always some older thief ready to take charge of it, as soon as the child brings it out of the shop.* Many a poor woman has had to lament the loss of her till, with its contents, taken by a child, perhaps, scarcely six years of age. There is always a plan laid down for the child to act upon. Should he be unable to obtain possession of the till himself, he is instructed to pretend that he has missed his way, and to inquire the way to some street near the spot; or, he will address her with "Please, ma'am, can you tell me what it is o'clock." The unsuspecting wo man, with the greatest kindness possible, shows the child the street he inquires for, or leaves the shop to ascertain the hour for the artful inquirant, and for her kindness she is sure to find herself robbed, when she returns, by some of the child's companions. Should he be detected in actual possession of the property, he is instructed to act his part in the most artful manner, by pretending that some man sent him into the shop to take it, who told him that he would give him sixpence to buy cakes. It is not uncommon for these young offenders since been found guilty. The prosecutor stated that the family consisted of five children, not one of whom could read or write""" * So complete is the science of pilfering rendered by its perpetrators, that they have even a peculiar vocabulary of their own, rendering their conversation to those who may chance to overhear them, as mysterious and incomprehensible as though they were conversing in a foreign tongue; for instance, the scutcheons they steal from the key-holes are called porcupines; brass weights, lueys; while the theft of which we have spoken above, purloining the contents of a till, is called taking the ding. In short, they have a peculiar name for almost every thing. to stop children, whom they may meet in the street, unprotected, and either by artifice or violence, take from them their hats, necklaces, &c.; thus initiating themselves, as it were into the desperate crime of assault and highway robbery. Young as the subjects of the foregoing narrations mostly were, I have little doubt their pupillage commenced at a much earlier age; they could not otherwise have attained to such proficiency in the practice of crime, and hardihood on detection. However possible it may be thought to reclaim children of so tender an age, I am convinced that thieves of more advanced years, become so thoroughly perverted in their wills and understandings, as to be incapable of perceiving the disgrace of their conduct, or the enormity of the offence. I was once told by an old thief that thieving was his profession, and he had therefore a right to follow it; and I could plainly discover from further conversation which I held with him, that he had confirmed in himself an opinion that thieving was no harm, provided he used no violence to the person; he seemed to have no idea of the rights of property, other than that expressed as the maxim of a celebrated Scottish outlawthat, 66 They should take who have the power, When this lamentable state is attained to, it is to be feared, all modes of punishment, as correctives, are useless; and the only thing left is to prevent their further depredations by banishment. The incorrigible state to which a child may attain, who has once associated with thieves at an early age, may be learnt from the following case. C "Richard Leworthy, aged fourteen, was indicted for stealing five sovereigns, the property of William Newling, his master. The prosecutor stated, that he resided in the Commercial-road, and is by business a taylor; the prisoner had been his apprentice for four months, up to the 28th of August, when he committed the robbery. On that day he gave him five pounds to take to Mr. Wells, of Bishopsgate Street, to discharge a bill; he never went, nor did he return home; he did not hear of him for three weeks, when he found him at Windsor, and apprehended him. The prisoner admitted having applied the money to his own use. He was found at a public house; and said he had spent all his money except one shilling and six-pence. A shopman in the service of Mr. Wells, stated that in August last, the witness owed his master a sum of money; he knew the prisoner; he did not bring money to their shop, either on or since the 28th of August. The prisoner made no defence, but called his master, who said he received him from the Refuge for the Destitute, and had a good character with him. He would not take him back again. Mr. Wontner stated, that he had received two communications from the Rev. Mr. Crosby, the Chaplain of the Institution, stating they would not interfere on his behalf. The Jury returned a verdict of Guilly. Mr. Justice Park observed, that the best course would be to send him out of the country." Here we see, that notwithstanding the discipline he had undergone, and the instructions he had received during his confinement in the establishment of the Refuge for the Destitute; he had not been four months from that place before he fell into his old habits. It is moreover to be remarked, that such had been his conduct during his confinement, that the directors of the establishment thought themselves warranted in giving a good character with him. They were probably little surprised on hearing of this relapse on the part of the boy-experience had doubtless taught them it was no uncommon thing, and we plainly see it had taught them to consider all further attempts at reclaiming him as useless. Having collected the foregoing instances of juvenile delinquency, and presented them to the public, I cannot refrain from adducing a few other cases which came under my observation, evincing it would almost seem, an inherent principle of dishonesty in some children. Various, indeed, are the opinions of the wise on these matters; some have boldly asserted that they are inherent principles, and are the result of a peculiarity of cerebral conformation; but as my wish is rather to diminish evil, than ascertain its origin or nature, I will leave the philosophers to settle these doubtful points amongst themselves. I know it exists, it is the purpose of my present chapter to shew, by examples, to what an alarming extent it exists in the rising generation of the poor classes; it will be my next object to point out one cause of its existence, quite distinct from any about which the learned have disputed,-a cause which is in fact indisputable: namely, the neglect, bad habits, and examples of parents amongst the working class; and I shall then explain that which I think alone offers a remedy for the evil-the protection and education of the infant poor. Whilst conducting the Spitalfield's Infant School, several instances of dishonesty in the children came under my notice. On one occasion the mother herself came to complain of her little boy, not more than four years old, on the following grounds. She stated, that being obliged to be out at work all day, as well as her husband, she was under the necessity of leaving the children by themselves. She had three children besides the little boy of whom she was complaining. Having to pay her rent, she put eighteen-pence for that purpose in a cup at the top of the cupboard. On stepping home to give the children their dinners, she found the boy at the cupboard, mounted on a chair, which again was placed on the top of a table. On looking for the money she found fourpence already gone; one penny of this she found in his pocket, the rest he had divided amongst the other children, that they might not tell of him. After this relation I kept a strict eye upon this child, and three or four days afterwards the children detected him opening my desk and taking halfpence out of it. The children informed me that he had been at the desk, and while they were bringing him up to me the halfpence dropped out of his hand; I detected him in many other very bad actions, but have reason to hope, that by suitable discipline and instruction he was effectually cured of this sad propensity. About the same time I observed two little children, very near the school-house, in close conversation, and from their frequently looking at a fruit stall that was near, I felt inclined to watch them, having previously heard from some of the children in the school, that they had frequently seen children in the neighbourhood steal oysters, and other things. I accordingly placed myself in a convenient situation, and had not long to wait, for |