The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-02-05 00:00:00

INDUSTRIAL RAGGED SCHOOLS,

The first anniversary meeting of the supporters of the
Liverpool Industrial Ragged Schools was held last even-
ing, in the Lecture-hall of the Collegiate Institution.
The admission was by ticket; nevertheless, the attendance
was good, consisting principally of persons in the higher
grades of society. Adam Hodgson, Esq., occupied the
chair ; and amongst the gentlemen on the platform and
in the body of the hall we noticed the following :—D,
Hodgson, Esq., T. B. Horsfall, Esq., C. Inman, Esq.,
J. Eden, Esq., Dr. Hibbert Taylor, T. Postlethwaite,
Esq., J. Hubback, Esq., Captain G.reig ; the Revs. Dr.
M'Neile, H. Hampton, H. H. Higgins, W. M. Falloon,
F. Parry, Dr. Hume, Fish, V. W. Ryan. Wright,
Williams, D. Ferguson, J. Kelly, R. W. Wolsley,
A. Brewster, B. A. Marshall, and others.
The Rev. H.. HAMPTON opened the proceedings with
prayer, at the conclusion of which
The CHAIRMAN rose to address the meeting. He ex-
pressed himself as sorry that the meeting was not more
numerous. The committee had entertained hopes that
the chair would on that occasion have been occupied by a
nobleman whose name was identified with every philan-
thropic work of the day ; he need not say he meant Lord
Ashley.—(Applause.) There was another nobleman who
had intimated his willingness to preside over them on
some future occasion, a nobleman whose name was re-
spected both in England and Scotland, and who had been
a pupil of the excellent principal of the institution within
whose walls they were assembled,—the Duke of Argyll.—
(Applause.) He was sure those who had not given much
attention to what was being done by these schools, would
be surprised to hear the importance that was attached to
them by cabinet ministers, statesmen, ministers of the
gospel, sheriffs (including the worthy Sheriff Alison),
magistrates, and all to whom the working of the experi-
ment was familiar. Mr. Hodgson proceeded to point out
the imminence of the condition of a large number of the
lowest order of the people; a great proportion of the in-
habitants of this town were beyond the reach of the aid
of our Corporation Schools, or indeed of any other of the
charity schools ; a large class were born under the most
disadvantageous circumstances ; they first saw the light
in the most miserable abodes—their mother tongue ivas
learnt by oaths, and their first instruction from their
fathers was in crime. When he remembered that their
school at first consisted of some four or five boys ; and
when he reflected on the comparison the school now pre-
sented to its state at that time, he could not help expres-
sing a hope that the faithful pioneers of the work would
live to see their efforts crowned with success. The worthy
Chairman went on to picture the deplorable condition of
a vast number of the rising population, to whom the
Sabbath was only known as a day of idleness, turd for
whom the church bells tolled in vain. He might in their
case quote the well-known words of Grattan, though used
for a very different purpose, beginning—:-
• _

"I watch by their cradle, ifoliowtheir hearse."
Mr. Hodgson, having concluded his observations, called
upon Mr. Hubhack to read the Report.
Before commencing. that document, Mr. H. read a let-
ter from Dr. Guthrie, of Edinburgh, conveying that
zentleman's best wishes for the cause ; one from Sheriff
Walker, of Aberdeen ; and another from the Hon. and
Rev. Granville Hawke to the same parport.—The school
was commenced on the 12th of March, 1849, in Soho-
street ; up to the 31st Dec., there had been admited 228
boys ' • of these 108 were born in Liverpool, 71 in Ireland,
and 41 in other places ; 54 were orphans, and 112 beggars.
In Dec. last 112 were left in the school. The report showed
that soon after the school was established it was found that
" "
rea' •

good could be effected unless it were made industrial, food
being found for as well as instruction imparted to the inmates.
A small house, too, had been provided as a dormitory for
twelve or fifteen of the

who were (

mornings they were taken to Naylor-street—schools,qhosrnOit
belonging to the Established Church being allowed to attend
other places of worship; and in the afternoons the whole
school receive religious instruction from the superintendent.
Dr. Nottingham is in regular. attendance, and takes consider-
able interest in the welfare of the inmates. Their employment
consists of netting, making clogs, and similar simple handi-
craft work. Twenty-three of the boys had obtained situations,
all of whom are giving great satisfaction to their employers.
From the treasurer's account it seemed that the sum received
from subscriptions, the sale of articles made by the boy:, &c.,
~ttf •to £4O ! the disbursements amounted to .e 598

amounte. _
6s. 6d. ; leaving a balance due to the tre..
some shillings. In speaking of the prospects o,
secretary observed that the estimated expense of
a boy was .e 6, at the borough gaol the cost for the same
was XlO. A committee of ladies had been foi med for th,..
^f ^iris' school, and 430 10s. had been

•er of ..e136 and
F the schools, the

pose of institnt;ng a
already subscribed.

Mr.'HORSFALL rose to propose the first resolution, which was
the adoption of the report. He did not concur with the dis-
couraging view taken by the Chairman as regarded the attend-
ance; he thought when it was considered that that was the first
meeting called, and it was observed that more than a thousand
persons were assembled, much good might reasonably be au-
gured. They had no right to be discouraged. He referred to
the report as stewing the benefit it was possible to achieve in a
short space oftime. Glancing at the necessity that existed "

town for such schools, and in order to illu

UttVl 16111,
rance of a portion of, as Mr. H. described them, not the lower
orders, but the " lowest of the low," he said he remembered
being on a school committee, when a boy, of thirteen, applied
in the usual way for admission. In order to perfect a registry
kept in the school, the boy was asked his name, he replied,
" Bill Jones." Mr. Horsfall then asked him the name of his
father. "Don't know." "Not know your father's name?"—
"No !" At this juncture, the master, who was more accus-

hat does

(Laughter.) Mr.
but of this too he was
)lmaster, he asked the

'he boy at once replied, "Ned

H. then asked him
his mother
ignorant._ Taking example by

boywhat his father called his mother? the reply vvas "Missus.
(Laughter.) Nor could any other information be extracted
from the lad. The mother's name was therefore omitted in the
book. Mr. Horst'sll then proceeded to read the well-known
case which recently occurred in London, of a boy whose whole
knowledge was confined to the "crossing" which he swept,
and stated that it was to remedy such a state of things that
those industrial schools were established, in order not only to
improve the minds of those children, but to teach them some
instructive occupation. The speaker, in a most feeling strain,
impressed upon the audience the importance of supporting the
efforts of the committee to promote the object in view.
The Rev. Wm. FALLOON seconded the resolution, and ex-
pressed his wonder that the present movement to improve the
condition of these poor children had not been sooner attended
to. Great Britain had been most assiduous in improving the
condition of humanity in foreign lands. He did not think that
these efforts should be remitted; but we had sadly neglected
the degraded condition of the poor in this country. He went
on to describe the condition of our own destitute children, who,
being overlooked, became the bane and pestilence of the land
they lived in. If the children of other countries were proved
to be in the same condition, there would be a rush to the rescue.
They came beforethe meeting that night to testify to the lament-
able condition of the infantile population among the poor in
Liverpool. Many children, orphans, and others were sleeping
nightly in sheds, or in some similar places, 20,000 in number

in of Liverpool ; and they appeared at that meeting
to appeal for sympathy for them. He asked should their claim
for sympathy be unheeded; and he hoped the reply would be
"God forbid." The mind of him who received such little ones
as these, would inspire them with a determination to rescue
them from their awful condition. It was as Mr. Horsfall
well said. useless to appeal to these hungry children to seek the
Bread of Life, when they wanted bread for the support of
bodily existence. The speaker gave some interesting particu-
lars as to the exertions made by the poor children to get money
honestly, to prevent their being punished by cruel parents, or
driven to theft; and on even the low grounds of common
policy, advocated the desirableness of attending to these un-
fortunate outcasts. Hitherto the attempts made in this town
had been gratifying, but not at all commensurate with the
extent of the evil. (Hear, hear.) He gave a most touching
instance of a child in Hodson-street Ragged School, who being
followed by one of her Sunday school teachers, was overheard
in selling sand to sing, "Oh there is a happy land," interrunt-

ing her melody with "buy any grit?" an
next line, " far, far away,"—a hymn, ir

songs common amongst these children
above melody with very happy effect.

a.tauL 111L11 an
eloquent appeal in favour of the Ragged Schools.
EDWARD HEATH, Esq., moved the next resolution, and
gave an interesting account of the operations of the Soho-street
Industrial Ragged School. These schools were conducted on
a Scriptural system ; and be was of opinion that their support
involved the carrying out of the best principles of true political
economy. The children, for whose benefit they were intended,
had properly been termed unfortunate outcasts, or "Arabs of
the town." HOenumerated the various classes of poor children
received at the schools. What would exclude them from other
schools qualified them for these. Food was given to them of a
simple kind, at the small cost of Is. Id. each a week, which was
10d. per head less than the cost at the Kirkdale Industrial School.
The house taken for the school was a large dwelling-house in
Soho-street, formerly a gentleman's mansion, and surrounded
by fine gardens. The gardens were now the play-ground, and
the house had been interiorly altered in a suitable manner.
He described the occupations of the boys, including shoe-
mending, mending clothes, knitting stockings, &c. ; and after
a very interesting report of the further operations, moved a
resolution to the effect that such schools are destined, with the
blessing of God, to do great and lasting good.
The resolution was ably seconded by the Rev. J. Kelly. and
carried by acclamation.

- - ---
The next resolution, recommending the school to the support
of the public, was moved in a very powerful address by the
Rev. Dr. APNEILE. and seconded by C. INmas, Esq.
The appointment of the committee was moved by the Rev. H.
H. Higgins, and a vote of thanks being carried to the chairman,
the meeting separated.

A fire broke out last evening on the premises of Mr.
Hodgkins, auctioneer and brush manufacturer, Queen's-
square. Two engines, one belonging to the police, and the
other to the West of England office, were quickly on the spot,
and by their aid the flames were confined to the immediate
place of their origin.

BRUNSWICK CLUB.—This excellent institution has now fairly
entered upon the third year of its existence, and if the past be
any index of the future, we augur for it a still further career of
usefulness. The members, one and all, are highly pleased with
the progress already made.

The magistrates of Leeds have declared that a land
lottery, for the disposal of the Fallowfield-terrace estate
was illegal, and have sentenced the manager of the scheme,
Mr. J. F. Maper, to seven days' imprisonment in the
house of correction.

Diplomatic relations still continue suspended between
Turkey and Austria, whilst at the Russian Embassy
business is carried on in the usual routine. The same
friendly understanding exists between Sir Stratford Can-
ning and Gen. Aupick. In all that relates to the external
policy of the Porte both ambassadors act in concert.
RUINOUS STATE OF THE SHIPPING INTEREST.--The
Times and other free trade journals having endeavoured
to make the public believe that the shipping interest
throughout the country is in a most prosperous condi-

has been at some pains to
accurate Shipping
of the
Gazette
iinformatione statements o on theput subject as
yasthcleeafrrelye
toib°tnti;tiTisUcll
shows that most
traders are the grossest fabrications. It was only on
Wednesday that the Times vauntingly pointed to Sunder-
land, asserting that "commissions originally intended for
the ' cheap' Baltic ship-builders had been lately trans-
ferred there," adding—" Nor is improvement confined to
that port. It is universal, with the exception of a few
ports—one or two in Scotland, we believe, where the
ships bnilt have generally been of a cheap and inferior
character." Now the Shipping Gazelle deelaars that
there is not one word of truth in this glowing destription
of the shipping trade of the country; indeed, we are are-
pared, adds our contemporary, " to prove that the &Oe s.
sion in our shipping—in building as well as in freights—
has not been so great for years as it i

roprove-

which is u. nive

ircely ' the exc

returns fror

'eption of