§ VISCOUNT RAYNHAMsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether it is true that the Ladies' Visiting Committee of the Asylum of the Patriotic Fund have resigned; and, if so, whether such resignations have reference to the fact of a girl of the age of sixteen having been flogged in the Asylum?
SIR GEORGE LEWISin reply said, he understood that in January, 1861, a girl between fifteen and sixteen years of age received corporal punishment in the school which was under the management of the Commissioners of the Patriotic Fund, and that punishment was administered by the lady superintendent in the presence of two of the schoolmistresses. The Ladies' Committee, who were a portion of the superintendence of the school, did not take any notice at the time of this matter; but lately they had raised a question upon it, and the General Committee of the Patriotic Fund School had investigated the matter, and decided the question against them, and in support of the discretion of the school authorities. In consequence of that decision a portion of the Ladies' Committee had resigned; and he believed that the Patriotic Fund Commissioners had prepared a Report upon the subject which would shortly be presented and which would contain a full narrative of the circumstances.