The Press.
London, England, 1855-04-21 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

the consequent diminution of crime, we may I
look with hope indeed, hut not with overmuch 1
confidence. More than this, the old idea of
punishment as a simply deterring process
having to a great extent died out, and being
replaced by the modern theory of moral cure,
the severity of law has been perhaps too much
relaxed. At present we are undergoing the
inconveniences of a transition state between
two systems. We have manifestly outgrown
the old—to the new we have not become
accustomed.
The first problem to be solved is that of
which Captain MACHONOCHIE attempts the solu-
tion—viz., how to make a prison really a place
of moral correction and amendment. His
objection to the existing management of such
places is simple. He argues that the habits
of discipline and obedience instilled are
merely mechanical; that labour is performed
on compulsion only, without interest or hope
of reward, and therefore ill-performed ; that
no custom of spontaneous exertion, no strength
to resist present temptation, can or does exist
under a system which has nothing to do with
spontaneity, and which considers its point
gained when it has not conquered, but
banished temptation—in brief, that though a
certain amount of taskwork may have been got
through, and a fair external show of good con-
duct preserved through the agency of fear,
during residence within the prison walls, yet
at the expiration of his term the criminal
leaves them unaltered, and just as ready as
before to lapse into guilt. This view, we
regret to say, we believe to be in the main
correct. Exceptions occur, but in general the
reformation of an adult offender is an event of
which even philanthropists are not sanguine ;
while " practical men," according to their tem-
perament, regard the attempts with ridicule or
despair. What is the remedy? Let the ex-
Governor of Norfolk Island reply. It is, stated
in the simplest form, the detention of the pri-
soner for a period measured, not as now, by a
fixed interval of time, but by the completion
of a given quantity of task work, whereby the
obstinate and the idle have before them a
pleasing prospect of indefinite confinement,
while the industrious and well-conducted may
hope to release themselves at an earlier period
than that calc•ilated on by the sentencing
judge.
It is not difficult to see the advantages of
this method. The prisoner, under present
regulations, is an apathetic, listless being, his
limbs mechanically exercised, his mind sunk
in torpor—having no more exciting occupation
than that of counting the days to his release,
and speculating on the use he shall make of
his recovered freedom. Why should he work
more than he can help? he will not be the
gainer ; neither money, indulgence, nor earlier
liberation, will repay his efforts : better be
idle for nothing than labour for no►.hing.
Hence affected ignorance, slackness, evasion
of duty, feigned illness—all carried as far as
is possible without actually incurring punish-
ment. On the other hand, the prisoner on the
task system finds himself in circumstances
where the amount and duration of suffering
which he must undergo depend mainly on
himself. The superiority of the one plan over
the other is not doubtful. Indeed, the only
objection which we ever heard raised to the
principle of the Mark system, was from the lips
of a most worthy and philanthropic gaol chap-
lain, who feared that under it the prisoner's
mind would be kept in a state of too active ex-
citement and hope, and thereby become less
impressible to spiritual admonitions. The
idea was ingenious, but most persons will be
disposed to regard the danger as imaginary.
A more real difficulty is the following : How
do you mean to proportion taskwork to the
strength of the individual performing it? Is
one man to be made to do a double share, be
muse he seems physically stronger, or, from
practice, has become more expert ? This is
surely a premium, not only on weakness and
awkwardness, but also on the simulation of
these qualities. On the other hand, if equal
proportions of labour be exacted from all,
without reference to natural disparity of power,
an injustice equally flagrant, though of an
opposite character, is perpetrated at the ex-
pense of the feeble and unskilful. It is no
auffteient reply to argue, that in the world out-

SATURDAY,

side the prison walls these last are exposed
to suffer similarly. The laws of nature and of
society, equitable on the whole, are inevitably
unfair in their operation upon individuals. A
prison is, or ought to be, a place of moral
training, and he who enters it having, though
against his will, become a mere passive instru-
ment in the hands of others, has the more
right to demand that the justice which is en-
forced against him shall not be withheld where
he has a right to claim it.
Some compromise, then, seems necessary
between the two incompatible principles of
remuneration for labour done, in proportion
simply to its amount, and remuneration gra-
duated according to the supposed powers of
the workers. Captain MAOHONOCHIE overcomes
the difficulty by a scheme somewhat complex,
but of which the value appears to us to out-
weigh the inconvenience. He has several dis-
tinct columns in the mark-book,—one for
" personal demeanour," one for " diligence,"—
the governor or overlooker being, we presume,
the judge in this case,—one for " effect pro-
duced," where the advantages of skill or
strength come into play, and another which
embodies the results of the chaplain's and
schoolmaster's reports. Thus every kind of
merit is recognised ; and au earlier period of
liberation may be attained equally by superior
proficiency in the employment assigned, by
superior industry, though with comparatively
small result, or by docility in general conduct.
Similarly, marks may be lost by negligence or
misconduct, or they may be bartered for cer-
tain permissible indulgences, such as improved
diet, comforts, &c., so that the prisoner, within
certain limits, may elect between a confine-
ment shorter but more vigorous, and one of
longer duration but less severity.
It is no light recommendation of this project
that it was actually tried, and with success,
among the doubly and trebly convicted felons
of Norfolk Island—the very scum and refuse
of humanity—on whom all attempts at recla-
mation or discipline, except the discipline of
punishment, had been held vain and visionary.
Captain MACHONOCHIE had to contend with
much distrust—natural at the commencement

of such an experiment—and some prejudice :
he had the worst materials to work on, a short
term of office, and limited authority ; yet all
these obstacles were to a certain extent over-
come, and the Pandemonium of Australasia, if
it did not wholly change its character, at least
became, under his management, something
leas lin mixedly evil than preceding governors
had found and left it.

IMPERIAL VISIT TO THE CRYSTAL PALACE;
YESTERDAY morning, shortly after eleven o'clock,
her Majesty and Prince Albert, and their illustrious
guests, left Buckingham Palace for the Crystal
Palace at Sydenham. The royal party travelled in
an open landau. The Empress was seated beside the
Queen; the Emperor and Prince Albert occupied
the seat opposite. From the appearance of their
Majesties, they seemed to have suffered very little
from the fatigues of the previous day, and as they
emerged from the Palace gates into the park, the
aspect of the crowd appeared to add to the animated
conversation that was going on between her Majesty
and the Empress. On this occasion the royal party
were attired in the ordinary costumes of private life.
The carriage conveying the illustrious party was fol-
lowed by sixteen other open carriages, containing the
royal suite. A small party of Carabineers, not above
twenty, escorted the royal cortege as it drove through
the park.
It is understood that our imperial visitors will
return to France vii Dover this day. The French sd-
miral, Viscount Chabannes, has his flag on board the
Corse, steam-corvette, in Dover harbour. The screw
ship-of•the•line Austerlitz is ordered off Dover, to
attend the embarkation of the Emperor.
The most attractive of the state apartments at
Windsor, heretofore known as the "Waterloo Cham-
ber," is henceforth to be called the Picture Gallery,
the name of "Waterloo" being erased from the xm-
ventional traditions of the castle.

Respecting the Vienna negotiations, a despatch
from that capital states that the eleventh conference
was held on Thursday, and that a pacific solution
is still probable. Lord John Rummell remains till
Monday.

The Emperor Alexander has granted an amnesty
to a great number of personal ()convicted of poknical
offences.