Ignorance, Crime and Vice, and ultimately to conquer them.

The next thing was to obtain a sufficiency of work, and at the same time
funds to purchase materials. At first, the most imperative necessity
existed for clothing. For a long time the most ample help came from Mrs.
Fry's own family circle, although many others contributed various sums.
Indeed, the Sheriffs of London on one occasion made a grant of £80
towards these objects, showing thus that, although punitive measures
were more in their way, they were really glad to uphold the hands of
anybody who would deal with the vexed problems which such hordes of
criminals presented.

After the criminals themselves were clothed, their work went to provide
garments for the convicts at Botany Bay. Some tradesmen to whom Mrs. Fry
applied, willingly resigned these branches of their trade, in order to
afford the opportunity of turning the women's industry to account. This
was a decided step gained, as the Corporation then learnt how to make
the prisoners' labors profitable, and at the same time to avert the
mischiefs of vicious idleness.

The ladies tried the school for a month quietly, and found it so
successful that they determined to lay a representation before the
Sheriffs, asking that this newly-formed agency should be taken under the
wing of the Corporation. They wisely considered that the efficiency and
continuance of this part of their scheme would be better ensured if it
were made part and parcel of the City prison system, than by leaving it
to the fluctuating support and management of private benevolence.

In reply to this petition and representation, an answer was received
appointing a meeting with the ladies at Newgate. The meeting took place,