TRANSACTIONS OP THE SECTIONS. 175 



and compelling parents to support them, is a sufficient answer. None will seek to 

 qualify themselves under such conditions. Ample experience in the Glasgow Re- 

 formatory confirms this. 



In a Reformatory Institution there should exist a correspondence, as near as 

 practicable, between the condition of the boys in the house, and what will be his 

 actual condition in life. This will prevent a reaction. There should be no finery, 

 either in their dress or food. All should be plain, substantial, and conducive to 

 health. They should be made to learn their trade thoroughly, as this will give 

 them a great superiority over those whom they will meet with when they go out 

 into the world. The principal remedies he would suggest, are adopted in the Glas- 

 gow Reformatory Schools, a brief history of which was given. The subject of juvenile 

 delinquency was impressed, at an early period, upon many of the public-minded and 

 benevolent citizens of Glasgow. In the year 1836, a subscription was set on foot 

 to erect, by voluntary contribution, an institution for the reformation of the dan- 

 gerous classes. The appeal was met with the usual liberality which distinguishes 

 the merchants of Glasgow. Upwards of ^^20,000 were collected. A piece of 

 ground, about five acres, to the east of the city, occupying an elevated position, was 

 purchased, and a handsome erection raised thereon. The house was opened for the 

 reception of inmates on the 17th day of February, 1838, by the Very Reverend Prin- 

 cipal M'Farlane. In its early stage it met with many difficulties. Its present 

 prosperity is greatly owing to the enlightened and comprehensive measures of the 

 Honourable Board of Commissioners, and the indefatigable exertions of the Con- 

 vener, James Playfair, Esq. The Houses of Refuge were licensed last year, under 

 the Youthful OlFenders Act, 17th and 18th Vict., cap. 86, as Reformatory Schools. 

 In the boys' house, three objects are sought to be accomplished for every inmate 

 admitted ; — to send him out with a good education, a good trade, and a good cha- 

 racter. The institution aims at educating the whole boy, physically, morally, intel- 

 lectually, and socially. 



I. Education. — In the school, reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, 

 music, scientific and scriptural knowledge, are taught. The time is divided into 

 two divisions, fore and afternoon, with four classes in each. While the one division 

 is taught at school, the other attends their trade. Thus weariness and listlessness 

 are unknown in either, and as much progress made in both, as if only one were 

 carried on at a time. The boys are found very ignorant when admitted. Out of 

 286 boys, 79 upon admission could read tolerably well, 1 10 could read little words, 

 and 97 did not know the alphabet. 



II. Industry obtains a prominent place in the house. Idleness is the bane of 

 our juvenile population, and almost invariably leads to crime. It is therefore 

 found a vitally important element to train the boys as much as possible to the usual 

 trades carried on in society — in short, to make the house a little world of its own. 

 At present, farming, tailoring, shoemaking, smith-work, coopering, bookbinding, 

 printing, joining, and wood-splitting, are the principal occupations conducted in the 

 house. More are in contemplation. The gross return from work executed during 

 the past year was jg3300 Is. \d., and the net proceeds, after paying from this sum 

 the material for the work, the salaries of the superintendents of the trades, and 

 journeymen employed to instruct the boys, was ^614 2s. 2d. 



III. Moral Training. — The house, with its present number 286 (which from addi- 

 tions and alterations now in progress will soon accommodate 450), is one large 

 Christian famil)', with the Governor and his wife acting in the room of parents. 

 The law of love pervades the youthful community. A moral tone, through Bible 

 and kindly training, influences the whole. Force and restraint are unknown. A 

 newly admitted boy, after preliminary training separately under the immediate care 

 of the Governor, is by degrees permitted to associate with the rest, and obtain his 

 full privileges. Those thus admitted are absorbed into the habits and feelings of the 

 rest, and soon moulded by them. The sympathy of numbers is found most bene- 

 ficial. At the close of each day, three marks--one for obedience, one for truth- 

 fulness, and one for industry — are given to each boy by his master, according as he 

 has behaved. Thus he daily writes out the certificate which is to determine the 

 length of time he is to be detained in the house. Confidence is placed in the boys. 

 In the summer they enjoy excursions down the Clyde to the Botanic Gardens, &c.. 



