The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-04 00:00:00

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In other for:the7oodof s®c tety der , --- ,1
there shall be less mistaken mere; r, 1e5i,31144P491t:&.4,;, *\f-4
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and laxity extended to the murdwer tr 10#1,44,V-v. --

criminals. Yet we are seriously. tol •
,Afjc4y
delay has taken plnce in executing a •• r • 4F/4,
matter from whet cause, whether from R 12.1-
properly reprieved upan, ft false suggestiorzetk ink/ S
sanity, as in Townley's case, or any other circum-
stance, the practice is not to hang Uim et all, but
to commute the sentevce to some lesser putaishm,-
The inference from thjs is that the puoishmehi
murderers, instead of being light ad for the good
of society, is wrong, and bed itogether. When aach
a confusion of false ideas, combined with morbid. end
wrong sentiment, operates; to render human lifc in-
secure and to militate ogaivst the safety of socicev,
it is high time that we sheald correct this pscho-
logical error, which in its 9Cay is even worse and
more pernicious than that of
tie mart doctors who
insist that crime per se is a prcof of• insmity. r 1 r,,,
logic in question is certainty u no el and ouagmus
form of the reductio ad absurduns. " Murderers in
general ought to be punistif,d with a.l 1.49 speed
and certainty for the good of tocie,y And the pro-
tection of life. But in this particular murderer's
case the preventive force of punishment his been
weakened by unnecessary delay. ne, e. l'o re it
ought to be weakened still more by recaitt.'ng the
punishment annexed by law to murder and z•ubrai-
tuting a milder one." It is evident that this sort of
reasoning will not bear analysis. It is society that
is entitled to ask for " mercy" in the sense of being
protected in person and property, life and limb,
from would-be murderers and depredators. Another
principal of all sound legislation is that criminals
shall be tried and acquitted, or found gu'aty and,
condemned to punishment, by a judge aad jury
sitting in open court—hearing the arguments of
counsel for the prisoner. and the prostteution,
and the testimony of witnesses who may be
examined, cross-examined, and re-examined. But,
running diametrically counter to this principle,
have in practice a secret tribunal, consisting of a
few persons—probably doctors, who know little or
nothing of evidence—nominated privately by a
member of the Government, who is not a judge, or
even a lawyer, and possessing the power of pz acti-
cally nullifying the sentence of a court of law after
a careful public trial. Sir George Grey has. him-
self told Ds that the Home-office has no power to
order that, in sech investigations as those which
have been made in Townley's case subsequently to
his trial and sentence, the evidence of the persons
expressing opinions as to the alleged lunatic's sanity
shall be taken upon oath. In Jessie M‘Lechlau s
case nobody knew at the time what was being done
in the secret inquiry which took place. Indeed, it
is doubtful if many people know now.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.

L of

Vice-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour, G.C.8,, Naval
Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, yesterday hoisted his
flag on board the Sprightly steam :tender, and proceeded
out to Spithead, where he officially inspected the Duncan,
81, screw liner, Capt. Gibson, flagship of Rear-A.diniral
Sir James Hope, K.C.8,, the future Admiral con.mand-
ing the British squadrons on the North America and West
India stations. The Duncan will make her conimission,
trial of speed at the measured mile in Stokes Bay early to
morrow, weather permiLting.

the Orontes, screw troopship, Capt. W. H. Hire, wid go
out of Portsmouth harbour on the completion of her repairs
to machinery, &c., this morning, and will anchor at Spit-
head in readiness for her trial at the measured mile, which
is appointed to take place on Saturday. Should the trial
prove satisfactory, the Orontes will then proceed to the
Mediterranean.

Her Majesty's paddle yacht Alberta will make a third
trial of speed to. day with half boiler power at the measured
mile in Stokes Bay, near Portsmouth. hear-Admiral
Robinson, Controller of the Navy, and other officials, are
expected to be present at the trial.

In addition to the iron and ironclad frigates in progress at
Chatham dockyard, it is decided to appropriate No. 6 build-
ing shed for iron shipbuilding purposes as soon as the ne-
cessary arrangements can be carried into effect. The slip is
at present occupied by the Myrmidon, a small wooden screw
4-gun vessel of 200-horse power, which is about three-
fourths completed. All the hands have been removed irom
that, as well as the other wooden ships in various stages of
progress at Chatham dockyard, for several years past. It is
proposed to complete the Myrmidon at once, and forthwith
to launch her, when the slip will be immediately prepared
for one of the smaller classes of iron ships which are about
to be introduced into the Royal navy. In anticipation of
the slip being required for the construction of an iron vessel,
a number of workmen have been for some time employes in
erecting the supports and
etramways for the overhead tra-
vellers and cranes. The details respecting the new iron ves-
sel have not yet been forwarded to Chatham dockyard from
the Chief Constructor's (.Mee, where the drawings and plans
are in course of preparation.

The freight-ship steamer Lord Clyde yesterday went
down to Woolwich Arsenal, and shipped ammuuitiun for
Hongkong.

Her Majesty's steam storeship Dee, Master Commander
Raymond, has shipped a full cargo of steam gear, consisting
of machinery, Bcc., for the steam sloop Harlequin, at Ports-
mouth, and naval stores, spare spars, sails, &c., for the Fox,
about to sail for Corfu, to bring home war stores from the
lonian Islands. The Dee will sail this mcrning from Wool-
wich at 9 o'clock, and will embark 200 men and boys for
the fleet. A number of scaling ladders, manufactured in
the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, have been despatched by
the last Mediterranean mail packet for the use of the party
of Royal engineers engaged in razing the fortifications of
Corfu on their evacuation by our troops.

Ihe screw steam Coastguard ship Russell, GO, Capt.
Sydney Grenfell, from Falmouth, arrived at Plymouth on.
Tuesday evening. She discharged her powder yesterday
morning, and went into harbour to be dismantled. Her
officets and crew will be turned over to the screw steamship
St. George, 81, to succeed the Russell at Falmouth. The
Hind, steam tender to the Russell, Lieut.• Commander
Scott, arrived in company with that vessel.

E±The following appointments were made ytsteiday at the
Admiralty :—V. F. Johnson, twister, additional to the
Cumberland, for the Arethusa ; Arthur Chauner, Henry B,
Flemming, R. B. E. Ogle, and A. K. Woodrow, nominated
to naval cadetships.