The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-08 00:00:00

ROMAN CATHOLIC PRISONERS,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—Having taken part in the efforts made by
Catholics to obtain due and proper facility of com-
munication between the clergy and prisoners of our
communion, I hope you will permit me to address
a few lines to you on the subject.
In your number of Thursday, the 3d inst., Ser-
geant Bellasis shows that the magistrates of Middle-
'' sex--gentlemen, no doubt, of experience and
ability, were yet not aware of the statistics of
crime in their House of Correction. When he
stated how large a number of criminals returned ten
times to the prison it was doubted that such was
the case. When the official returns were quoted,
a misprint was alleged as the reason, though the
fact is now fully established.
Lord Palmerston and others—Protestants as well
as Catholic, of official and general experience,. L
have constantly stated, in and out of Parliament,
that the only hope of reforming prisoners was to en-
deavour to rekindle the sparks of religious training
they may at any time have received, according to
the religion in which they had received it. Upon
a prisoner who perhaps reluctantly hears any cler-
gyman at all the admonitions of a clergyman other
than one whose teaching may have been known to
him may have the same effect as that of the Pro-
testant missionary upon the savages previously,
visited by a Catholic :—" You say you are a Chris-
tian, yet you contradict that which 'another Chris-
tian minister has stated to be true, so I will listen
to neither.
It has been shown that Catholic prisoners in
gaols were ignorant they could see a clergyman of
their own persuasion. They fear to ask for their
services, sometimes lest they should offend or
trouble the authorities, sometimes from the natural
fear of shame in having erred. A life of crime
and sin cannot always rouse itself to make the spe-
cial request hitherto demanded by the law. We
have also shown that a man shut up within four
walls is at the mercy of his gaolers (who are some-
times merciful, sometimes otherwise), and that
while on the one hand there is opportunity to in-
struct and improve, on the other hand, if this is
not properly done, misplaced instruction may pro-
duce dissimulation and disgust.

Sach being the situation of the prisoner, the law
has till this year said; "A Protestant chaplain must
visit all prisoners ; he may always have access to
them, even when they are recognised as Catholics."
But to Catholics the law has said, in practice and in
truth, " There shall be no encouragement to your
reformation. If you choose to give trouble ; if you
dare to abstract yourself from the rest of your fellow
prisoners; if you, a sinner and a criminal, of your
own will and disposition, demand to see your clergy-
man (an action which would show reformation to be
attained, rather than reformation to be needed),
then, at your special request, you may see him.
However, you must see him alone. There must
be no religious service. It is true that, as he
may see only one at a time, he may only have
time to see not a quarter of the number he
ought to see. He shall neglect his other duties.
HiS ordinary flock, who fancy themselves entitled to
his ministry, must take care of themselves. His
poverty cannot be considered; although he may
have miles to journey, no facility can be
given, and no expense allowed. Bnt, moreover, as
you have stated that you are a Catholic, and have
asked to see your clergyman, we must lock you up
in your cell while others are at the prison chapel.
You shall be deprived of the gratification they enjoy
by this break upon their prison life. It is true you
will thus get about 36 days' punishment in the year
more than they. This cannot be helped; because
you have avowod yourself to be a Catholic, you must
therefore be content to be punished, because you
have had the courage to avow that you Wish to be
good and to reform."

And yet we Catholics have shown how prison
discipline is assisted by the ministrations of our
clergy. We have challenged contradiction to the
statement that where the Catholic clergyman was
brought to the prisoner of his religion, there the
prison officers have found restraint more easy.
We have used every argument that common sense
could point out, and they are many, and we are /net
by assertions none of which are stronger than this—
that a Catholic criminal, if left to himself, would
rather not send for his priest. His difficulties are
denied, the events of his life are forgotten ; and the
whole of this great question is shelved by an asser-
tion as mistaken in idea as it is inconsistent with
fact.

I do not doubt that the magistrates of Middlesex
are good, estimable, painstaking gentlemen. It had,
however, escaped them to weigh the frequency of
crime in their prison, as shown in authentic regis-
ters. Is it, then, wrong to think it possible that
they may be unacquainted with subjects more diffi-
cult to ascertain ? I mean the action of the feelings,
the emotions, the providential inspirations Which,
from time to time, are working upon even the
criminal heart, and which may be beneficially im-
proved upon if they themselves will permit it.
This year the wisdom of Parliament has placed
the remedy within their reach.

It has also been proposed to them to avail them.
selves of the enactment.

If reformation of criminals is desired ; if the rates
are to be lightened by less frequent imprisonment ;
if murder, crime, drunkenness, violence, suicide, are
to be diminished, why deny to us such simple means
as Ire ask to obtain for the public so great a benefit ?
Let there not be imputed to us motives which we
do not feel. We ask but the reformation of the
criminal. We do not ask influence or money more
than is simply necessary for the object common to
us all. If that is denied to us in execution, which the
law sanctions and authorises by its high authority,
is there no responsibility in such denial, and bow
great is that responsibility ? May it not be also
that, without knowing or measuring the harm they
unwittingly practise, the majority of the magis-
trates prefer to keep up a system of exclusion
rather than to follow that which has been found
necessary in the army, and which has been at-
tended with much benefit in the convict prisons of
the country ?

Let the same system be carried out in county
gaols; the country and society at large will benefit,
because there will be less crime and diminished ex-
penses, not only in prosecuting criminals, but in
their support and care after conviction.
Of course, the magistrates must carry out their
own views of what is right ; but I do most sincerely
hope that upon so momentous a subject for the in-
terests of the poor people concerned they may be
guided by principles which have been so lucidly
placed before them on a recent occasion.

I beg pardon for trespassing upon your space,
but I cannot help thus referring to the important
statement and statistics of Sergeant Bellasis as
shown in your paper of Thursday last.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Arundel, Dec. 7 EDWARD F. HOWARD.

THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT ISLINGTON. Dr.
Lancaster yesterday resumed his inquiry into the
circumstances attending the deaths of John Peake and
Joseph Pearce, carpenters, in the employ of Mr. Chapman,
builder, occasioned by the falling of the premises known as
the Wheatsheaf publichouse, Upper-street, Islington. Mr.
Cuftlin said he saw some men pull down the chimney-wall
with ropes after the building had fallen, and he Was certain
some of the debris fell on the spot where the bodies of the
two men were lying. Philip Meldrum, bricklayer, Was 0150
examined, but his evidence was contradictory as to. the
removal of shores, which were taken down to admit the 1
door-steps. He said he saw somo cracks under the windows
about a fortnight since, and having put some cement over
them, he examined them frequently afterwards, but they
never appeared to have widened. The materials used were
of the best description. Daniel Wallis, foreman of the
plasterers, said about 20 minutes to 12 he saw two openings
across the windows on the ground floor story. He immo.
diately apprised Mr. Chapman of the fact, and he afterwards
told him to take his men off the scoffold. He did not think
anything of the cracks alluded to by Meldtuni. Herbert
Wallis said when ho first went to work on the building he
found the wall very round. The foreman of the carpenters
said
oi
building,
Her:
said Mr. Williams was
was always impressing
n up
the building more than two feet high at a time. The in-
quiry was again adjourned until Monday next,
UP THE NILE.--A letter from Alexandria of the
28th ult., says .—A great number of travellers have arrived
here lately on their way up the Nile; among others, the
Duke of Rutland, the Earl of Scarborough, Lady Herbert
of Lea, and Earl Spencer.

SECOND EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, HALF-PAST 4 o'CLocri,

ITALY,

MESSINA, DEC. 8.
Advices received hero from Constantinople state
that naval armEments in Turkey continue.
Eight more c,Avettes have been ordered to be
built.

~.......,..

MALTA, DEC. 7.
The English fleet has quitted Greece, leaving
only two ships at the Pi? was.