The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-25 00:00:00

On the Execution of Insane Persons.

The following remarks occur in a pamphlet writ-
ten by Dr, Forbes Winslow on the case of Barra.
nelli, an alleged lunatic :
Such a barbarous proceeding can do no good, but, on the
contrary, much mischief to the best interests of society, and
is perfectly valueless when viewed as a means of preventing
clime—the only valid and reasonable excuse that can with
any semblance of justice be assigned for the act. 'When
speaking of the irresponsibility of the insane and the object
of punishment the great Lord Coke says :—" The execution
of an offender, islfor.an example, ut pcena ad patios, metus
ad omnes ;" and that justly eminent jurist adds,
" but so it is not when a madman is executed, but should
be a miserable spectacle against law, and of extreme inhu-
manity and cruelty, and can be no example to others."
We are aware that an opinion is current in certain quar-
ters among some distinguished advocates and physicians
that insanity, even if clearly established, should not exempt
a criminal from the extreme penalty of the,law. We do not
for one moment believe that so unchristian and monstrous a
doctrine is tolerated by the more enlightened members of
the legal and medical professions. There are undoubtedly
among both bodies men who entertain extreme and ultra
views respecting crime and punishment—men net deficient
in natural sagacity, and not uninfluenced by feelings of
humanity, who, being educated in the spirit and prejudices
of the old schoGl, consider the throne, the seat of justice,
and the State in danger if any undue mercy is exhibited to-
wards those who violate the sacred majesty of the law I
Not hang a lunatic, they exclaim, who has committed the
crime of murder I Not hand over to the tender mercies of
the public executioner an insane person who has imbued
his hands in the blood of a fellow-creature I If doctrines
like these are promulgated—if such principles are allowed
to interfere with the legitimate administration of justice—
who will answer for the safety of society and the security
of the State, or the lite of the Sovereign ? Thank God, we
have the happiness of living in an ago when such obsolete
doctrines can exercise no influence upon the understalan
ing-, the humanity, character, and conduct of those pced
in positions of great legal trust and responsibility
ere,
Futile arguments and vain threats like the.see.:eorfe,thine
more cruel and barbarous epochs, urged in
drneodes of
rack, the thumb-screw, and other benevolents3nial
pro-
longingo-
human suffering. When Sir
posed the abolition of the
atobhf.uePti
leru
la
house that such an innovationclan is
and inSwi
ou'tug,arhe ilunataoohsnlfef,
etith:hd' dAadeiwnescatatgruhtsl toolalagohyuurnmenusdrfareedmomesyrtr
asceaahuoxi
Gnrsoeickti eeeYe‘si
landmarks,
neat
the tity:tr.inslise,
crimimal law of Englandd
sdtO abolish the disgusting and excellent
Areth
ooenlaysaottn'hegbeuarda ancient ---:
hliteeakedrccia,fot
esyhra,doa,Brneavvtridhakah:netirdtcit
toi
rhe.tef
h, the Cu
rginrtaa:c dis-
graceful
171:13w:of:in rtisdnihsePu':nnPe:eiori Constitutionth highia s treason,ti
nogbue
manifesta-
tion of induced indignantly to
Ybsvowaselsof .offender into his
exclaim,
face one of the safeguards of the British Constitution I" Is
it necessary for the vindication of justice—is it essential for
the satety of the statute-book—is it required for the main-
tenance of the law and the dignity of those delegated with
its administration, that a miserable spectacle, like the exe-
cution of a lunatic, with all its associated horrors, attendant
and unmitigated evils, should occur in a civilised and
Christian land r

4777.-
(.61111

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Dee. 24.

The Queen walked in tho grounds yesterday',
accompanied by Princess Louise and Princess
Beatrice. _ _

The Princess of Wales and Princess Helena
drove out.

• --- - - ......,14, -- - -

PRINCE ARTHUR.—His Royal Highness Prince
Arthur arived at Portsmouth yesterday morning from
Greenwich-park, attended by Major Elphinstone, and, hav-
ing embarked on board the royal yacht Fairy, Captain the
Prince of Leiningen, proceeded to Osborne.
The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland have
entertained company at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland,
during the past week:
The Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe, the Mar"
quis of Bowmont, and Miss Dalton have left the Clarendon
Hotel for Floors Castle.
The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland left Staf-
ford House, St. James's, yesterday for Clifden, near
Maidenhead, Bucks, on a visit to the Duchess (Dowager)
of Sutherland,
The Countess of Ellesmere, with Mr. and LOY.
Georgiana Balfour and the Misses Balfour, left Nice this
week on their way to Rome, for the winter.
The Earl and Countess of Essex have distributed
their Christmas bounty to upwards of 70 of the Oa
cottagers and labourers at the Home Farm, Cassioburb
Watford. A fat bullock was killed and apportioned out,
and the countess distributed a quantity of warm clothing
to the more needful of the poor. _

Lord and Lady Rendesham have left the Claren-
don Hotel for Rendlesham Hall.
Baron and Baroness Alphonse de Rothschil d
have arrived from Paris on a visit to Baron and Baronet°
Lionel de Rothschild, at Kingston House.

Sir Rutherford Alcock, her Majesty's reproen."
tative in Japan, has arrived at Paris on his return to 08
post.

Mr. Layard, M.P., left town on Wednesday Uri
a visit to ft.() Earl and Countess Somers, at Eastuor Castles,
near Ledbury.

The Rectorship of the Aberdeen University'.

ABERDEEN, Thursday.
The election of Lord Rector of Aberdeen Univ.° 4
city took place to-day, with the following result-"'
Earl Russell, 231 votes; Mr. E. Grant Da; N 1.3"
133 votes.
Earl Russell had a majority in the several
nations as well as by vote. His Lordship hes irt-
timated his intention of coming down at the clo
of the Session in April to be installed into office.