The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 28, 1863.

lation is taken into account, the offence itself may
bear no greater ratio to its numbers than it did
some time ago. On the other hand, we must freely
admit that the weight of evidence is all on the side
of the reluctance which exists among juries to bring
in a verdict of murder if such a verdict can possibly
be escaped. Dr. Lankester, the Coroner for Middle-
sex, bears express testimony upon this point, and
a more competent authority in a professional point
of view could hardly be quoted upon the subject.
When, however, we turn from a fact which virtu-
ally admits of no denial, to the causes which are
gain :o have produced it, we are at once involved
in a maze of cont
raoiotions. Mr. Cox blames the
bastardy laws, and cc Enplains that the insufficient
allowance of half a ensyvn aweek as a maximum acts
as a direct provocative eo the Hetty Sorrels of the
present day to get rid at once of their disgrace and
of the burden ett.ich they h ave entailed upon them-
selves by it. We pass over
the somewhat absurd
suggestion of Mr. Hunt that
crinoline is at the
bottom of the loose morale of ouss domestic servants;
but it is now/ lolls that a vast dibrerence.ve of child
exists upon
the causes which are directly npt odue
murder. Some are disposed to
attribute its fre-
quency to the comparative ileum' niay enjoyed.udges
by
the mother, under the present rulings 0.1" the judges
wit respect, to the evidence which can Ce
received as the original vitali7 of ihe chifoi, 0! hers
wuuid tlttsco mar, weight to the infiuenc%!- t:t
Laic
expeme of the maintenance of the cki.d,
en
thrown into the balance against its life, than to the
impulses of shame resulting in an attempt to escape
detection. In support of the latter theory there Isr.
at least, the argument that in a large proportion of
the cases of wilful murder the infants were of the
age of 12 months and upwards, and the notorious.
fact that, especially among cur agricultural popu-
lation, but a very small amount of stigma attaches
to the mother of a " love child." But the very dna
crepancy of opinion proves the extreme difficultiess
which we have to encounter when we come to deal.
practically with the evil. If we increase the allow-.
ance paid to the mother of en illegitimate child, it 10
argued very naturally that there must be a corre-
sponding diminution in the incentives to chastity-
The present style of chess is most unquestionably
within the province of paterfamilias in his private
capacity,but can hardly be brought under his notice
as a member of the Legislature. As to the rules of
evidence in cases of infanticide, they must clearly be
left to the discretion of the judges, who are not
merely the most competent but the only proper
authorities upon questions of such a charactea.
In short, after all the suggestions which have
been made, we are driven back pretty
much upon Sir George Grey's conclusion, " than
best means of checking the crime of infanticide
is to improve the morals of the people, for no law
which Parliament could frame would be so effectual
to prevent it." Some beneficial effect might pas'
sibly be produced by the infliction upon a reputed
father in easy circumstances of a pecuniary mulct
in addition to the present weekly payment, which
might be available at its cessation as a premium
for the apprenticeship or other advancement in life
of the child. It is questionable also whether the
present weekly stipend is adequate in towns to pro-
vide for the child at nurse so to enable its mother to
gain her own living. So long as this is the case its
chances of surviving must obviously be but
small, when its removal will be so great is
relief. Still, all such provisions as these cant
operate only as palliatives of the evil. Beyond
the extreme difficulty of acting otherwise
there is really no reason for imposing upon one
party to a delinquency nine-tenths of the burden
when both are, morally speaking, at least equally
guilty. It is high time that public attention should
be specially directed to the prevalence of infanti-
cide ; since in the publicity of the crime and in the
abhorrence which it creates in the minds of the

community in general lies, as it would seem at pre-
sent, the best chance of the gradual disappearance
from among us of so foul a stain upon the national
character.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

GLOUCESTER-JULY 25.

The show of wheat to-day was very good, with a small
attendance of farmers. English and foreign wheat sold
at previous rates. In barley, oats, and beans there was no
alteration.

COLCHESTE:

•JULY 25.

There was a firm trade in wheat to-day, and on soma
samples about is per qr advance on last week was made.
Spring corn very dull, at late rates.
Wheat, white 46s 56s Beans, Mazagan . . 30s 33a
red .. 42s 52s middle & small-35s 42s
Barley —s —s Peas, white 40s 42s
Oats

Harrow Ticks ..35s 40s
new..--s
Mazagan ..30s 38s

,D--.JULY 24.
ay there was a fair attend*
!less was evinced by buyerw,
Other articles dull.
eeaa, Partridge- 37s 40s
White 39s 40s
Boiling 4OB 430
Dun 358 38s
Ditto new -0
Beans, Tick,
new —s
old 340 39