The National Register.
London, England, 1819-02-28 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

quence of the bad state of the Prison.. That view was cor-
rect to a degree; bin those who Med that opinion, shoeld
look also to the many salutary Statutes passed during the pre-
sent reign for the regidatinn of prisons. It was impossible
not to admit there haul been a lamentable increase of crones
within flie last (WO or three years ; yet they could not stint
their eyes to the late distresses of the kingdom, occasioned
by the high price of provision, the great demand fur labour,
and the simultaneons diseliet go of the Army and Navy. All
those causes con' not fail to produce ail increase of et tones.
Independent, however, of tlio.e causes, Parliament ought
to correct the state of the Gaols, and consider whe-
ther the adoption of salutary regulations would not pro-
dace a remedy for the evil at present arising from the
crowded state cf the prisons. It was advisable to look
well to the cans,: of the increase of crimes, and see what
was best to be dune to check the mass of iniquity, the crimes
which swelled the catalogue year after year. Some had at.
tribute' this increase to a sanguinary criminal code, and
ftequrncy of punishment. A reference to the returns from
1749 to the present day, of convictions and punishments,
would prove that the convictions and executions had nut
been excessive. 'There was no evidence to prove that the
laws were sanguinary. On the contrary, they had been ad-
ministered perhaps with too h lenity. With respect to
transportotiuti to New South Wales, all moist admit the dread
of that punishment was diminished ; and as the number of
transports had so mach increased. it Was an contemplation to
enirire whether another establishment Might not be formed
for the te'ost abandoned convicts. In the hulks a good re-
gulation Isnd bet'u made. The convicts had an interest in be-
having well. lustastees had occurred in which testimonials
of good behaviour had gained the individuals their liberty
when their term of imprisongse:t had but half expired. 'The
NoldeViscount then drew the atteur:ou of the House to the
advantages arising from the introduction oi:rades and Indus.
try into prisons. Hard labour should be rat front of'
fedders ; but they should have the benefit of learning id the
course of their confineineut, some useful occupation, by
which they might ildrio
Iv meintain themselves and their
famalies when released froin
p.l„;zhinent. At the same time
the prisoner, treated wills humanity, se,,oid feel that he had
been punished, and Ku out wills an idea which 'Zooid deter
him from the commission of crime in future. Prison rep-
lotions were to be attended to upon the Penetentiary plan ;
and although some inconvenience might arise with eespect
to expense in the erection of buildings to carry into effect
.proper arrangements, the Committee would nut abandon
their plaits on slight grounds. The Noble Viscount cou-
eluded by nosing, that a Select Committee be appointed to
take into consideration the several papers laid on the table,
by command of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, on
the 19th, 23,1, and LStlr of February inst. relative to the state
of gaols in Ettglaild and Wales, and several other matters
Limit:in contained ; and to report thereon.
The Marquis of beetesuoweia considered the motion only
objectionable inasmuch as it did Not give sufficient directiou
to the Committee. They wield have to consider 730
Acts of Parliament, connected with the criminal laws, before
they could furnish the House with hifortuation as to what
were the regulations to be adopted. On that ground lie ob-
jected to going into a Committee without they were fur-
nished with additional direction. They might, under the
direction then proposed to be given, report a better but more
equal mode of punishment ; also a proper distinction to be
made between prisoners before and after punishment. Pri•
sons were defective if they slid not afford one mode
of treatment bekre convictiou and another after,
if they did not prevent. that contaminating ettes.t
which lead inoreased climes, it would be desirable
that the 'Committee should devise means to bring such
reports tar the state of prisons before the public as might
tend to correct and dinduish crimes. Lastly they should
establish that species of labour which should be observed by
prisoners. The Noble Marquis did not propose any ameud.
mein.

The motion was then carried ; and Lord Sidnutsth moved
that the Committee do consist or the folloo hag Lords :

The Lord Chancellor, Loed Whitworth,
I The Lord President, Lord Beauchamp.
'the Marquis of Lansdowne, The Bishop of Chester,
The Earl of Carnarvon, The tii•hop of Landall,
The Earl of Liverpool Lord Holland,
The Earl of Lauderdale, Lord Kenyon,
Earl Mulgrave, Lord Aueland, .
Lox' Lonadalr, and others.

The above Lords will, of course, form the Committee.
After some dilcuasion on the employment of child'eu is
the cotton factories, during too many hours iu the day, the
House adjounied.