The Express.
London, England, 1849-01-23 00:00:00

PRISON DISCIPLINE.

The diecusion on the propositions laid down by
Mr. C. Peanon, M.P., the city solicitor, in his lectures el
Monday and Tuesday last, a report a which appeared in the
Express at the time, commenced last evening, at the
Literary Institution, Aldersgate-street. The theatre of the
institnuon, in which the discussion was held, was crowded
on the occasion.
The CHAIRMAN (M D. Hill, Reg a Q.C.), in opening the
proceedings, stated that the committee, who had the cars 54
the arrangements of the lectures, and the discussion of that
and the ne evening, had drawn up certain resolutioer
which moutons read and submitted to the meeting. The
solutions were read by Dr. Rice, the mooretary to the cow
mine*, as follows :
1. That the number of commitments and recommitments to price
in Englael and Wales on criminal charges has increased during die
present century upwards of 400 per cent., whilst population hr IF
creased only 85 pee cent.
2. That GO per cent. of these commitments and recommitments an
for larcenies, vagrancies, misdemeanors, juvenile offence', and Min
petty delinquencies, punished by short time sentences of Irwin*
meet, varying from seven days to eix months.
3. That to habits of indolence, imprcridence, and self indulge
the origin of a large portion of these offences may be traced; and la
the opinion of this meeting the improvement Is the beauty and cow ,
fort of our gaols, and the substitution of short imprisonment far
graver punishment is the fruitful source of Increase both of committed
and recommitted prisoners; ea English gaols no longer create either
terror cc shame, but are often regarded as a place of shelter for the
unfortunate, and for the idle criminal • congenial home.
4. That the elegant model gaol and House of Correction at Readings
with its cellular system, is calculated, in the opinion of the
meeting, !nether to immerse the number of petty offender'
within the range of its influence. By the rules of the gaol hard is-
tour is excluded. By this system no direct means of reformation
except religious teaching, are employed. Cellular separation is the
sat Duniebm=t—and every prisoner is provided with a spicier*
weU.warmed, and ventilated cell, with an abundance of wholeness
and palatable food without himself making a single effort to ewe it•
and with ten hours for sleep and the remainder of his time at knows
disposal, for instruction in reeding, writing, and arithmetic, or secs
light occupation, not enjoined but only permitted, for his recoatios
and 'moment.
5. That, In the opinion of this meeting, in order to check the in
crease of crime It is necessary that a total change of sy.tern should
take pboe; that the aspect of our prisons should be made rather sad
and repulsive than cheerful and attractive; and that not one ehiikK
should be expended the beauty or convenience or strength of a
=more than is required for the health and security of the
6. That while it ought to be en emential part of prison dieciplbte
15
endeavour to eradicate the seeds of crime by the moral and religious
Watruction of mimeses, no system can be sound that does not
attempt at the same time to counteract its proximate camel—halo.
knee, imagendence, and self-indulgence—by endeavouring to create
and casein the antagoeinic habits of Industry, fvothought,
dependence, and witoontroL
7. That besides the con of building gaols, the annual metres of
maintaining the criminal dames in the prisons of England and Wake
amount to upwards of 400,0004, while their productive labour dote
not realise above 30,0004
8. Teat 83 par mat. cf our wale criminals annually committed are
between the ages of 15 and 45—the ego when in a free condition men
not only maintain themselves, but supply a large portion of the sur-
plus labour and Industry by which the females, the children, 'Mother
non-preitteltig dames of the community are supported.
9. That the iminabs in some of the American prisons entirely, and
In Fromm and Belgium they near; y maintain themselves and defray
the charges of the administration b, y their own labour and industry,
moved by the etimutants of rewards for exertion and good conduct.
10. That while imprisonment is used as a means of punishing and