Magdalenism : an inquiry into the extent, causes, and consequences of prostitution in Edinburgh / by William Tait.

  • Tait, William.
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Magdalenism : an inquiry into the extent, causes, and consequences of prostitution in Edinburgh / by William Tait. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    asserted, regarding Edinburgh, tliat, while 81_4 have received a refuge in the Magdalene, 1G2,800 females have perished in their iniquity. Although the principles upon which these institutions are esta- blished, and the regulations by wliich they are governed, are very nearly tlie same ; yet the contrast between the success attendant upon their exertions is very striking, and somewhat inexplicable. For example, the Magdalene Hospital in London, from its com- mencement in August 1758 to January 1808, admitted 3865 females, of whom 2532 were reconciled to friends or placed in service, being about 63| per cent, of the number received into the asjdum. The London Female Penitentiary, which was insti- tuted in 1807, has afforded a refuge (at the last anniversary meet- ing, 1839) to 2429 persons, of whom 1442 had been sent to ser- vice or friends, which is about 59f of those admitted. Since the opening of the Edinburgh Magdalene in l797j up to the time of publication of last report in 1837, 814 unfortunate females have been received into the institution, of whom only 293, or about 36 per cent., have been sent to their friends and situations. It may be stated generally, in regard to the Bon-Pasteur in Paris, that its success is still less satisfactory than that of Edinburgh. As the report and regulations of the Grlasgovv Magdalene are not expected to be printed before the publication of this essay, the author is not in possession of any data by which the success of its operations can be determined. A question naturally arises here, to what is the difference in the result of the operations of these institutions attributable ? It must be owing to one of two things ; either to some defect in the regulations and management of some of these asylums, or a want of co-operation of the public to assist the directors in their impor- tant labours. The first of these will fall to be considei-ed under a subsequent head ; and it is only necessary here to examine how far the want of public co-operation will account for the variance of the benefits derived from these establishments. Two things are indispensable for the prosperity of Magdalene Asylums—namely, liberj^^contnbutioiis, and a disposition on the part of jjrivate families to receive tl)ose^fcma]es who have been