The Press.
London, England, 1857-05-16 00:00:00

OUR CRIMINAL CLASSES.

OUR own views upon transportation must by
this time be tolerably familiar to the ma-
jority of our readers. We have always
thought that both for the country and the
criminal no plan was equal to that of getting
rid of him. In a new country he would have
fewer temptations to crime and more opportu-
nities of honesty; while his presence in Erg-
land was productive of a double evil—assisting
to disseminate the moral poison, and interfer•
ing, more or less, with the claims of the
honest poor.
The fact is, that if we look carefully into the
humanitarian theory as propounded by Arch-
bishop WHATELy, we cannot avoid being struck
by the similarity between these views and
those of another branch of the same school, so
wittily exposed by Mr. DICKENS in the person
of the " Shepherd." Both humanity and jus-
tice bid us to look at home first. We have no
right, it may be urged, to spread our moral sewer-
age over half the globe. But the question is,
whether our forbearance to do so may not
lead to its dissemination in a more dangerous
and insidious shape. We take pride in be-
lieving that the Anglo-Saxon race has a great
mission to fulfil,—nothing less, in fact, than the
civilisation of half the human race. The fearful
responsibility which in such a case rests upon
our rulers need scarcely be described. Surely
it is no light matter to determine how the
nursery of a race destined to influence so
many millions may be kept most clear from
pollution. If we poison the fountain head, the
water can never be purified. Such considera-
tions may well make us pause ere we finally
determine to retain our criminals among us.
The claims of an empire in ease take prece-
dence over those of one merely in posse.
Great Britain is already a great country with
a great destiny to fulfil. Our colonies only
may become so.
Thatthe presence of large masses ofcriminals
in this country, unless most carefully and skil-
fully wronged, would have a tendency to infect
the honest population and lower the national
character, can be doubtful to no one who
reflects on the subtle and rapid communication
of moral disease. The precise mode of infec-
tion may he as difficult to detect as that of the
cholera. But like breeds like. Crime has a
disposition to multiply itself; and in the rank
soil and heated atmosphere of our large over•
populated towns, the multiplication proceeds
at a rate fearful to contemplate. Of our
discharged criminals only a portion will have
any desire to seek after an honest livelihood,
and only a portion of these will succeed in
obtaining it ; so that a class of veteran
criminals will gradually grow up about us who
will act as schoolmasters in their craft, and by
their experience and knowledge daily render
the task of detection more difficult.
If we turn to our colonies we shall find these
circumstances either wholly reversed, or in a
very much mitigated shape. There is at once
an outlet for adventurous natures which,
under• proper conditions, develope into
strength and soundness, but amid the re-
straints of an old society smoulder internally,
and are almost certain to be useless, if they do
not kindle into crime. In the rough, free life
of a youthful colony crime has a tendency to
• wear itself out. The son will improve upon the

471

father, and the grandson he an excellent
citizen. At home it is just the reverse—
crime becomes hereditary, and iii each gene-
ration receives a fresh impetus. It is like the
flaming missile mentioned by LIVY Quod
" conceptum ipso motu multo majorem ignent
" ferret."

The benefit of transportation upon the
offender himself scarcely requires to be
pointed out. We at once by that system got
rid of our " convict difficulty," and the dis-
charged convict was not compelled to wander
over the face of the country dogged by the
polic and vainly striving to earn a crust of
bread by honest means. This is obvious.
But by Sir GEORGE GREY'S Bill a new element
is introduced which is calculated to neutralise
the terrors of punishment, whether it be
penal servitude or transportation. We allude
to the uncertainty in which the ill-disposed
classes will remain as to the punishment with
which any particular offence will be visited.
Does the embryo burglar feel inclined for a
trip to the Antipodes, he will make up his
mind that it will be his lot to be transported.
Does he feel an irrefragable attachment for the
gin•palace and the " gaff," he will determine
that a short period of servitude in the neigh-
bourhood of his old haunts will expiate his
offence, and restore him to a new lease of self-
indulgence. It is impossible but that some-
thing of this sort should be the working of
the new system upon uneducated and
thoughtless minds ; and we are very glad to
observe that both Sir JOHN PAKINOTON and Mr.
HENLEY energetically protested against this
novel inconvenience. It is said also that the
Judge would not be so competent to decide
upon a prisoner's fitness for servitude or
transportation as the Government after
some experience of his habits. We do not
think the argument well founded. In the
case of an old offender the police could give
all the necessary information. In the
case of a first offence, all that need be re•
quired would be to learn something of the
prisoner's physical capabilities, which could
be ascertained in the majority of instances
from friends or parishioners ; while such testi-
mony would have the advantage of being more
reliable than conclusions formed from the con-
duct of the prisoner in gaol, when he is ne
cessarily acting a part.
We believe, unfortunately, that there is but
too much truth in the arguments of those who,
like Lord STANLEY, question the possibility of
founding new penal settlements—at all events
settlements of any magnitude. But this is no
reason why we should not make the most of
such resources as are within our reach. Every
year that transportation can be continued is
so much time gained, and so much moral evil
removed. There is no reason why we should
not make as much use of transportation as
possible, even though we may foresee its
limits. Our own opinion ou the Falkland
Islands has been on other occasions put for-
ward. As Lord STANLEY said the other night,
the area is limited. But why not make the
most we can of it ? Let us fully recognise with
his Lordship that transportation must one
day cease, and then the fact of its continuation
for the present'will not interfere with our pre-
paration of a final substitute. By the time
our deport.atoiy resources are used up, educa-
tion may have done much to make the
" criminal classes " less dangerous.

.
THE NEW ARCTIC STEAM YACHT, the Fox, ntting
out at Aberdeen for Lady Franklin's final search,
under the command of Captain M'Clintock, RN., is
rapidly progressing in her equipment. She will be
a " model Arctic." One hundred men are now at
work upon her, besides others employed about her
machinery. It is expected that the Fox will sail
about the latter end of June. Captain M'Clintock
proposes to make his way down Prince Regent's
Inlet, and thence through Bellot's Strait into the
field of search; or, if the ice permits, to attempt
the passage of Peel Strait. If neither of these plans
is practicable, he will abandon the idea of taking the
ship through the supposed north-west passage ; and,
leaving her in safety in Prince Regent's Inlet, will
proceed to make the requisite search by sledging
parties.

THE CHAIR OF MILITARY SURGERY AT EDINBURGH,
vacant by the death of Sir George Ballingall, has at
length been filled up by Government, by the appoint-
ment of Dr. Matthew, staff-surgeon of Crimean
experience.

'"~

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472

Vrotttbings in ariianicnt.

HOUSE OF LORDS—MoNDAY.

The Marquis of BREADALBANE informed the house
of her Majesty's gracious reply to their lordships'
loyal Address.