on Colonial Training Institution
and Ragged Dormitory. It is still a kind of family arrangement of Mr
Nash's own, taking its character mainly from his benevolent and
self-sacrificing efforts, although drawing pecuniary support from the
public, and ostensibly graced with a list of honorary officebearers,
with the Earl of Shaftesbury at their head.

There is a prepossessing simplicity in the whole affair. We found the
ground-floor of the new building used as a school and public room, and
the two upper floors as dormitories--nothing but brick walls whitened,
brick and deal floors--no luxury, but cleanliness and good ventilation.
The beds were mere bags of straw laid on the floor. Three plain meals
per day are given. The strictest regulations are maintained; but there
is no restraint. The inmates can leave the institution if they please.
Their coming is entirely voluntary; and, to make sure of their being
thoroughly in earnest, they are not admitted to the humble privileges of
the place, till they have lived a fortnight upon a pound of bread a day,
sleeping all the time upon bare boards. In the outer buildings, the boys
are trained to carpentry, tailoring, and shoemaking. A few are
instructed in printing: in their little office, we found one ordinary
press, besides a small one for taking proofs. They can execute
shop-bills and placards for the tradesmen in the neighbourhood, and we
received a copy of an annual report which had been printed very neatly
by them. In work, schooling, religious exercises, and walks out of doors
on the ordinary days of the week, the time passes usefully and not
disagreeably. At the end of a year, they are, if not provided with
employment at home, sent to some of the colonies with a small outfit,
generally at the expense of some benevolent individual. Lord Shaftesbury
has been particularly liberal in furnishing means for their shipment.
The inmates feel that they may now have a hope in the world. They hear
of companions who are prospering in America, and they work cheerfully on
in the faith of getting there also. Very few fail in their course, or
act dishonestly towards the institution. When one or two lately left it,
taking away things not belonging to them, the others set out in search
of them, caught them, and handed them over to the police. This shews how
their hearts are interested in the institution. They feel that Mr Nash
acts towards them in pure kindness, and they are anxious to make a
su