The Press. — London, England, 1853-10-08 00:00:00

OCTOBER 8, 1853. licottle refusing to lay their laud•tat:, Then. have Levu Imminent distu►•lanees near here, iu eonsetittenee of their sitteuipting to force it, and the tioven►wcut has in each caw Levu obliged to give in." SPIKE ISLAND. AmoNG the publi c institution" which have attracted the visits of the Admiralty during their late official visit to tlneenstown harbour, by no means the smallest share of attention has been deviated t o th e convict establishment on Spike I •41:mil. The impor tance of this, as of all other home places of deten tion for criminals, has been enormously increased by the recent act which almost obliterates transpor tation front the list of punishments awarded by our tribunals. The island has accordingly formed the Abject of protracted investigation by Sir .1. Graham and his colleagues, and a detail of its eonstitution and management alders at the present 1110111e1H many points of no small interest to the public. Spike Island has only been used as at depUt for criminals since 1547, when the I rish gads were over crowded with convicts, and was then begun only as au experiment. The plan, however, succeeded so well that in three years afterwards the depUt was arranged on a permanent footing, and the convicts were put to the labour of constructing fortitivati s on the island, and levelling the hard rocky ground inside the ramparts. The Owe is used as at gene ral prison, to which all convicted ibersons sentenced to transportation in any part of Ireland are sent, and hitherto they have been detained here, and left to labour on the works, till an opportunity uttered to send them to Vali Dienmen's Land. Under time re cent alteration in the law of transportation it is not likely that any more of them will be sent beyond sea; but they will pass the whole, or at least a large portion, of their period of punishment on the island. There are at toresent upwards of •.!,1110 con victs in the establishment. It would hardly be cor rect to say confined in the prison; for the common notion of a prison gives a very inadequate idea of the treatment of the convicts at Spike island and at other government works where convicts are em ployed. Front six in the morning till six at night all who are not disabled by sickness are out in the open air. They work in gangs of from twelve to twenty persons each, but they are not chained to gether nor manacled in any way. The only appa rent restraint upon them is the presence of a turn key, who, with am bawled musket, attends and superin tends each gang. Some of them are employed in ing rock and levelling the ground within the enclosures; others are engaged in dragging trucks leaded with the materials so obtained to other parts of the ground; a few who have been taught in prison the craft of the stonemason are at work hewing the stabiles or building the rampart ; the feebler ones are employed in laying dome turf upon the glacis ; but all are kept front morn to night in occupation of one kind or another. Nor is there much Recount taken of the previous habits or condition in life of a crimi nal. Once placed under time surveillanee of the au. thorities on Spike Island, the thews and sinews of the man are more looked to than time delicacy of hi s former habits, or the respectability of his former po sition in society. As a proof of this it may be men tioned that nu distinction is made between the eon viet Kirwan and meaner rutilans—he is set to the same bard and degradieg task work with the rest. Sickness alone is allowed as an excuse from labour, anal a man is no sooner so convalescent as to be out of bed than he is set to such light tasks as his strength will permit. Titus convicts who are not qualified for harder tasks are engaged knitting stockings for themselves and their companions. The knowledge of a ire& is also allowed in some degree to determine the nature of their wen 'mantel ; for all the requirements of the convicts in food, clothes, ate., are procured within the prison itself. At six in the evening their work is finished, when, if they please, the means of instruction are afforded them, in the shape of schools, a chaplain, and a well-chosen library. It may be supposed, however, that the labour to which they have been put for twelve hours does not leave much mental energy for intellectual pursuits. The food which they receive is on a low scale : their breakfast con sists of stirabout and milk ; their dinner also chiefly consists of liquids; on Sundays alone are they at lowed to partake of a small morsel of animal food. The works in which they are engaged are under the immediate direction of officers of the Engineer', and there is a party of Sapper; and Miners on the island to direct the work of the convicts; and it is imps►s sible to survey the extent of the work alone, and te remember that it has all been executed since. without 1., i.s t struck with the energy and efficiency with wi'acli lee labour limit been directed. The Most appr.ead priu.siples of modern defensive engineering lime guided tit. it uperatiens, mind, though there is still the work Of 311 My years iu the present condition of the place, still. iiieler the skill of time engineers guiding the rude la of the eouviet, Spike Island is already assumes pesitien of a fortress of the Ant den. Vt itl re Ito the treatzaeut of couvietbis THE PRESS. OW Suggestion has boon hazarded. It i% the lirae tiee at holland. and some other Owes where cons let, are employed in England, that an ai%•01111t is taken of the actual value of their labour. and, alter de ducting the expens e 0 1 th e ir own maintenance, small iiereentage is set apart for the convict, to be given to him when his periesl of servitude is expired, and he leaves the prison. Nit such provision 1.4 al bowel by the act for the Irish convicts. They an in the strictest sense of the word, 40'01—With no will of their own—with no power to t'llllllgo their employment, awl with no interest in the produce of their labour. They are reduced to that degrading conditi•in by their oVVII erime, it is true; and it aoulel ma lee well for society if they were not made to feel the 6111 force both of the pain and the degradation of their condition; but still it may be a question whether it would not be desirable to allow them a small portion of their own earnings, to he 0%1% to them in an aceinnulated form when they leave the prison. The knowledge that Such a Mllllllll4 Reel* initiating for them would prove One ant Of sweet tress in the bitter cup they WV EftliOil to drain ; and tin possession of it, when they step out .11 their pri son into Noddy again, would plaee them above the temptation of line Mg it reciittrse tie their old prac6ves from sheer despair of 1111) either 1110410 of gaining their next meal. At. the present moment then` are 110 political psi seiner; on the island. All are imprisoned for out tages, more or less dagratet, on the ordinary criminal code. The youthful appearanee of the prisoners cannot fail to strike the most ordinary ohserver. The greater portion of them see'llt to ht. under the age of twenty ; and. from the forbidding, lowering, and unintellectual diameter of their features, it requires uo ingenuity to see that the great majority belong hi the lowest MO most ittieeliwated portions of S 4 file LS which bear strongly upon the efforts that are now making to extirpate the roots of crime, giving greater attention to the moral and religious instrne lion of those (lasses teem Which our juvenile crime are reentited. PoPULATI4M OF ScoTLAND. THE population of Scotland was 1,604,410 at the beginning of this century, anal at the iumaus lssl was found to have increased to 1,14614,; 11. The ratio of this inerease is about mo per cent. l'opulai that is said to have doubled in some parts of the United States in a quarter of a century ; while the number of the Seidel' people hits isiiihiilerably less dent doubled in twice that peried of time. This fart indicates t h e operation of positive and preventive checks ; lout, in comparing the increase of pepula lion in a new country like America with the increase in the Old 1.411110E4N of EnrOPC, there DMA is taken 110.01444'0MA the disturbing foree of emigration, the full etfeet of which in diminishing pipulation on the One side, and increasing it on the other, is hardly yet sufficiently understood. For proof of the thinning effect of emigration in SCotland during the last fifty years, one requires only hi glimee at the motes appended to the recent censor table. In nine eases out of ten the decrease of population is attributed too "emigrate ," to "extensive emigration," to " the enlargement of farms, and eensequent emigration; •• but if emigration 1 las been sufficient in many parishes and in certain decennial peritals, since die beginning of the ectititry, to turn the tide of pop& tiOn into an absolute ebb, its elfeet must have lawn greatly to retard the ratio to increase in all. The migration of human beings front quiet Scottish glens has been dewing in two eurrents—into large 14-owns, the seats of prosperous trade, of tuanufaetureft, of irmaworks, collieries, and quarries, within our own errritory ; and into distant colonies and foreign lands across the wide seas. The former hives of industry, with their swarming usultilAttles of human beings, are visible to the eye, and duly noted in the census tattles; but, if we could trace out and numlber the emigrants and their progeny in the new homes to which they have repaired over all parts of the world, we should have still greater mamas to wonder at the immense population which has 'sprung from the loins of the Scottish tuition of ISM. The increase of the Scotch people (limper r, though stead), exhibits eonsiderable variety iu the various decennial ls•riUsls since 1801. In the first ten years the increase was 1•: per vent. Fr►nt 1811 to Isll it was 15 per cent. ; from 1821 to 1831 it was 13 per cent.; front 1831 to 1811 it was 10.8; an d f rom 14411 to 1851 it W 11.4 111.•! per rent. The largest rate of increase was thus in the ten years from 1811 to 1831; and as the same feature marks the census returns of England, wd nearly without exception eery count• ion! parish of the United Kingdom. it fonos ►ne ot• tile nee.t striking and env i ous r a m s i n the islpulation during the last Ally years. TIIV METIVIN)LITAM IiAN (10111411121 i, it is under stood, have IN•ld meetings lately with the view of increasing the price of gut, consequent 4m Ow increa.sed price, of coal, and the strike of collier, iu the 533 TANNING wattorT HARK. \ the IH.t number of the J 41,41140 eel the Seeciety eel . 4,1 8 ikou iv valise licerkUld of tt ill...vinery in ti kkkkk . .. hides wind& - Wiwi.% er interest int! in a scient ifie 'Wild. 511 . Vlll l Wi tor prolitittdo to the dealer. in leather * ill prin e ant thing but 4.411154161111'y 111 Itinti 1 . 1111114) gen tl emen . It , 03 ,• 1 . e ,„„,,,fi t i t o the st‘f old 1,% hitch t h e iii‘entOr atitieipate , , indeed this m•w process w ill entorniturtly depreciate lite t able sit' wsutillitint pro perty. isv itestrot Mg the nou•ket for one of its most retnutwriitive prioduets -%i/ .. tusk bark. Timber Ira, flatten in %Aline until it k often bar e ly wor th y i n i mg . usual less growing ; and tll, Ilse ill bark, ii mow 111111' WO ton probable, will b e . sni ,,, r ,„„im to 4 lit'grlNO IA Well will reinter it n u t worth s .iripping fr o m the parent trunk. 'l'he follow Mg 411'1'1111111 Of the H e w disc. si ery is Kiwi' Is) the society : II was stated in the .Ifo /Ili li II s .ti I VO . ; ~,,` i.t S,•11,11,1,1 „.k IS, ! W e!, that it NI r. 1'i...11.1. had 1,465•55 ..ni A ', K u l a lot pr.' marlin.: 'Acne. will, materials of whisk kirk fssruica n o rill lie 11%141 sail 1111',111,' kill& 4141•14i1.14 . •iil•Aiiiiev.,. e l iti,i.iiiig largely of stands. 41111 I'lllll • 111111/ 01111'11, .1101 111 1 1 barley Amor, nee-door, 551. es ett stasn.ls 51.4.11 . ; on the other. butts'', will, grease. nissl ...Ohl. WI) n ttttt nil matted' . 1.. *kick he added .alt or Kglllll`lll . 111 VOll4lll prop. smo te ._ %V ith this eland.' sluts jikvistiiesi ill Ilse . si+libill maniocs 151 1' smeared, utter a hieli the) wire 14441(4414 . 41 111 Mll'loll nig 9155551cr for ii v 5114655 length 4 time, %155.0 the) quick!) I 11.1•111111 . rciiilt till' Ihl . eiteitcr. 'Phis method ..f iir a lisiri l l is tilli'll6loll 541111 /0111'11 /10141111111g1's ill 1111' 4.01111%.i. 111 . 1111 1'141 . 1/111•. 111111 ill tlll' 01111111 . 11 . 5' 1/1 1 110 11111111114 A 111114/1//. it. 1/6 l'" its ' e soill'ing .h0"1 / 1 1 11 14 1 111014 V I 1/1 Isitition its Ile. all. sit 16.• I.lll'l'. .% lill•t/' 1 . 111•1/111 11l South% ark has 11E0'11 1 . 111.11 111. 1. 5 Ms. 1.'01.1.5%11,1r lie is carri ing on his 1411 1111. 1111 . 1 111'1' 111 11 %Vl,' 14/11 , 11 1 / 3 111 1 11 . ItAl 4/111, 11111 i IAIIII 14 11.1(11 . 1 . of //111.1 . / .. .. , *hick could 1'1(141) ha% t. lweis impilot.rtl *lllll4l 111 1 VIM 111. 1.1601111 ill the 1 . 1111111111 . 141 1\1'1) .111111 1I Mr 11 111141 111.1.111111/1 . 11 1//1111•1* he isegan. II is leathers limo. all cad y isopiii•ca a high reputation in the 1111411.4 . 1. niltl /411 . 1110111) gill log into lis% 'air for is % ariety of usa1111(11.1111 Mg istirpescs. espceially for driviise bands for ii Ilicio their superi.ii strength, fle‘ileilit y. int &mail i sof le‘lin e. NIA 411/111111ilil) , render 1110'111 4' • 1 . 1111) /W1'4111411.11'. '1 Ise inwilliar unlits iil l'oller s meths sil All' .Mil lib IN" 1110...... 11 Waller% 111.0 `114144111 411 11 . 141110•1', 111111 111 Olt' SIMI.' Illlll' 1111 . 11'11.,'* It. tureiogth • awl this inks'. pour to //111 . 1111 410•gi ll' 111111 11 1111% 1101/11 kIIULtI 118111 1111111 . 1 'll leather of three eighth. id olio inch in thickness' is incapable of i t.,e4ing a 7.t. whirls 141.11er'n leather, 11110'111111111 1.5 an oasts iii thick so.- ... is ill resist. iii o'olll4llllll Wibrl,lll.;. % %111 , 01( 14 )11111 long, 111.111 half lull 1111'11 In width. and 41111' I'lollll 1111 Ck , gat s' is a is ois a Isre3k ing weight of 41 eves. •!i ills, , while ilvligil... well Nlllll'll 1111 this nal. -bark %5 mein, awl iit Ilse "sinin• 4 •is .1 , i 011111 /1111 1'4411 , 1 II 111111111 sit :0 cwt. sheepskins, kidskin', Mind 501110 . 501114 . 1 10111.C11.14 111 leather w Inch In gent 'roil may be torsi skinnier in 11,.' 11111111% wish Ilse rued. eke of Oily /1 111511111 1111{1 /1 . 1.1 . tome, nviinirt• 111 1111% 11/1^ . ../00 II %111 . 11.;111 44111.41 555 lllllll' 5U51...1%11114. .1 1101 154.1 1.1.11141 5551. i aware in the new pr. sccss lh r•ps • -414111 to 11011.61 il l sating tie , ' in iss sparing. 'I'lls• thicke• I tot •liitle civil' es only Iwo slays and 11 hull' to lII' hilly I . lllll'lllll 1 11111 . 1' the 111111,1 rat 10111'111111 . el reninst •es it 11111% 1111111111 (11111' 111' 111 1 . %WAS ' 111111i14 . 1 1/111 1/1 1 1 114 1 g liquabr. 1 ' toiler Ilse sold Isr.M.VriN sit 1101 tt itt g. ill ii bleb Ilse hash,. were p10w...1 its N pit, w ith 6)44111 111' 11411 141 iss•litivitls• 111.'111, 1411.1 11111 . 111 . 11111 1 4 lillisl With W1411 . 1*, II VIII l'aisistile•iiilile iii•Eissil laws liven kill/Wll 111 ellipse during the provers; souse .... tttttt w i ling iss four years. The wialrincskiii ei.lialsitc.l in the test sit I. xhilsiti tttt took 11/1 11401 than Isom . years Is. tan ; but 111 . Polk'. v.. 611886.41 that Is lois us. XIV of 1101111111'111 thus' eon %us .is at would be perfect in Hi tit 111/111 s, allowing .11 I,'llOllM of signal ion in the shims, each of t. is hours' slits is i ism. It is further stoned Ma leather prvi.nre•l thin. is it hll 11t 11111, plis%lS4lWl4 $(11.1411)•111.1 1 •11 ,11 1 11411111'il) tier 1,'./01 ing the passage a wader, otiall.siled sus I sinus 1.111,1,• suppleness ; SO 11111/ 1 . 111 . 111 111114 111111 111111441 II 1•. Ind' 1111 . 6•1111ili• In 11411111'11 leather. For the Wl's! 1111/1 1':111 1 1 I isdics, iti pm i itsilar, this ipittliiy Ito highly wilrwistagc. sus, 1 iii' the supplt of moors would probably lor 11.111111 lit Im• illii'llll.ll wills 1.4•01101111),111111 1111111411 . 141!111 . comfort. 11 c 14111 11111 illy its I'r o.ljulllll/ the 11u551110,111.0 ill airy'. fails In ~..olisl I y gentlemen ; for, if further ctpericisce oat. sw s them 1.1 1•4 0 1 fairly slated , then it is els •ar that 111.• t Sul . i s. r sill an e ,ons. will Iwo slue serious!) d010r.... iasi esi, sill lull vulitutisolis will have to Is: 1111111 1. 1111011 an iontin.l) rtes 1511.11, Tut: Stitcwvistirrs of the various ports and Isar bison . % have 1114'11 ill% ittl4l h'llliVi 1114'011 ttt It *4 in the formation of sin eNteweif e %hipping company, to be ealled the " National EntiVrlfifttn. Colonisation, and Investment The aggregate * nimilwr Of shipwrights in tireett Britain ix estimated at . 1,1 I,INNI, and it i% proposed to rake the (*lapilli' amongst Outworking men, in 4I of each. The °Wert% appear to b. 111 the shipwright). employed in building %essel% for the sowiety a higlwr rate of wages than they am now re co-lying: to secure the working men the profits which Hilly arise from the vcs.el% afterwards: and to tabard to shitowtights the opportunity or emigrating with their I ' . • lie% ton WlVallailigettli4 11.1 . 11141 to Australia, or other nisitries where a Iwttel• mutant* rituals i 4 to be ',lit rssr their labour than in rowlattil. The scheme seem% to lime lawn taken tip 111 ‘arissii% seaport% with consisleralsle earoestis,,,, \la. Lore .4. welt kni 01111 a 4 1•441110 . 1 . 1Pli with the ' Turco l'ersieen Isostutelar 1.4 appoiutrd (Marin . ' to the ill . 1111,1411 isi, pie, wbleb will enables hint to ram on and (magnate the Assyrian eNensationa, and pututee farther inyttirie-i into the 1.41)14: histury in dm gabt.