The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-11 00:00:00

The Art Journal.

The illustrations for the current month are of
• They consist of engravings from
average merit.
Landseer's painting of " The Marmozettes," and
Maclise's " Gil Blas at Pennaflor," both in the
Royal Collection ; and of an engraving from the
bas-relief of " Emily of Rylstone," by F. M. Miller.
The likeary portion maintains its; usual high
character. Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall commence
another of their pleasant illustrated books, under
the title of " Excursions in South Wales." The
woodcuts are numerous and very pretty, some-of
the landscapes being especially graceful. The
essays on " British Artists" are proceeded with, and
criticise the works of Louis Haghe. An interesting

article on " Rubens and his Scholars" is to be con-
tinued next month. There are several other illus-
trated papers, and one on the " Domestic Games
and Amusements in the Middle Ages," is the first
of an entertaining series. A pleasant variety of
papers on artistic topics is offered to the reader.

The Parents' Cabinet of Amusement and Instruction.
New Edition. Smith and Elder.

This is the second part of the new edition of this
pleasant little work, which accomplishes the diffia
cult task of combining amusement with instruction
very successfully. This number has some very
interesting papers for juveniles. One on electrical
eels is chiefly extracted from Humboldt's Travels
in South America, and gives some curious details
about the gymnotus. There are two or three
stories with no further aim than amusement. It
is admirably adapted to the taste and comprehen-
sion of young children, and a most seasonable
acquisition to the nursery library.

Songs of Robert Burns. Centenary edition. jack,

Glasgow.

This centenary edition- of Burns' songs gives
those favourites of poet and musician complete for
a shilling, with their respective airs. It is a de-
lightful little volume, and its appearance at the
present time is peculiarly opportune.

.THE GREAT SOCIAL QUESTION

REVIVED.

Yesterday an important and influential meeting of gen-
tlemen interested in the great social question which agitated
the metropolis some months since took place at the School-
room, Riding-house-lane, adjoining All Souls' Church,
Portland-place, for the purpose of receiving a report from
the All Souls and Trinity Prevention Association, a model
society formed for the purpose of meeting the great evil by
moderate reformatory measures, and for a general review of
the whole question.
Mr. Thomson Hankey, M.P., occupied the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, after some preliminaries had been dis-
posed of, regretted the absence from the chair of Mr.
Palmer, Q.C., who had always taken a deep interest in the
All Souls and Trinity Preventive Reformatory Associa-
tion, and at once called upon the rector of Trinity, the
Rev. Mr. Gamier to read the report of the committee. The
report was somewhat lengthy, and it would be, therefore,
in his opinion, advisable to have it read at the opening of
the proceedings.
The Rev. Mr. GARNIER accordingly proceeded to read
the report, a lengthy and very ably worded document.
The Committee in presenting their report observed that
the labours of the association for the mitigation of the
formidable evils it had been set on foot to repress, had been
quite as successful as could have been expected from the
means placed at their disposal. When the movement coma
menced, which resulted in the establishment of the associa-
tion at the close of 1857, the condition of the districts
(All Souls and Trinity) comprising the streets lying im-
mediately to the eastward of Portland-place, was per-
fectly appalling. It was then calculated that in those
streets there were no less than 140 notorious houses of
ill-fame, containing from six to ten fallen women each,
which fearful array of prostitution was swelled by a large
number of young women lodging in the districts who were
known to be gaining their livelihood nominally by working
for shops, but principally by the wages of night prostittt.
tion. One natural result of this dense aggregation of
~dep-
ravity in one narrow spot was the front of insolent and
shameless defiance which vice had put on. Indecent exhibi-
tions in broad day from the windows of these houses,
utterances the most revolting that startled and shocked the
ear of the passenger who had unwarily penetrated these
haunts of infamy, together with the outrageous conduct of
the unhappy children of shame, who even before the shades
of night had fallen were wont to come forth in hundreds
upon the pavements of Portland-place and Regent-street,
seemed to indicate a determination that no vestige of re-
spectability should be suffered to linger in a neighbour-
hood which not thirty years before was as pure and as
much resorted to as any of the most favourite districts of
western London. The keepers of these houses were many
of them foreigners—some were known to the police as de-
termined forgers, gamblers, and thieves. Others, indeed
the principal part, were females grown old in the path of
depravity in whose bosom every spark of womanly tender'
ness had become quenched. who could treat, indeed, with
a show of kindness the unhappy girls they had enticed
to their doors so long as they were able to satisfy their ex..
orbitant demands, but who did not hesitate to cast them
out into a deeper. degradatiOn. or utter destitution the mo-
ment a decay of their attractions or ill-health had disabled
them from paying the extravagant charges for their hired
rooms and dresses. Riotous and brutal outrages were con-
stantly taking place in those houses, and evidence that
crimes of violence and sensuality of the deepest type had
been enacted In them, came to light. It was also ascer-
tained that among these wretched traders in sin were those
who had embarked in a still more repulsive branch of their
guilty trade, and were making large gains by turning their
houses into receptacles for young unfallen girls imported
from abroad, who were sold out from time to time to the
neighbouring brothel-keepers. Such was the awful moral
pestilence which,' up to that time was raging unchecked,
and year by year it was rapidly enlarging the area of its
ravages.
The report then went on to explain the measures that had
been adopted. During the year 1858 no less than 63 young
women (two of them with infant children) had been re-
ceived. Of these 30 had been provided with servants'
situations, or restored to their friends, 11 had left of their
own accord, while= remained in the Home. As evidence
of the acceptableness of the Home, and to show that the
efforts of the association were not thrown away, even wheal
they seem in some cases to fail of any salutary effect, it
might be mentioned that several women had gone to the
Home of their own accord, in consequence of the favourable
representation made to them of its character by some of
those whose who had left it to return to the way of sin.
The Refuge, or Home, was situated at 9, Portland-road,
under the pastoral charge of the Rectors of All Souls and
Trinity, and was managed by a committee of ladies selected
by them in equal nuinbers from the districts.
The Committee, in evidence that the repressive ex'
ertions of the association have not been in vain, and as
a warrant for their being still continued, would call
attention to the following fact :—" At the commencement
of the movement, in July, 1857, in Buckingham-street,
where the girls' school of Trinity district is situated, nearly
every house was a brothel, now only one remains. In
Norton-street, at least 59 houses of the most infamous
description have been emptied of their abominations. In
Carburton-street and Duke-street, also, a considerable
clearance has taken place ; and although in Charlotte-street
and Cirencester-place many brothels still remain, they are
now no longer characterised by the outrageous proceedings
which rendered them once so demoralising and offensive to
the neighbourhood. In concluding their report, your com-
mittee would . submit whether .the general objects of the
association might not very properly be promoted by
memorial, addressed to her Majesty's Government,
setting forth the awful extent and intensity of this great
social evil, as it has shown itself in our particular neigh-
bourhood, urging upon the Government the necessity of
some improvement in the law affecting the suppression of
disorderly houses of ill fame, with a few to render the wort
of proceeding against such houses less burdensome to the
parish, and the character of the evidence required less
repulsive—the enforcereent of severe penalties against the
crime of seduction and procuring—the placing that class of
refreshment shops called night-houses under proper control,
and lastly, the abating of that flagrant manifestation of
prostitution in the public streets, at present so demoralising,
offensive, and discreditable to a civilised and religious
people."

The report was received with warm approbation, and
Mr. GLENNIE having moved, the Rev. Professor MARKS
seconded its adoption.
The Rev. Mr. GARNIER, alluding to the importation and
sale of young females from abroad, said he had had visible
evidence of the fact, as he visited himself whouse in.Norton-
street, where, in one room, he saw seats placed around, so
as to hold as many. of the poor creatures as possible on a
day that was appointed for brothel-keepers to attend and
bid for their purchase. (Hear, hear, and much sensa-
tion.) The unfortunate girls thus disposed of were
brought from abroad, and, while connected with the
House of Commons, he had the best evidence of this, for
noblemen and members of Parliament showed letters they
continually received soliciting them to partake of the de-
pravity. (Much sensation.) The letters spoke of a beauti-
ful girl just imported from Belgium or France, and the
nobleman or gentleman, whoever he might be, was asked
to visit her, as she was at his service. In one case a
letter was received from the rector's district of that
parish (Marylebone), in which it was stated a girl wet;
ready at a certain address—ready to be given up to lust--
to the highest bidder. Those letters were addressed to the
speaker, as well as to the members of the House of Com-
mons, and this, together with the spectacle he (the rev.
gentleman) witnessed in Norton-street, was, he considered,
very good evidence of the abominable traffic that was car-
ried on in this country. (Hear, hear.)
The Rev. Professor MARKS said that he could not per-
, haps speak so well of the conduct and behaviour of the
women in the houses ; but, unfortunately, he could speak
too much of the depth of the shocking vice alluded to by
the Rev. Mr. Gamier. Within the last 15 months he had
been called to visit three Jewesses, painful as the duty was,
and this visit was made in the Rev. Mr. Gamier's district.
These three girls had been imported for the purposes of
prostitution. (Hear.) In one case alone he was enabled
to take the poor creature from the abominable vice that
threatened her, and sent her home ; and he nearly suc-
ceeded with another, but with regret, aye, deep regret he
said so, he was prevented by her brother; it was indeed
with great regret that he said this, considering that that
brother was a legislator of the country, and no less a sum
than £2OO was given to get the girl to remain. (Cries of
" Shame.") It was a most sorrowful thing to have to make
such a statement ; as to whom were they to look to put
down this nuisance, unless to the Legislature ? how mor-
tifying was it to look at a man holding such a position as
this brother did in the country, a man of good means, a
married man actin in this way, having a family and
daughters ? (Hear.)
The resolution was then put, and carried nem. con.,
amidst applause.
The Rev. J. P. EYRE, rector of Marylebone, moved the
second resolution, "That, while this meeting rejoices in
the first year's success of the association, particularly in
that part of its operations connected with the Home in
Great Portland-street, it is of opinion that more active co-
operation, and continued efforts on its part, alone are
needed in order to greatly ameliorate the evil against which
its operations are directed." (Hear, hear.)
The resolution having been seconded, was unanimously
carried.

After some fuither observations in support of the great
question by the Rev. Mr. WILMOTT, rector of All Souls',
and others, and
The CHAIRMAN having briefly replied, the proceedings
terminated.

TESTIMONIAL TO SIR JOHN PAKINGTON.—The
Pakington testimonial has, we believe, at length been de-
cided on. The sum already subscribed by the magistrates
and gentry of the county and city of Worcester, as a mark
of their appreciation of the public and private character and
estimable qualities of the Right Hon. Sir John S. Paking-
ton, Bart., the First Lord of the Admiralty, and the ex-
chairman of the county, amounts now to between £6OO and
£7OO. The committee appointed to decide upon the form of
a testimonial, have agreed on, as being most appropriate, a
superb and costly shield, of the diameter of about 40 inches,
on which will be represented, symbolically, the chief fea-
tures connected with the respected baronet's career from his
boyhood to the attainment of his present proud position.
The 'execution of this work of art has been entrusted to a
local firm of celebrity. When completed it will be presented
to Sir John at a dinner of the subscribers, to be holden at
Worcester, about the middle or end of spring.—Birminr
ham Journal,