The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENIik,:G, OCTOBER lB, 1855

of amendment, and might be reformed if pains

were taken to instil into him right principles.
The system of instruction accompanied by re-
wards was resorted to, but blindly, feebly, and
with but small results. With some it was every-
thing that was wanted ; with others it was an
idle fancy ; with hardly anybody was it a serious
practical business. Thus, while much good was
done—real permanent good—but too much scope
was left for the cunning impostor, who would be
reformed any way you liked, if, as a reward, you
let him loose. And now, to bring a long story
to an abrupt termination, here we are with our
prisons full—with transportation practically abo-
lished—with the convict population we used to
send abroad burning our fingers—plaintively
imploring, " What are we to do with
our convict population ? We have hanged
them, transported and imprisoned, and in-
structed and rewarded them, and—what are we
to do next ? We can't tell unless it be to ground
ourselves on first principles, and start afresh.
What is the grand object of our wishes ? The
protection of society—what next ? The reforma-
tion, if the means be within reasonable limits, of
the criminal. The first must be insured, charity
t• the many demands it ; the second charity, not
less imperatively, calls for. Starting hence
cool-headedly, and with firm hand and
charitable heart, something effectual may be
arrived at if we persevere. Let the criminal be
made to feel that he is but a secondary consider
ation, and that society is resolved to exact the
uttermost farthing required in self-defence, not
tyrannically, but in obedience to known laws.
Let him feel also that his case is not hopeless,
but that it will be better for him to amend
his life than to persevere in ill-doing,
and in all cases of questionable reformation let
society have the benefit of the doubt. Let the
criminal be as hard-worked, at least in prison, as
he would be out, and as productively as possible,
and in every respect made to feel that society has
been injured by him, and is justified in seeking
amends, and that after a fashion not derogatory
to Christian men. As for the ticket-of-leave sys-
tem, Col. JEBB'S letter respecting which suggested
these remarks, it is quite clear, if his statistics
are to be relied upon, that it has worked better
than many were led to believe, only 96 licences
having been revoked, and 130 relapses taken
place, out of 3,629 cases. This certainly says a
great deal for the present system, which by the
way is, according to his account, bearing the re-
proaches due to its predecessor ; and while the
resolution of the Secretary of State, " that, as a
general rule, every convict shall serve out the
Whole of his sentence of penal servitude," may be
fully warranted by the facts, we would hope a
little more firmness and discrimination in reference
to the liberation of convicts would lead to a pro
fitable relaxation of the rule.

BANK OF ENGLAND.—This Day.

ADVANCE OF THE RATE OF DISCOUNT.

The Bank of England Ininimuni, rate of discount
has this day been advanced to 6 per cent. for bills
not exceeding GO days, and 7 per cent. for bills not
exceeding 95 days.