ON THE ABERDEEN INDUSTRIAL FEEDING SCHOOLS. 57 



These two statutes have introduced an entirely new principle, and in fact 

 revolutionized the long recognized principles of our criminal law. They adapt 

 and give legal sanction to the axiom that " Prevention is better than cure." 



By Dunlop's Scotch Act, vagrant and neglected juveniles apparently under 

 fourteen years, wandering about with no visible means of subsistence, may be 

 sent bv magistrates to a Reformatory or Industrial School, duly sanctioned 

 by the" Secretary of State, there to be trained and educated, but not to be 

 detained, without their own consent, beyond the age of fifteen. 



By Palmerston's British Act, magistrates are in like manner authorized 

 to send juvenile offenders under sixteen to Reformatory Schools duly sanc- 

 tioned by the Secretary of State, for not less than two, nor more than five 

 years, but only after undergoing an imprisonment of not less than fourteen 

 days. 



Both statutes make provision for recovery of the cost of such young per- 

 sons from the parties legally liable ; both authorize grants of public money 

 in aid of the schools, and both are entirely voluntary, or permissive, not 

 obligatory. Magistrates may avail themselves of them or not as they think 

 proper ; and as the matter was new, and wholly untried as a legal proceeding, 

 it was prudent thus to proceed. The time, if not yet arrived, must soon come, 

 when no outcast children shall be sent to prison, but all 6ent to Reformatory 

 Schools, there to be fed and taught and trained, without having the prison 

 brand stamped upon them which is required by Lord Palmerston's Act, — a 

 temporary concession to old and deep-rooted prejudices. 



Under Dunlop's Act, if parties interested find security to the amount of 

 £5 for the good conduct in future of any young person sent to school under 

 the Act, then such young person is removed from the school and handed 

 over to their care. 



Thi3 clause is liable to considerable abuse, and ought ere long to be 

 repealed : parties professing so much interest in these young persons ought 

 to show it at an earlier period, and take proper care of them before they 

 become either vagrants or criminals ; and the nation ought not to allow those 

 who have proved themselves so indifferent in the matter to interfere, and 

 deprive the children of all the advantages of an Industrial School, without 

 really offering anything certain and of equal value in return. 



Those two statutes have already been productive of much good, and both 

 magistrates and the public are daily becoming more willing to avail them- 

 selves of their provisions. 



In order to have the benefit of the Palmerston Act for older convicted 

 juveniles, a Reformatory has been erected near Aberdeen, mostly from the 

 judicious application by the trustees of the late Dr. Watt, of part of the 

 charitable funds left by him at their disposal. The building is plain, but most 

 suitable for about fifty boys, with plans ready for its extension when required, 

 standing on a farm of fifty acres, the property of the institution, and at present 

 having between thirty and forty inmates. It has been only about two years in 

 operation ; and though all promises well, it is not yet time to look for results ; 

 only one or two, and these under peculiar circumstances, have as yet left the 

 institution ; the period of sentence of the first admitted has not yet expired. 

 One satisfactory statement may with confidence be made, and that is that 

 most of the inmates are thoroughly happy and contented in their abode, and 

 this is one great step to their reformation. 



Those who have from the first taken an active interest in the cause of 

 neglected juveniles, can hardly realize to themselves the progress which has 

 been made in less than twenty years. 



In 1840 no special provision existed for their behoof; they had full per. 



