Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-09-12 00:00:00

JUDICIAL STATISTICS.

In the annual " Judicial Statistics," in the Pailia-
mentary volume for last year, recently published, a mass
Of useful information is afforded. Some of the revelations
made by Mr. Samuel Redgrave, in the Criminal Registrar,
are astounding, and the compilation must have, been a
work Of great lahour. The number of the criminal
classes at large amount to 134,922 in England and Wales.
These live by. the plunder and vices of the community ;
to-day in wasteful , extravagance, to-Morrow in' want.
Each spend less than £25 yearly, though they cost the
public double that sum. This amounts to £7,746,109,
which, added to the charges for the expense of offenders in
jail, shows the' criminal classes entail an annual expense
on the Community of not less than £10,000,000. The
constabulary force in England and Wales consists of
20,256 persons, which is an increase on the preceding
year. The total cost of such police last year was
4447,019 3s. 7d. There are 138 detective officers.
In September last the criminal classes numbered 160,346,
and of that. number 134,922 were at large. Of the
criminal' classes mentioned in September there were
101,657_ males and 58,689 females. The youth of both
sexes form a large-proportion, being 18,807, or 13.9 per
cent.. There- are • 3,122 houses of receivers of stolen
goods, 2,402 public houses, the resort of thieves
and prostitutes, besides other houses of -a. similar
description, numbering in the whole 7,096. There
are 7,915 brothels and houses of ill-fame, and 6,987-1
tramps' lodging houses, making 15,120 houses of bad
character. The number of felonies committed in the
year ending September last was 57,868. In the same
period .30,458 persons „were apprehended. Last year
there were 85,472 persons charged with " drunkenness,"
and of that number 51,861 were convicted. The assaults
committed were 83,086 in number, and of these 49,873
were convicted. A larger number of offences were dealt
with summarily under the Criminal Justices' Act and
Juvenile Offenders' Act. Proceedings were adopted against
24,636 common prostitutes, and the number at large was
28,760. There were in the year 1858 as many as 260,290
summary convictions. Last year there were 19,846 covo-
ners', inquests, being a decrease on the preceding year„
when the number was 20,157. The costs of the inquests.
last year were £58,973, `1 la. 9d., or on an average. of
£2 195. sd. each inquest. Last year 13,246 persons
were sentenced, and of that number 53 were capital'
convictions, of which 16 were for murder. The number
executed was 11, in each case for murder ; they were'
all males, and four of them foreigners—making in the
last three years eight foreigners out ,of 41
for
executed - Something must be radically wrong such
a state of things to, exist. Means must exist to recover
these poOr creatures from the depths of misery and sin
in winch they are plunged.—Globe.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE HUNTING SEASON.-'

winter of the huntsman's discontent is fast becoming
glorious to every pack in the United Kingdom. Litters
of cubs are being divided, and their ranks thinned,
nearly every morning. It affords us great satisfaction
to make known the fact that a belief is growing in high
quarters of the possibility of the co-existence of foxes
and pheasants. We trust the example of non-destroying
may be universally followed. Accounts from all quarters
are most cheering.—The
AFTER DINNER Porxries.,7--What a wonderful insti-
tution is a public dinner,!. 'lt is a plant indigenous to
Britain, a real native production, racy of the soil. Every-
body goes to public dinners at one time or another, and
every, conceivable object is dined about or dined against.
The London season begins about March, rages with
great fury in June and July, and falls when the grouse
do. Then it is that the provinces take to dining apropos
of everything, and keep on dining till thp Ist of February.
Do we want to build an hospital ? We dine ; and
cancer or fever. blindness or deafness, are made war
against with the knife—and fork. Does Mr. Overseer
Bumble earn the gratitude of Stoke Pogis by his stern
repulsiveness to paupers, thereby saving the parochial
funds twopence three farthings a week ? We dine in
his honour. Is a man made M.P., or alderman, or
bishop, or beadle, or judge ? We dine. Is he defeated
in his election, and does he need consolation ? We dine
also.' In short, every one, at all times, in all places, for
all reasons, conjugates the verb "to dine" in this happy
land of ours.--11Peekly Mail.

TRE HON. GRINTLEY F. BERRELRY.—This distin-
guished gentleman and sportsman, whose -writings on
matters connected with' the chase have made his name
almost as much a household word amongst his brother
sportsmen on this as on the other side of the water, is
now on his way to the United States, through which
he purposes to make a short but comprehensive tour,
devoting his time to the study of our national resources
in the war of fur, fin, and feather, agriculture, and stock
raising. Mr. Berkeley's experience in, and enthusiastic
love of, these subjects, will find a wide field for study and
reflection upon this continent ; though we do not doubt
that any increase 'of knowledge he may chance to ac-
quire whilst with us will be returned to us with handsome
interest, in the way of hints and suggestions, when Mr.
Berkeley returns home. Perhaps to so ardent a student
—we ought, perhaps, rather to say, so great a master—
of natural history and science as Mr. Berkeley, the im-
mense variety of animal life to be found here will be a
source of interest, deep and expansive enough to last a
lifetime, and then our, to him, novel modes of hunting,
and strange species f game. We are afraid the hare
and fox, and carted stag, with all their brave accompani-
ments of pink coats and well-matched hounds, will
appear rather tame in his eyes after a' month of deer-
hunting in Virginia, and a buffalo chase or two across
our W;stern_prairies.—New Fork Spirit of the Times.
CAPTAIN HARRISON, OF THE GREAT EASTERN.—At a
very early age Captain Harrison, whose nautical predi-
lections were absolutely irrepressible, selected in a some-
what self-willed manner the profession he has ever since
follolved. .He was afterwards apprenticed in regular
course, and that the man was cut out by nature to cern-
mand ships rather than to serve in them may be
gathered from the remarkable fact that before he was
out of his time he was captain of a vessel. It was in
the East and West Indies, and on the coast of 'South
America, that the earlier years- of his career were passed.
Here for some eight years he was in command of free-
traders, sailing ships; and in the course of the numerous
squabbles among the rival_powers in the last-named
region, was more than once in action, hanßling his ship
on all occasions as a good officer and courageous man.
Subsequently to this period he went into the 'service
of the Cunard line of Atlantic steamers, and-continued
in this position for the fifteen years immediately-pre-
ceding his engagement with the Eastern Navigation
(now the Great, Ship) Company. _ During this period
he commanded several w.ell-known vessels., It .was during
his command on the Cunard line that sonic of the' gen-
tlemen connected with the direction of the Great Ship
and also with that of the Grand Trunk in Canada Line,
having frequent occasion to- crog the Atlantic, had
opportunities of observing, the abilities, of Captain Har-
rison, and thesesult was an overture to take charge of
the Leviathan then 'building, • 'Captain Harrison- is a
little more than midway. between forty and fifty; his eye,
quick, sharp, and penetrating.; his head, voice,- and
general bearing denoting rapid perception and quick
determination ; his manner remarkably straightforward,
honest, and courteous, even for a sailor.
DR. SmETRURST'S REPRIEVE.—There seems to be
great reason to fear that the Home-office has acted, not
upon a conviction bated upon the evidence, but upon a
vague, and for the most part grossly ignorant; clamour
raised' by a number of people who wrote to the news-
papers—as often as not anonymously. That what is
called public opinion should be allowed to have the very
slightest weight in a case of this kind is one of the
greatest calamities that could befal us. The object of
:criminal justice is not to gratify-the passing- inclinations
of he majority, lut to carry out certain rules. It is its
ob ect toput m
i
m•derersto death, to transport robbers, and
to mprison thieves, with the most perfect indifference to
ifeelingsii iasQnfadt. hhe
dye ot
hi
purposeni
gn n, i tyo..
expressingf.
aI fg
great
cer
ai notu it
nation,i
el a .wbiust profound l
tehs se
.tfhe ea con-
victionin
ings of sympathy or antipathy entertained by an indefi-
nite and undefinable crowd. No one who had paid
reasonable attention to the subject,,and Who had any
' adequate notion of the nature of evidence, could read
without the most profound contempt the floods of letters
which filled the •columns of the newspapers on. Dr.
Smethurst's case; nor could they reflect without disgust
uponthe fact that, if the crime had been less conspicuous,
if the criminal had been a man below the position of a
fienpugmetlreaisgnanwhsrat,nr
,eanndotifitnhewtarniatl
of
famd taafkteertagl when r te
columns,ne w s-
be .4fore the .public when they wanted something to
have been hung ten times over without exci-
talk about, and when the newspapers waited something
particular notice. Happening, as. he did, to
to, write about, he became a sort of peg for the half-
understood comnomplaces about the one innocent and

the; ten' guilty; men, the difference between probabilities
and certainties, and the other nonsense with which ill-
educated advocates are in the habit of imposing on OW
Bailey juries. Dr. Smethurst
I thour inconsiderable degree .to the very same influences which

owes I

confer an unmerited notoriety on inonstr
berries, showers of frogs, and ladies with .1
children at a birth.—Saturday Review,

REPORTED ACCIDENT TO THE R.M.S.

PERSIA.

Report of the R.M.S. Persia, from Messrs. D. and C.
lifaclver. Extract from a letter : latitude - 50.32,

longitude 14 west.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7.

" Our port engine broke down in a gale on Monday
night, at ten o'clock, the crank pin breaking short off.
The whole of that night there was a tremendous sea ;-

and at three o'clock yesterday, after vainly attempting-
to substitute a new pair, we bore up, intending to make'
Queenstown. We are now (9 a.m.) hove-to, about 300'
miles west of Cape Clear,' alongside the ship Ben Neviss.
(whose captain is very ill) ; and as the weather is mode—
rating, we are again trying to repair damages, and mar
be able to proceed on our voyage. Between Monday'
night and Tuesday morning, the weather was very bad,
but, excepting the crank pin, everything else is °—
.
right, ship quite safe, and passengers well."
From the report of the captain of the ship Ben NeviEL,
who brought the above, Messri. DI and C. Maelver
are of opinion that the Persia proceeded on her voyage,
...having two spare crank pins on board.
The ship Ben Nevis arrived here on Saturday. She
brought the following report from the master of the
steamer Persia,.which she fell in. with in lat. 50.30, len'
14 W. It is .dated September 7 (Wednesday) :—" ptu
port engine broke down in a gale on Monday
-night at ten o'clock, the crank pin breaking
short off. The whole of that night there was
a tremendous sea on, and at three o'clock yesterday?
after vainly attempting to substitute a new-pin, we bore'
up, attempting to make Queenstown. -We are 11011
(nine a.m.) hove to about 300 miles west of Cape Clear,
alongside the ship Ben Nevis (whose captain is very ill);
and as the weather is moderating, we are again trying-
to repair damages, and may be able to proceed on our
voyage. Between Monday night and Tuesday moll
the weather was very bad, but, excepting the c
pin, everything else is all right. Skip quite safe, an'
passengers well."

RAILWAYS IN ALGERIA. - Sir Morton Pete, vlbc:
has been in Denmark during the last.few days, is abew'
to visit Algeria on the business of_ the extensive railivaY
works with regard to which his firm have long been i°
correspondence with the French governnient. The hen'
baronet, it may be remembered, 'left England so long
back as March, 1857, on a similar expedition, but
two years and a half .have been suffered to elapse
without any progress having been made in the matter:
probably, in consequence of the exhaustion inducea,
by the Crimean war, and the distnrbed state' of
Europe since. The lines contemplated; of course, run
inwards from the French. settlements on the coast ; and
although some variations of
.detail may have been Blau°
in the plans, the French official journal some time sine°
annoUnced that the comminications to be. established in the
first instance were from Algiers to Elidah, across the
Metidjah, and from Phillippeville to Constantina, by the
Sam Valley. The length of the works at present contena°
plated is understood tobe altogether about 300 miles. Tbe
Metidjah; it may be.desirahle to observe, is the great level
expanse of 45 square leagues in the immediate vicinity t
Algiers. -The glowing 'reports sent' home' to la belle
France of the agricultural capabilities of this district,
induced a considerable emigration of French -fame°
some time since ; but the enterprise failed to a onti
siderable extent, through the .attack of the Arabs an
the unfavourable swampy climate. . Probably, hosvece,r!
with sufficient drainage, and a pacific government, the
troubles-may be- overcome. Constantin is the principal
town in the Eastern province, and is 50 leagues frog
the coast

AN ANTIQUARIAN VIEW OF THE GREAT EASTERs.:.."
The writer of Town and Table Talk (understood to be .14,1'
Peter Cunningham, son of Allan of that ilk) says :—"l' e
were on the Great Eastern when she quitted her house
off Deptford, and Messrs.. Brunel and Scott Russe
intrusted a long anxiety and a noble offspring to tl?.191:t

pure waters of the Thames and the
waters of all seas. What a noble sight it was to sea
her ! As she left her mooring, and must move if abc
would ever move, there was in every heart
suspense. When the first movement or symptom
motion was felt, the suspense instantaneously ceased; panpr.
what was a- momentary doubt became a confinieu
tainty. What privileged visitors appeared to feel was,'„,),
no way shared, as far as we could observe, b the men wo,,
had her in hand. Mr. Scott Russell -was as calm and
- collected as all great nienhave eYerbeen on great occasions/
The captain (Harrison) was as -self-possessed as Neptua°
himself. The Trinity pilot (Atkinson) was as calm ag
Father Thames himself, and Father Thames seemed `"
recognise the mastery over him. The American ca t 8
p
(Comstock), was no unworthy follower of his friena ant
fellow-seaman Captain Harrison:. It was only right tha,.
the noblest vessel-ever built should be governed by.
captain of the Old World and by
.a captain of the Niew;
Father Thames was in his beSt trim. It was, indeea4
great scene. What would Peter the Great have thong!'
who left Moscow for Deptford to learn the art of shlP.;
building, of a scene like that at Deptford on Tuesa4
last ? What a chronicle of its first voyage from t',3
Pool to Purfleet would Mr.. Pepys have made ! All s.'cji,
great shipbuilders in wood, dead and living, what thin,
you of this triumph ? When Bing Charles I. was Yll4
the floating curiosity of Deptford—in the very import.
the Great Eastern lay—was the ship in which „t
Francis-Drake, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, sre,tl,
round the world. At Oxford you may see a chair, 113,
a clever copy of verses by Cowley upon it, made fr°rs
this very ship of Drake's. When science has fall
a breathless
a century hence (perhaps less) a chair from the irollitt
the Great Eastern may become the mere curiosity °