Page:First Annual Report of the Woodbury Hill Reformatory.djvu/15

 of Retormatories which is apprehended, was well evidenced here last autumn by the hop pickers. The first Sunday the boys went to church during the sojourn of the hop pickers, the road was lined with them. Two or three boys were known to them, and as we passed on, those we passed formed a crowd and followed, At first there was a low murmer of commiseration, which gradually swelled louder and louder, till it assumed almost an alarming tone, and I frequently had to stop and address the people, assuring them there was no ground for their almost indignant pity.

Besides the letter given above, the following, lately received, is a fair specimen of how parents regard this matter:—

"To the revd Mr Griffiths

Revd sir

Will you please to let me know if you have Aney I dia how long my son John has got to stop I know he is well don by but at the same time it is hard for A perent to rare A child up to 18 years of Age and to be deprived of his Assistence Rev Sir I hope you will Excuse me for taking this liberty I remain your humble ServantJAMES MOLLOY."

The escape of boys, and other matters, have brought me in connection with the police, and I wish to express my sense of the kindness and willingness to be of service, which I have experienced from the Chief Constable of the County and all heads of offices, as also of the little or no service we have received from any subordinates. There is no lack of civility and attention, but no use. Two boys we received back through policemen, they having been given up by others to their custody, but we never have recovered a boy by means of a policeman, and have long given up referring to them. In six cases wherein their agency was fruitless we ourselves recovered boys, by the simple exercise of determination and common sense. Let me illustrate this by instances: The first time we had a boy run away was on a Sunday—and within a very short time information was given at a neighbouring police office, as I was pretty well sure he would pass by there. I could not myself go in quest till the middle of the next day. I found no enquiry made and nothing had been done, though in ten minutes I ascertained and almost from the first person I asked—that the boy had called and asked his way at a cottage—next door the police station, and about half an hour before my messenger arrived. I sent a policeman to Cheltenham for two boys who I was sure had gone there. They had, and the grandmother of one admitted he was in the house, and the policeman took her assurance that at three in the afternoon he should be given up and went away. The boy was of course well on for London when the policeman went back again. He came back to us in the evening without either. The other of whom he brought no tidings I