HL Deb 19 June 1856 vol 142 c1676

Amendments reported (according to Order).

THE BISHOP OF OXFORD

moved an Amendment to the fifth clause—a power to the magistrates to send the juvenile offenders to the schools without sending them to prison. The prison might be full, and at all events it seemed absurd to send the boys to the contamination of a gaol before commencing the process of reformation. The effect of the clause would be that the magistrates might commute the sentence of imprisonment in a gaol to confinement in the school.

LORD RAVENSWORTH

said, he had had no notice of the Amendment, which was one of great importance. The main feature of the Bill was, that it abstained from introducing any new principle; and surely no new principle should be introduced without any notice, especially one so important. The question whether magistrates should have power to send boys at once to the schools, without sentencing them to imprisonment, had been much mooted.

THE BISHOP OF OXFORD

said, he would move his Amendment on the third reading.

LORD RAVENSWORTH

said, the question was certainly one of great interest, and well worthy of consideration.

Amendment (by leave of the House) withdrawn; and Bill to be read 3a on Thursday the 3rd of July next.