The Express.
London, England, 1849-01-30 00:00:00

PRISON DISCIPLINE.

The diaaunioa cot Mr. Posroon's proposition was
resumed last ~Wig, at the Alberspe Literary I ostitatio• ;
She Itu. Dr. Mire, Master of Christchurch hospital, in
Ike chair.
The Rev. Yr. ROWE,chaplaisof Horsemonger lane Gaol,
maid that a great deal bast bun said about the septette eye
toss, and their attontien bad been called over and over again
to the gnaw proud is MWbeak and Reading prisons, in
order to make it appear that the rystem pursued in them
ins bed ; bet he contended that it was nit fair to ter •
sperm by one or two particular branchu of It. He
had re-milted (Adel document*. and he had found that
the (.4.4 of the prison et Readies was unquestion-
ably vary great; but satisfactory press had bep as.
signed for this. He found by looking at the prison
statistics that the annual cost was for the cells in Reading,
IV7I. per call, sad as the prism at Widtefield it was 1261
per cell, but thou who supported Mr. Pouson'is resolutiona
said nothing of Wakefield simply lissanes it did not pit their
purpose. Of 3.666 porn ns whom he had examined is prisons,
he found that 77 hod been commercial travedersandattornies'
clerk.. three had hewn medical students, and two anomie%
He would recommend that an asylum be built for the recep-
tion of criminals who were to be imprisoned for short periods,
sad that they should be provided with the sea varies of life
for a short time alter the it discharge. It had bun stated by
Mr. Pearson in his proposition that he coal I surround 1,000
sous of land with a suhetantial wall for 100,00 W. ' • but he
(Mr. Rowe) had bees infuriated by competent judges of the
matter that handl not is done for lose than GI per yard.
Mr. II DIXON said it appeared to him that the systems of
prison discipline at present adopted were three :—First, there
was the separate system, of which they had heard so mach.
Thee there was the silent system, which, he believed, was
adopted in most of the prisons in the United Kisedom ; and,
hotly, there was the non-intervention system. He had as
great an objeethe to the separate system as Mr. Pearson
himself, and although it was adopted ia Reatliag Gaol, he
did not hesitate to state that, with ail its faults, it was infi-
nitely preferable to Gillemr-street and Newpte Prisons.
He had wend on asking inquire that there were no less
than forty-ma large gaoh in England conducted on the
mums system, and they contained 6,022 separate cells.
He believed the average cost per cell was 20W.
Arta taking all the cells of the prisons he had alluded to at
this cost, he found that the total cwt woad I be 1,224,40 W ,
and with other pals (which he had not included) this sum
would amount to two millions starling per YAM. Hs be-
lieved also that twenty new gaols were to bo built, which
would further increase the annual *sunset for prisons by
one million and a half. They had bees referred to the
report of the commissioners of Pentonvills, and they had
been reminded of the high position and character of those
gentlemen ; but ha confessed he had very little faith in that
report, for those who had draws it up had found out that
the system adopted in Pontonvills Prison would not de, and
they were at present modifying it. He could have wished
that the hon. gelation's& (Mr. Peeress), when making his
statement, had entered more folly into We detailsof his plan.
He (Mr. Dixon) thought it would be difficult for him to
show how • thousand men, poisoning little or no knowledge
of agriculture, pull, when placed over a thousand acres of
valueless lead, obtain a livelihood.
After SOON further observations from the Rev. Mr. Coosa
and Mr. BCAMSOIOI7OIII, Mr. Dentin% M.P. for Bucking.
hanntaire. , and Mr. BA/MITT seconded, an amend.
meat on r. WSW. resolution, which was lost by a large
majority.
Mr. CHAS. PEARSON M.P., said he should do great
injustice to the cause in which he had engaged if, at that
late hour, he attempted to reply at length to the arguments
which hid bun urged against hil proposition, but he could
sot consent to an adjournment without making some ob-
servations with reference to what had been stated by those
who had preceded him. He had made a proposal to some
of these gentlemen who opposed his proposition to the effect
that two or three of them should, in conjunction with a like
number of his friends, visit prisons that they might test the
accuracy of the statements he had suds, for he was certain
that if sultan inquiry were made the truth dills assertions
would be made apparent. He again made the lam proposal,
but`those whom he had invited had thought property decline.
In replying to the arguments of those who opposed him, he
would not use ironical expressions which had been freely in-
dulged in by his opponents, excepting as applied to the sys-
WM to which hie propositions related. After some observa-
tions with referent* to the statements of those who opposed
IP proposition, the hon. gentleman proceeded to state that
he had just received the ananal report of the chaplain et
Nowpte prison, and from that report it appeared that he
arrangements were not as perfect as th ht to be, bet
emu as it was he would contrast it witheßeading gaol, awl
leave the meeting to decide as to the respective mints of tk•
Istablishments. He found that, out of 3,166 prisoners k
Newest' is the year 1847, 400 had been preriewsly
sanuaitted, which was in the proportion of sheet
one in eight of the total number thea imprisoned, and there-
fore seven out of eight were in prison for the first time.
Whil.t in Reading gaol, which Mr. Dixon had characterised
as so touch superior to say of the metropolitan prisons, he
found that out of the number of 2,669, 163 had been previ-
ously in prison, which wee in the proportion of 2 in 11 in
Pail', and 2 in 9 in 1646. He found from a colonial news-
paper (:he Mercury of Anetralia) that the basins of the
puke. cakes in that colony bad increased fourfold
in consequent* of • large amber of persons who had been
inmates of SW prisms having been seat oat as emigrants by
the government. It being 11 o'clock the Wm gentleman
said he would rams the escdmisa of his Warms until
Monday the 6111 Feb.
A vow ef thinks was then siren to the 'Libman and the
meeting sdlenmed.
TR Paoraiii .
_ _a OMITS WITHOUT • LTADTH.—A•
the =Pry struggle approaches, we understand that
her"ta opposition bas been sadly puzzled to find •
preetutable knee for the lower house to supply thegreat
void left
mi stir lammed death of Lord George
The ..* poiar to Lord Granby. Mr. Darnell ',Mots
M himself. Not big I. the seeress of the protestlonht
7eann de we own than give the mutest is
disks. limmaree says that the mantis
dmermdad as the shasidses of Mr. Henke, who, in maw
wawa tithe may dm ased pada of late at which he eaters
. vow ma Moises dads, is to in misted by Mr. G. Beaks.is eh that Wafts It esmilsy seam It Is shoo said—bet we
tis oat woe Me tholoworaqorthorliwr—that Lord etaaloy,
sa th• siewsi kNaelth " alifs induced to write
a progrzesietter to ma._with a view to deprecate
Its Wein dies poi tm t f Ms
=hiatus isagingnafter the wept leadership'a to which"'°
the
Wilt, 001111111111161. Is r. peewit ep hays i'
Teta that he wee
womb engaged is rural pursuits and pleasures that he so
probably not be enabled to devote an, thing like paw')."
attar, lance to his parliamentary duti '- promise a • • slant
es—a vole we
aped as little expect him to keep as ...hood LA-
Brougham himself. L'ke the eccentric nobleman, whom h
reftiobles in ups respects, we shall be disappo' la' We
, we
cont, es, unless we see Mr. Disraeli in his place in the Hones
of ( ininions, repeating those bitter serums aitainst his old
political friends foe which he has gained so tiappy a nolo.
arty . The protectionist, talk very big, we understand, of

in amendment to the eddies on the foreign policy of Groat
SAW*. There is also a telk h mallee--of in amain&
meat in favour of a used duty on tai imp:attics of frreign
eorn—but it is sot at all likely that they mill mime to the
assault upon any eaeh forlorn hope, as either el these tortes
would tiara them a merlons intoonnter.—Obeweer.

Tax Fa's= MAlLB.—Sir,—lt sow appears that
the coneepondence between London and Paris is to be ear
veryed by the direct rotate, vita Boulogne, eight months of the
year, and throned Calais during the winter month*, front
15th November to 15th Marsh. Consequently the peeks%
will run to sad from Calais from the Ist February until the
15th March next. The stupidity of this ezrargement is ob.
vim. If certain winds are particularly propitious to the
parmge to or heat Calais, how is it ascertained that they will
blow from the 15th November to the 15th Much ? And will
not the lase of two hours and a half in the time allowed fir
the tea voyage, in consequence of the greater distance of the
land route, render the use of boat. to land or embark the
despatches so much more frequently necessary at Calais
during the four winter mouths than at Boulogne daring the
rest ef the year, as to much mote than balance any surposed
superiority of the anchorage off Calais is rough weather?
It this extraordinary arrangement is finally agreed to, it
will certainly be found, not only that delays in the arrival
of the mails will be more fr. quoit from the 15th November
to the 15th March than at any other period of the year, but
that the service imposed on the captains of the mail-steamers
is also hardest in that period. If the shorter route is pre-
ferable for eight months of the year, why should the ad-
vantages presented by it be r. jetted in the other four ? If
the captains of the mail seamen are so firmly per-
suaded the perm' to Calais is more easy in certain
weathers, let them have permission to go there under such
eireumetances i and let means of transport be provided there
to take the mail bags on to Boulogne ; but only impeei the
delay rrulting from this change of route on the pubic,
when i• it necessary, and not in an arbitrary manner during
any particular portion of the year. It could hardly be sup-
posed the captains of the mail steamers would often find it
neonrary to inconvenience the public by availing them-
selves of such a privilege, when the steamers from Folkesteme
to Boulogne were able to get moose every day during the
whole year 184 S, with only one exception. and never ones
found it requisite to run for Calais.—U.—Landon, January
26, 1849,

CitoLatta.—Yeaterday the Board of Health received
reports of the following fresh sun: Lambeth, 1; High
Hill Ferry, Claptee, 6, 2 fatal; Wandsworth, 3 fatal;
Whiteehopel, 2; Gateshead, 7, 2 fatal; Milehem. 7, 1 fatal;
Stadley (Warwick), 3, 1 fatal: Edinburgh, 3 fatal; Glas-
gow, 27th, 37, 7 total ; Ditto, 28th, 72, 20 fatal; Riccarton,
10, 1 fatal; Greenock, 10, 3 fatal; Old Mookland, 37, 10
fatal; Charleston, Dunfermline' 1 fatal; Paisley, from 20th
lost., 156, 78 fatal ; Selkirk, 3, 2 fatal ; Dunblane, 1 fatal ;
Loudon, 12, 3 fatal; Alva, Stirling, 1 fatal ; Doune, 2 fatal;
C. &manna, 24, 11 fatal ; Row, by Helensburg, 1 fatal.—
Taal new cuss, 393, 163 deaths.
ROYAL GENERAL ANNUITY SOCIETY. —The Mi-
ami meeting of the members of this society au held yes-
terday, at the London Tavern, to receive a statement
of the amounts, appoint officers for the ensuing year.
end to elect six annuitants cn the funds. A. W. Roberts,
Esq, in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting
having been read and confirmed, the secretary proceeded to
read the report, from which it appeared that since the last
annual on cong 4881. had been invested in the Inett:s, which
made the society's total fulled property amount to
2,2421. Go. 104. The subscriptions for the past year
amounted to 3261. 18s. 62., being the largest subscrip-
tion for the list sixteen years, and exceeding the
subscription of the previous year by 1201. The monthly
pensions of the annuitants had been increased as follows:
Ti,:. Men from 11. 12a. to 11. 183. ; women from 11. 4s. tc
11. Is. And the directen confidently hoped that they would
shortly be in a petition to locreue them to the maximum
amount, which would make the pensions of th. men 21. 65.,
and of the women 11. 10a. per month. Twenty-eight per-
son were at present partaken of the benefit, of the society,
and the number would be increased to thirty-four by that
election. The report also stated that amongst those who had
applied for assistance to the society w• re four merchants, two
widows of wereSants, the daughter of a baronet, the widow
of a banker, and many other highly respectable persons. The
total receipts for the past year were 1.6131. 18s. 3d.. and the
expenditure 1,6051. Ss. 9d., and of this sum 6701. 3s. 9,1. had
been invested in three far cent. consols. It was then moved
by the Rev. Wm. Henry Jones. and seconded by Mr. Lnsid-
nan, that en asylum he erected in connexion with the testi-
Union, and that a special fund ho opened for that purpose.
Carried. The following is a list of the successful candidthes,
and the numbers polled by each:—Men—Ralph Austin,
1 915 ; James Forsyth, 724 ; John Woods, 613 —Women—
Ann Thonsington 3,248 ; Eliza Hudnall", 2802 ; Mary
Artie, 2,004. A ;ote of thanks having been voted to the
chairman, the proceedings terminated.
FOREIGN WATCHES SOLD AT THE CUSTOM-HOUSE.
Early last year 326 watches were seised from being entered
at to.. low a value, and paid for with the addition of 10 per
cent. as usual in tlll4ll cases. They were subsequently en-
Mred for sale as gold watches in the usual manner, attakgue
printed, and exhibited with the other goods for sale. It was
then diseovered that they were not gold, bat metal so well
gilt as to deceive arty but those very conversant with the
Witness, and in cossequelne withdrawn. They have again
been brought forward in the present year, and are entered in
the Wakens es merely watches, but with oriole attached
upon which the advances are to be mad* quite as high as
though they were gold mashes. TM Clechmakers' Com-
pany have thought fit to put the public on their guard re-
specting these imitation geld articles by advertising their
true character in the Daily New and other papers.
IMPORTATION OF GOLD FROM CALIFORNIA.—The
Charles Brownell, arrived at Liverpool from Valparaiso, has
brought gold ben to the value of 15,0001., which had been
received at that port from California.
The SALE OF THE STOWE LIBRARY wu cOn-
Hotted yesterday. A rare copy of " Lnion's Topographical
Account of Buckinghamthire," illustrated with a rich as-
semblage of about 480 original drawings, a great portion of
which are beautifally finished in colours, by Buckler, Trot-
ter, Neale, Reed, Alexander, De Coot, and ether celebrated
arusts,—with several hundred shields of arms emblazoned,
and upwards of 360 portraits of eminent personages connected
with the county of Iluckin.thimshire, very many of the lat-
ter bang proof impresVons from private plates by Bartoloui,
Cooke, Farthonse, Vertuc,Ward, doe., the whale very neatly
inlaid in 8 vols., was sold for 6101., and Is now restored to
the family, having been purchased on the instruction of Lady
Grenville. Another important lot was a copy.of " Lyson's
Environs of London and the Middlesex Parishes," large
paper, illustrated with upwards of 1,000 original draw-
ing', chiefly finished in odours, end some in colours and
geld, 17 vols., Russia extra, 1331.

- -
A MODEL WATER COMPANT.—A water company
in Bunderlouid supplies 400 poor familia, gratis, with ser-
vice pipes and water.tspe in their houses, and with an us.
limited supply of water at the rate of one penny per week.—
Bradford (Sommer.
REGISTRY OF ESTATES.--Bir,-1 hate read your
observations " on the want of a general registry of deeds for
Ragland," with many of which I fully concur. A re.
mark or two trike me as not inappropriate. You
complain that the discussion of this question has been
protracted (or • period of 16 years. This complaint
scarcely reaches the full extent of the evil it points at. It is
now 138 years (I believe) sines the example of such a registry
bin been set in Ireland, aad we do not filed that the repeal
of the Irish Registry Act of 1711 (I speak only from me-
awry) has ever bent urged upon the grounds put forward by
you as the popular objections to a similar enactment in Rap
land. Nor do I believe that on examination it would be
found that evils nth as those have arisen from the inatitu-
tios of a user& registry °Mae in Ireland, while vast benefits
have indubitably been conferred by it on the owners of
estates in that country, and eminently so in cases like that
which induced your observations. Let me now, u "an Iri.h
soticitor," hastily point out some few features of our Registry
Act which it may be well to avoid. The labours of the
houses of parliament in last session on the Incorabered
hum/a Bill for Inland have developed some of the raischieh
of leaded proprietors Is that country, but it does not
to me that the scares of many of those evils has been
Indicated—nor does the attention of the le/illation appear to
have been pointed to it. Much these from an unwise eagerness
to avail of the oases of this very registry act, and of similar
provisions, as in the mad= of ens or more mortgagee cones.
quest upon as colgissi mortgage, and the registers of liens
on land arising from judgmeats in the courts of law. The
force of these liens has ben lately extended, and whereas
they formerly only affected real estates (or lands held in fee
or freehold) by • late enactment it has been declared that
they are equally a charge on chattel interests in land or
tenements, sad a like character has been conferred on several
classes of orders of courts of law and equity which previously
ranked nearly on a par with simple etatract debts. I be-
lieve that thus investing the judgment or order of the court
for however small an amount with the character of a perms,
vent ,ies on every tittle of land powered by the debtor bas
worked mask of the evil emplaned of in 'reload, end
although I &namable to prescribe a remedy, I think it right
to caution ea against it. Ido this the more willingly from
the hope But a chance suggestion such as this may possibly
anted the attention of some better able than I am to propose
a node of Salim with the ears of incumbered estates in
heland.—Ace hang Sotterron.

---
FIRE AT THE EAST LOI4EOOII BAZAAIL—Ixot oven-
lag, between 6 sad 7 o'clock, a ate beet set In the gismo of
mereihmallhe nod by the Jewish panoseelem fee Ike disposal
of waft apparel, known as the Ben Loin Beim, inm-
ate la Zapf likateuvet, like elms. The gamine, which
covered se rasa of wend shaded spare feet, conta!ned, at
the doe tithe enthreak, the slosh in trade of a large nom-
tut- of Jowl* adman red gemmed dealers. Information
of the man& wee green* fennimied to the brigade eta-
tine, sod elz or seven emsfsem wen Igiehly despatched to
the Nese w seallegratism. The Mesta upon forting
eke how, hood • somber of ems filled with
goods, is lase is several of the cross, in a general
blame- at the lame time the dames wen =Wading along the
roof id* gnat vapidity, and is gin of not toneate of
water Wog emotherad nor the fltz2l,ine use pea 11
o'elositocepti=were eddy el God sot a
quantity of Prortety beet destroyed,
rem
heibilat_extensively horned.
INQUESTS, YISSISIDAT.—SUICIDE IPROX FEAR.—
' Belem 3(r. W. Baker, at the Hone-shose, Gowen siren,
es the body of Antall; Clarke, aged 41, the wife of a linseed
victualler, sad landlord of the above bone.—Caroline Con,
servant to deceased, stated that hermaster and misuses lived
together on very happy terms until a fortaight shin, when
• quarrel reamed between them, arising from jealousy on
her put. On Thursday week, her master heard the do.
ceased joking with ore of the lodgen, which appeared greatly
to melte him, but he said nothing at the time. About half-
gait 11 o'clock at night he 'Tent up stairs to bed; shortly
ally/wank the deceased closed the house and west to her
bodT3olll, followed by witness. They hadrnot been
It the bedroom assay minutes when the street-door