Magdalenism : An enquiry into the extent, causes and consequences, of prostitution in Edinburgh / By William Tait.

  • Tait, William.
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Magdalenism : An enquiry into the extent, causes and consequences, of prostitution in Edinburgh / By William Tait. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    necessarily connected with them. The author will not indeed consider his object accomplished, unless the facts which he has unfolded tend to the positive adoption of the means which he has suggested, or to others more efficient, for the purpose of purifying our metropolis from the deadly pestilence which has so long stained the page of its moral history. It may perhaps be thought by some, that he has conducted his in¬ quiries upon a principle too circumstantial; and that, if he has not implicated individual charac¬ ter, he has at least spoken with unnecessary freedom of certain classes. To such individuals he would say, that a searching inquiry and de¬ tailed statements are essential, in order to civ e the public any thing like an accurate impression of the desolating effects of this system of ungod¬ liness ; and as to implication of character, he would only say, that he has laboured with scru¬ pulous solicitude to avoid personalities, or even the most distant insinuation that could bring u under suspicion, or subject to impeachment, the reputation of any man. But, if it be true that an evil fata] to the peace, and destructive of the present and eternal well-being of immortal souls, is partially supported and upheld by men whose