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The Catholics, The Irish Delinquent and the Origins of Reformatory Schools in Nineteenth Century England and Scotland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 September 2015

John A. Stack
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Extract

In the autumn of 1851, a group of philanthropists, magistrates, and prison officials sent out a circular inviting like-minded persons to a conference on ‘the Condition and Treatment of the “Perishing and Dangerous Classes” of Children and Juvenile Offenders.’ On December 9 and 10, this conference met in Birmingham and adopted a number of resolutions advocating that destitute and criminal children be sent to reformatory institutions instead of prison. It also appointed a committee to advance the reformatory cause, and this group subsequently presented the Birmingham Conference's resolutions to the Home Secretary (Sir George Grey).

Type
Research Article
Information
British Catholic History , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , May 1997 , pp. 372 - 388
Copyright
Copyright © Catholic Record Society 1997

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References

Notes

1 Report of the Proceedings of a Conference on the subject of Preventive and Reformatory Schools, held at Birmingham, on the 9th and 10th December, 1851 (London, 1851), pp. iii-v, 58, and 102; and William, Morgan and Sydney, Turner (secretaries of the 1853 Conference) ‘Preface,’ Report (1853), p. 3.Google Scholar

2 William, Morgan and Sydney, Turner (secretaries of the 1853 Conference), ‘Preface,’ Report (1853), p. 3.Google Scholar

3 ‘Report from the Select Committee on Criminal and Destitute Juveniles,’ P.P. (1852), Vol. 7, pp. i-viii and pp. 1—483;Google ScholarPubMed and ‘Report from the Select Committee on Criminal and Destitute Children,’ P.P. (1852–53), Vol. 23, pp. i-xxii and pp. 1–542.

4 ‘Report from the Select Committee on Criminal and Destitute Children,’ P.P. (1852–53), Vol 23, p. iii.

5 Ibidem, pp. iii-iv.

6 Lord, Shaftesbury introduced two bills, ‘A Bill intituled An Act for suppressing Juvenile Mendicancy,’ House of Lords Parliamentary Papers (1852–53), (Cd. 201), Vol.5, pp. 1–2;Google Scholar and ‘A Bill intituled An Act for suppressing Juvenile Mendicancy and Vagrancy,’ House of Lords Parliamentary Papers (1852–53), (Cd.244), Vol 5, pp. 1–2. Adderley, C. B. and Sir, John Pakington introduced one bill, ‘A Bill For the better Care and Reformation of Juvenile Offenders,’ P.P. (1852–53), Vol. 3, pp. 1–7.Google Scholar

7 Hansard (1 August 1853), Vol. 129, col. 1106.

8 William, Morgan and Sydney, Turner (secretaries to the 1853 Conference), ‘Appendix 3. Proceedings of the Committee Appointed by the Conference,’ Report (1853), p. 117.Google Scholar

9 Ibidem, p. 118.

10 Ibidem.

11 From a letter, Lucas to Riethmüller, n.d., reprinted in Edward, Lucas, The Life of Frederick Lucas, M.P., second edition (London, 1887), Vol. 2, p. 3.Google Scholar

12 [M Capes, J.], ‘Shams and Realities’, Rambler, Vol. 13 o.s. (March 1854), p. 223.Google Scholar (Author identifiedin Houghton, W. E. (ed.), Wellesley Index to Victorian Periodicals, 1825–1900 (Toronto, 1972), Vol. 2, p. 761.)Google Scholar

13 Joseph, Gillow, A Literary and Biographical History of the English Catholics (London, 1885–1902), Vol. 3, pp. 511–514.Google Scholar On Hutchison and the Catholic Ragged Schools, see Matthew Feheney, J., ‘The London Catholic Ragged School, 1851–1863: The Story and the Sources,’ History of Education Society Bulletin, Vol. 35 (1985), pp. 18–27;Google Scholar and Matthew Feheney, J., ‘The London Catholic Ragged School: An Experiment in Education for Irish Destitute Children,’ Archivium Hibemicum, Vol. 39 (1984), pp. 32–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

14 Frederick, Lucas, ‘Editorial,’ Tablet, 27 August 1853.Google Scholar

15 ‘Report from the Select Committee on Criminal and Destitute Juveniles,’ P.P (1852), Vol. 7, p. 36.Google ScholarPubMed

16 Ibidem, p. 73.

17 ‘Report from the Select Committee on Criminal and Destitute Children,’ P.P. (1852–53), Vol. 23, p. 126.

18 John, Kyne, ‘Are the Catholic Boys and Girls who Sell in the Streets of London Thieves or Criminals?’ Catholic Standard, 31 December 1853.Google Scholar Same letter published in the Tablet, 7 January 1854.

19 Ibidem.

20 Ibidem.

21 Hutchison, W. A., ‘Reformatory Schools. No. 3,’ Tablet, 22 July 1854.Google Scholar

22 ‘A Bill intituled an Act for suppressing Juvenile Mendicancy,’ House of Lords Parliamentary Papers (1852–53), (Cd. 201), Vol. 5, pp. 1–2;Google Scholar and ‘A Bill intituled an Act for suppressing Juvenile Mendicancy and Vagrancy,’ House of Lords Parliamentary Papers (1852–53), (Cd. 244), Vol. 5, pp. 1–2.

23 ‘A Bill For the better Care and Reformation of Juvenile Offenders,’ P.P. (1852–53), Vol. 3, pp. 1–7.Google ScholarPubMed

24 On the Ragged School Movement see, especially, Montague, C. J., Sixty Years in Waifdom, or the Ragged School movement in English History (London, 1904);Google ScholarPubMed Clark, E.A.G., ‘The Early Ragged Schools ano the Foundation of the Ragged School Union,’ Journal of Educational Administration and History, Vol. 1 (1969), pp. 9–21;CrossRefGoogle Scholar Schupf, H. W., ‘Education for the Neglected: Ragged Schools in Nineteenth-Century England,’ History of Education Quarterly, Vol. 12 (1972), pp. 162–183.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

25 ‘Abstract of the Ninth Annual Report of the Ragged School Union,’ R.S.U.M., Vol. 5 (June 1853), p. 106.

26 ‘Proceedings at the Ninth Anniversary of the Ragged School Union,’ Ibidem, p. 109. Shaftesbury was no doubt referring to 1st Peter, chapter 5, verse 8: ‘Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.’

27 John, Kyne, ‘Are the Catholic Boys and Girls who Sell in the Streets of London Thieves or Criminals?’ Catholic Standard, 31 December 1853.Google Scholar Same letter also published in the Tablet, 7 January 1854.

28 Ibidem.

29 Frederick, Lucas, ‘Editorial,’ Tablet, 8 July 1854.Google Scholar Although a number of historians have discussed these bills, there is considerable confusion about them. In his important and influential 1971 article on ‘Protestant London, No Popery and the Irish Poor: II (1850–1860)’ Sheridan Gilley writes of the ‘Catholic reaction’ to ‘Shaftesbury's Reformatory Bill of 1854.’ But there was no Shaftesbury bill in 1854, although—as we have seen—there was one in 1853. Gilley also discusses ‘the bill,’ as though there was only one—but there were, in fact, three different bills. Sheridan, Gilley, ‘Protestant London, No Popery and the Irish Poor: II (1850–1860),’ Recusant History, Vol. 11 (1971), p. 37 and p. 46 Google Scholar foot-notes 199 and 200. Similarly, in her valuable study of The British Catholic Press and Educational Controversy, 1847–1865, Mary Holland suggests that ‘During 1854 both the Tablet and the Catholic Standard showed great concern over two bills providing education for juvenile vagrants and criminals, both of which passed into law,’ Mary, Holland, The British Catholic Press and Educational Controversy, 1847–1865 (New York, 1987), p. 204.Google Scholar As the Lucas quotation in the text indicates, the Catholics were actually concerned about three bills. Holland ignores the Reformatory Schools (Scotland) Bill.

30 ‘Deputation to Lord Palmerston on the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents, ‘R.S.U.M., Vol. 6 (March 1854), pp. 53–56.

31 Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate a copy of the original bill. My summary of its contents derives from a summary—as well as extracts—published by Kyne in his letter ‘The Middlesex Industrial Schools’ Bill, and Catholic Children,’ Catholic Standard, 29 April 1854. Same letter published in the Tablet, 6 May 1854.

32 John, Kyne, ‘The Middlesex Industrial Bill and Catholic Children,’ The Catholic Standard, 15 April 1854.Google Scholar

33 Ibidem.

34 John, Kyne, ‘The Middlesex Industrial Schools’ Bill, and Catholic Children,’ Catholic Standard, 29 April 1854.Google Scholar Same letter published in the Tablet, 6 May 1854.

35 Ibidem.

36 John, Kyne, ‘The Middlesex Industrial Schools’ Bill, and Catholic Children,’ Catholic Standard, 6 May 1854.Google Scholar

37 John, Kyne, ‘The Middlesex Industrial Schools’ Bill, and Catholic Children,’ Catholic Standard, 29 April 1854.Google Scholar Same letter published in the Tablet, 6 May 1854.

38 Hansard, (5 April 1854), Vol. 132, cols. 443–453.

39 Hansard, (9 August 1853), Vol. 129, cols. 1563–1571.

40 ‘Dr. Cullen and the Redress of Catholic Grievances,’ section 8 of chapter 6 of ‘the statement’ drawn up in early 1855 by Lucas about his conflict with Archbishop Cullen and presented to Pope Pius IX. In this section of his statement Lucas provided a summary of his work to obtain justice for Catholics in the United Kingdom. Reprinted in Edward, Lucas, The Life of Frederick Lucas, M.P., second edition, (London, 1887), Vol. 2, p. 411..Google Scholar [Emphasis is in the original text.] See also Hansard, (3 March, 1854), Vol. 131, cols. 314–330.

41 Ibidem, pp. 419^120.

42 John, Bull: ‘For God, the Sovereign, and the People,’ 15 April 1854.Google Scholar

43 John, Kyne, ‘The Middlesex Industrial Schools’ Bill, and Catholic Children,’ Catholic Standard, 29 April 1854.Google Scholar Same letter published in the Tablet, 6 May 1854.

44 Hansard, (5 April 1854), Vol. 132, cols. 443–453.

45 John, Kyne, ‘The Middlesex Industrial Schools’ Bill, and Catholic Children,’ Catholic Standard, 6 May 1854.Google Scholar

46 Ibidem.

47 Ibidem.

48 John, Kyne, ‘The Middlesex Industrial Bill and Catholic Children,’ Catholic Standard, 15 April 1854.Google Scholar

49 ‘Middlesex Industrial School,’ Catholic Standard 13 May 1854. (Reprint of testimony before Committee.)

50 Ibidem.

51 John, Kyne, ‘The Middlesex Industrial Schools’ Bill and Catholic Children,’ Catholic Standard 13 May 1854.Google Scholar Same letter published in the Tablet, 20 May 1854.

52 Ibidem.

53 Ibidem. [Emphasis is in the original text.]

54 Ibidem.

55 Hansard, (23 May 1854), Vol. 133, cols. 800—804.

56 Ibidem, col. 803.

57 Ibidem, col. 804.

58 House of Commons Division Lists, 1854, #81 (Middlesex Industrial Schools Bill) (23 May 1854). Dod's Parliamentary Companion for 1854.

59 ‘Middlesex Industrial Schools.—Proposed Legislation,’ R.S.U.M., Vol. 6 (June 1854), p 105.

60 Ibidem.

61 ‘Popish Chaplains, and the Middlesex Industrial Schools,’ R.S.U.M., Vol. 6 (July 1854), p 135.

62 Ibidem.

63 Journal of the House of Lords, 1854, p. 247.

64 ‘Committee Book,’ HL No. 175, p 202, House of Lords Record Office.

65 Hansard, (7 July 1854), Vol. 134, col. 1376.

66 Ibidem.

67 Ibidem, col. 1372.

68 House of Commons Division Lists, 1854, #148 (Middlesex Industrial Schools Bill) (7 July 1854). Dod's Parliamentary Companion for 1854.

69 House of Commons Division Lists, 1854, #149 (Middlesex Industrial Schools Bill) (7 July 1854). Dod's Parliamentary Companion for 1854.

70 ‘A Bill For the better Care and Reformation of Youthful Offenders in England and Wales,’ P.P. (1854), Vol. 6, pp. 1–3.

71 Ibidem.

72 House of Commons Division Lists, 1854, #167 (Youthful Offenders Bill) (13 July 1854). Dods Parliamentary Companion for 1854.

73 Ibidem.

74 ‘A Bill to render Reformatory and Industrial Schools in Scotland more available for the Benefit of Juvenile Delinquents and Vagrant Children,’ P.P (1854), (Cd. 104), Vol. 6, pp. 1–7.

75 ‘A Bill [as Amended in Committee and on Re-commitment] to render Reformatory and Industrial Schools in Scotland more available for the Benefit of Juvenile Delinquents and Vagrant Children,’ P.P. (1854), (Cd. 155), Vol. 6, p. 1.

76 Ibidem, pp. 1–7.

77 Hansard, (10 July 1854), Vol. 134, col. 1480.

78 Hansard, (19 July 1854), Vol. 135, col. 432.

79 [Frederick, Lucas], Reformatory Schools (Scotland) Bill,’ Tablet, 29 July 1854.Google Scholar

80 ‘London,’ Tablet, 22 July 1854; and ‘Ecclesiastical Intelligence,’ Catholic Standard, 22 July 1854.

81 [Frederick, Lucas], ‘Editorial,’ Tablet, 22 July 1854.Google Scholar

82 WHutchison, . A., ‘Reformatory Schools. No. 3. Continued,’ Tablet, 5 August 1854.Google Scholar

83 ‘The annual Reports of the Inspector of Reformatory and Industrial Schools,’ P.P. (1857–1876); The Metropolitan and Provincial Reformatories, Refuges, Industrial Schools, etc. Authentic (separate) Accounts of 116 Institutions, second edition. (London, 1857); Thomas, D. H., An Annotated List of the Reformatory and Industrial Schools Certified by the Home Office, 1854–1933 (Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1986).Google Scholar These admission statistics may slightly understate the number of girls sent to Catholic reformatory schools. The twenty-two girls sent to the Catholic Reformatory for Girls (London) during its short existence (1857–1859) may not be included. This institution is not listed in the Table of Reformatory School Admissions and Discharges, 1854 to 1875, in the final—and presumably most accurate—report of the Inspector of Reformatory and Industrial Schools before his retirement in 1876; and the statistics in the text are based on this table and report. It could also be, however, that the girls sent to the Catholic Reformatory for Girls (London) are included in the admission statistics for the Arno's Court Girls’ Reformatory (Bristol). Both of these institutions were operated by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd and when the Sisters closed their London school they transferred its remaining residents to their Bristol institution.

84 Ibidem. Under the Reformatory Schools (Scotland) Act the Catholics also helped to certify the highly unusual Edinburgh United Industrial School (founded 1848), which had joint Protestant and Catholic administration and which accepted children of both religious persuasions.