To The Editor Of The Time...
Sir,-In your Mansion-houserieport of last Friday, you state at length the circumstances attending the rejection of three boys, in whose behalf application was on that day rnade to the Committee of the Refuge for the Destitute. It appears to me, that considerable misunderstanding prevails concerning the nature and powers of that institution. Although it bears the name of the Refuge for the Des. titute, yet every man, conversant with the nature of charitable in. stitutions, must be aware, that no establishment, however extensive its exertions, can receive within its protecdon all descriptions of the children of destitution. There must be some limits to every charity that cannot be delineated in the Fame which it beats. For examnle, the Marine Society might, from its denomination, be supposed to provide for all persons desirous of entering into the naval service: whereas that great and honourable society fidad it necessary tolin,it its exertions to boys of a certain age and height ; and I believe no interest can obtsain admission into it for one who does not corre- spond exactly with their rule. The eldest ofthe boys who afford the subjectof your report(Woodward) states, that he was recommended, previous to his apprehension, to the Mtlarine Society, who would not receive him because he was too short. The standing rule of the committee of the Refuge, in regard of age, is that they shall com- mence where another well-known establishmnent stops_viz. at 12 ycars. By this rule their practice has been long directed ; and from this they cannot deviate vrithout much difficulty, nor indeed without a complete alteration in their whole system ef management, there being no accommodation at present for children of more tender age. Two of the three boys, then, who were sent to the Refuge, were not admissible on account of their age. Let us look to the circum- stances of the third. I think, Sir you will acknowledge, that with- out abandoning the first principle of the institution, Yiz. " that persons discharged from penal confinennnt are considered the primary objeets of it," he could not be received. The establishment was nearly full. For one vacancy there were twenty applieants of the primary description. And who was this boy, that he should supersede their claim ? In behalf of him there was no necessity for the intervention ot'any public institution. lie has a father in con. stant and regular employment, having the means also of affording his family such work as will, in a great measure, produce a subsist. ence for ihem. The boy is not prevented from earning his bread by loss of character. If he chooses rather to be idle, and to live bv begging, it is the parent's duty to restrain him. If the latter is guilty of a dereliction of duty, it is tor the magistrate to order suchriea. sures to be pursued as may bring him to a performance of it; and this can most easily be done by an order to the officers of the parish to which lie belongs, and where he can always be found. What would the subscribers to the Refuge say, if theirCommittee should expend the means plac-d in their hands upon objects of a character so different from those whom thev profess to receie ? In managing the limited resources of a public charitable institu- tion, great care must necessarily be employed in order that they may be rendered as applicable as possible to the benefit ef those for whose relief the subscribers have intended them. That the greatest attention is given to this point by the Committee of the Re- fuge, may be seen by a reference to their annual reports, which incontestablv prove that it is not one of the " osten- tatious institutions" alluded to in your AMansion-house report. It professes to receive into its protection as many of those unfortunate young persons, of both sexes, who have unhappily faUen into crimi- nal pursuits, and who ore desirous of being rescued from them, as its pecuniary means w ill allow: but it has never yet proposed itself to its supporters, as a receptacle for al the idle and vagrant children of the metropolis, who are the proper objects of parental or paro. chial restraint Without any external show, this society bas obtained a consider- able share of public favour-has received the sanction of his Ma- jesty's Government and of the Legislature, who have, atieraparticu. lar investigation into its proceedings. acknowledged and rewarded its merits. The institution has been visited and minutely examined by all ranks of persons in the realm, who have been uniform in their expressions of admiration at the view of so much good carried on by means so sisiiple, and under roofs so humble. The male branches of it are always open to inspection, and I invite you, Sir, to come and see them. You will find the visiters and committee, at their stated periods of-assembling, engaged in examining, advis- ing, and encouraging theobjects of the inst2tution-applyineg much of thair valuable time to the bringipg back to their duty, and restoring to societv, a continued succession of 120 persons (exclusive of the un- limited numberswhich are in the temporarvestablishments)-teahl. ing them the arts of honest, industrious arid virtuous life-enabling and prevailing upon them to redeem tseir mnisspent time, and to lead their future days as rational and Christian persons. I re- I .... Wr1,l JU WIVUnt ISB3BIST CROSBR. Lviugc iur mle iiesruute Apra, JVW. It appoars that Mr. Stafford Cooke is not thie only pexson purRult of 8rncient tlkad large posselis!ons : wa understaxid that iMr. R. H. Eelham, of C(hebDafoid, bua laid hiege to the title of Coirtenay, and the mnore valuable appendage of one oai the finest es. tates in Great Britain,-Esmx Mercwry. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIAJE*.