TO THE RIGHT REVEREND THE LORD BISHOP OF NORWICH. MY LORD, Since my endeavour in the following pages has been to discover the true source of an extensive and increasing Juvenile Depravity, in order that, the cause of a notorious evil being clearly ascertained, the remedy may be equally apparent, I know not any one to whom I could dedicate the results of my inquiry, although imperfect in many respects, and not free, doubtless, from various blemishes, with more propriety than to your Lordship. Not only is your Lordship in a position of high authority in our church, and under God the Episcopal superintendent of the diocese in which the sphere of my own ministry is situate; but your Lordship's christian character, as remote from hot party zeal as from slothful lukewarmness, and the deep interest invariably taken by your Lordship in every effort to improve the condition, temporal and spiritual, so nearly linked together, of our poorer classes, are too well known to need even this brief allusion. Where should we find among our living prelates, one who has followed at least more consistently than yourself that warning injunction-in the observance of which lie the fulfilment of the Pastor's duty, and the real secret of his influence with which the Apostle Peter closes his exhortation to Christian ministers, that they should demean themselves, "neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." In the humble but sincere hope that the accompanying pages may impress some at least of my readers, with the necessity of adopting that one remedy and preventive check which most effectually meets the extremity of our national degradation; and this, as forcibly as a careful examination of the subject has brought conviction to my own mind; and with the prayer that the Almighty may employ even such feeble means as my own labours in this Essay, to the advancement of his glory in the salvation of souls. I have the honour to be, my Lord, With great respect and esteem, Your Lordship's obliged and faithful servant, HENRY WORSLEY. CONTENTS. Condition of labouring class before the era of manu- factures-Altered circumstances at the present day— Rise of manufactures-Effects on rural districts-On country gentlemen-On farming class-Altered rela- tion of labourers-Natural results, bad habits, drunk- 27 Strong tendencies in the system of manufactures to moral evil-Particularly drunkenness-Aggravated by neglect of proprietors — Situation of a child in a manufacturing town supposed-Extracts from Parlia- mentary Reports which throw light upon the general moral condition of such towns-Coincidence of view, as regards the general position of the Essay, on the part of Joseph Fletcher, Esq.-Instances of ninety- one juvenile delinquents in Liverpool-Comparison xii CONTENTS. Prominent features in the present condition of society— Causes of the increase of drunkenness-In what way drunkenness is the cause of crime-Remote conse- quences of drunkenness-Connexion between drunk- enness and crime-Between a parent's intemperance and his child's crime-Cases of twenty-three juvenile offenders-Connexion between drunkenness and female crime, &c.-Prostitution-Sanitary evils-Improve- Reason for education more particularly at the present Past remedies considered-Reason of their failure-Three conditions necessary to the success of any proposed - Its discovery and proclamation— remedy—Gradual approximation to the true refor- A cure and preventive-Objections answered — The abstract question not the real point at issue-Con- 198 PAGE. 121 VINGOJEVO JUVENILE DEPRAVITY. CHAPTER I. STATISTICS OF CRIME-PARTICULARLY JUVENILE- THE mind of the statesman and the philanthropist, in considering the future destinies of a nation, its prospects in regard to domestic industry, comfort and happiness, naturally turns to the moral condition of the rising generation, and accordingly as this is good or bad, anticipates an increase of general prosperity and happiness, or the reverse. Those who are now the youth will, in the course of a few years, form the manly strength and vigour of their country. If in the period of youth, and up to the very verge of maturity, they are degraded by vice and crime, it is but natural to suppose, that their confirmed manhood will be only the completion of their rudimental course; for the contrary supposition is manifestly absurd, that he whose youth was stained by vice, will, in the transition to manhood, or by gradual process afterwards, be metamorphosed into a virtuous and useful B |