The Express.
London, England, 1848-11-22 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 22, 1848.

appeal, and, they had, would, perhaps„ fear to do so, lot
toy should adfead " the gontlemea." You may form sours
idea of the foaling of the sootier of rate payers on Easter
Tessdsy last, when I tell you that on a vote of thanks being,
as anal, proposed to the retiring churchwardens, it was
aegatived by a large majority. Should you favour me nom.
eemally with a small spies in your powerful journal, I think
I shall be able to Caroled you with such facts relating to the
proceedings of the vestry, as may indoor you to take up our
cause, winch is tow become the came of honest right seism
oppremive might—Your, &e., A RATS-ratan, Padding.
ton, Nov. 21.

LORD ASHLEY'S CONFERENCE WITH THE
LONDON THIEVES.
The Weekly Chronkle of Sunday says "We have
seen Lord Ashley in many situations--en the House of Com-
mon*, on public patters. la churches and committee-
rooma, and a variety of Places—hut his last appearance
transcends them all : he has made a debug among the
felons, in a den of the Writ thieva of the metropolis.
The motive with which he went there was, of course,
philanthropic. As a missionary on behalf of emigration,
he encountered the Pantiles end pests of society, and held
a conference with them, as Penn Old with the In-
dians, proposing plans for bettering their condition, and
exhsAing them to forage their savage habits, and take up
with a mere reputable course of life. Apparently be suc-
ceeded—at least for a time, he has evidently produced
a favourable impression. The felons listened with decided
approbation to expressions indicative of sympathy and good-
will. Like their savage prototypes, they were moved by the
accents of a being more civilised and humane than them
selves. Whatever ray lei the issue of their conference in
one respect, it cannot be doubted that good will flow from
the contact of brings so opposed in their views, their motives,
their habits, and their modes of life. We cannot approxi-
mate the extremes of gaiety without tighteeing the band
which cements it together, and improving the spirit which
, leavens it all.
" The attitude of Lord Ashley is almost poetical. It re-
minds u. of Una among the Satyrs, or Sirena encompassed
by the salvage men. The circumstances of the COG-
terence were especially interesting. Some thieves, desirous
of relinquishing their practices, had already taken counsel
of Mr. Jackson, who was at the time interested in a speech
he had received from Lord Ashley on the abject of
emigration. Among them were two young men who had
happily been induced to glee up thieving, hut who (having
once lest their character) were obtaining a bare livelihood
by picking up bones and rags in the streets. They had
persevered in this, to them, self.denying course, for some
time, and a great change had been effected in their habits
and practices. As Mr: Jackson's mind was occupied with
emigration, he asked one of them, ' How should you like
to emigrate 1' His answer was, ' I should jump at it.' As
Lord Ashley was about to perambulate the district with Ms.
Jackson in the course of a few days, and as Mr. Jackass
mentioned this to his visitors, it became a subject of conver-
sation with the fraternity. Subsequently, in comequaes
of what then transpired, Mr. Jackson was sent for by a
number of thieves living in a court called Blue Anchor-
yard. He went, and they expressed themselves extremely
desirous to know whether any hope could he held out of
their obtaining an honest livelihood, however humble, in the
colonies, instead of punuing a criminal course, from which
they found it impossible to extricate themselves. 'lt would,'
said they,' be a capsal thing for chaps like us.'
" Finding that these impre.sions were increasing, and that
the subject of emigration was beoeminc talked &bout among
these outcasts of went and crime, it occurred to Mr. Jackson
that he should assemble tome of them is the Irish Free
School to meet Lord Ashley. lie expected to gather 100
thieves who might listen to what his lordship hail to say.
But his expectations were more than fulfilled. On July the
27th his lordship went, when no less than 207 professed
thieves were assembled, each of whom expressed his earnest
desire to renounce his dishonest course if it were possible.
Some live or six gentlemen were present with Lord
Ashley, and 'it was such a meeting,' toys one among them,
• that no one could forget it to the day of his death.'
Several of the best and mat experienced thieves were
stationed at the door, to prevent the almission of any but
thieves. Some four or five individual., who were not at
first known, were subjected to examination, and only allowed
to remain on stating who they were, and being recognicd as
ambers of the dishonest fraternity ; and before the pro-
sadism, of the evening commenced, the question was very
artfully put, and repeated several times whether any one
was in the room of whom others entertained doubts as to
who he was. The object of this care was, as so many of
them were in danger of ' getting into trouble,' or, in other
words, of being taken up for their crimes, to ascertain it any
who might betray them were present: another intention
of this scrutiny was to give those assembled, who naturally
would feel amid/sob:a fear, a fuller confidence in opening
their minds.
" It should be mentioned that Mr. Jackson had attempted
to commence religious meetings with some of them, and
this singular conference took pace with the singular pre-
liniments of singing and prayer. What was the real state
or heart of those present while these devotional exercises
were proceeding, it is of course impossible for any man to
say ; and it is as difficult perhaps to pronounce on the wis-
dom of seeking to influence men like these by appeals to
which they are probably obdurate. Certain it is that they
were deeply Impressed by what was said on the subject of
emigration. His lordship addressed them for a emuiderablis
time, and there is reason to suppose that the subject broached
occupied their thoughts after they had separated. It is
likely that many among them would be struck by the means
suggested for changing their life, end bettering both their
morals and condition.
" One thing is strongly brought out by this occurrence,
and is highly suggestive as regards ourselves—and that is, the
relation of a scheme of emigration to the enormous growth
of crime in the country. It will be impossible, doubtless,
to find a panacea which shall utterly obliterate moral depra-
vity ; but how much of the vicious habits of the maim,
which are referable now to an svrcrowded population, it
may yet be ultimately in our power to remove . One Wag
is plain : the distinct connexion of the latter with the former
as cause and effict ; and the thieves themselves, while
expressing their hopes for a better state of things, are the
best of witnesses citable to prove it. Many of these men,
making allowance for the charm of novelty and the illfilleSlolll
of others, were, doubtless, sincere in their ',Wining= to re-
form. But the presence of an outraged society prevents
the reclamation of those who have transgressed. To sash,
emigration would be, indeed, a boon, opening an honest
means of livelihood, and rilievins the pangs of a moral
nature, stricken and diseased, but not yet maned. For some
even of those living there is hope, but there is a still higher,
more abundant, promise from efforts like them to after-gene.
rations."