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immortal human creatures； before the Gaol Chaplain becomes their only
schoolmaster； to suggest to Society that its duty to this wretched throng；
foredoomed to crime and punishment； rightfully begins at some distance
from the police office； and that the careless maintenance from year to year；
in this； the capital city of the world； of a vast hopeless nursery of
ignorance； misery and vice； a breeding place for the hulks and jails： is
horrible to contemplate。
This attempt is being made in certain of the most obscure and squalid
parts of the Metropolis； where rooms are opened； at night； for the
gratuitous instruction of all comers； children or adults； under the title of
RAGGED SCHOOLS。 The name implies the purpose。 They who are too
ragged； wretched； filthy； and forlorn； to enter any other place： who could
gain admission into no charity school； and who would be driven from any
church door； are invited to come in here； and find some people not
depraved； willing to teach them something； and show them some
sympathy； and stretch a hand out； which is not the iron hand of Law； for
their correction。
Before I describe a visit of my own to a Ragged School； and urge the
readers of this letter for God's sake to visit one themselves； and think of it
（which is my main object）； let me say； that I know the prisons of London
well； that I have visited the largest of them more times than I could count；
and that the children in them are enough to break the heart and hope of
any man。 I have never taken a foreigner or a stranger of any kind to one
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of these establishments but I have seen him so moved at sight of the child
offenders； and so affected by the contemplation of their utter
renouncement and desolation outside the prison walls； that he has been as
little able to disguise his emotion； as if some great grief had suddenly burst
upon him。 Mr。 Chesterton and Lieutenant Tracey （than whom more
intelligent and humane Governors of Prisons it would be hard； if not
impossible； to find） know perfectly well that these children pass and
repass through the prisons all their lives； that they are never taught； that
the first distinctions between right and wrong are； from their cradles；
perfectly confounded and perverted in their minds； that they come of
untaught parents； and will give birth to another untaught generation； that
in exact proportion to their natural abilities； is the extent and scope of their
depravity； and that there is no escape or chance for them in any ordinary
revolution of human affairs。 Happily； there are schools in these prisons
now。 If any readers doubt how ignorant the children are； let them visit
those schools and see them at their tasks； and hear how much they knew
when they were sent there。 If they would know the produce of this seed；
let them see a class of men and boys together； at their books （as I have
seen them in the House of Correction for this county of Middlesex）； and
mark how painfully the full grown felons toil at the very shape and form
of letters； their ignorance being so confirmed and solid。 The contrast of
this labour in the men； with the less blunted quickness of the boys； the
latent shame and sense of degradation struggling through their dull
attempts at infant lessons； and the universal eagerness to learn； impress me；
in this passing retrospect； more painfully than I can tell。
For the instruction； and as a first step in the reformation； of such
unhappy beings； the Ragged Schools were founded。 I was first attracted
to the subject； and indeed was first made conscious of their existence；
about two years ago； or more； by seeing an advertisement in the papers
dated from West Street； Saffron Hill； stating 〃That a room had been
opened and supported in that wretched neighbourhood for upwards of
twelve months； where religious instruction had been imparted to the poor〃；
and explaining in a few words what was meant by Ragged Schools as a
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generic term； including； then； four or five similar places of instruction。 I
wrote to the masters of this particular school to make some further
inquiries； and went myself soon afterwards。
It was a hot summer night； and the air of Field Lane and Saffron Hill
was not improved by such weather； nor were the people in those streets
very sober or honest company。 Being unacquainted with the exact
locality of the school； I was fain to make some inquiries about it。 These
were very jocosely received in general； but everybody knew where it was；
and gave the right direction to it。 The prevailing idea among the loungers
（the greater part of them the very sweepings of the streets and station
houses） seemed to be； that the teachers were quixotic； and the school upon
the whole 〃a lark〃。 But there was certainly a kind of rough respect for the
intention； and （as I have said） nobody denied the school or its whereabouts；
or refused assistance in directing to it。
It consisted at that time of either two or threeI forget which
miserable rooms； upstairs in a miserable house。 In the best of these； the
pupils in the female school were being taught to read and write； and
though there were among the number； many wretched creatures steeped in
degradation to the lips； they were tolerably quiet； and listened with
apparent earnestness and patience to their instructors。 The appearance of
this room was sad and melancholy； of coursehow could it be otherwise！
but； on the whole； encouraging。
The close； low chamber at the back； in which the boys were crowded；
was so foul and stifling as to be； at first； almost insupportable。 But its
moral aspect was so far worse than its physical； that this was soon
forgotten。 Huddled together on a bench about the room； and shown out
by some flaring candles stuck against the walls； were a crowd of boys；
varying from mere infants to young men； sellers of fruit； herbs； lucifer…
matches； flints； sleepers under the dry arches of bridges； young thieves
and beggarswith nothing natural to youth about them： with nothing
frank； ingenuous； or pleasant in their faces； low…browed； vicious； cunning；
wicked； abandoned of all help but this； speeding downward to destruction；
and UNUTTERABLY IGNORANT。
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This； Reader； was one room as full as it could hold； but these were
only grains in sample of a Multitude that are perpetually sifting through
these schools； in sample of a Multitude who had within them once； and
perhaps have now； the elements of men as good as you or I； and maybe
infinitely better； in sample of a Multitude among whose doomed and
sinful ranks （oh； think of this； and think of them！） the child of any man
upon this earth； however lofty his degree； must； as by Destiny and Fate； be
found； if； at its birth； it were consigned to such an infancy and nurture； as
these fallen creatures had！
This was the Class I saw at the Ragged School。 They could not be
trusted with books； they could only be instructed orally； they were
difficult of reduction to anything like attention； obedience； or decent
behaviour； their benighted ignorance in reference to the Deity； or to any
social duty （how could they guess at any social duty； being so discarded by
all social teachers but the gaoler and the hangman！） was terrible to see。
Yet； even here； and among these； something had been done already。 The
Ragged School was of recent date and very poor； but he had inculcated
some association with the name of the Almighty； which was not an oath；
and had taught them to look forward in a hymn （they sang it） to another
life； which would correct the miseries and woes of