THE

RAGGED SCHOOL UNION

MAGAZINE.

"It is a tale, better, perhaps, untold

A dark page in the history of mankind,
Which would be better wholly blotted out.
It grieves me much to speak of evil things,
Thou knowest."

"In stress of weather most, some sink outright;

O'er them and o'er their names the billows close;
To-morrow knows not they were ever born."

"It is not for the state, not for man regarded merely as a citizen; but for man as man, for human dignity and happiness, that a generous education should be universally diffused."

"They are beings to be raised for their own sakes; they have glorious capacities which are grievously wronged."

"Come, Lord, and wipe away

The curse, the sin, the stain;

And make this blighted world of ours

Thine own fair world again."

VOLUME III.

LONDON:

PARTRIDGE & OAKEY, PATERNOSTER ROW.

JOHNSTONE, EDINBURGH: M'COMBE, GLASGOW: ROBERTSON, DUBLIN:

AND ALL BOOKSELLERS.

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LONDON:

BLACKBURN AND BURT, PRINTERS,

HOLBORN HILL.

ADDRESS.

Two great subjects, very dissimilar in character, have almost entirely occupied the public mind since we commenced the present volume. With its first number, appeared thousands of pamphlets and volumes, waging fresh warfare against the Man of Sin. Men buckled on their armour for a new contest, and sighed for the sturdy spirit of their faithful forefathers. But it was soon proved, that in much of the outburst there was less faith than feeling-more warmth than real life. This occupied the first division of the year.-With the appearance of our last number occurs the winding-up of the second great life-scene: the "World's Exhibition " passes from the hands of the Commis

sioners, and becomes private property.

Respecting these great and important subjects little will be found in the following pages. They do not lie within our province. In no case have we allowed the fitful impulses of the world's life to divert us into bye-paths, leading to other aims and objects than those for which, as journalists, we labour. Thus living, not for the mere pleasure or amusement of our readers-not chiefly for their profit-but for the benefit of those for whom life has few pleasures and fewer blessings, our course has been straight, we trust, if not speedy-useful, if not brilliant. We have not only been enabled further to expose the evils we seek to remove, but also to give striking proofs in favour of the remedy. In the number of these valuable and interesting records, the present volume is in advance of its predecessors; and they will not fail to be prized by those who preserve them, when other and more engrossing subjects are all forgotten.

A new and interesting experiment, in connection with our industrial efforts, has met with an unexpected measure of success; other spheres of labour have also been discovered, which, as will be seen from our closing number, are likely to be attended with equal prosperity. We have still reason for gratitude, and much encouragement for future perseverance in the great and important work.