The Express.
London, England, 1847-09-25 00:00:00

LY CONGRESS AT BRUSSELS.

PODILTH AND CONCLUDING DAT, sErr. 23.

M. VAST NIEENES in the chair. The minutes of the
preceding meeting were approved of.
Vismuat D'ALANEIDA handed to the president Some sta-
tistical details relating to Portugal, with the view of having
them published in the Moniteur.
The Chevalier Pastern announced that a royal society of
patrons for liberated convicts had been formed at Turin, and '
similar ones at Bologna and Itome.
The Chevalier BEILTINI gave a brief account of two or
three prisons in the kingdom of Sardinia, in which aboslute
silence was ordered, and in which the inmates were em-
ployed at the various trades. In the year 1838 a penitentiary
was established for women near Turin, partly on the cellular
system, for no communication was allowed between them.
Similar establishments existed at Alessandria and also at
Oneglia.
M. DE Zen (chamberlain of the Emperor of Russia),
mounted the rostrum, and said he had to offer a few remarks
with reference to an assertion made by M. Wolowaki, at the
time that he (M. de Zehe), announced on a former occasion
that the knout had been abolished in Russia. The exclama-
tion was "Yes, but the knout has been replaced by the
pleit" He (M. de Zebe) did not hear that exclamation ; the
applause of the meeting called forth by the fact which he
had stated having prevented M. Weloweki's observation
from reaching his ears. That applause had made his heart
beat within him, and he only wished that the millions of his
countrymen could bear it, in order that they might have an
idea of the sympathy awakened in a distinguished European
assembly for progress in Russia. (Cheers.) It certainly was
a fact that the pleit (a species of cat-o'-nine-tails) had re-
placed the knout. But there was a very great difference
between the two instruments of punishment, both with re-
spect to the severity of it and the infamy attached to it. A
person who had undergone the punishment of the knout was
never received in company, whereas those on whom the
pleit had been inflicted were not considered as degraded.
The discussion was then opened on the questions whisk'
were forwarded in extents yesterday (published in the Er
press of yesterday).
Dr. VARRANTRAT, editor of the " Annul • of the IV's=
of Frankfort," said be objected to the continuous tesemseer
tore of the cells in Pentonville. The prisoners easily caught
cold in passing, for example, to church. He thought that on
entering some of the cells of that prison, he found that the
air was very much compressed. He could not urge too
warmly the importance of giving prisoners the benefit of
fresh air. During the night, for example, the keepers might
open the windows of the corridors. He was certainly much
gratified with his visit to Pentonville, but he could not help
observing that the mode of ventilation was anything but
perfect.
Lieut.-Col. JERRE stated that he had pointed out, in the
24th page of the report which he had presented to the con-
gress, a mode of procuring fresh air. In England there
were so sudden and so great changes of temperature that
it was very difficult to keep up an equal degree iu the pri-
sons—in fact to follow the external mutations.
Mr. B. Roreu (magistrate for Middlesex), who spoke in
French, said he had to compliment Lieutenant-Colonel
Jebbe as the founder of the Pentonville prison, and that
fact, he thought, was in itself sufficient honour. (Loud
cheers.) Nevertheless, he (Mr. Botch) could not help saying
that many things were wanting to render that establishment
perfect. All the medical men to whom he had spoken on the
subject were of opinion that the temperature should be
lowered by night time. The mode of ventilation was not
good in Pentonville, and he would just observe that if people
were satisfied with what was simply good, they would never
have better. The question of ventilation was a most im-
portant one, particularly for nations which, unlike England,
had no colonies to which criminals might be transported,
and which were, therefore, under the necessity of detaining
the criminals for a long time in prison. It must not be said
that there was no way of bringing the fresh air into prisons
conducted on the cellular system; but rather urge archi-
tects to find out a plan to that effect before the next congress.
is held. The system of ventilation in Clerkenwell prison
had been lately changed, because it was found to be a bad
one. Mr. Botch here showed the meeting a plan for pro-
curing a good ventilation, the principle appearing to be that
fresh air should be applied from the lower parts of the
building, whilst the foul air should escape from the roof of
the house. He would just state one fact to show that at
Pentonville some improvements were required. About three
weeks ago he had been informed by one of the furnace or
oven men of that prison, that it required thirty-six hqurs to
lower the temperature.
Lieut-CoL JEBBE admitted that it would be better to
admit air into the prisons by means of open windows, but
then such:windows would admit of communication between
the cells. He did not think that the present system at Pen-
tonville could be well changed at present without endanger-
ing the health of the inmates. Should the medial men,
however, decide otherwise, alterations would be made. He
thought that the present mode of ventilation would not act
prejudicially ou the health of the inmates during the eighteen
months or so they remained is the model prison.
Mr. BEAUMONT stated that the material questions under
discussion were highly important. He fully agreed with
Mr. Botch that it was strictly necessary to give the prisoners
the advantage of fresh air by day and by night.
The article in favour of the establishment of a central ob-
servatory of inspection was adopted, as was also one relating
to cells, with the exception of a sentence which fixed their
space at from 28 to 3o cubic metres. [These articles have
been already published in the Express.]
The Abbe LAROQUE (chaplain of the 116 tel des Invalids,
at Paris) observed that religion accommodated itself to all
the plans of prison discipline. He was certainly in favour of
the cellular eystem—first, because the prisoners who had some
remaining virtue within them did not run the risk of losing
it ; and secondly, because alter leaving the prison they did
not incur the danger of meeting with persons who had been
imprisoned at the same time with them. With respect to
the places of worship, he was in favour of a church
or chapel where the preacher could well see all the
persons whom he addressed. The mass alone was am
sufficient. It WO necessary to preach the word of Gel
to the prisoners—forfides ex ouditu. He was happy to beer
testimony to the kindness which he met with whilst visiting
the admirable prison at Pentonville ; and he win et teaks
that the chapel there possessed all the advantages mid
with respect to the mode of construction.
The Rev. J. FIELD (chaplain of Reading Orel) awed
that the moral training of prisoners should premeds the ewer
pying of them at the various trades. The plea he roma-
mended was the one adopted at Parkhurst, and it had pro-
duced good results.
M. Stover said that he did not consider it necessary to
have a church separate from the prison, properly so called.
M. Illoaase CRILUATOPHE observed that the question of a
septette chapel was an important financial question. Bitch
a plies of worship would require a considerable outlay.
Mr. WOLOWSKI (after considerable interruption) ex-
plained the nature and pure of hie exclamation, or rather
his emertion, respecting the knout and the pkir. The Ail:
femme between the two instruments was, that the former
at the second stroke made the blood gush oat in torrents,
whams the pkie had the same effect only after the inflic-
tion of the seventh or eighth stroke. (Sensation in the
'VSiberia (added the speaker) is certainly well
sow, for the Russian government has sent so many
isuals dare. (Great confusion and loud cheers)
The mean was shortly afterwards suspended, but a very
animaledgemvereation was kept up in the ante-room between
11. blebesd a young Polish gentleman. A consider-
able pal, wasemu formed around the speakers, and nu-
nseream denwimNsem, al, however, in • friendly and tole-
rant wide, wm• aria en the subject of the knout, the
pltsertli Zeitl=i•nine tails.
the congress voted in favour of
the me reel=is passers of yards or places of ameba
whit sheralidlaw dna the bar& of the free ea sad of
rr am, TOW, limner, egg ounntnniostita between
dm& It was elm Nosivel that ta mate MIS *me pub
xelllbt be seellapi la a manor to Maw of beim base mr-
Mei or amyl be tamed into garages Ire aableseia.
see prepoeltisas were next adapted :
Oleataxs.—The chapel should be so armed as that
seele prisoner should join in the exercise of
win owl besting the mfaleter MUM' it brinr;ib&
amlf ones I retard being Lai ea Yin mss Yee to the Ihr
imusetal prfaseple of the sopezesiss el pdseases swept
themselves.
Paszovna.—A certain number dun mann should be

made for the use of prisoners not authorised to meet their re-
lations or friends in their own cells.
DOIIRSTIC Sanvica.—ADmINISTRATION.—LODOINO OP
PERSONS EMPLOYED IN PRlSONS.—Whatever plan Nag be
adopted, independent of the localities above.mentionen, each
prison on the oellular system should contain a bath-
with • number of separate baths, in proportion to the number
of inmates ; • kitcken, with its accessories ; o.kizig..ihogs,
and a wash-house ; • certain number of magazines for pson-
alone, fuel, clothes, general stores, and manufactured goods,
according to the destination of the prison; • clerk's Ole.,
and • mseting-room for the committee of inarveil.
lance ; lodgings for the director or chief °Meer, the goads, or
watchers, and, in penal prisons, for the sub-director, the
superintendent of works, the almoner, the doctor or his
assistant, and of such other persons as may be placed in each
prison by the administration.
The next topic of discussion was the following Bel-
glom corporations may be called to join in this work of
watching over and reforming the prieoners, theirlibexty of
action being circumscribed within the limits of the duties
imposed on them by their important minion, without attri-
buting to them any participation in the direction or wheals
tration of penitentiary establishments."
A long and stormy discussion immediately aimed. Five
different amendments were successively handed to tke chair-
man ; one or two in favour of retaining the words " religious
usociation," others for rejecting them, or modifying the
Paragraph.
M. Roussel, proposed a 6th amendment, having in view
the retaining of the above words, but declaring that the
members of those associations should he only moral, and not
material agents; and that they should be, moreover, inde-
pendent of the control of their respective religious superiors
whilst in the prisoa, and should be, like the other agents,
under the orders of the director of the establishment.

Another stormy discultion canted, which lasted for mere
than half an hour.

M. ROI:a4EL remarked that be was a philosopher with
respect to religious worship. He had his own creed, and he
followed it ; and yet, unfortunately, he, who had given:a
preference to no creed, bad excited something like a storm.
He only wished to have special moral agents devoted to
religion.
M. DE Maxt:x said that when he wished to omit all dis-
cussion on the question in point, for fear of dividing the No.
grey, he did not think that the meeting itself would show
that he was only acting prudently in making the suggestion
he did. Even if the majority decided in favour of a religions
association, that decision would not be binding upon the
minority, as a case of conscience was concerned.
Dr. N LEMINCKX proposed an amendment, in which the
words " religious associations " should be admitted.
M. DE Bum:MONT said he would support M. Bowies
motion. He felt that the objections of certain gentlemen
to the words " religious associations" were unfounded. We
wish (said M. de B ) that religion should have its full in-
fluence on the prisoners, and there must be some organisa-
tion for that purpose. In a prison composed of a majority of
catholic'', government will have recourse to catholic mods,-
tions. Suppose there are protestant•, recourse may be bad to
protestant teachers. Besides, a society of visitors or patrons,
we wish to have (said M. de Beaumont) a permanent source
of inspection and co-operation. lie expressed the hope that
M. Roussel's motion would be passed.
Sc imeoan: It is a great error to think that in Holland
there axe companies of patrons for the inspection and in-
struction of prisoners. There are ecclesiastics of all kinds,
and he thought it was the same in France. Certainly mem-
bers of religious associations ought not to be excluded, but he
did not think it was necessary to make any particular or-

rangemeot on that score.
After considerable discussion a compromise was effected,
in the shape of a joint resolution, which conceded to govern-
ments the power of organising moral agents for the ameliora-
tion of prisoners, either by means of religious associations or
societies of patrons or other benevolent societies.
On the motion of Mr. de Beaumont, thanks were voted to
Sir G. Grey for sending over Col. Jebb to the meeting. Votes
of thanks were passed to several other parties, and the con-
gress then broke up. A grand banquet takes place this
evening. The time and place of meeting of the next con-
gress will be hereafter stated.