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

have When no pions pains to turn him from the error of his
ways, and to sase his soul alive. You have not cherished
the latent seeds of virtue, von have not profited by the oppor-
tunity of awakening remorse for his paitne:scondiect. 1-I.s
Saviour's awful name becomes, indeed, familiar to his lips,
because he learns to foie it, to give rest to his conversation,
and vigour to his execrations ; but all that Saviour's office,
his tenderness and compassion. 'and mercy to the returning
sinner, are topic, of which he seat us no mote tlkta the beasts
which perish. In short, by the greatest possible degree of
misery, you produce the greatest possible degree af• wicked-
ness; you convert, perhaps, an act of indiscretion into a set.
tied taste, and propensity to vier. Receiving bim I t cense
he is too bad for society, you return him to the world Impair-
ed in halal', .debased hi intellect, and corrupted in Fin-
" The object of this book is to prove the existence of these
facts, and that their continuation is as unnecessary as it is
detrimental to the 'best interests of society ; in fact, that cru-
elty to your prisoner is impulicy to yourself."

This object is indeed clearly attained by the mass of evi-
dence which a minute inspection ofscveral of the metro-
politan and otheriails affords. The prisons thus instanced
are—the' Borough Compter, Tothill Fields Midi:well,
the 'Jail at St. Alban's, and at Guildford. We can-
not, of course, follow Mr. B. in these details—suffice it •
to say, that they are truly distressittg. and confirmatory,
to the full extent, of his proposition that the system pro.
ducts nothing but crime .and misery. These horrible
and disgusting statements excite our astonishment that
such evils should so long have been permitted to con-
tinue, that uo steps should have been taken to remedy
them, leaving it to the zeal and humanity ofindividuals,
unconnected with magisterial authority to appeal. to the.
Public, and actually compel those whose duty it was to
have prevented the mischief, by the general outcry, to
turn their attention to reform. The evils complained
of, are want of room, by which the health of the pri-
soners is materially injured and other improvements
checked—and want of classification, which is productive
of the most frightful consequences, as must inevitably be
the case, when males and females, tried and untried,
debtors and felons, persons guilty of trivial and of
heinous offences, arc all mingled ogether in itUeness,
without the means either of instruction or industry.
To judge of the extent and deadly influence of this mo-
ral pestilence, the Book itself must be read, .and then,
we are persuaded, no one can fail to draw the same
conclusions with the Author himself, that these prisons
are the very hotbeds of vice and misery—they are nur-
series for crime, and their continuance in this state is a
reflection on the character of the nation, that can suffer
the punishment of any individual, to be the means of
stripping hint of every remaining virtue, and plunging
him irretrievably in the depths of iniquity.
In . the course of his remarks upon the progress of
youthful delinquency, Mr. Buxton observes:—
" Let uo one imagine, that the representation I have here
given of the progress of crime is a fanciful picture, which is
seldom, if ever, realised. There is a society in this city for
the prevention of juvenilo delinquency. By the most assidu-
ous labours, by continual visiss to !toys in .prison, and by
offering a ready car to their distresses when out of it ;.by giv-
ing advice to some, small sums of money to others, proeuriur
situations for those of whom they entertained strong hopes of
reformation; by restoring some to their friends, sending some
to the country ; by taking some as servantsanto their own fa-
milies: in short, b'j every method which active and discreet
benevolence could devise, they have procured a fund of in-
formation and of evidence, which pots the above statement
beyond all dispute. Amongst other .records, they have a
bulky lexicon .of all the slang terms in use ; I mention it as a
curiosity. But they have also a document of great import-
ance—a catalogue of the names, residence, and age of several
hundred juvenile depredators; the company they keep, the
places to which they resort, and in manyanstances a history
of thoir.progress iu vice, front their tiist deviatiem from vir
toe. They have seen many cases of boys,. who, upon their
first coming to prison, have kept et a distance from the other
prisoners, and appeared grieved and shocked at their situ*.
tionand companions ; by the next visit this bashfulness had
fled, they were mingled amongst the men or the boys ; at the
next, all difference between them anJ the oldest offenders
had vanished, they had learnt the language, were fluent in
the oaths, and doubtless hail caught the spirit of their associ-
ates. Soon atter their exit from gaol, these gentlemen gene-
t a;ly receive tidings, that such a boy had been very clever ;
meaning that he bad been very successful. Before long,
they recognize hint in some other prison, and bear front the
turnkey that he is a most desperate and wicked character.
lie msy hereafter escape the rigour of the law, by his dexte.
rity ; he may rise to time ememand and captaincy of an.
eiated number of youthful robbers ; avoiding personal dan-
ger, he may direct their operations, and divide their plunder.
On the other band, he may not obtain promotion ; his genius
may be too humble to elevate him above the ranks, be may
be, as some have been, in prison 28 times; he may be sent to
the bulks, or transported to Botany Bay. Whatever be his
outward state, withlwhe is irretrievably ruined."
But.we turn fro= these horrid scenes, to the more
gratifying portion of his Book, which relates to the
conduct and internal convenience of those prisons, whose
regulations he has just reason to applaud, and hold up
as examples for general adoption. These arc—the Jail
at Bury, the Maison de Force,. at Ghent; the Phila-
delphia Prison, the ?dillbunk Penitentiary, and the
Female Wanl of .Newgate, uutLr the inspection of the
. Ladies. Counaittoe. -We,have nut room to dwell upon
•thekeveral anerits of these institutions, though much-
,wishing todo so, especially on the extraordinary exer-
Aims of Mrs. Fry, and her inestimable companions, at
Islewgate; whys.: success in substituting order tilr noise,
industry for idleness, instruction for ignorance, and re-
lig;aus feelings for the most debasing criinewscul inclitia-
tions,has bee.n.tru?y astonishing,..und speaks volumes
to thvYksalpersonages.wko leave the timusiginneut anti

inspection of our public jails. The excellent recom.
mehdatinus of the Laiies'Committee, cemprize in a few
words all that is wishes:, and all that is wantin4 to
render our prisons what they ought to be—schools of
reform and virtLe, not of vice aol increasing degen©.
racy. These recommendations are as. follow :

" Ist, ' Religions lustrnetion,'—prrusal of the Scriptnree
morning and evening. The} base found the prisoners re-
markably ignorant of the first principles of Christianity, anti
they have reason to think taut a prison, In excluding many
objects of worldly interest, occupation, and pleasure, and in
the parse which it producer in the carver of life, and in the
apprehensions it sometimes excites, is well calculated for the
inculcation of religious impressions.
" idly, Constaut employment is a grand and an indispen•
sable replisite in the reformation of a prison. They vs ontd
feel themselves totally incompetent to restrain the passions of
this unruly race, it their winds were not engaged in useful and
active objects.

"'silly,ltules Ample and lenient, hat euforred, am!
if possiblr, the concurrence of the prisoners in their forma—
tion.

" 4lldy, Classification and separation to the greatest pos-
sible extent.

" Sthly, They recommend that ',flume' s slionl,l be treated
as human beings, with human feelings; wills that disinterest-
ed kindness which will engage the!r affections; yet as hu-
man beings degraded by crime, with that degree of restraint
and will those bym bole of degradation, which may recall a
sense of their guilt, and humble their pride."

With this extract we must conclude, adding, -that
Mr. Buxton deserves the eonunerAation of every hu.
inane and terlingperson in the kingdom, for his exer.
flow iu this cause, and we have no doubt his statements
will produce a sensation that will ultimately lead to
.thu abolition of this disgraceful system and its ems.
quenees.

&m ac LONDON O.IZETTE, Ttesday,3larch 244
RANKRUPTCY ENLARGED.
Paasors J. Bartour Laincuster, cotton manufacturer, .9 April G.
BANK R 1 Pl'S.
'

PRATT J. Kennington. ;Utit;cl;;,lla;cll9.B, April 14. May s, g
Guildhall. Ails. Edwards and Son, Castle,street, H olbom.
JOHR SON A. Manchester, silk-mercer, April 17, tS, May 5, at
Manchester. Atts. Willis and Co. Warnt'ord-cours.
Fia.mrsu T. Liverpool, linendraper. April ei,_22, May 5, at Maus
cheater. Mts. Adlington and Co. Bedford-new.
Wtt.i.s(is GAtonmonger-lane, merchant, April 6,7, May 5, at
Manche-ter. Att. Mr. Islild.son, Temple.
HA.RVRT W. I leundsditch. ocppersmith, March :18, April 11, May
5, at Guildhall. Atts.iValten and Co. Girdlers'-hall,
street.
Pracocx J. H. Burwell. Cambridge. merchant, April 8,9, May 5,
at Cambridge. Aits. Pickerhig and Co. Staphs.ittn.

DIVI1)FXI)S.
J. Fuller, Neat Houses, St. George's, Ilanmferarmare, gardelier,
April 14.
J. M'Goughan. army.agcrt, April 14.
I'. Brame, Lowisdoli, Suftidk, herring-therrhanr, April 7.
G. 'Howden and W. I litre, Oxford-street, vide: ass April 18.
B. Williams, Clerkenwell, printer, April 18.
J.'Beare. Chearside, merchant, April 7.
J. Attlield, Guildford, buteher,Apnl 21.
A. Perneltry, Manchester, grocer. April 2.1.
D. Philip, Fenchurch street, stationer, April 25.
H. Rowlands, Worcester, coal-dealer, April to.
J. Knot. W. Smith, and J. Clarke, Southwark, hat-manufacturers.
April 18.
A. Phillips, and D. Loser, Salters' 44-4'.1-coitrt, merchants, April 21.
J. Liverpool, broker, April 16.
J. LiveNey..Blatliburn, J. Hargreare, Manthester, P. Anstic and J.
Smith, London, and W.Hall. Musney, merchants, April 25.
J. Smith. London-roed. grocer, April 18.
C. Gedrych, Brinol, dealer, April 16.
J. Bolan', High Trewhiq. dealer. Apnl 21.
cur; IFICATES—Arstri. 14.

W. and J.Walker, Pall-mall-ccurt, army-agent/.—T. 11. II:quell,
South Shields. ship-owncr.—A. Fernery. Mancheider, grocer.—S.
Roberts, Sheffield, spirit-merchar.t.—J. t'ullard, Bridgewater, penult,.
manufaeturer.

A litter from Inspruck, of the-2d instant, says :—" Oar
glaciers now neer a remarkable phenomenon. 'That which
is- known under the name of Ostlerspitze angatents enor-
mously; it has already- extended above a league towards
the valley; it continues to :ncrease with extraordinary rapi-
dity, and Ms already reached the meadows of Canspeoliolm ;
and this is in a winter which is not severe. A circumstance
-worthy of notice is, that a rivulet ealled the Suldenbach,
which was formed by the gia:ier, Las entirely disappeared
since the- end of September, and yet uo trace can be tumid
of any ether outlet. The noise of this glacier is so lend, that
it is heard at a very great distance. It is no wonder, that the
inhabitants are so alarmed : the .ndden melting of the Ulan
of ice, and the re-appearance of the Suldenbach, would
place several parishes in the.. greatest danger. The glaciers
of Landtkaufers and Naudersbera present the saine.pheuti..
4E-11011.

FiRE—A bout half-past two o'clock onWednesday intuiting,
the old established tat ern dolled the Bariey-)I ow, iu Salisbury-
court, Fleet-street, was discovered to be on fire. The house
is owned by Mr. Knott, who was front home on business.
Knott, four female servants, nod alemale 'Asher, were roused
front their sleep by the ere reaching their apartments. They
tied as they rose from their beds to the top of .the house, as
the chance of descending was impossible, the whole of the
lower part of the premises being in flames. Most fortunately
for them there was a way out of a garret whitlow to the top
of the house, and after passing ot er the adjoining
they succeeded in getting into the window of the next dwel-
ling, and so escaped. The fire continued to ruge with great
fury, notwithstanding the prompt arrival of the engines from
theHope,Norwieleljoion,and thellaud-iti-llantimui I the whale
tavern was entirely destroyed, and the. root of the house cc-
cuirt.:el by the Pra)er•Bouk. and !Wittily Society was burnt
uti'; and the house on the other aide stor receit cd eouside t-
able injury. Great anxiety was for a cunsidorable time cr.
It:stained foe the valuable and extensive premises of Mr
Joseph. Boum% AS the tire bad completely leached to the
bottom of one of his waiehota,es, and but for the efforts of
Mr.lleemor himself, ably assisted by a 141i/fill AM) pet sereriog
servant, they would in obabillity have Linea destroyer.
Mroliunsor, who was among 'tie foremost to assist leis neigh-
bour, asserts that nothiureetisild exceed the excetio.t of the
firemen; and he attributes to their fromptitude and energy,
as well as to all 1/11111edilitiOglapply of water, the
,favipg of
great part of the rJeighbeerhuud. cause of tits fire-laa
tint .been aseettaincii,