Rather less than four years ago, the teacher of a ragged school in Westminster encountered, in the course of his professional exertions, three or four boys who had hitherto been thieves, but now expressed a desire to leave their evil courses.  Having some reason to repose faith in their professions, and being humbly anxious to assist them in so good a purpose, he received them into a poor garret-lodging, hired and paid for out of his own resources.  He supported them there, taught and trained them, making himself their friend as well as their mentor, and in time he succeeded in getting them passages to America, where they have since prospered.  Mr Nash—­for such is the name of this philanthropist of humble life—­continued his benevolent exertions and sacrifices, till various gentlemen, hearing of what he was doing, came to his assistance.  A little money being then collected, it was found possible to take in a greater number of boys.  In short, Mr Nash became the head of a little institution for the reclaiming of criminal and vagrant youths, which has finally become located in the yard we have described, under the name of the London Colonial Training Institution and Ragged Dormitory.  It is still a kind of family arrangement of Mr Nash’s own, taking its character mainly from his benevolent and self-sacrificing efforts, although drawing pecuniary support from the public, and ostensibly graced with a list of honorary officebearers, with the Earl of Shaftesbury at their head.

There is a prepossessing simplicity in the whole affair.  We found the ground-floor of the new building used as a school and public room, and the two upper floors as dormitories—­nothing but brick walls whitened, brick and deal floors—­no luxury, but cleanliness and good ventilation.  The beds were mere bags of straw laid on the floor.  Three plain meals per day are given.  The strictest regulations are maintained; but there is no restraint.  The inmates can leave the institution if they please.  Their coming is entirely voluntary; and, to make sure of their being thoroughly in earnest, they are not admitted to the humble privileges of the place, till they have lived a fortnight upon a pound of bread a day, sleeping all the time upon bare boards.  In the outer buildings, the boys are trained to carpentry, tailoring, and shoemaking.  A few are instructed in printing:  in their little office, we found one ordinary press, besides a small one for taking proofs.  They can execute shop-bills and placards for the tradesmen in the neighbourhood, and we received a copy of an annual report which had been printed very neatly by them.  In work, schooling, religious exercises, and walks out of doors on the ordinary days of the week, the time passes usefully and not disagreeably.  At the end of a year, they are, if not provided with employment at home, sent to some of the colonies with a small outfit, generally at the expense of some benevolent individual.  Lord Shaftesbury has been particularly