The National Register.
London, England, 1818-09-20 00:00:00

No. 554.—V0t.. XI.

SUNDA?, SErTEWINtIr 20. 1818

Patcz 90.

POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

and in point of factr some of them are so. To them
imprisonment is a• cruel hardship• in itself, and one
which ought never to be increased by any unnecessary
acts of severity.- Conviets, again, are either to undergo
capital punishment, or they are at some time or other
to be liberated: As. to the former, the. punishment of
death must proceed do the suppirition ;that the habits
contracted by them are so inveterate that time cannot
metkethem, and so dangerous to society that they cannot
is 'aired to live. We cannot enter at present into a
discussion on the policy of restirting to capital punish.
manta in any case ; but it is Certainly a horrible and
unnatural cruelty, to• deny to those who are about to
suffer death an opportunity of reflecting on their awful
situation, and of making peace with min and the Author
of their own beings. But, •penitent, or impenitent,
separation is necessary either Ibr their own sake or the
sake of others. Ar to those, again, who are at some
time or other to be let loose on society, it is clear that
amendment ought to be sought by all possible means, if
not on their own account, on amount of the misdate
which they might otherwise do to the community.

snit OF THE FRENCH ARMY,
FROM' THE REIGN OF HENRY V. TO THE PEACE

ON

OP AMIENS

THE infliction of punishment, it should be remem.
&red, ii in itself an evil. The moral effect has always
been bad on the agent by whom it is inflicted;. and
Unless it lead to amendment in the-object, or date
others by way of example, it ought never to be re-
sorted to. Punishment, boomer, When it etceeds
that of necessary restraint, and restraint which can be
understood by the Buffeter, is suit to harden the ob,
ject of it; and itreffects, as an example to others, are
rot nearly ea great as those of the saildele.tasetleent,
which enforces constant labour and regular habits, by
sts Affect seclusion from every *tat of human con-
verse and society. It it thus an impolitic law rthieh
culcates severity. lint the truth is, that the gteat evils
and miseries of our gaols are those which are merely
tolerated practice, and which proceed from niggard-
liness on the part of our gentry, and' negligence on the
part of those employed under them. The law, when
it orders imprisonment, never adds that it shall be ac-
companied with filth, disease, want of food, and seve-
rity of treatment. There are even express enactments
in favour of cleanliness and health; but which, in most
cases, are totally neglected in practice. The law, it is
true, and we are sorry far it, allows a creditor to throw
his debtor into gabl, Without compelling an immediate
inquiry whether the non-payment of the debt arises
from unwillingness, from previous culpable extrava-
gance, or from innocent misfortune. If it allowed im-
prisonment, as in other crimes (for we conceive wilful
extravagance to be criminal; as well as fraudulent con-
tealesent) for the sake of safe custody only till the guilt
or innocence of the party should be ascertained; we
should think it wise; but faulty as the law of debtor
and creator is, it allows only of imprisonment. It does
not condemn the debtor either to nloral or bodily Obn.
tacks, to cold or hunger, to dampness, close air, or
insufferable effluvia; Ind yet in how few gaols is it in
his power to separate himself from vice,and profligacy
—.-to avoid disease of body and contamination of mind ?
la how few gaols is there any classification of prisoners•;
and_yet can a heavier punishment be inflicted dpon an
innocent man, who, from unforeseen circumstances, or

In 1600, when Henry IV. of France prepared to
.attack the Duke of Savoy, his disposable army amounted
to only 7,000 infantry, 1,500 cavalry, and *ix pieces
of cannon.

From 1600 to i 609, Henry IV. maintained a sten&
ing army of 4,100 foot, and 2,637 horse, which he
afterwards augmented to 10,000 men, besides 4,000 in
garrisons. But when he determined on the league
against the House of Ansagiva, he had rib IRislne
mks* for ineissaing leis invOiety ter
*SO Myr 1-
0.000
. 44101 40
5,000 Hoes. •

57,000 with 74 *en eadiliff•
tbe United Protihoes. and Mit of
the Prime of the Empire, bad in
to hand& 4 •
The Duke of Savoy
The Venetians
The Pope

24,000
tlOOO
it.noel
10.000

66,000
The Kinp of SligMS, Denma4c,
arid Sweden, the House of Sal- .
and mine other German States. fire
to bring into the field •••••• .. toth
eed!•
UsUry's army and his Re V`'
iuninbied i • r...• • • 17,000

A writer in an evening paper sugg.ests titsprobabi.
lity that Lod Cochrane may 51 gong out in his
steam engine with a view to attempt the liberation of
Buonaparte :—" The King's ships at St. Heim lie
chiefly at or off James town, on the leeward side of the
islatid, into which thrall is good &Mese by die usual! way.
There is no other access into the israitif env( at the
opposite, the windward side, where the entrance from
the water by land is easy ; but hale there is no-anchor.
age. Off thit plias two eintan usually 'raise. Sea-
faring malt of course speculate on the possibility of
Buonaparte's escape ; and ' met diatom
they think would be, ' • well
appointed with ow--
beat Of the -

L5OO
SAO

163,1100 RIMS U.
were destined to attack the Come at Ilatisid and
Vienna.
These intentions were frustrated by the ameatination
of Henry on the 14th of May, 1610.
From the year xO5; Louis XIII. ha& dye armies on
foot, which amoutitod to 100,0061ssa, of whom 18,000
were hone.
tinahlhhment of Limb XIV. doettrated
frotti to 100,000 men : and the lirgest army
- • ifid
MOO

land on every
ing the Risme of
parte. bung'

any cotters;

to windward, to
convey away Beenaperte ___ power going
against wind and tide would in limo teu be a great
protection against the King's ship; and moving as it
does Without sells. it woull not easily be dieft*dted at
sea. Experienced neudad mart Who have had an
opportunity of 'lngesting Hie steam vessel of Lord
Coahnnn, have been strut* with its remarkable adepts-
don formsvigating-opon each a coast as the rftadvisrd
side of St. Helene is represented to be. With respat
to warlike mean% the recent union of the Buonsparthis
its the pYovince of Texas, on the Trinity River,- may
probably. supply resources, long since cotheurplated ;
and which could not have been so availalA, had these
exiles remained contented with the greets of land
made to them by Congress/ hr the Alabama territory.
'All a naval officer, Lora Cothrium !level Showed'
self deficient ib etherpthe; and to his natural ardour is-1
mew added the ezeitenstset of desperate attunes. gm 1
has been moth mistaken, or there are few
thin, thug would gratify bins more than to become the
liberator of %Olson. The bet attempt, indeed,
would seal hie Adore that*. If he *weeded, his
fate walla be linked irki that of Stsonaparte ; if he
fanner, be might still become an **urgent admiral.—
He has nothing to lose in England ; every thing to
gain out of h. Just such a man—one so completely
with the world before him—bwould be required for the
hazardous and daring enterprize. But it is mid be is
going tb Chili: Se it so. It will not be mutlr out of
his way to call et St. Itelena."—Courier.
The military (*bur:ewes in India are gradmily
brought up by successive arrivals, or the more minute
investigation of preceding accounts, but nunew events
of importance present themselves. A troclonation
from Ceylon, dated the 2d of last March, indicates the
tumultuous and pa, plexed state of that island, and sets
a price of a thousand dollars upon the head of a fugi-
tive chief.
The British Museum has purchaaed the library of the
late M. Ginguene at Paris, for 10001. sterling,

The Republitrin anhy int gradually increased trove
that number at high at 749,541 d, present under arms,-
when the nominal * paper strength amounted to
J,1159,144: This was the mazisetee of the military
strength tithe Risiludit in the *tauten of 1794.
It gradually declined after that period to 581,939
*ten preseneunder arms, which was the strength of the
`army in the autumn of 1797.-
In 1799, when Bernedotte *as made Minister cf.
War by the Directory( he feund the nominal strength
of the army rated at 49,844, of which, however, not
mere than 293,46, ken effective, after deduct eleg the
jeddarmorie and Garda national*, the sict-ind the
army itr Egypt; and after allowing for the garrisons is
Italy and the Rhine, not moue than tfib,ooo men dis.,
posable for operations in the field. however, by his-ex-
traordinary activity, the army was increased to 38 Z.(IC9
men, exclusive of the temps in Egypt, sick in hosiital,•
and prisoners of war.
Its August, 1799, the Coutteil of 500 issued *decree,
fixing the land forces of the Republic at-
-4.44.345 Tafaattre
i 6.640 Cavakg.,
6.436 Etat Major; SO.

even indiscretion, has exposed' hthiself to die suspicion
of erinse—oa a person imprisoned for dn assault, for
selling religions tracts- without a licensed, begging- to
LI sustain life under some sudden casualty, or offending
unconsciously perimprekainst some penalstatuto6-4han
to be plated us a abeiety of experienced thieves, pick-
pockets, rabbets„ and murderers? Could' any youmg
;mon, "bleed to eensmii }fret and is mall o9Eirae,
biplomilia a =ors dangerous seibbl of mil:badness ?
fl, hat we be ascertained beyond' die: }Salability of
doubt, *X may oir site worst bus isles h&c been
planned la Newgate and the other prisons of the me.
aropolls ; and that eve am ofthent, as hitherto COD.
COM& has been a sunery of crime 1 Juvenile Misr.
quoits sialfOresly want out more depraved,- ini snore
`ripened for' evil, their *hen' they crone' t and many
of thein, from the information and hardihood acquifed
in get, became leaders of gums; and committed the
'nom daring excesses. It is thus obvious, let men pre.
tend or profile what they will, that those who do not
provide gaols to admit of the classification and separit.
Con of twiseners, are accessories befordthe fact to dimes
deb* worst description : theyconsent to the deterioration.
of their fellow-mesttfres, and in iirectly Oat' in spread-
ing vice, disease, and crinie, through the whole com-
munity. The law may in some cases permit, but if
does not commit the evil. :t orders imprisonment
but it clod not ordain promiscuous intercourse, nor does
it command the use of chains and fetters, which harden
offenders in ibitpity, but never lead one to repentance.
In the cye of the law the accrued mad' a 1 be innocent,

566,40
From Septetnber, lito6, to Septentibr, 1801, (year
Franc '!Dept t the field 414,73 t men ; and after
the Peace of Amiens, the artily mourned to 3R9,715
men, beide' 15,000 veterans.

To-morrow being St. Matthew's day, according' to
annual custom, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, SbetitTs.
and Governors of the several Royal Hop t&s will at.-
tend divine service at Christ Church. After a sermon
by the Rev. John Rogers A.M. they will pros-
reed to the great Hell in Christ's hosp:tal, where two
orstions will be delivered in Latin, by Frederic 10%
in English, by George Brooks; the asto maim gaolers
of the grin:mar scitrol.

pillimigek, -
- -. "
Jr CO
71111 1) r triation„ I -.llt torv-A, opt + --„,...„.
.11,.... •
.1.4,
Our ttingt ettiunitutioßantiliaing.

g men of Coutes specolate on the possiiillty of The pence eitablisloont of Louie XIV. fluctuated
isparte's escape ; and the most prettied elinue front 120',000 to 160,000 meet : and the lirgest army
think would be, for a strong cutter or two,• well he eve had on hot, in the war from i(l9s to 1697,
inted with own to alt the %windward aile, amounted to 890,80 men of whom- &WO were as-
et? the clutters. tabs awl row away with Btiona- val .
r, their riee• tat `tabs
Wilstropintlo,y4uldaneil XV,.Segrhall sr. o,
out armed art* 401,elliaan‘lia stir wkqmitlreell 1/0
*destitution. A stems eau 1 • is- • t ; and after the tawny of Ake-hothapells, hie
on every side, its methane') teovement supply- peace establishment enlisted of 167,428 men.
he Ones of east; tai efler tikkwg away Hash- In the year 11117 the Fres muoufted to
4 berg/large and h night Writ
.1.11,111 wen, see is 1791 to 164,269 nide. In 1791
cutters. It might then wtitt up to Ow robbi M. Narbonne represented, that the effeetive strength
rindwardi to deliver its prite, or it might itself of the army did sot exceed 139,000 men, of which not
ey away Beensparte wholly. The power of going more due 83,000 were disposable for field service.