itable return. And kindness really is the sole principle at work in
the place. One good man rules these sixty outcasts of society without
guard or assistance; without the use of punishment, beyond a temporary
restriction of meals; without, it may be said, any force whatever, but
that of his benevolent intentions.

At the time of our visit, the establishment contained about sixty
inmates. We felt a peculiar interest in visiting the room of probation.
There had been four youths in it in the morning; but one had withdrawn,
not being able to stand the severity of the test. The three remaining
youths stood up in their wretched attire, and we questioned them in
succession. They had all been thieves, and all of them had passed
through several convictions--one through no less than twenty-two. We
asked this last youth how he had come to think of retreating to the
Colonial Training-School. He said, that he knew he could not go on much
longer without being transported: he dreaded this fate. Some companions
who had been in the school, but deserted it, told him of it. They
praised the institution, as one where every kindness was shewn to
unfortunate youths, notwithstanding that they had themselves proved
unworthy of its benefits. He therefore came, determined to suffer
whatever might be inflicted upon him, rather than go back to his wicked
courses. We learned that he had been for several years a pickpocket,
residing in a low lodging-house at 1s. 9d. a week; sometimes well off,
sometimes otherwise, but always harassed by the terrors of punishment.
According to his account of the boys who live in this manner, there are
some who enjoy its freedom, and would not abandon it; but there are many
who would much rather turn from it, if an opportunity were afforded
them. We afterwards spent some time in the school-room amongst the boys;
heard them sing a hymn, and, at the request of the governor, addressed a
few words to them, chiefly suggestive of hope respecting their future
career. During the whole time, their behaviour was marked by perfect
propriety; we did not observe even an indecorous look in the whole
company.

We bade adieu to Mr Nash, with a deep sense of his heroic philanthropy,
and of the value of the lesson which he is giving as to the means of
reclaiming the desert places of society. As far as the funds supplied to
him permit, he is transforming the juvenile delinquents of the London
streets into respectable citizens, having a