THOMAS WRIGHT, THE PRISONERS' FRIEND. 175 good qualities, while he pitied and blamed bad ones. It was thus by constant attentions and judicious conversations that he gained upon the prisoners' affections, and lifted them up to hope and self-respect, and so prepared the way for their eventual reclamation. Often have the hearts of the aged offenders melted under the power of the soft and balmy words he has spoken to them. Even the incorrigible ones, whose hearts were cankered, whose feelings and impulses were perverted, whose desires and designs were brutal and predacious, have felt subdued and humbled before him, and at the same time they have desired the presence of a power which made them uneasy, and for the moment half repentant. He also most sedulously watched over murderers doomed to the gallows, and it may be said that many of them were bettered by his pious and loving cares. He was always with them the last night of their earthly existence, and remained to the latest moment the prison regulations allowed. And on the scaffold too was their kind friend sure to appear, when condemned by the world, deserted by companions, disowned by relations, in the day of fear, and in the hour of gloomiest death and convulsive agony, they found in him sympathy, solace, and strength. Nor was the beauty of his labours marred by self-exaltation, nor its value and efficiency diminished by fanatical fervour or morbid sensibilities. Always wise, prudent, and kind, yet, when needful, he never failed to reprove with firmness, and to condemn without qualification: but so strong was the predominance of love in his character, that kindness was always mingled with his rebuke, and pity was ever the ascendant; and to their blended influence his severe words owe very much of their power. are Outside the prison, however, perhaps Mr. Wright has been more useful. A great gulf divides prison life from the life of our homes. It is a wide and deep gulf, and darkness and death are in it, and many thousands have fallen therein to irretrievable ruin. What mistress of a house will take as a servant a young woman fresh from the corruptions of a prison? What shop-keeper will receive into his service a boy whose back bears the scars of prison discipline? Where is the warehouse into which a man may hope to step from the tread-mill? Nay, among their equals "prison birds scorned and scouted. Not one resting-place offers for the sole of their foot. Not one honest means of procuring a bit of bread. Starvation or pilfering is the sole practical alternative-a precarious life of contempt in society, or comparative plenty and ease in the prison. Between the two, few can hesitate long, and certainly the bulk of prisoners in their ignorance and moral infirmity are not likely to hesitate at all. Theft is preferred to inanition, and again the prison gates are closed on the pitiable victim. Pitiable? Yes, truly pitiable! uneducated and uncared-for, yet that boy has instincts strong as our own-feels the sickness of extreme hunger-shivers in the cold of night-is desolate at heart-and as he wanders through the crowded streets a despised stranger, deserves our commiseration; but, if under his complicated woes he puts out his trembling hand and seizes a loaf, he will be caught we know, and incarcerated, but that will make him worse than he is, and darken his lot, until it becomes hopeless, and thus he is again punished, and has what is called "his deserts." Nevertheless he is pitiable, and the more so, because the hand that ought to aid him to rise, presses him down until it has crushed him. He is in fact more sinned against than sinning. The gulf of which we have spoken, Mr. Wright attempted to bridge, and in scores of instances his efforts were successful. He has thereby been the means of restoring many a wandering child to its grateful parents-of enabling many a youth to re-enter the social paths from which he had been driven by guilt of replacing many a young woman in domestic service-and of establishing in comfort and honest independence on his native soil many a transport, to whom otherwise on his return, England would not have afforded a home. The task was by no means easy. It required money, time, energy, prudence, and above all, character, and the confidence which high character inspires. All these were supplied in the person of our friend. And yet he toiled from five in the morning till six at night-a fine exemplification of the maxim, "where there's a will there's a way!" Every evening and Sunday were employed in the work; a minute now and then in the course of the day might be spared; and "short time" might be imposed on the coffee-cup and the knife and fork; and the bed might be made to pay a large contribution. Yet how were these fragments wrought into the whole of this sublime benevo lence? The actor himself can but imperfectly answer the question. However, the work has been done, and the work is now proceeding. Reader, “go thou and do likewise." Plans and Progress. BIBLE QUESTIONS. ANSWERS TO JUNE QUESTIONS. QUESTION 19.-First Prize.-Isabella Cormack, aged 10, Ramsey Lane Second Prize.-Rebecca Osborne, Huntsworth Mews, Hill Approved.-Isabella Foulkes, Eliza Crawford, Euphemia QUESTION 20.-First Prize.-Isabella Foulkes, aged 12, Stanhope Street Second Prize.-Susannah Watson, aged 11, Ragged School, Approved.-James Johnston, Patrick McCaiman, Isabella QUESTION 21.-First Prize.-James William Turner, aged 9, Huntsworth Mews. Second Prize.-Isabella Riddell, aged 12, Ramsey Lane Approved.-Amy Kingsford, Susannah Watson, Isabella Children who have already obtained a sufficient number of rewards : Ann E. Turner, two first prizes, one second. : In last month's number, James Turner's name was inserted by mistake. He may still compete as before. The answers to our questions, we regret to say, come from a very small number of schools-the consequence is that the same children carry off a considerable number of prizes. We fear that unless our scholars more generally compete for the prizes they will be discontinued. We have reason to believe that if the plan were more extensively adopted, and judiciously carried out, great advantage would result to the children; in proof of this, we give an extract from a letter just received from Dr. Bell of Edinburgh : "I am very glad to have this opportunity of saying how much I value these competitions. The prizes are not thrown away; and I have no hesitation in saying that the importance of the system cannot be over-estimated. It is not uninstructive to observe the variety of methods in which the children work. Some work with pen in hand-others study, search, and investigate-and others reflect much before they consult the book, and don't handle a pen until they are fully prepared to write their answers. To this latter class of workers these questions are peculiarly valuable, for they render their minds the domiciles (so to speak) or rather the nurseries of thought on truth." T THE LONDON SHOE-BLACKS' FETE. EARLY on Monday, August 9th, the residents, the shop-keepers-employed as well as employers-drivers and conductors of our public vehicles, and passengers, both riding and walking, along the line of road from Charing Cross, Strand, Fleet Street, Cheapside, Poultry, and King William Street, were surprised by a regiment of red coats marching eastward, duly officered, in full regimentals, banners flying, and attended with all their gay et cæteras. The question was again and again asked, "What's up this morning?' "Who are these?" The questions were more numerous and ominous, when victorious shouts were heard in the neighbourhood of the Tower, as if indicating that fears were entertained that that august, ancient, and as some good old ladies think, impregnable fortress of our good old City had been surprised, stormed and taken. On inquiry we soon found the cause of all this excitement. The London Shoe-black Brigade had, early that morning, mustered at their barracks in Off Alley, and when fully accoutred, provisioned, and ranked, marched in good order along the route named, and embarked at London Bridge on board the " Sapphire," not for the purpose of storming the Tower with their blacking bottles, but to take friendly possession for the day of Belvedere in Kent. The regiment disembarked all well at Erith, and in half an hour were in possession of that splendid park, where they found a tent already erected, and many friends to rally round them. The heavy artillery was soon brought into full play, and balls were shot forth in all directions, without aiming at anything in particular. Many victories were gained by both sides, and all were the more happy and skilful from the day's exercise. In order to keep up the energies of all parties, plenty of pork pies, bread, cheese, cake, milk, water, ginger beer, etc., etc., were served out. Towards the close of the day, the Rev. W. Cadman appeared on the field, and was at once chosen Chaplain to the Brigade, at least for the occasion, and he delivered a very suitable and touching address to all present. Among the officers we recognized the Macgregors, the Snapes, the Wares, and without mentioning any other Gent, we may say all were gentlemen on the occasion, even the Shoe-blacks themselves. After the day's engagement, the Brigade re-embarked on board the same steamer, and reached their Barracks in good order, though worn by the day's fatigues. We are happy, however, to add, that nearly the whole company mustered the following morning in time for prayer before entering upon the more regular and sober duties of another day. DUBLIN SHOE-BLACKS. THIS little "Irish Brigade," numbering ten Shoe-blacks and Broomers, had a pleasant day of enjoyment last month in a gentleman's grounds near Dublin. One of them has celebrated the occasion in a poem, composed and very creditably written by himself. It is very encouraging to find that this offshoot of the Society in London continues to flourish, and is found to be a useful means of obtaining situations for deserving boys.. The funds show a balance of £15 in favour of the Committee. The occupation of Broomers succeeds better in Dublin than in London, while that of the Shoe-blacks in London is found more lucrative and less difficult to manage. Temple. STATISTICS OF CONVICTS. J. M. A PARLIAMENTARY Blue Book has just been printed, containing Lieut.-Col. Jebb's Report for the year 1850, on the Discipline and Management of Convicts. On the 31st of December, 1850, there were 6,128 convicts accommodated. Of the number, 2,269 were in separate confinement, 2,689 employed on public works, 654 in invalids' depôts, and 516 in the juvenile prison at Parkhurst. There were accommodated, as it is termed, at the end of the year, 6,481 convicts. On the 1st of January, 1850, there were in the convict establishments 5,929, and the number received in the year 2,949. In the year 2,495 were disposed of, leaving, as already stated, 6,128 in the prisons. In the same year (1850) the number transported was 2,092; of whom 1,386 were sent to Van Diemen's Land, with tickets of leave, 384 to Western Australia, for public works, 938 to Norfolk Island as incorrigibles, and 284 for public works in Bermuda. There were 14 removed to lunatic asylums, and 13 to the Philanthropic Society's Farm School. There were 247 pardons granted in the year, of which 11 were free, 20 conditional, 105 on medical grounds, and 111 on the expiration of a moiety of sentence under a rule. There were 13 escaped, and 116 deaths. In Milbank, the average expense was £24. 19s. 7d. per head. Pentonville, £25. 9s.; Portland, £23. 15s. 8d.; Hulks, £22. 4s. 10d. In Milbank the earnings of the prisoners averaged £2. 15s. 5d.; in Pentonville £3. 19s. 11d.; Portland £15. 19s.; and in the hulks £8. 6s. 10d. The average cost of each prisoner a year in England and Wales was £21. 13s. 3d. Intelligence. GOLDSMITH PLACE, HACKNEY ROAD, RAGGED SCHOOL. RECENTLY an interesting Meeting was held in behalf of this school. The attendance was numerous, and the proceedings were presided over by the Rev. W. Woodhouse. The subscribers and friends took tea in the school-room, and subsequently adjourned to Adelphi Chapel. The Report, which was encouraging, stated that the Evening School has been recently opened three evenings instead of two, and has an attendance of about 58 boys and 72 girls. To these operations an Infant Day School has been added, which was opened in January last. The numbers on the books are 136, and the present average attendance is 90. It is also stated that the City Missionary of the District has met with several encouraging facts, showing the beneficial influence brought to bear by the school on the parents and in the homes of the children. The children's saving fund has amounted to £11. 158. 10d., and has been of great service in assisting them to purchase clothing, and appear in better apparel. Short and practical addresses were delivered by the Revs. Dr. Watson, W. Tyler, G. T. Williams, H. Harrison, Messrs. H. Althans, W. Ferry, T. L. Jackson, Barker E. Carey, G. Kelsey, and J. Hutchins. GRAVESEND RAGGED SCHOOL. "We opened the school on Sunday, the 17th of August, 1851, and our first day's work was sufficiently discouraging; for, instead of the numbers anticipated from the public notice which had been given, and the promises that had been made, we had only 3 scholars in the morning, and 7 in the afternoon. On the following Sabbath we had in the morning 5, and in the after noon 8; on the third we opened with 5 in the morning, and closed with 8 in the afternoon; and on the fourth Sabbath we had 13 present at the close of the afternoon. In this way we went on for seven weeks, slowly increasing, until we numbered about 20. Hence, it will be seen, that our labours were thus far anything but cheering, and that in our first efforts we met with many discouragements from the very parties whose benefit we sought. "Our difficulty was of a combined character. Commencing the school as we did, just in the height of the summer season, when the poor are entirely engrossed in pursuit of the bread that perisheth, we had to struggle against a fearful amount of Sabbath desecration, which necessarily occupied the time and attention of the poor children, whilst ministering to the worldly desires of the multitude of pleasure-seekers; many of them being donkey-boys, goat chaise-drivers, or beggars in the public resorts. "About the end of September a Committee was formed to watch over it, and several gentlemen undertook to canvass the town, and soon the result was a large increase in our numbers. An appeal was made to many friends to come and help us as teachers, some of whom responded by efficient service. The patronage of the Earl of Darnley was also obtained, and a donation of £5 received from him: an appeal was made to the gentry of the town, who nobly came forward to support the institution. Our numbers now rapidly increased. We also opened the school on Tuesday evenings, and shortly after on Friday evenings. "Owing to the peculiar character and habits of most of our scholars, we found it impossible to register them. Many of them would be with us, perhaps, three or four Sundays, and then, leaving the town, their places would be supplied by others of the same class. "Gravesend has a large business in the fishing |