SOCIETY FOR SUPERSEDING THE NECESSITY OF CLIMBING BOYS, BY ENCOURAGING A NEW METHOD OF SWEEPING CHIMNEYS. INSTITUTED ON THE FOURTH OF FEBRUARY, 1803. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY, BY A. MACINTOSH, 20, GREAT NEW STREET, FETTER LANE: AND MAY BE HAD GRATIS OF THE HONORARY SECRETARY, 1, NEW BRIDGE STREET. 1837. PATRON. THE KING. PRESIDENT. The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Winchester. VICE-PRESIDENTS. His Grace the Duke of BEDFORD, His Grace the Duke of SUTHERLAND, Marquis of WESTMINSTER, Earl MORLEY, Earl HARROWBY, Earl SURREY, M.P., Lord AUCKLAND, Lord WILLOUGHBY DE ERESBY, Sir THOMAS BARING, Bart., MATTHEW WOOD, Esq., M.P., FREDERICK WEBB, Esq. TREASURER. WILLIAM TOOKE, Esq., M.P., F.R.S. COMMITTEE. BURGESS, W. H., Esq. CHIPPENDALE, JOHN, Esq., FRANCIS, CHARLES, Esq., GILLETT, GABRIEL, Esq., HEISCH, P. J., Esq., HUDSON, J. C., Esq., LABOUCHERE, JOHN, Esq., RICHARDSON, T., Esq., SMITH, R., Esq., SOPER, JAMES, Esq. HONORARY SECRETARY. ROBERT STEVEN, Esq., 1, New Bridge-street. COLLECTOR. Mr. HENRY CLEMSON, 7, Grange-road, Bermondsey. THE TWENTY-FIRST REPORT OF THE SOCIETY FOR SUPERSEDING CLIMBING BOYS. Your Committee has great pleasure in announcing that the present year has been characterized by a degree of success more than equal to the experience of any former years. The number of subscribers has fallen off, but Providence still continues to smile upon the efforts that are made, and the richest encouragement is afforded to those who feel for this branch of the miseries of human nature. Before the short detail of proceedings is entered upon, it may be well to give a brief outline of the Society’s origin and objects, together with the grounds which led to the establishment of the Association; many persons hearing of the subject for the first time, by means of the Annual Report. The following are the reasons which induced its supporters to unite in this work of mercy:-- 1st. They ascertained by the examination of the children employed in this trade, that unfair and dishonest means are always resorted to, to obtain a supply of boys. That the season of probation, or “liking,” as it is called, which precedes the binding of apprentices, is marked by all that duplicity and misrepresentation can invent, to mislead the children who are sent on trial; that little or no work is imposed on them during that time; that every indulgence is granted that can weigh with persons in that station of life; that they are petted in the sitting room of the master, and fed in a comparatively sumptuous way,--and hence arises the positive and unchangeable determination of the child, to be a chimney-sweeper, and nothing else, when brought before the magistrate to be bound. 2dly. That grievous pain and sorrow are found invariably to attend the after stages of this apprenticeship.