The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-10-11 00:00:00

THE STATES

~ finj

directly to the subject, he will he morti
that from the supineness of the subordiiii
justice, and the want of easy meads oT placing these
unhapprboys in the way of correeth 5, the evils-fire
*allowed to prevail, to the disgrace, not only of the
magistracy of the metropolis, but of the character -of
the nation.
I have been led to these reflections by the expert
core I obtained the other day.. While walking *lol-
ly up a street into Long Acre, aht nt six o'clqck in Om.
evening, I found myself suddenly snrrounM .'by 6
group of boys, and one of my coat pockets tried.--
Turning my It...ad to that side, I found only one, and
that one a youth about thirteen years of age, who im-
mediately passed on and crossed the street, while the
rest, as if unconnected with him, pursued their course to
Lon;-acre. I watched the boy who tried my pocket,
and seeing him go into a public-house, as if he were
at home, my conviction of his attempt was for a moment
staggered, and I was led to think he was the pot-boy
of the house. I determined, however, to ascertain the
fact, and the moment I entered the door, I perceived
he was only a customer. Though only thirteen years
of age, he was in the act of tossing' offa glass of liquor
at the bar, with all the air and speed of an experienced
toper. Nothing more was necessary to remove the
doubt I entertained about him: I immediately charged
him with the attempt, and though he resolutely denied
it, I extorted from him the confession, that being ont
of place, he lodged in George-street, fortneeljr.4/6tt-
street, St. Giles's, and that he was destitute of father
and mother. On asking tt•hether he had any other re
lations, he informed sue that he had a brother who was
servant to a certain Lord be mentioned ; and hearing
this, and knowing I had a clue by which I could reach
the brother, I urged the boy, unless he resolved to
continue in a course that would bring him to an un-

timely end, to give me an opportunity of getting him
reclaimed. The next day I set on foot an enquiry re-
specting his brother, and found he bad left his Lord.-
ship's service and gone with another master to France.
heard, however, of another brother. Ile was a Ca-
tholic Priest ; but where he resided I could not ascer-
tain. This relationship proved that the boy had
n)t sprung from a depraved or destitute stock ; and
his countenance, though brazened by the nature of his
associates and pursuits, retained some traits that might
be called engaging. I was interested in the fate of the
unfortunate lad, and appointed him to meet me next
evening, at the same hour, at the place I found him. I
scarcely expected he would keep the appointment, and
was not surprised that he did not. In the mean time,
enquired at a neighbouring police-Ave, what as-
sistance could be furnished there to co-operate with
my endeavours. On the supposition I could obtain no
aid from the boy's relations, I wished to ascertain
whether he could be immediately passed to Cat Re-
fuge for the Destitute. The magistrates were not
then sitting, and all I could learn was, that nothing
could be done in that way, unless I made a charge
against him at the bar of the office. In that case,
if there were no objections to him, lie might
have a chance of being recommended to the tio-
Vernons of that laudable Institution. The boy, I
doubt no:, could be easily found, and in removing
him, perhaps the g 'lag with which he associates might
be intimidated ; but I have met with no encourage-
, anent to continue my labiurs, and if I canse the boy
Ito be talcen into custody, I should only be the occasion
of consigning him to a prison, whence be might come
out ten-fold more advanced in roguery and vice than
he is at present. My great regret. which is the motive
of my statement to you is, that I can tied for such a boy.
(who from his years and looks appears reclaimable, and
who is now preying on the public)no asylum to which the
Magistrate on being satisfied with the truth of the case
can at once transfer him, and where he can be made
immediately of souse use to society, and put in the way
of moral reform. Of what greater service to the pub-
lic can a Penitentiary be rendered than by being em-
ployed in the way suggested ? Q.
Loudon, Oct. ID.