The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-02 00:00:00

means of providing accommodation for the large
number of prisoners who are almost daily assem-
bled there from the respective stat:ons, and who are
now, for want of accommodation, placed in crowds
in the passages or yards adjoining the offices, some-
times in immediate communication with friends, ac-
complices, prosecutors, and witnesses.
We have the satisfaction to state, that, in ac-
cordance with the suggestion contained in our re-
port to your Lordship, dated April 28, 1838, the
four vans heretofore used for the conveyance of
prisoners between the several police-offices and me-
tropolitan prisons, and against which there existed
so many serious objections, have been discontinued.
Four new vans, each with twelve separate compart-
ments, have been constructed upon the plans sub-
mitted by us in our third annual report. These
carriages have been placed under the direction of
the Commissioners of the Metropolitan Police, and
we are authorized by them to state that the vans
have proved thoroughly efficient, and that not
only has no complaint in any instance been made
against them either by the public, or by the prison-
ers conveyed in them ; but that, on the contrary,
much thankfulness has been expressed by prisoners
on may occasions for the protection and accommo-
6ation thus afforded_ to them. The individual se-
paration, which is invariably maintained in these
carriages, present a striking contrast to the crowded
and disorderly condition of the vans formerly in
use. The importance of this improvement may be
duly estimated when we state, that although the
four new vans have been in full operation for a
period of but nine months, they have conveyed up-
wards of 26,000 prisoners. An interesting return
on this subject will be found in the Appendix, ex-
hibiting the total number of prisoners conveyed
monthly, and the number and particulars of the
daily journeys performed by each van.
In our former reports we have adverted to the
great importance of exertions being made in the
several counties for affording assistance to prisoners
who, on their liberation, are disposed to reform ;
but who, being destitute, are unable to find the
means of obtaining an honest livelihood. The
loss of character, the want of friends, and the con-
sequent inability to procure employment, are insu-
perable obstacles in preventing a discharged convict
from regaining a reputable position in society, and
he has not unfrequently no other resource for a sub-
sistence than to return to the commission of crime.
Assistance of this nature is best administered by
the establishment of local associations. It is,
therefore, with great satisfaction that we find that
a society has been formed by the Magistrates of
the county of Surrey " for the employment and
reformation of discharged prisoners," and that the
example has been followed by the Superintending
Committee of Milbank Penitentiary, in the estab-
lishment of a " Society for Assisting Destitute and
Deserving Prisoners to Obtain an Honest Live-
lihood on their Discharge." It is proposed to
accomplish these objects—
First--By restoring the prisoners to their rela-
tions and friends, where such restoration shall ap-
pear to be for their advantage.
Secondly—By finding permanent employment
for discharged prisoners, as apprentices, servants,
or labourers, under suitable masters and mistresses.

Thirdly—By promoting emigration to such colo-
nies, and under such circumstances, as shall ap-
pear calculated to secure the emigrant from temp-
tations to return to dishonest practices.
We have inserted in the Appendix the address
which has been issued by the Committees of these
Societies, in the hope that the attention of the
Magistracy throughout the country may be directed
to an object which is not only one of enlightened
humanity, but upon which the successful results
of the best systems of prison discipline must, after
all, essentially depend.
It is our duty to remark that the erection of im-
proved prisons is materially obstructed by the want
of a legislative enactment for promoting the estab-
lishment of district prisons. In several parts of the
country the Magistrates of counties and of boroughs
are willing to unite in the construction of an appro-
priate prison for their joint purposes—a measure
which would be attended with great advantages.
We trust, therefore, that the bill for the formation
of district prisons, which was introduced, but with-
drawn, in the last session of Parliament, will be
immediately renewed, and become law.
We cannot refrain from expressing our regret
that a clause which was contained in the Bill " for
the better ordering of Prisons," the object of which
was to enable the Magistrates to grant, if they should
think fit, a superannuation allowance to the subor-
dinate officers of prisons in cases of sickness, age, or
infi►mity, has not passed into a law. We feel it to

be our duty to bear testimony to the general merits
and increasing respectability of this class of public
officers, and to state that their salaries are usually
so inadequate as to prevent them, if they have fa-
milies, from making from their own resources, that
provision which it was the object of this clause
to enable the Magistrates to grant. It is not, how-
ever, on private, but on public grounds, that we
earnestly recommend the re-consideration of this
subject. In former years appointments of this kind
were not made with that care and vigilance, and
regard to the qualifications of the candidate, which
are now generally observed : there are, consequently,
to be found in several prisons inefficient officers,
whom the Magistrates would willingly supersede.
They feel, however, that they cannot take so harsh
a step as to dismiss an officer of this description,
who has been for a lengthened period in their ser-
vice, and who has been guilty of no misconduct,
without some provision. The officer consequently
remains to the injury of the prison discipline, and
to the detriment of the public interests.

It should also be observed, that of late years in-
creased attention has been given to the selection of
prison officers of every description, and a very fa-
vourable change has occurred in their general cha-
racter. It is a great object to make the situation of
prison officers respectable in the public estimation.
They have highly responsible duties to perform, and
much must depend cos their zeal and fidelity for the
success 'of the discipline which is enforced. Every
effort should, therefore, be made for bringing into
and retaining in this department of the public ser-
vice persons of sound principles, respectablity, and
intelligence, who are capable of being trained to the
higher duties of prison management. The pros-
pect of having some provision in the case of age,
sickness, or infirmity, would tend to invite eligible
parties to enter and remain in the service, and sub-
sequently operate as an encouragement to good
conduct. These considerations induce us to hope
that in the next Session a measure, so modified as
to be free from the objections which have led to the
rejection of the clause in question, may receive the
sanction of the Legislature.
We request your Lordship's particular attention
to the general digest of criminal returns inserted in
this Report. These tables exhibit the number of
prisoners for trial at the Assizes and Quarter-
Sessions in the course of the year, and the mode
in which they have been disposed of, as well as
full and detailed particulars with reference to
that numerous class of offenders—prisoners un-
der summary conviction ; information which has
nevee been furnished in any other tables. Your
Lordship will observe that we have drawn a dis-
tinction between adult and juvenile offenders, and
have given the statistics of each of these classes
separately. This is, we believe, the first time that
any returns have been obtained by which the
number of juvenile offenders may, with any degree
of confidence, be ascertained. It appears that the
total number of prisoners under seventeen years of
age, confined in the prisons of England and Wales
in the course of last•year, was 11,444 males and
2,156 females.

Of these were in custody at the corn- Males.
mencement of the year
Received under commitments, and
who have not been in custody of
others
Received from the custody of other
keepers, and enumerated in their
returns
Committed for re-examination, but
afterwards discharged ......

Females.
205

8,067 1,495