observation, and forethought: and thus prepare as much in a few months as the dull and ign only training has been in the hovel or at the in as many years." JUVENILE GARDENIN SCHOOLS OF BENET. I must be kept wader tM UT must be created nintzesi tends everviain. 237 *** on Sundays 13 Av'clock on the x requested tuben, and tas of their o According to the above account, it wo schools for boys in large towns fror pupils, independently of small earni individually retain. Perhaps it mi labour is a grievance; but, under rendered amusing, and in ever granting that it is as great a gri I should be inclined to think and juvenile starvation. We dening, the objection woul embracing juvenile garden lished in the vicinity of ev could be easily disposed manure seen what has been do boarding-school at Ea), its application to a da extracted from a nev "Two years ago at the market to divided an acre of national school c teen or more; gular square; from the top of course as and in othe be nothing previous i urpose o assist tidy, and resources. permitted to enter the uine philanthropists, is exceedingly TWO FEET OF FLOWERS ALONG THE TOP. ONE ROW OF ONIONS FOR SEED. CABBAG FLANTS SE ance tenants. so inter but no 8 SEED. dozen to pr tion and ex EIGHT YARDS OF CABBAGES. EIGHT ROWS OF PEAS-SHORT STICKS. SIX ROWS OF BROAD BEANS. FOUR FEET OF ONIONS. ONE ROW OF DITTO FOR SEED. TWO ROWS OF CABBAGES. EIGHT ROWS OF PEAS. TEN ROWS OF BEANS B SCHOOLS OF INDUSTRY. : WS OF KIDNEY BEANS. "OF CABBAGES. BUSHES ROUND THIS PLOT TES, &c. SCHOOLS OF INDUSTRY. taste must be created in the Appy to moisa, gmi tends everything himse't, a... +?******* 4 heir plots; no rent is tak doquy may b», st ha .IPS. TATOES. ONIONS. WINTER GREENS. FOUR ROWS OF CABBAGES. OUR FRUIT TREES, GOOSEBERRIES, &c." ce, as already mentioned, children who commit acts of or crime are usually consigned for a certain number of to prison for moral rectification. Latterly, asylums for aiming youth have been established in various departments of that country; and to give an idea of their character, I offer the following account of a visit which I made to Mettray in the Summer of 1844. VISIT TO METTRAY. of a pleasant and fertile district of country. The founder of the Colonie Agricole de Mettray, as it is properly styled, is an enthusiastic Mettray is situated within a few miles of Tours, in the midst to France, and commenced operations along with his friend, the rural penitentiary for youth at Horn, near Hamburg, returned Viscount Bretignères de Courteilles, on the estate of the latter gentleman. The project, after receiving the countenance and pecuniary assistance of a society formed on purpose to encourage begun in 1839, since which time the establishment at it, was Mettray has been gradually increasing in importance, and may now be said to be in as prosperous a condition as could reasonably be exhilarating to see them bustling about with their little barrows, and clearing all the lanes and streets in the neighbourhood. If the boys, so long as they behave themselves, ever lose their little lots, it is only to make way for younger brothers; and the owner, founding on this implied feeling of security, has no fear that they will ever do anything to injure the land. Distributing prizes was tried, but afterwards abandoned; for where all did their best, it was found injurious to make any marked distinctions; and Mr Smith thinks it better to give presents of the finer kinds of seeds, and garden tools. But here his intentions are frequently anticipated; and it is astonishing with what facility the youthful horticulturists manage to provide by honourable means whatever they are in want of. It is intended to encourage the cultivation of medical herbs, roses, and camomile flowers, with the view of affording employment in picking the latter. "Once a-year a holiday is proclaimed, and the gardens inspected; and then the parents are exceedingly anxious to assist their children in making everything look trim, tidy, and clean. But this is prohibited, for the obvious purpose of teaching them to rely exclusively on their own resources. When the boys are at work, no strangers are permitted to enter the gardens, excepting their younger brothers or sisters; and their benevolent teacher has much pleasure in looking over the hedge of his own garden, and through some leafy screen, noting their proceedings. "Mr Smith, like all genuine philanthropists, is exceedingly anxious that the example he has set should be followed by others. To the country there would be a great gain in industry, and to proprietors very little loss of rent. The garden-ground at Southan could not possibly bring more than £6 per acre; and the boys among them actually pay at the rate of £5, 8s. The following is a plan of the gardens of two of the boys:— THREE ROWS OF KIDNEY BEANS. ONE ROW OF CABBAGES. THERE ARE 70 GOOSEBERRY BUSHES ROUND THIS PLOT- TWO FEET OF FLOWERS ALONG THE TOP. SEVEN FEET OF CARROTS. FOUR ROWS OF CABBAGES. FOUR FRUIT TREES, GOOSEBERRIES, &c." In France, as already mentioned, children who commit acts of vagrancy or crime are usually consigned for a certain number of years to prison for moral rectification. Latterly, asylums for reclaiming youth have been established in various departments of that country; and to give an idea of their character, I offer the following account of a visit which I made to Mettray in the summer of 1844. VISIT TO METTRAY. Mettray is situated within a few miles of Tours, in the midst of a pleasant and fertile district of country. The founder of the Colonie Agricole de Mettray, as it is properly styled, is an enthusiastic philanthropist, who, animated by what he had seen of a rural penitentiary for youth at Horn, near Hamburg, returned to France, and commenced operations along with his friend, the Viscount Bretignères de Courteilles, on the estate of the latter gentleman. The project, after receiving the countenance and pecuniary assistance of a society formed on purpose to encourage it, was begun in 1839, since which time the establishment at Mettray has been gradually increasing in importance, and may now be said to be in as prosperous a condition as could reasonably be expected. I do not know any institution in England with which to compare Mettray. It is not a place of voluntary retreat, like a house of refuge, because young criminals are sent to it by courts of justice; neither is it a prison, for it has no bolts, bars, or environing walls, and is, to all appearance, a singularly neat and orderly cluster of rustic cottages and mansions, in the midst of gardens, playgrounds, and fields. Arriving at the gateway where strangers are set down, the party of which I made one were shortly waited upon by one of the resident directors, a venerable gentleman in an ample blue surtout, and a long white beard. By this courteous old person we were obligingly conducted over the establishment, beginning with the dormitories, the workshops, the school-room, and the chapel, and ending with the infirmary, the kitchen, and the general sale depôt of manufactured articles. Explanations of the discipline and mecanique were given as we went from point to point, and various pamphlets were put into my hands, which are now lying before me, and at the service of any one who would wish to imitate the good deeds of the founders of Mettray. In organising the institution, it has been a leading and judicious principle to imitate, as nearly as possible, the plan of parental supervision. All the inmates are divided into families of forty boys, each family under the general charge of a chief. Under this functionary are two contre-maîtres, each having the special direction of a section of twenty boys. These contremaîtres are assisted by two lads, chosen by the prisoners from among themselves under certain regulations, and whose duties last for a month. The title given to these assistants is frère ainé, or elder brother; and it is an object of ambition to be considered worthy of such an appointment. The houses, ranged along two sides of a spacious garden, are individually adapted for the accommodation of a family. On the ground-floor is the workshop, with a shed outside for receiving implements of field labour. The upper part of the house consists of two floors, each containing twenty hammocks, and also bed-closets for the superintendents. The lower of these sleeping-rooms being cleared during the day by slinging aside the hammocks, is used as a refectory for the whole forty boys. At night, the dormitories being kept lighted, are under the surveillance of the contremaîtres and chiefs, who, by apertures in their respective closets, can watch the movements of their charges without being themselves seen. I see, by one of the printed reports, that the cost of each house, including furniture, amounts to 8300 francs, or £332, and that the annual rent per boy is under ten franes. In some instances the houses have been free gifts of wealthy donors, from motives of piety or benevolence. In one case a father has built a house in memory of a beloved daughter a fine trait, I think, of paternal feeling. One of the royal princesses has also contributed a house to the establishment, which is patronised by the first families in France. Having viewed the houses and |