§ On 7,000l. being proposed towards the prison for juvenile offenders at Parkhurst.
§ SIR J. GRAHAM had not had an opportunity during the last year or two of inspecting Parkhurst, nor did he know the arrangements made by his successors as to the destination of the boys confined in the prison. When he had the honour to succeed the noble Lord (Lord J. Russell) at the Home Office, the institution was at that time new to him; but he was bound to say, that amid all the services of the noble Lord to the public, there was not any more meritorious or useful than those which distinguished the noble Lord's exertions at Parkhurst. An experience of five years at the Home Office had led him to the conviction that the institution was most beneficial in its operation. At the time he (Sir J. Graham) was at the Home Office, he had directed a number of boys to be sent to the colonies after the period of their imprisonment had expired; and he was happy to find that his experience was still borne out by the accounts from the Australian colonies, showing that those boys, taken from the very refuse of society here, were sent out so much improved in character and conduct as to be well suited for service in the colonial establishments of the country, and enabled to earn an honest livelihood for themselves. If such a system was for the advantage of these youths, it was at the same time for the interest of the colonies well understood. Though not at all prejudiced in favour of the plan introduced with respect to the prisoners at Parkhurst when he first went to the Home Office, his own experience had convinced him of its value.
§ LORD J. RUSSELL was glad the right hon. Gentleman was able to speak in such 1434 terms of his experience. From all he had seen and heard, what was supposed to be the reformation of old offenders was not a thing much to be depended upon. The conduct of a man subjected to discipline often turned out a studied system of hypocrisy; and sometimes those convicts who were best behaved in prison, turned out the worst on being liberated. But with respect to boys of ten or twelve years old, whose parents sent them out to steal what they could, there was good reason to hope that, if brought up under proper discipline, good dispositions might be developed, the seeds of vice might be eradicated, and they might be converted into good members of society. Such was the principle on which this prison was established; and, from the considerations which had been stated, he thought it appeared that the institution was one which the public ought to encourage.
§ MR. HENRY observed, that of the whole expense, amounting to 13,000l., no less than 5,000l. was expended on the staff of the establishment. The Governor received 500l., the clergyman, 250l., and an assistant clergyman, 200l. It seemed as if the institution existed as much for the purpose of giving salaries to officers as for the purpose of reforming offenders.
§ SIR J. GRAHAM thought the hon. Member was speaking from imperfect information. Under all the circumstances, the arrangements were economical. Every male child under fourteen or fifteen convicted as a felon throughout Great Britain was sent to Parkhurst. Instead of being sent to county gaols, where they might be imperfectly cared for, they were sent to one prison, maintained at the common expense, where they would be subjected to a more perfect discipline. If the principle were sound, no institution could effect the object in view at so small a cost as the establishment at Parkhurst.
§ LORD J. RUSSELL had understood the hon. Member who had just spoken (Mr. Henry) to say that this institution had been formed from the love of patronage. Being very anxious to promote the reformation of these young offenders, he had framed the institution with that view. When he framed it, he inquired in various quarters for persons who were fitted to conduct such an establishment. He received a great many testimonials, which he carefully examined; and the person whom he thought most fit for the head of the establishment was Captain Woolcombe, a most 1435 meritorious officer of artillery, who had, with unwearied zeal, laboured to promote the reformation of offenders. Application was made to the Inspectors of Prisons with respect to the appointment of a chaplain. They obtained a great many recommendations in favour of different persons, but came to the conclusion that a gentleman named England, whom he had never heard of before, was best fitted for the office. He appointed Mr. England. That gentleman had given very great satisfaction; he (Lord J. Russell) having, since entering on his present office, had occasion to appoint to a living of no great value in Devonshire, had offered it to Mr. England, who was no acquaintance of his, and whom he had never seen except when he had occasion to visit Parkhurst on duty. He hoped, then, the hon. Member would not throw out the imputation that this institution presented an instance in which offices had been formed for the purpose of creating patronage.
§ Vote agreed to.
§ House resumed.