ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF DISCHARGED PRISONERS [To the
Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR, —I desire to make an urgent appeal, more especially to your London readers, on behalf of the funds of the above Society dealing with the important prisons of Wormwood Scrubs and Pentonville. The income derived from donations and subscriptions (some £500 per annum) is wholly inadequate to the task of replacing discharged prisoners from the two prisons in civil employment and enabling them to support their wives, their families and themselves instead of becoming a recurring charge on the State—a task which daily becomes of increasing difficulty and importance and which cannot be carried on, however economically, without increased financial Support. The recent decision of the Commissioners to make Wormwood Scrubs Prison a centre for first offenders in the London and Home Counties area not only tends in the direction of increased mFperiditure on the part of the Society, but renders it the more essential that its objects should not be crippled for lack of money. I can claim the support and approval of the Home Office and the Prison Commission, and venture to appeal especially to the generosity of the citizens of London to help a Soeiety whose aims and efforts are essentially Christian and in every respect worthy of their liberal support. Cheques should be sent to the Secretary at the Offices of the Society, 44 Burton Street, W.C., and the Committee is most anxious to increase its present list of annual subscribers.—I am, Sir, Ate., 36 Hans Place, S.W. 1. F. P. WHITBREAD.
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