The National Register.
London, England, 1818-03-29 00:00:00

"The incorporation of one independent kingdom with
another Iva. an event of great Magnitude, and of 'nth vital
importance to each, as to calif forth the attention, affect the
interests, and possibly the future happiness of every indivi-
dual in both countries. I had can • e4l the arguments, and
the pretensions of both parties, and had exercised an opi-
nion on the points in controversy. Moderation was not the
distinguishing character of either patty, in the discussion of
this gnat aationa: i:nestitt.
" While there ls as every appearance that the people of
Ireland were &kola to exchmigo that which Gaslight in the
*vale icr many suhstantial advantages ; yet the sacrifice of
national national inittence, and tiation:il pride,
required to be cuusiderably receis rid and liberally compen-
sated.

The exterior form of the Irish government was corres-
pondent to nor own; but it was only nominally the same.
,
a tie popular part of it depended not oil the people, nor was
'the aristocratieal exclusively inflecnced by the real property
of Ireland. Its ft/1111104MS were ats enornions AS they were
• notorious ; and the devotion of the gdternment to one or other
of the presentee; factious. paralysed its efforts, and stripped
It of the respect anti retifidence of the people. very so-
perficaal knowleilte of the state of Ireland is sufficient to
--show that it warted ell those counterpoises anal balances
-which are a equirvill to gas e a steady direetimi to mixed rums
of government, and by winch alone they arc enabled to res.
• train the violence of popular spirit on the one hand, and to
• controul the ingtesnce of an overweeniair, overbearing aria •
tucracy, on the other. The stipieirie authority and allininls-
tration of Irr.lauil had the outward form, but hail nut the
• 'aneroid spirit—the essence of the British constitution. Tic
• C outs wero the mere puppets of the two great aristocra-
t tieal factions—the people a ferrilit.r in either sek, until Aims
-were put into their hands, and they became the means of
• extorting, front the ;weakness of our comic:is, what ought to
I louse been yielded to Irelaud trout a principle of justice.
bad become so general, so familiar, and so fa.
• el o i ... table, as to extinguish sill sense of propriety, atu: even
• that of shame. 'Remuneration was considered to he expected,
if not actually demanded, nut for public services performed,
;but tr alistainiug to clog the wheels of government. In
power HIM(' was no shade of •difference between one party
anal another; and while profosion 'Mit tolerated, may encou-
raged, in theihnpe of profiting by it, there could be no reason-
able ground to hope for the co-operutiou of a state to remedy
abuses in aliich it so largely participated. The ties which
• hotpot the executive and legislative branches were so slight,
and the influence of Groat 'Britain so weak, that the Irish
• constitution tottered, and was in hourly jeopardy of falling.
• On the part of Ike people, there eineted no alkgiance to the
• constitution -• no affection for the government--no respect
for the laws :—at et while a suffocated antipathy prevailed
against filtir aristmeratical learleib, the latter became identi.
fit ait h the goverment at the country-against them, purely
ani fear, and the consciousness of the absolute necessity of
the strong arm of power to keep the people iu subjection.

" All ranks were dissatisfied, and felt themselves treated
by Great Britain, not as a co-equal empire, but as a conquer.
ed province.
" The estinetiou of such a government can afford no just
reason for regret: The friends to rational liberty, in both
countries, were called on to- support an alteration so likely to
benefit each, by the supgressisu of local prejudices, and the
swasolidation of mutual interests:"
( To Ls Costirsattdds oar arta)

An Inquiry whether Crime and-Misery are prevented or
prodocad by our present. system of l'rison
illustrated by descriptions of the lloroug,k Compter,
UMW l'ields, 4c. 4.c.

By THOMAS FOW BuvroN.

(Coricluded.frota oNrlast.)

• Mr. Burt= then proceeds to describe the injurious
rlfects, of the system of prison discipline, as it actually

fists in too many manners.
" Such then, as I have described, being the rights of all
prisoners, and such our policy,• I maintain that these rights
are violated, and this policy it abandoned in England. The
prisoner, after his commitment is made out, is handcuffed to
a file of perhaps a dozen wretched persons in a similar sitna.
Lion, and marched through the streets, sometimes a consider-
able distance, followed by a crowd of intpndent and insulting
boys, exposed to the gaze and to the stare of every passen-
ger ; the moment he enters the prison, irons are hammered
on to him then he is cast into the midst of a eoutasrand of all
that is disgasting and depraved. (At nicht he ir locked np in
a narrow cell; with, pea haps, lntif a dozen of the worst thieves
in London, or as many vag:anis. whose tags are alive, and
in actual motiwywith ye:min ;, nizy rind hints:lf in het!,
and In bodily contact, between a re Ober and a murderer ; or
between a man with a fool disease (Al one side, and one With
tin infextionsd;sioller on the other. lie may spend his days
deprived of free air and wholesome exercise. He may he
prohibited from following the handicraft on which the sub-
sistence of his family depends. lie may be half starved for
• want of food and clothing, and fuel. Ile may be compelled
to mingle with the vilest of mankind, and in self defence, to
adopt their habits, their language, and their sentimi iits ; he
may hecume a villain by actual compulsion. His health must
be impaired, and may he ruined by filth and contagion: and
as for his morals. purity itself could not c. manic pure, if ex-
posed. we any leugah• of time to the toddy with slick be
minas associate.
"His trialmay be lent proti retell ; lie may be imprisoned
on suspiciou • and pine in gaol while. his family is starving
out of it, with:nit any opportunity of removing that sospicion;
and this fora whole year :—if acquitted, lie may be dismiss-
ed from gaol without a shilling in his pocket, and without
the meaos •of retsuming home:— if convicted, beyond the
sentence awarded by the law, lie may be exposed to the most
k intolerable hardships; and these may unionot to no less than
the delarticti..aralliisfilissavv, and his sod for ever. sAtiu iu

tiiiv • v iolation richtii; you •equally abandon your uwu
.iatereat; .1-;G instructed its mo-OISCPI branch of employ-
Trout. by winch r,..,trvay earl. ar: honest livelelioetl•by honest
. 7oe have fop bkidec liim to repent all 4 to reflect,
4 by vkithholdial,, tient him every opportunity GI rcfleesion and
1.1 to•!itsilee. hoelosion from the world liar bet n only a:closer
•r- •s.••••• 0.46 int itt very wars.t Illkereasits; Irita Wel has ha'id
s. air 11.4 IcArrve for every weed to take root; he is habiluat-
an 4 rerourileii to filth, and familiarised with
Haul r•or thi• :itployluent of that
4.10 .4241 t: 4)4. I.l4,llplity Yoe

&w..?,41 qi • •,1.