The National Register.
London, England, 1821-09-30 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

voynze; and such a system has been established as is best
calculated to promote good during the passage. Nut a ter•
Bel now departs for New smooth Wales with female convicts,
but cab rims to that divtant shore abundant 'milks of the un•
wearied efforts of these ladies to reform the character and
plies bite the miseries of the female criminal. Nor are their
'mentions tutu lieu to those under Frntence of the
Females who are ilischat.itd from Newgate, destitute, but
disposed to return to the paths of vitiue, are also objects of
their kind solicitude. It is pleasing to find that the admi-
rable example of these ladies has been successfully followed,
nut in this country alone, but on the Continent. At Bedfoid,
Ply mouth, Laura: ter, Cis, bier, and' York, similar associations
hove hem, formed ; ant! at Paris, Si. Petershorgh, Geneva,
klemem, and Turin, ladies of distinguished rank hm.ve engaged
ilhaldour in this interr.tiog work.

The society, like the benevolent Howard, whose
principles and zeal seem to guide and animate their
labours, have not confined their exertions to Great
Britain, but have endeavoured to diffuse informa-
mation on prison discipline and to incite to improve-
ment in prisons over the Continent. The following
passage recounts the success of the spirit of ame-
lioration which they have awakened or encouraged:
" It is grata, ill to observe, that the patriotic zeal in
which the St. Petersburgh society originated continue: to
animate its supporters. The several prisons in the llus-i.soo
dominions are in u limn of i ',vest igation, and unpin taut itss-
po us metal In their management a. daily ints minced. Au
anllli s y prison society has been formed at Cronsiasli, under
the Imperial pals °nage ; and, f • the emineet chuesseters
Alto are personally ess aged in its intnigeinent, much benefit
is likely io result from its establishment.
" In Sweden and Norway, the cause of pri-on discipline is
is likely to pro-per. A respectable and intelligent pit)si
clan, Dr. Ilolst, of Christiana, less been for some time past
engaged in travelling on the Continent, and iu this country,
under the auspices of the Swedish and N ors. egian Govern-
ments, for the put pose of collecting information relative to
the management of prisons and hospithis. During his stay
in this country, the Committee, at their weekly meeting;,
were freequently favoured is ills the company of this gentle.
man ; and from the great attention which lie paid to the
objects of Isis mission, and the correct Tien s which he cit-
e' tamed on the subject of prison disciplines there is every
reason to hope that Isis country will derive important bene-
fits tram his researches.

" The Committee have lately received accounts of the pro-
ceedings of the Royal Society of France for the amelioration
of prisons. Committees have liven formed for the purpose of
drawing up instructions to the magistrates of that kingdom,
and several reputts have been made by them. Under the
unthority of the late Minister of the Interior, his Esrelleney
the Duke de Cezes, a lass of questimis aas issued, in order to
obtain returns of the sate of the prisons g and these returns
have been embodied in a report fro n the Minister to the
King, a hich also contains a detailed view of the law rela-
tive to prison discipline. The laws of France presume the
existence of a variety of prisons, and enact tawny provisions
which it is impossible m the present state of the buildings to
execute. It is, bus eser, hoped, that as information no the
subject of prison discipline, is extended, larger allowances
will be made for the extension and iinprovement of the build-
ings, and that the ithenations will he made oil the bed prin-
ciples.
" By a report of the Prefect of the department of the
Seine, it appears that labour in the prisons under li.s
jurisdiction has been considerably extruded. In France.
as in sonic other countries, great assistance may be derived
from the exertions of Les Seenrs de la Charlie, in vi icing
anti contribming to the reformation of female prisoners.
Several of the prisons in France have been visited by a
valuable Alember of the Committee travelling through
that kingdom; whose accounts in the appendix will be
read with great interest.
" In Switzerland, considerable exertions have been
made for the improveitteut of prisons. Being divided into I
several cantons„many of them very small, and each having
a separate government, that conntry is not it) a sititatioit
in which much perfection of prison management is to be
expected. The greatest desire, however, is manifested
by all classes of society to ameliorate the prisons.
" lit the canton of Bern, and in ilie Pays de Vain!, Dew
prisons are to Le erected. At Geneva, atiso, a h0e...! 01
correction is about to be built. 'Die Committee have
cis-
deavoared to facilitate the objects by furnishing plans,
and have given a promise of assistance to other cantons.
" It occiirred to the gentleman to whom the Committee
have alluded, that information on the subject of prisons
was much requited on the Continent : lie therefore pub-
lished a pamphlet in Ft ench, entLled ' Ditties stations on
the Prisons of Switzerland,' a Mt a translation of part of
Mt. Iluxtou's work on Pusan Discipline, describing the
well-arranged prisons of Ghent, Bury, exc. with the Re
port ;lithe Ladies' Committee at Newgait. This tract
has been extensively circulated, nut only lei So iizetland,
bat throughout France and Italy.
" There is great reason to hope that efforts will shortly
he made to ameliorate the prisons in the dominions of the
King of Sardinia. A co 11111 l h,SiOll has been given to inves-
tigate the state of these gaols to Comte d'A echo, a noble-
man wipe has the improvement of the criminal very warmly
at heart. In the ptttout at 'rutin, where the prisoners
acre crowded, exposed to the excesses of heat and cold,
without allowance of clothes, or the means of employment,
and where one third of the number were on the wick
a lady of tank, urged Ly the example of a distinguiMeti
female in this country, was found labouring alias, giving
work, and prodding dollies for the prisoners, 'Hosting
theist a portion of their earnings till they lett the prison,
n l i ll istering to their bodily wants, and extending to them
the comforts of
"The Commits, e have been honoured by a communica-
tion from the Kiug of NVoitemberg, which affords suiting
reason to hope that the state of the prisons in his
dominions has attracted such notice as will speedily lead
to the adoption of material improvements."
The following extract, with which we reluctantly
conclude, presents at once grounds for congratula-
tion, subjects for censure, and incitements to exer-
tion:—
" The labours of the legislatnre—the disposition of the
nui-4ihtracy—the public 'merest aide+ the subject conti-
nues to excite—the actual introduction of improvements
in the coustrinction and discipline of vat boos gaols—the
the diffusion of information, and the amendment of prisons
in fog den couutries--pt use that the cause is steadily
advancing.
" But although the. considerations is highly enema.
I raging, there is yet truvu to accomplish iu this wink of

national improvement. So extensive are the defects of
classitieation, that in thirty gaols constructed for the con-
finement of V,915 prisoners, these were, at one time in the
last year, no liwer than 8,537 prisoners; amid the whole
number imprisoned in those gaols, during that period,
amounted to Yt3,703. There are yet prisons where idle-
and its attendant evils reign mtrestrained—a here
the sexes are not separated—where all distinctions of
crime are couromided—whete few can enter, if nncors
rnpted, without pollution ; and if guilty, without inem.
ring deeper stains of criminality. Theme are yet prisons
which iective not the pious visits of a Christian minister
—which the light of knowledge never enters—and where
the truths and C011%014601/3 of the Gospel are never heard.
There are yet gaols where, for the lit entity II the prison •
err, utensil' e ale resorted to, as revolting to Moist, feel.
Mg as they are repugnant to the spirit and letter of
English law. A more trepient gaol delivery throughout
thi• kingdom—the abolition of borough gaols incapable of
material improvement—and prompt measures for arrest.
Mg the progress, and promoting the reformation, of the
crinuhmal youth in the metropolis—ale objects which
earnestly require the early consiJeration of his Majesty's
Government."

PRESERVATION OF ATHENS.

It is with no common feelings of national pride
that we insert the following document, so truly
worthy of our country, and so highly honourable to
her representative, Lord Strangtiird. Of the cha-
racter of that noble Lord, we have heard many ad-
mirable traits; but his fine taste for literatute, his
love of the arts, and Ills devotion to science, were
never more brilliantly illustrated than by this act
which was anxiously performed, and which, we have
every reason to believe: has :Lone saved the most in-
teresting vestiges of antiquity in Gree,:e froat utter
destruction.
coNsrmvriNOPLE, AUG. Vt.—Letter from his Ilittline‘s
the Grand Vizier, to the Governor General of the MuLl'4,
and to tile Commander of the Turkish troops beftne
Athens. . .

" Lord Viscount Strangford, the i'.nglish .lolhassailor
to the Sublime Porte, having learnt that the Gummi,
troops (may victory always attend them !) are on their
march, to deliver Athens from the rebels who lia% e taken
possession of ii, lie has presented an official note, signed
with his respectable name, in which he signifies, that it
would be highly agreeable to his Majesty the King of
Great Britain, it orders were given for the protection and
preservation of the ancient edifices and temples, and other
ornaments of antiquity which are in the ancient rity amid
the environs of Athens, and which have always been so
highly interesting to the learned of Europe
66 Now, as his Britannic Majesty is so toll of friendship
towards the Sublime Porte, and the cordial attachment
and confidence between the two Giver tits daily in-
crease, and of the temples and other antiquities of Athens
have always excited the admiration of LillaiilC, it is be-
coming the dignity of the Sublime Porte to
sores for the preservation of those remarkable objects,
and also for the purpose of doing what may be agreeable
to the King of England, and to his .:tinbassador, our guud
tend.

" We therefore call upon yon, by your prudent zeal,
and by this application of your authority, to bowie the ne-
cessary orders to all whom it concerns, that the ancient
editices io Athen,, and the vicinity, may be pre.erved un-
injured ; that no damage may be dour to them, and that
no complaints may be made to us by our friend the Am-
bassador, or by others, that our commands have not been
punctually obeyed."

BANK OF RIO DE JANEIRO.
EATRACT OF A LETTER DATED RIO DE JANEIRO, •110. 4.
" You %ill learn by this conveyance sad accounts of the
Rio tie Janeiro IS .i.k, further detilleatiolli Navin: been (1.11
covered, by Itich it appears thia hot only the ditecturs out
the inferior officers have had a •hare in the plunder of the
e•tah kliment. 'l•he principal ett.laier absconded a few cloy •
dty • ago; night created Muth confusion, and In, Bank
stop..nded its payments fur three day•, TIT. On 11ie24111, Alta,
and Slst ult.
•' Tile report of Ibis stoppage w ill doubtless produce alai in
and is nt ut enniidetice uh your side ; and indeed the b.tals
has lora so long Ul•udmiuislered, taut coutidenue stout be
restored, our tan btoiness t hut ouglify revive mita a ❑ew r•
tent be adopted.
" Prinr in opening the bank on tiie I•t iu•laut, a r.oti.
wrs Ivrea that in future no pity mews ould be wad.• in si,.
iu x r hinge for notes, beplial the a.iioulit ut I,io Faille:,• in
in 1000, and of 4* in 20; inlet mediate sunis ill ptot,urnn
Silver is at a premium of 4 to :3 per cent.; ;;uhl touts li pet
cent.

• Until the flee resumption of cash payments tu Ise plate,
we canontexpect the exchange to Hart at the enitie time .t
611J1,fileilit) to the commercial intei vets to know, that t!te
resources of this country are quite adequate to re,tai e
eouti,lence, if properly conducted : all that she requires ti "in
Linage is a temptottry loan to pay off the present bat:K-
nott b, and liquidate the a hole of its concerns.'

The Goven.ment have ordered all the telegraph!:
between the Admiralty and the out-ports of Ertl:-
land to be put in perfect repair.. The old manner
of communicating is laid aside, the new mode being
considered infinitely more expeditious and compre-
hensive. By the change of system the question given
ut the home station will only be known to the offictr
who presents it, and to him who lust receives it at
the distant port. All persons intermediately em-
ployed will only have to make the fac-simile of the
first signal and the returns, which may be received
in fifteen minutes, at the distance of seventy-two
miles, if the weather be favourable, The workmen
arc busily employed at the Admiralty, at West-
spare, and other places. It is conjectured this.
repair is for the more speedy communication of
intelligence during his Majesty's absence on the
Continent.