The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-10 00:00:00

Ihis duties as a Prince of the Confederation, but
politely intimated to them his opinion that it would
be much better if they restricted their energies to
the consideration of nzunicipal questions. It is to
be feared that the influence of Prussia will hare
some weight on the Austrian Government, and so
long as Kiel remains the object of Prussia's ambi-
tions, and Herr von BIsMARK retains the office of
First Minister and royal confidant, that influence is
sure to be mischievous, Yet Austria and Prussia
ire neither of them prepared for the consequences
of the rash and hasty step to which they are now
giving their sanction. The order for the advance
of the Federal troops into Holstein was despatched
immediately on the passing of the resolution in the
Diet, and Denmark, as we have known for some
rime, has expressed her intention of regarding such
an act as a casus beld. The withdrawal of the royal
patent leaves the complainants entirely without
excuse, and that act indicated a spirit of concilia-
tion and desire for a pacific settlement which it is
but too evident is not reciprocated by the German
Powers, small or great. There seems now but little
hope of avoiding hostilities, though if we reckon on
the proverbial tardiness of Federal movements, there
is still room for diplomacy to make another effort.
Unfortunately, it is impossible for Denmark to
satisfy Prussia without surrendering the port of
Kiel, and as she will not, of course, do that, the
Schleswig- Holstein question, whose very name has
become a bugbear to politicians, has not been heard
the last of. Earl RUSSELL, to whose extraordinary
conduct last year much ot the present complication
may be attributed, had better follow np the despatch
in which he disposed of the pretensions of the Prince
of AUGUSTENBURG, by another communication re-
minding the German Governments of the obliga-
tions which they incurred by the Treaty of 1852,
and the right which England has to expect that
they will abide by their engagements. If Austria
and Prussia support Federal execution in Holstein
and Lanenburg they are certainly not observing
their guarantee of the integrity ot Denmark; and
it would be well to convince them that, although
their memories may be conveniently short, England
has a more faithful recollection of the terms of the
agreement solemnly ratified by most of the Euro-
pean Powers.

A curious case was tried at the Southwark
police-court on Tuesday. A poor woman was
proved to be determined to get into prison, and
for this purpose she employed herself in smash-
ing windows. She made a regular system of
this, as it was shown that she gained her end
in a surprising manner. She had been convicted
before for destroying a considerable quantity of
glass, and had been sentenced to six months'
hard labour. From this she was only discharged
on Monday, and now recommenced her game.
Grown reckless by success, however, she had
become a little incautious, and actually went so
far as to tell one of the witnesses that while at
Wandsworth she had " gammoned " the autho-
rities. Her list of luxuries is sufficient to create
astonishment in the minds of those initiated into
the mysteries of these arch-deceivers, and will
excite the just indignation of all capable of re-
cognising the incongruity of such occurrences.
The following is the communication made by the
prisoner—" She had daily half a pint of wine,
one pint of stout, a .quart of milk, one quart of
tea, two eggs, one custard pudding, one pint of
beef tea, two oranges, eight ounces of bread and
butter, and fuur ounces of bread." Strange as
this may appear, it was corrobarated by applica-
tion to the governor, and the relieving officer
very truly added that it was not to be wondered
at that she preferred the House of Correction at
Wandsworth to the workhouse. In a smart
sketch published some years ago, which satirised
the manner that prevailed for pitying criminals,
and affording to them the privileges denied to
the low,st and deserving members of society, it
was said—" Strange age that thus offers a pre-
mium, and surely if this sumptuous fare for crime"
is to be enjoyed by those who exercise their
skill in "smashing windows" the punishment
will scarcely hold a deterring influence suffi •
cient to render glass windows other than
very precarious property indeed. It was very truly
observed that she had great success in imposing
upon the medical authorities of prisons. It is
greatly to be regretted that such things should
be permitted. Here is no isolated instance of
wrong-doing—no misdemeanour which arises from
temporary irritation or traceable misfortune—but
a systematic course of swindling which unfortu-
nately is suffered to succeed, and thus prove a
scandal to the treatment of offenders. In this case
it is satisfactory to find that Mr. BURCIIAM was a
match for the wily deceiver, and hardhearted
enough to prevent her enjoying the luxuries of
the suburban retreat she eo delighted in. He
directed her to find bail for six months, and in
default to be committed to Horsemonger-lane gaol,
where he did not think the surgeon would be
gammoned." Such was the proper treatment of
so notorious a cheat ; but it is worth while to con-
sider the defects of a system which gives rise to
these impostors, and is so rife with all kinds of
deception. The game is always being played by
such prisoners this JANE MAYOR; their name is
legion, and they abound in all places of criminal
resort. So long as the powors that be persist in
making prisoners as comfortable as they possibly
can, and supply abundantly to the thief, the mis-
creant, and the ruffian those comforts and luxuries
which are denied to the pauper, and unheard of by
suffering virtue and honest poverty out of doors,
so long will the avenues to the prison be thronged
with eager applicants, and the sombre entrance to
the grim abodes regarded ar the portals which lead
to the possession of unparalleled benefits. There is
something very unsound in this system, and it
is time that we should dispel the illusion that
has hitherto surrounded us in regard to this ques-
tion. Let prisoners who are really sack or sulfuring
be treated with care, consideration, and kindness.
No needful alleviation should be refused, and no
necessary means denied, but due restrictions ought
to be imposed, and where the line is drawn which
declines to afford luxuries to the distressed, it should
leave unsupplied the prisoner and not the pauper.
The commission of crime and the perpetration of
minor offences must not convey a cares blanche to
the offenders to seize on all the alleviations which
the authorities can bestow. It is really quite out o

character that such impostors as this woman referred
to above should be suffered with impunity to out-

rage public propriety time after time, rind her re-

tribution should b 3 an entrance to comparative
comfort, and an enjoyment of luxuries that many a
mother would give the world to obtain for her
sucking child, and many a starving family would
rEjoice in. It is as well that this should have
occurred; it may perchance open the eyes of those
well-meaning persons who have been so grossly
deceived by
such specious pretenders and would-be
martyrs. Allowing for the sake of argument that
her illness, as
She called it, required such careful
treatment, the best lesson for her would have been
to dismiss her from the prison altogether, and then
she would not have bees a burden upon funds re-
quired for worthier persons. There is no more
cruel injustice to tue deserving than to encourage
crimo in the way that is now 60 prevalent 5 there is .