The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-14 00:00:00

Capital Punishment,

The correspondent of a contemporary writes as follows :
Another instance has been afforded, by the late execution at
Leeds, of the levity exhibited base human nature, at the
public strangulation of their fellow-creatures. We read that
seats were let on a platform raised for the purpose at 2s 6d
per spectator, that there wac all the ribaldry and provision
of a fair, do. Now, I would ask (as much in the name of
common sense as humanity) of what utility are these spec-
tacles exhibited, and to what extent they deter men from
the fearful crime of murder ? Let as agitate this question
again and again until the great law of God and man,
" Thou shalt do no murder," is at least obeyed by those who
now violate its precept. I subj )in a letter of Mr Charles
Dickens to a contemporary, which appeared after the exe-
cution of the Mannings at Horsemonger-lane Gaol. The
graphic description of that writer is I think well worth a
reprint :

CHARLES DICKENS, ESQ , ON THE LATE EXECUTION.

Sir,—l was a witness of the execution at Horsemonger-
lane this morning. I went there with the intention of
observing the crcwJ gathered to behold and I had excel-
lent opportunities of doing so at intervals all through the
night, and continuously from daybreak until after the spec-
tacle was over.

I do not address you on the subject with any Intention of
discussing the abstract question of capital punishment, or
any of the arguments of its opponents or advocates. I simply
wish to turn this dreadful experience to some account for
the general good, by taking the readiest and most public
means of adverting to an intimation given by Sir G. Grey
to the last sessien of Parliament, that the Government might
be induced to give its support to a measure making the in-
fl:ction of capital punishment a private solemnity within the
prison walls (with such guarantees for the last sentence of
the law be'ng inexorably and surely administered as should
be satisfactory to the public at large), and of most earnestly
beseeching Sir G. Grey, as a solemn duty which he owes to
society, and a responsibility which he cannot for ever put
away, to originate such n legislative change himself.
I believe that a sight so inconceivably awful as the
wickedness and levity of the immense crowd collected at
that execution this morning could be imagined by no man,
and could be presented in no heathen land under the sun.
The horrors of the gibbet and of the crime which brought
the wretched murderers to it, faded in my mind before the
atrocious bearing, looks and language, of the assembled
spectators. When I came upon the scene at midnight, the
shrillness of the cries and howls that were raised from time
to time, denoting that they came from a concourse of boys
and girls already assembled in the best places, made my
blood run cold. As the night went on, screeching, and
laughing, and yelling in strong chorus of parodies on
Negro melodies, with substitutions of "Mrs Manning"
for "Susannah," and the like, were added to
these. When the day dawned, thieves, low prostitutes,
ruffians and vagabonds of every kind, flocked on to the
ground, with every variety of offensive and foul behaviour,
Fightings, faintings, whistlings, imitations of Punch,
brutal jokes, tumultuous demonstrations of indecent delight
when swooning women were dragged out of the crowd by
the police with their dresses disordered, gave a new zest to
the general entertainment. When the sun rose brightly—as
it did—it gilded thousands upon thousands of upturned
faces, so inexpressibly odious in their brutal mirth or cal-
lousness, that a man had cause to feel ashamed of the shape
he wore, and to shrink from himself, as fashioned in the
image of the devil. When the two miserable creatures who
attracted all this ghastly sight about them were turned
quivering into the air, there was no more emotion, no more
pity, no more thought that two immortal souls had gone
to judgment, no more restraint in any of the previous ob-
scenities, than if the name of Christ had never been hoard
in this world, and there were no belief among men but that
they perished like the beasts.
I have seen, habitually, some of the worst sources of
general contamination and corruption in this country, and
I think there are not many phases of London life that
could surprise me. lam solemnly convinced that nothing
that ingenuity could devise to bo done in this city, in the
same compass of time, could work ouch ruin as one public
execution, and 1 stand astounded and appalled by the
wickedness it exhibits. Ido not believe that any commu-
nity can prosper where such a scene of horror and demora-
lisation as was enacted this morning outside Horsemonger-
lane gaol is presented at the very doors of good citizens,
and is parsed by, unknown or forgotten. And when, in
our prayers and thanksgivings for the season, we are
humbly expressing before God our desire to remove the
moral evils of the land, I would ask your readers to con-
sider whether it is not a time to think of this one, and to
root it out am, sir, your faithful servant,
CHARLES DICKENS.
Devonshire-terrace, Tuesday, Nov. 13.

DIE COURT AT BALMORAL.—Oa;Iay her
Majesty, accompanied by her Royal Highness the
Princess Helena, and their highnesses the Duke and
Duchess of Saxe-Coburg, drove front Balmoral, via Inver•
cauld-house and Allanquoich, which was reached about 2
p m. Here ponies and men from Balmoral were in waiting,
and the wleJle party having mounted, rode up Glenquoich,
nearly to the hoary pine forest of the Beachan, which is
proximate to the fokit of Ben-a-Bourd, where a sump-
tuous luncheon was partaken of. After a brief sojourn,
and a delightful waltz through the wild and picturesque
district around, the royal party returned to Braemar,
via Old Mar Lodge and Linn of Dee. At the latter
place, a brief stay was made to view the unique beauty
and unparalleled scenery that surrounds the Falls, At the
Invercauld Arms Hotel horses were changed. Mr Fisher
was in prompt attendance, and personally attended to the
requirements of the royal party. A large and respectable
assemblage of visitors and others lined both sides of the
area in front of the hotel, and greeted the royal party with
a warm salute, which was very graciously returned by her
Majesty and the other occupants of the royal carriage. The
horses having been changed, the Queen and party drove on
to Balmoral at half-past 6 p.m. The day was delightful,
and only a slight shower of rain fell, which in no wise in-
commoded or marred the enjoyment of the royal sojourners.
I —Dtteelo wldee? tiser,