The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-10-09 00:00:00

'Me tithe out of einployeeeilt, and bowie( expeuelill
the weans of sulisietesee she pledged • shawl, the Peoliwrilr
or, theliereon with sebum; she !edged. She egmoshisi Om the
sense at the Old Bailey, aid gas matelot-ell Itit gig assiothe
iiisprisonesewt in the House of Greedier, Css‘Hosta fiehat.
Her ease became kttowa to the Committee, kg !boas she
was placed in the Temporary Reilly., and every hope Is
euteetaiteed of her beiwg reinstated in • respectsblit
•
hut' of life.
It duel not appear, from inquiries which have
been mrde, that 'this young isoniiim liad made'any
greet prowess.' in crime, or that she bad hero ever
tionisected with wicked or licentious company.—
The shove offence appears to have been her first
deviation from the path of integrity. In her case,
then. the importance of visiting prisons is seen in
a striking point of new. If she had been no-
der the necessity of quitting her confinement with-
out the benefit of immediate protection and sup-
ports lepich she. removed from this soctetga• mike
macs, su ell probability, have returned to, and•
ended her days in, the commis-ioii of ciime.
The success of the efforts to reform the youthful:l
offender in this establishment, has excerded the!.
Committee's meet sa. tome expectation, and at.'
forded sufficient proof that there are few, antis
among the most &linseed, whom kindness will not
soften, and judicious discipline subdue. Yet *but
has been done in the Temporary Refuge, amidst
many disadvantages, may he effrcted with great. r
facility in u prison, where the authority of the law
can be exercised to enforce personal detention and
the observance of the rubs. The Committee are
the more hippy to allude to the success of this
esiublisheaent in reclaiming the youthful character,
Its much difficulty is stated to be felt in m surging
juvenile offenders in ordinary prisons. Hot hots,
in fret, require u species of discipline distiiict from
that of men ; and as the gaols of the metiopolts,
from their crowded state and imperfect constiuc-
tion, do not admit, without couriderahle
.Ilse -
tions, of such arrangements as are necessary to re-
claim these delitiqueuts, it becomes of great itu-
litortance, that it a petiod when crime is making
such rapid progress among the rising generation.
• prison should be built solely for the confinement
of such offenden. It is not the wish of the Com-
mittee that one of three boys should escape cur-
rectioo ; on the contrary, they would inflict a
punishment far more merle and terrible than that
which he now experiences ; imi.risoumrut in the
gaols of the metropolis bring at parent regarded,
by the majority of theca, with comparative audit.-
ference.

The Committee have long been persuaded of the
urgent expediency of a prison for boys—a ineasuie
which has received the recommendation of the
Prison Committee of the House of Lords, and which
will, it is trained. be carried into execution at no
distant period by his Majebty'sGove.rsisnerit.
Before the Clmsswittee quit thatpeet of the sobw
ject they would beg to add, that kw reuses have it
more powerful tendency to corrupt the lower classes
of youth in the metropolis, thou the fairs which are
annually held iu Loudon and its vicinity. They
form, indeed, a rendezvous for the worst description
of the population ; here—thievea and prostituns,
the idle and disorderly, assemble fur the avowed
purpose of mischief and depredation. Crowds of
boys resort to these scenes of profligacy, suit the
Committee have ascertained dust many who have
come under their notice, have commenced at these
places u criminal carerr.
Before the continuance of these fairs should be
tolerated. it ought to be clearly 'hewn that they are
compensated by souse public advantage : but, irs
point of fact. dues society derive from them a single
benefit ? The Comisikee are aware, that to aim
at the suppression of these ssss a, would he
to excite no small degree of popular clamour. On
their behalf is sometimes surged the cruelty of de-
Kirin., the lower classes of the means of recrea-
tion. de-
priving
the poor partake of reef), enjoymegit
that is consistent with their own permanent happi-
ness, and not detrimental to the politer itaterepte ;
but it sitoold be esseisterrd that piteestee was sot
the origami& object or three hater mart reels if it
were, mime fla Mrs& sa the poor weeld wish them
ta iodolige is amusements so injurious, and which
are so dearly purchased—often by weeks. and
sometimes years, of misery sod repeutooce ?

Within the distance of ten miles round London,
thir►y-one fairs are annually held, which continue
eighty days within the spate of seven mouths ; Ike
greater part of them are established by express
charter, or by immemorial usage. They form a
considerable source of property ; but the Legi.hs-
ture, by whom alone these furs could be abolish-
ed, would make pecuniary compensation for arty
ftes that might be sustained; a course which is
always pursued whets private interleave are required
to be Sacrificed to the public good. Other fairs
have sin charter, and are hut of recent origin. To
abolish them would require no parliamentary enact-
ment, and their suppression might, and atsuredly
ought to be immediately effected by the neigh.-
bouring Magistracy.

If there be one of these assemblages more perni-
cious than another, it is that which is annually held
iu the centre of the metropolis. Here the evils in-
tendant on fairs in general seem to be accumulated,
and nearly every species of wickedness abound:.
l'lte fair in Smithfield, from its situabon, is pecu-
liarly attractive to youth. It is well. known that
during the period of its celebration, moil boys are
committed to the City House of Correction. Im-
pelled by thoughtlessness, it frequently happens
that the school-boy or ►ervant-lad joins the assen►-
biage with no criniiu l intent, mud sob. ly urged by
a desire for bombs% plrairsie. Ile finds himself
surrounded by every tempi:llion that can invite the
profligate, and seduce the unwary. His means of
purchasing amusement are soon exhausted ; he min-
gles with the juvenile delinquent, end in an unguard-
ed moment yields to his sugges•iona, and joins him in
the commission of some petty depredation. He is
apprehended and committed to gaol, where his ac-
quaintance with those who have seduced him be-
COOK'S confirmed, and every hour of his imprison-
ment accelerates the ruin of his character. lie is

now file pith as winch histotireirta have re-
ceded hint, whO have go at from the fair to the pri.
ts, from the prison to further sets of comicality.
until their cartels has been terminated by banish.
mewl or death. The offence with which lie is
charged nrey stood seknooledgod t but is it um 6'
some degree occasioned by ineitenooits which 111'4' t
have been removed, and to which he ought ..4it
therefore to have been eitreied ? Are his Mist steps
in crime attributable to his imprudeme &flys as si
does he alone awe it reprehension ? If he Who pre-
vents the temptation be implieuted in its room-
(turners. no small spare of tespotaibiiity sal
thole who can attests% year after year, lilt it jouthia
effects of thill disgraceful assemblage, without k-
tug a single effort towards its entire •biolition.
Although the Committee consoler the ditisisioit
of iefiaritintimi iu this country to be their primary
object, thorium' muffed themselves of every op-
port thoty of circolatistee their pubheat our, and
other works on ;mom discipline, its foreign cowories.
In their hue Report the Committee atameuticed she
formation of a Prisms Discipline Society in littssi
:and that this Society owed its eataOlistimetit to the
Indefatigoble exertions of a valuable member of
Committee. Mr. Wetter Venn Those wh..
hive prsus.d the former Reports of this Sociesy
will sympathise with the Committee in their feelings
of deep regret. when they learn the death of ilia
gentleman. Assiduously t tk.otged in visiting one of
tile prisms. in St. Petessburgh, Mr. Ve 000000 ig coil-
teaseled a fever, dish teldtiiiiited his existence wt
the 10th Jaiiiiiiry last.
Soon after the formatioa of the Society Mr. Vett-
Wog joined the Committee, and aviv essentially
raiiiiitmod, by his exertions, to the socceve of
their labours. He was 11111Ailigible in visiting hie
gaols of the metropolis, and cyrr earliest in lot
endeavours to restore the et Mho bait tsprvi4ll),
the youthful offender, to the paths of ruliglim and
virtue. During his late residence in Russia, a
period of ieatly four years, his time has been ov_
iseasitigly devoted to the ameliniation of the gaols
iii that titiotry. He presented to the E.r., erur
Alexander a memorial, forcibly 'miming out the
great nazi I advautsges that result flout the jai..
Domenico of prison dtsciyl tie. aml the wisdom mot
practicability of rendering puniehinent the instiu-
Meta of reformation. The justice of these viers
was ockhooledged, and to c arry them into flee:,
an Association was formed at St. Petersburg's, under
the Imperial is:auction. Th. Association has beau
productive of extesisive good, by introducing im-
provements in the construction of places of eds.fiite-
anelit, and regulation. calculisted so preserve tl e
health. and promote the moral and religious lisle-
rests of the chrome'. It is needless to add, that
to these philanthropic labours Mr. Vecting rah-
firmly shared : and lung, very long, will the wreteii..
ad mad the redly confined in the prisons of the
Russian empire, have remota to revere his name, said
bless ha memory.
The Committee linv:ng thus briefly adverted to
the public services of their deceased throat, might
heir close; but they cannot forbear to indulge, h r
one motorist, in the remembrance of those Christians
virtues, sod that unaffected meekness, which distil)~
gtsfsliett his life, and adorned his character. Ili prose-
, cutiug his public labours, his conduct was marked
by undeviating firmness. No prospect of personal
danger, or consideratious of domestic ease, could in.
dace him to relax in his noble efforts. He sacrificed
health, interest, comfort, and society, to eticousiter
vice, misery, &aim., awl even death. Like llowsro,
he was devotee' to the task of assuaging the unseio,..
and promoting the improvement, of his fellow crea-
ture., and like him fell • victim to hisexertions. Yet,
though sternly resolute in the pursuit of duty, Ins
heart was formed of wilderness, mid ever alive to
its softest appeals. The niost wretched shared tits
sympathy, isor did lie spare soy reel tion to reclaim
the vicious, and befriend the foisekeo. His I.le
was throughout regulated by th it religion, the
f • s of which are piety to God, and broevolehe.,
to Mali.

The Committee trust that they skill Le excused
this short digression. iu presenting a faint tribute to
the I ttttt mired mensinv of their departed fiiend. cut
off in the vigour of as., and iu the midst of useful-
tses end while they would humbly confide in the
:..psudness of Divine Providence. to raise up instru-
ments to supply the loss mess:word by droll', they
would deeply impress on their own minds the neces-
sity of increased exertion in the service of humanity.
end the importance 'of labouring diligently in the
curiae while it is day. seriue that " the night cuateth
wherein no man can work."

It is gratifying to obrerve, that tt,e patriotic zeal
in which the St. Petersburgh society origmatee,
cootitima to animate its suporter.. The arva•al
prisons in the Russian dominions are in a train u 1
jewel:ligation, and important improvements in thrli
management are drily introduced. An auxiliary
Prison Society ha. bran loomed at Cronstrdt, under
the Imperial patronage, and from the eminent clia..
racier• who are perounally engaged in its maiiti.o--
meta, much benefit is likely to result frutu to %L..-
blishment.

...
In Sweden and Norway, the 1.111/Ise of pri•oo .ri•-
ciplitre is likely to prosper. A respectate:e so
intelligent physician, Dr. Doha, of
been fur some hone past eiigaged U.
the Continent, aiiil in this country, tinder the aus-
pices of the Swedish and Norwegian Goverinuems,
fur the purpose of collecting iiifornistioni Midi% -
to .the management of prisotis and hos/pilots.—
During his stay ill this country, the Committee, 4:
their weekly meetings, were frequently favoureii
with the company of this Gentleman : and from
the great attention which hr paid to the objects of
his suimion, and the correct views which hr etitel -
tinned en the subject of prison discipline. there is
every reason to hope that his country will derive
important Genefits from his re.earches.
The Committee have lately received accounts
of the proceedings of the Royal Society of Fraller
fur the amelioration of Prisons. - Cosaissitters ha% e
been funned for the purpose of drawing up instruc-
tions to the Magistrates of that kingdom, and herr-