The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-02 00:00:00

THE, ,SUN; LONDON, THURSDAY Ev-JOING, JULY 2,_, 1863

a must valuable beginning, and a very great incitement to
minor, constituencies. (Cheers.) I wish to say nothing
disrespectful to any hon. gentleman who represents this
great city of London, but considering they are all Free-
traders—all the adversaries of monopoly—l must say I

never heard of a more monstrous monopoly than that by
which the Liberal party keeps to itself the whole four seats

of this great city, (Cheers.) lam satisfied that they do not
legitimately represent the wealth, intelligence, and import-

ance of this great constituency ; but I do believe that a little
energy actively applied to the registration of this great me-
tropelis would relieve it from that misrepresentation to
which, with all respect to your present hon. members, is has
been so long subjected. (Cheers.) I commend this subject,
my Lord Mayor, to your attention, and to the aerious con-
sideration of all who desire to see the triumph of those prin-
ciples to which we are attached. (Cheers.) The country
may depend upon it that there can be no greater misfortune
than that the Conservative party should attain office with
such a measuring-cast majority, if in any majority at all,
which would place them day by day at the risk of any com-
bination or coalition which might be formed against them
by the various elements which, if they cannot work well to-
gether, are sure to agree well enough to oppose them.
(Cheers,) I have encroached too long on your time, my
Lord Mayor, but I did feel it to be my duty to offer my grate-
ful acknowledgments to that great Conservative party with
which you have been kind enough to associate my name for
the calm, steady, forbearing course they have observed—a
course from which any other party would have shrunk dis •
couraged, but in which, if they steadily proceed, they will,
lam confident, at no distant period reap for themselves
and for the country that valuable reward which, if
slowly obtained will be more surely retained, but which if
prematurely grasped might the more readily fall from our
hands. (Cheers.) I beg again, my Lord Mayor, to thank
you for kindly associating my name with the great Con-
servative party, and for the hospitality you have shown us
this evening. (Loud cheers.)

Ths nest toast was "The llou3c of Lords," which was
responded to by the Duke of Buckingham.
The LORD MAYOR then gave the " House of Commons,"
coupled with the name of the Right Hon. B. Disraeli. His
lordship highly eulogised the services of the Conservative
leader of the House of Commons, and especially alluded to
the energetic and successful assistance rendered on a late
occasion, when the privileges of the corporation were me-
naced by the Government.

The toast was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm.
Mr. DISRAELI, who was received with great cheering,
said—My Lord Mayor, on the part of the House of Com-
mons I have the honour to return yououracknowledgments
for the flattering distinction which you have paid us by
drinking our health. I believe I may say on the part of the
House of Commons that its present health is pretty good.
(A. laugh.) It is not as full of vigour naturally as it was
some years ago, when in this hall I was called upon by the
chief magistrate of the City once before to return thanks for
it. Then it was full of youth, of hope, and of promises. Its
youth is exhausted, its hopes have been defeated, and its
promises have not been fulfilled. (Cheers, and a laugh.)
This I acknowledge ; but it has obtained that which indivi-
duals under the same circumstances in life often acquire in
the sunset of their days—it has acquired, I trust, the cha-
racter ofrespectability. (Cheers.) At present, considering its
course during the present ses4 n, the moderate exertions
which it has made, and the early hours it has kept, I hope
it may arrive at a green old age—(a laugh) ; and for my own
part I do not think that the report of its speedy dissolution,
which is about, will be realised. I hope it may reach its na-
tural term. I have seen already in the course of its progress
some signs of that repentance which they say accompanies
the last hour of existence. (Cheers and a laugh.) With re-
gard, my Lord Mayor, to that house which may be cur
successor, all I can say is that I believe there is n;o want of
political feeling and spirit at the present moment. We have
heard lately in high places that there has been a great want
of candidates to fulfil more important duties than those
which fall even to members of the House of Commons; but,
so far as I am informed, there is no want of candidates in
the world in which we live, and all I trust is that when the
hour arrives they will take their orders from my noble
friend, and will be returned, after due examination, at the
head of the poll. (Cheers.) You, my Lord Mayor, have
reminded us of the great difficulty which the city Las re-
cently experienced, and you were so flattering as to say
that, you were assisted in escaping from the danger with
which you were threatened by the efforts of the Conserva-
tive party in the House of Commons. I can only aver

for myself that no assistance I could offer could be given
with more sincerity than that I proffered to your lordship
on that occasion. (Cheers.) I have always myself
been of opinion that the cause of self-government, to
which your lordship has referred, is intimately con-
nected with the maintenance of the privileges of the city
of London. (Cheers.) I will even connect the cause of
self-government with meetings like the present, and as-
semblies that are occupied with those delightful employ-
ments which we have fulfilled. (A laugh.) I think there is
a connection between self-government and those magnifi-
cent banquets that are given to us by the chief of this ancient
corporation- There is no doubt that self-confider ce is
necessary as a foundation for self-government, and every
man will agree that alter dinner his self-confidence is al-
ways increased. (A laugh.) And there is always another
result of those corporation festivities which are identified
with the city of London. I think they excite that kindly
feeling toyour neighbour which is really necessary for the
the purposes of self-government (cheers), for it leads to that
forbearance which is one of the elements by which the prac-
tical character of the English people has been obtained.
(Cheers.) In these circumstances I can as.-ure you that I,
for one, felt. I was only doing my duty in supporting the
privileges of this ancient corporation, and I trust that,
hatever may be the vicissitudes of political life—whether
My noble friend may occupy that post for which he is so
eminently fitted, or remain as he is still, the guardian of the
rights of the people, in a less responsible office, I still feel
we shall always do our duty to the country in maintaining
the rights of ancient corporations, which, among many other
uses, have contributed, I think, to the formation of the
English character. (Loud and continued cheering.)
Lord DERI3Y, in proposing " the health of the Lord
Mayor," said not only as chief magistrate of that the great-
est city in the world, but in other capacities, he was well
known and appreciated. To many present who sat with
him in the House of Commons he was known as a gentle-
man who, though not giving to talking over much, was
ready at all times to speak, and with authority, on subjects
with which he was most acquainted. Not only had his
speeches when he had spoken there, but his votes,
always been in support of the best interests of the
country, and in his person the Conservative party had
won a distinguished election victory. (Hear, hear.) The
admirable manner in which his lordship had discharged his
official duties had secured for him the respect and esteem of
his fellow-citizens, and he had likewise well maintained the
ancient renown of the corporation of the city of London for
magnificent hospitality.
The toast was received with acclamation, and the LORD
MAYOR briefly responded to the compliment.
Lord STANLEY then gave " the magistrates of the City
Sheriffs:
heroo
of London," coupling with the toast the name of Alderman
Fi
nd
London
d
present.
an
,n,nT ihs,o the
ff
senioria aldermanf
Middlesex" followed,
Alderman and Sheriff LAWRENCE answering.
" The health of the Lady Mayoress" was proposed in
graceful terms by Lord CHELMSFORD, who asked—slightly
varying the quotation—
t, What was a table, richly spread,
Without a woman at the head ?" (Cheers.)
The company separated shortly after 11 o'clock.

Penal Servitude and Transportation.

The Royal Commissioners appointed to inquire
into the operation of the Penal Servitude Acts for

England and Ireland, in lieu of transportation, have
completed and signed their report. It contains but
55 pages, but the evidence and various prison re-
turns make up two thick volumes.
The Commissioners, after explaining the nature
end operation of the Act 1853, Victoria, and the
Act 1857, for amending the Act 1553, " proceed to
give a short outline of the mode in which sentences
of penal servitude have been carried into effect
under the Act 1857 in Epgland and Ireland."
It is, and it has for some time been, the rule
and practice in England, with very few exceptions,
to keep adult male prisoners in separate and cellu-
lar confinement for a period of nine months in the

prisons of either Pentouville, Millbank, or Wake-
field,•and then to transport them to the great public
works' prisons of Chatham, Portsmouth, or Port-
land, from which they are discharged after the com-
pletion of their several terms of imprisonment. The
rale in Ireland is to detain the convict but eight

months in separate confinement. The term may be
extended to nine months, or even more, in case of

bad prison conduct. It is the opinion of the Com-
missioners that the period of separate confinement

should be extended.
Irish convicts are subjected to the discipline of a
third or "intermediate prison," if we may style the
practice which prevails at Lusk farm prison disci-
pline at all. These Irish intermediate prisons,
where the convicts state they are "comfortable,"
and where they get " the news of the day," are
altogether, and wisely, ignored by the Royal Com-
mission. It appears from a return (No. 1) fur-
nished by Captain Whitty, the present director of
Irish convict prisons, that those Irish convicts who
have been released from the intermediate prisons of
Smithfield and Lush, on orders of licence, from 1857
to 1862, have given 18.3 per cent. of relapses ; while
those prisoners who have been discharged from the
ordinary working prisons of Spike Island and
Philipstown, and who have not received what is
styled " the advantage of an intermediate prison,"
have given, for the same period, but 7 per cent., or,
to be quite correct, 7.1 per cent, of relapses. This
great difference in the percentage of relapses into
new crimes is conclusive as it regards the bad re-
sults of Irish intermediate prisons-
The return for 1862 gives a very high percentage
of relapses, and contrasts unfavourably with English
returns. There were released during the year, on
licence, from Smithfield and Lush 142 convicts. Of
these 95 went abroad, leaving 47 in Ireland; these
47 gave 10 relapses or 21.27 per cent. There were
released in Englar.d, on licence, during the same
year (1862) 1,825 prisoners. Of these 125 went
abroad, leaving 1,700 at home, who gave 110 re-
lapses, or 6.5 per cent.
The Irish practice of taking the percentage of
relapses on those who have gone abroad as if they
had remained at home has led to mistakes and
mystification as it regards the great success of the
Irish convict system. Page 11 of the Commissioners'
Report has a table giving the number of sentences
of death, transportation, and penal servitude in
England, Ireland, and Scotland for the last 21 years.
From this table it appears that, while the decrease
of convict crime in Ireland has about kept pace
with the decrease in the population, the decrease in
England and Scotland has been nearly one-third,
notwithstanding the increase in the populations.
The sentences of death, transportation, and penal
servitude in Ireland in 1843, when the population
was over eight millions, were 619. In 1862, when
the population had sunk to little more than five
millions, the sentences were 585.
The new Board of Irish Convict directors assumed
office at an exceptional period as it regards the di-
munition of convict crime. Irish convict prisons,
which had been filled to overflowing, as the result
of the famine, were rapidly discharging themselves.
That this unusual decrease was in nowise owing to

the new system is evident from the fact that it was
in active operation before the new directors came
into office,. and that it prevailed to the same extent
in Irish county gaols, where the new Irish convict

system was unknown.
The Commissioners :Ire not of opinion that the
want of efficiency in the present system of punish-
ment in English convict prisons arises from any
error of principle; they consider it mainly attribu-
table to the shortness of the punishment, but they
ate of a decided opinion that the length of the sen-
tence should not be unalterably fixed, but that it
should be of a sufficient length to admit of relaxa-
Lion or remission as the reward of industry and good
conduct. " Attempts," they say, "t 9 provide a
substitute for the hope of obtaining an earlier re-
' lease by granting various other advantages to the
prisoners have not proved so powerful as the pros-
pect of obtaining an abridgment of their punish-
ment." They " think it would be right to allow
convicts to earn a considerable remission of punish-
ment."

There is a variety of evidence on the subject of
prison diet. some of the parties examined thought
it excessive, others did not think it too goad " con-
sidering the labour exacted from tho prisoners ;"
the Commissioners are not therefore prepared to re-
commetd positively that the rations of the prisoners
should be diminished..
The Commissioners write under the impression
that a more perfect state of classification exists in
Irish convict prisons than is really the case. The
fact is that classification does not commence in Ire-
land till the convict reaches the public works pri-
son, and that it ceases when he leaves for the inter-
mediatees
In England the classification com-
mor cellular stage, and continues
encipnrtishoe nirst,
to the end of the convict's imprisonment or dis-
charge; so that this powerful motive and mark of
good conduct is always in operation in English
prisons.
In speaking of English prisons the Report says,
" The practice of giving each convict half a-day's
schooling in the week, in the hours that would be
otherwise devoted to labour, is objectionable. There
is no reason why the convicts in public works' pri-
sons should not have their schooling after working
hours, as is the case in Ireland." What is the
case in Ireland ? That one portion of the convicts in
the great public works' prison of Spike Island get
two half days'schooling in the week during working
hours, and the rest three half days. In both Eng-
lish and Irish convict prisons instruction is conveyed
in the form of lectures after working hours.
There is but one feature of the Irish system—if it
can be called a part of the system—which the Com-
missioners recommend as worthy of adoption in
England, and that is the supervision and disposal of
the convicts after liberation. "The want of any
proper means for the supervision of convicts re-
leased on ticket-of-leave, and of any adequate
arrangements for placing them, when their punish-
ment is over, in a situation in which they will not
be likely to return to a criminal life" they consider
a great desideratum. The Discharged Prisoners
Aid Society is useful and important, but a depart-
ment in connexion with the prison would be more

effective.
The Report recommends that English prisoners
should be encouraged, on discharge, to emigrate
to a greater extent than they have hitherto done.
A great deal has been done in this line iu con-
nexion with Irish convict prisons, and it is to this
practice we must attribute the low percentage of
relapses which has been taken on the whole number
discharged, instead of on those who remained in the
country. But all this is now beginning to be un-
derstood.
The latter and principal part of the report treats
of transportation end the necessity and advantage
of sending a portion of the convicts—those with
long sentences—to Western Australia, respecting
which the Commissioners received some valuable
evidence. "We have already stated our opinion
that all convicts sentenced for any term of years,
who labour under no disqualification, ought ulti-
mately to be sent to Western Australia, and we
shall show hereafter that the colony may, by jndi•
time arrangements, be enabled to receive as many
as there is likely to be any occasion to send from
this country,"

Full benefit of reduced duty obtained by pur-
chasing Horniman's pure Tea; very choice at 38 4d. and
48. "High Standard" at 4s. 4d. (formerly 4s. Bd.), is the
strongest and most delicious imported. Agents in every
town supply it in packets,

Glaisher's Eleventh Balloon Ascent.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sir,—Allow me to furnish you with some ac-
count of our ascent on the 26th nit.

The place of ascent on this occasion was Wolver-
on. The members of the committee of the British

Association present were Lord Wrottesley, Colonel
Sykes, and Dr. Lee.
The morning was fine, rith very light airs anti, a
clear blue sky, giving every promise of an easy
ascent ; but towards noon clouds gathered, sonic of a
dark, threatening character, and the wind increased
in strength. At 1 o'clock the sky was overcast

with high clouds, and the wind was strong.

The balloon lurched a great deal, and it was with
Ilifficulty that Mr. Negretti placed the instruments
in position in the car, and even then there was fre-

quent danger of their breaking, owing to the swaying

of the balloon and the car strikin g the ground, to pre-
vent which the anited exertions of fifty men wore

scarcely sufficient. Unfortunately there was not
gas enough in the balloon to contend with these cir-
cumstances, although there was plenty if the day
had continued calm, and consequently we had at
the last moment to part with five bags of sand to
insure clearing adjacent buildings. The loss of
weight caused us to rise quickly, and its want was
severely felt.
We left the earth at lh. 3m. p.m. ; at lh. 7m. we
were at the height of 2,000 ft. ; at lb. 15m. we
passed above 8,000 ft.; a height of 10,000 ft. was
reached at lh. 17m. ; io nine minutes afterwards
we were 15,000 ft. from the earth, and rose gradu-

ally to about four miles and a quarter at lh. 55m.
On descending at 2h. Bm. we were 20,000 ft. from
the earth; at 2h. 13m. above 15,000 ft. ; at 2h. 17m.,
10,000 ft. ; at 2h. 22m., 5,C00ft.; and on the ground
at 2h. 28m.

Before starting, the temperature of the air was
66 degs.; it decreased rapidly on leaving the earth ;
was 54 degs. at 3,000 ft. high ; 49 dogs. at 4,000 ft.;
41 degs. at one mile; 30 degs. at two miles; and,
up to this time, every succeeding reading was less
than the preceding, but here the decrease was
checked, and while passing from two to three miles
the temperature at first increased to 32 degs., then

decreased to 29 degs. A second increase followed,
and at the height of three miles and a quarter the
temperature was 35 degs. A rapid decrease then
set in, and at three miles and a half the tempera-
ture was 22 degs. From this time till the height of
four miles was reached the temperature varied fre-
quently between 22 degs. and 18 degs., and at the
height of four miles and a quarter the lowest tem-
perature took place—viz., 17 degs. On descending
the temperature increased to 26 dogs. at the height
of 23,000 ft., and then to 32 degs. at the height of
four miles. It then decreased 9 degs. in one
minute, to 23 degs. It continued at this value for
some time ; then increased slowly to 29 degs,, at
19,000 ft., and continued almost constant for a space
of 2,000 ft.; then increased to 32 dogs. at 15,000 fr.;
and was 32 dege. or 33 degs., almost without varia-
tion, during the snow storm, which we experienced
from 13,500 ft. to 10,000 ft. high, when an increase
set in. At 5,000 ft. the temperature was 41 dogs.,
and 66 degs on the ground.

We reached some clouds at lb. 9m. ; at lh. 16w
we saw a very faint sun, and expected, as usual, its
brilliancy would increase, and that we should soon
break into clear sky. At this time we heard the
sighieg of the wind, or rather moaning, as preced-
ing a storm; and this continued for some time, and
is the first instance that either Mr. Coxwell or my-
self has heard such a sound at the height of two
miles. It was not owing to any movement of the
cordage above, but seemed to be below, as from con-
flicting currents beneath. At lh. 17m. some rain
fell; at lh. 17m. we could just see a river; a few
seconds after we entered a cloud. At lh. 19m. we
could just see the earth and the sun, but both very
faintly. At lb. 20m. we were again enveloped in
dry fog; at lh. 29m. there were faint gleams of
light for a short time, and then all was closed up
again. At lb. 36m. the fog was wetting; at lh.
37m. we entered a dry fog ; at lh. 40w. the sun was
just visible, but for the most part cut off by the bal-
loon. At lh. 41m. we were again in fog, which
continued more or less prevalent till 11).13.3m., -when
we passed above four miles.
At the highest point reached, above 4/ miles, the
sky was very much covered with cirrus clouds ; the
sky us seen between them was of a very faint blue ;
as seen from below through a moist atmosphere we
were above clouds, but there were no fine views or
forms, all was confused and dirty-looking, no bright
shining surface, or anything picturesque, and the
view was exceedingly limited, owing to the thick
murky atmosphere.
At 2h. 3m. on descending we lost even the faint
sun and re-entered fog, and experienced a decline
of temperature of 9 deg. in little more than a
minute. At 2h. 6m. there were faint gleams of
light, fog was both above and below, but not near
us. At 2h. 7m. large drops of water fell from the
balloon, covering my note-book ; the next minute
we were enveloped in fog, which became very thin
at 2h. 14m. At 2h. 14-!-;rn. rain fell pattering on the
balloon ; this was shortly succeeded by snow, and
for a space 'of nearly 4,000 ft. we passed through a
snow storm ; there were many spiculse and cross
spiculre, with snow crystals small in size, but dis-
tinct ; there were few, if any flakes, as we descended
the snow seemed to rise above us.
At 2h. 17w. we passed belcev the regions of snow,
and shortly afterwards we saw a canal and then
another, each being straight far miles apparently.
The state of the lower atmosphere was most remark-
able, Mr. Coxwell had never seen it so murky before,
when far from a town—it was of a brownish, yel-
lowish tinge, and remarkably dull. No distance on
land could be seen.
When at the height of one mile, we had no more
sand, and simply became a falling body, checked
somewhat by the balloon; we threw away leaden
weights, &c., to help to check the rapidity of the de-
scent. The ground wind was strong, and the descent
was somewhat rough ; we rebounded from the earth
three or four times, and finally the grapnel caught
in a watercourse.
The management of the balloon on this occasion,
with its increasing weight, while rising and falling,
with too small an amount of gas, and consequently
of sand, called the different powers of Mr. Coxwell
into play, and his management at the descent—l
was almost about to write " jockeying",—was equal
to the occasion, and doubtless saved many of my
instruments, which in less able hands would inevi-
tably have been broken.
I took up Herschel's actinometer, and once only,
at four miles high, the sun shone on it, during which
time the reading increased nine divisions only in
one minute, whlle on the ground Dr. Lee and my-
self, at 11 o'clock in the morning, had determined
the increase of 33 divisions in one minute. This
instrnment I hope to be able to use at groat heights
on future occasions.
A new mercurial barometer, designed by Messrs.
Negretti and Zambra, and intended specially for
Alpine travellers, and for observations at high ele-
vations alone, was taken up. It is a foot less in
length than the ordinary barometer, and does not
begin to act till a considerable height is reached ;
it was read by Mr. Coxwell simultaneously with
my reading of the standard barometer, at many
elevations up to four miles, and the readings were
always coincident. It was broken in the descent.
The unexpected circumstances which preceded
our leaving the earth had called upon Mr. Coxwell
for great personal exertions to prepare for the
ascent, and on starting he was iu a state of perspi-
ration, and had been so wholly engrossed that when
the balloon left he had no extra clothing. The de-
cline of 30 min. of temperature in a quarter of an
hour caused him to feet a most painful degree of
cold, and on attempting to lower the grapnel I had
to attend to his instructions with respect to the
valve, and finally to assist him in lowering the
grapnel. At lh. 20m. his hands were a blackish
blue. At the height of three miles a train was heard,
and at a height exceeding four miles another train
was heard. Those heights are the greatest at
which we ever heard sounds, and indicate the gene-
rally moist state of the atmosphere. Before quite
reaching the highest point I examined portions of
the blue sky with a small spectroscope, which
I could readily use an7where, and the spec-
trum was seen just as from the earth under
the same circumstances. I could not use the