The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-14 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, FEB. 14, 1865.

Sir G. GREY certainly devotes a considerable
share of attention to the subject of Prisons, and the
right hon. gentleman has every reason to do so, for
this matter is one that is most deserving of notice,
alike from its own intrinsic importance and from
the errors that have lately crept into the system
that prevails in this country. Dealing with the
laws that appertain to criminals is the most painful
duty that devolves upon the Home Secretary, and
the difficulties that hedge in such a question render
the undertaking both irksome and arduous. The
Bill which the right hon. gentleman obtained leave
to bring in last night appears, so far as we can
judge, at first, to be a step in the right direction.
The first thing necessary to be done, as truly stated
by Sir G. GREY in his introductory speech, was to
consolidate the existing law. It is now a consider-
able period since the last consolidation took
place, and since then many changes have
been made, at intervals, and the supplementary
enactments cause considerable confusion when it is
necessary to ascertain the precise nature of the law
in any particular. This Bill now projected is,
however, to be one for the amendment of the Law
as well as for its consolidation. The principal ob-
jects which were stated last night appear to contain
nearly all that is desirable for the purpose of better-
ing the arrangements of all prisons, and rendering
their discipline more in conformity with what should
be the principles of such institutions. The purport,
as briefly stated, seems to be to construct prisons so
that separate confinement can be made practicable,
and also to provide such means in every prison as
will insure that sentences of hard labour are and
will be carried into effect. The means by which
these plans are to be carried into effect is by re-
quiring a certificate to show that the requirements
of the law have been complied with before the Trea-
sury allowance for the maintenance of prisoners is
given. This is a very excellent suggestion, and,
doubtlesa, it will be found very efficacious in carry-
ing out the object for which it was designed. With
one thing and another the discipline maintained in
our prisons has become very lax and imperfect, and
nothing but a thorough change will counteract the
evil that has taken such deep
root, and gained such
a stronghold of late years. We have gone from one
extreme to another, from a systein of coercion and
harshness that was most severe to a perfect mockery
pampers criminals. It is
of justice, a course which
indeed high time that a atop be put to all this, and
that energetic measures be adopted at once, for it is
almost impossible to realise the full extent to which
such lax management and faulty procedure in prison
discipline may injure the community at large, by
giving a false tone to things, and by virtually
holding out a premium for crime. As Sir G.
GREY truly observed, it will be easier to judge
of the merits of this Bill when the details appear ;
but, meanwhile, its promise is good and augurs well
for the manner in which this subject is being taken
up by the authorities. The right hon. gentleman
proposes, if the Bill be brought to a second reading,
t) refer it to a select committee, in order that it may
receive the proper amount of revision. This is the
right course to pursue, and it is to be hoped that the
scruples of over-zealous members will not militate