"Mir Elirrtator" July 28, 1849 Loan ASHLEY brought under the
notice of the House of Common, ti state ofa portion of the juvenile population of the Metropolis.
A short time ago, he said, he was anxious to perceive with his own eyes what was thc condition of these people—what was the state of thcir abodes, their lairs, their 'retreats for the night. He and others perambu- lated the Metropolis. They dived into its recesses. The House would be surprised to hear what was the condition in which they found thcse people. Most of them were living in the dry arches of houses not finished, inaccessible except by an aperture only large enough to admit the body el a man. When a lantern was thrust in, six or eight, ten or twelve peorle might be found lying together. Of those whom they found thus lodged, they invited a great number to come the following day: and there examination was instituted. The number examined was thirty-three. of this number, 24 had no parents ; 6 had but one ; and 3 had stepmother: 20 had no shirts ; 9 no shoes: 12 had been once in prison, 3 twice ; 3 four times; 1 eight times; and 1 (only fourteen years old) twelve times. 1-k entered on the subject of their employments and modes of living. The only way of earning a penny in a legitimate way was by picking up old bone'. But they fairly acknowledged, for themselves and others scattered over the town, with whom gicy professed themselvis acquainted, that they had not and could not havTany other means of subsistence than by begging and stealing.
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