Sir,—We, the undersigned, being Managers of Industrial and Reformatory Schools in Bristol and the neighbourhood, beg that you will lay before the Home Secretary the following statement of our views on his orders contained in your circulars of 22nd November and 31st January.

Although the explanatory communication of 31st January somewhat modifies the stringency of the order contained in the first circular, we are of opinion that the instructions will still greatly interfere with the work of these Schools.

By far the greater number of children committed to our care have parents who are totally unfit to have any control or influence over their disposal, and whose interference would be ruinous to their prospects. The circumstances of almost all the cases would thus have to be brought before the Home Secretary involving serious delay and a vast amount of correspondence with the Home Office.

We therefore hope that the Home Secretary will be satisfied with having conveyed to the Managers of Schools his opinion that only in eases where the influence of parents would injuriously affect the future of children should their wishes be disregarded, and that he will see fit altogether to withdraw the circular of 22nd November.