonies. During the present year, in consequence
of revelations which showed that boys of tender
years were oblige ,1 to associate with men of the most
debased character in the casual wards of the metro-
politan workhouses to which they were compelled to
have recourse for shelter, the l romoters of the re-
fuge resolved on making a strenuous effort to rescue
as many of these poor children as their influence
could reach from the contaminating evils to which
they were exposed. Accordingly, on the 11th of
February last, an invitation was given to the boys
accustomed to sleep in the casual wards of London
and other nightly haunts to come to supper at the
refuge, and nearly 200 accepted the invitation.
During the evening Lord Shaftesbury, who pre-
sided, having questioned the bays as to their
mode of life, asked them if they would be willing to
go on board a ship if such were provided for them,
and the hands of nearly all the poor and destitute
guests were held up as an answer to the inquiry.
Among those who accepted the invitation of the
committee there were few who were not suffering
from some infirmity, and we were struck ourselves
by the large proportion of them who were lame.
Ophthalmia was perceptible in the tender eyes of
many, while skin diseases had manifestly set their
marks on almost all. Some bad lost one or both
parents or had been deserted ; others had never
known their fathers or mothers. They slept at night
in the casual wards, under sheds, on doorsteps, on
carts or waggons ; in fact, wherever they could rest
their heads, after trying to eke out existence during
the day. Yesterday the Chichester was arrayed in
her gayest bunting, and an awning, on which the
flags of all nations were tastefully distributed, was
erected over the whole length of the upper deck,
on which the ceremony of inauguration was held.
At 2 o'clock Lord Shaftesbury took the chair, being
supported by the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, the
Sheriffs, Sir Stafford Northcote, M.P., President of
the Board of Trade; Mr. R. Culling Hanbury, M.P.,
and others, while the body of the temporary en-
closure was filled to its utmost capacity by a fashion-
able audience of ladies and gentlemen. On his lord-
ship taking the chair, the boys who had been chosen
to occupy the ship were introduced, and the little
blue jackets,attired in their new naval costume, pre-
sented a most interesting and picturesque appear-
ance. Prayer having been offered up, Mr. William
`Williams, the secretary, read a statement detailing
the history of the institution, after which Lord
Shaftesbury proceeded to address the meeting. lle
said he felt unspeakable delight and gratitude at
seeing so large an assemblage around him, notwith-
standing the time of the year and the distance from
town of the place in which they were collected. It
betokened a vast amount of feeling and sympathy
with the work they had in hand, and God grant
that their feeling and sympathy would be matured
into practice to sustain the institution amidst all
the difficulties which surrounded it. He could
in his own experience support the statement made
by Mr. Williams, whose zeal in this good cause
could not be overrated. What that statement said
of the miserable condition of the boys of Loudon was
far below the mark. 'This project was no longer an
experiment ; its efficacy had been proved. Take the
most naked, ragged, wretched children of the streets,
breathe upon them the breath of life, and they be-
came equal to the highest in the land. A year ago a
large number were taken into the refuge, and 70 or
80 added every week at haphazard. What was the
result? That not a single act of insubordination
was recorded. It had been said that the children of
the poor should have recourse to industrial and cer-
tified schools. Where were the industrial and cer-
tified schools ? After all the inquiries they were able
to make they were not able to find more than twofor
the population of 3,000,000 souls in the metropolis ;
400 could be received on board the Chichester, and
200 could be sent away every year to recruit the
number of our active seamen. He trusted the time
was near at hand when the English sailor would be
r,,ma.rkable, not for drunkenness and insubordina-
tion, but for sobriety and self-control. Sir Stafford
Northcote, the Lord Mayor, and Mr. Sheriff Wa-
terlow having addressed the meeting, the proceed-
ings closed with three cheers for Lord Shaftesbury.
The ship will shortly leave the dock and go to
Greenhithe, that being the spot appointed for her
destination.