The Sun.
London, England, 1825-01-12 00:00:00

EDUCATION OP PRISONERS.

Mr. TROTTER wished to know from Mr. Green, the Go-
yemor of Brixton House of Concction, whether the Visiting
Magistrates were in the habit of allowing sufficient time for
the education of prisoners. Otherwise, he should make a mo-
tion, recommending that particular subject to their special on
sideration. He would first ask, how many hours in the day
were prisoners worked at the tread-wheel ?
Mr. Green.—From six :nntil six in summer, except at meal-
times, which were, half an hour fcr breakfast, an hour for din.
ner, and half an hour twice a week for chapel.
- . _

Have you any power to dispense with these hours of work 3
—Certainly not.
Mr. H. Su 3rNTE n—ls it tope expected, I wish to know, that
we are to find ach9ol:mas. tersrand rnistrese.t. ?

Mr. Tx OWEIL thought the means of instruction ought to be
provided first for the younger prisoners, and then, as an .expe-
riment, carried as far as might be convenietft. He pointed out
the efficacy of instruction in all the reformatory institutions.
Mr. H. nc. remarked, that in the two Acts of Par-
liainent for the regulation of gaols, there were several contra-
dictory and irreconcileable provisions. One Act enjoined, that
the prisoners should be kept to hard labour for ten hours each
day, and the other Act authorized a certain religious and moral
instruction. The provisions of the two Acts were in this re-
spect incompatible. He freely admitted that nothing could
exceed the value of education, when conducted with moral and
religious principle, but he disliked this hurried plan of educa-
tion, of mere reading and writing, which, carried on in a loose
manner, would only give greater facilities to offenders to com-
mit forgery and other crimes. Keeping prisoners at work; he
thought, a far more preferable plan thin giving them this hur-
ried sort of education.
Mr. DUST mmown differed to ccelo from the Hon. Member,
' and thought that even the knowledge of mere reading and
writing was calculated to do good rather than harm.—(Hear,
hear !)—lt was, he thought, quite open to doubt, to say that to
coerce a man by corporal labour, in the hope of promoting his
moral reformation, was a good system. He thought it both idle
and visionary, and that to flog a man into better morals was a
notion both bad and utterly hopeless.—( Hear !)
Mr. R. JACKSON explained the provisions of the two Acts of
Parliament, which he thought could be reconciled by the visiting
liitystrates.
r. Buiscoa had no doubt that they had the power to en-
force instruction of a moral and religious nature.
Mr. H. Su MITER denied that he was hostile to moral and re-
ligious instruction where it could be properly administered.
Mr. BRISCOE wished to kqow how it was possible to give
suitable moral and religious instruction, by appropriating only

a fart of Sunday for that purpose. It was universally ad.
nutted that ignorance was the parent of crime. He could not
help recalling their attention to the recorded opinion of Mr.
Harrison, their late Chairman, who said in the Committee of
the House of Lords, that it harrowed up his very soul to have
to try boys of nine or ten years of age so frequently, whose pro-
fligacy arose from their total want of any kind of education.—
(Hear!)
Mr. HoLstE Su:vomit was still of opinion that more benefit
was to be derived from working the prisoners throughout the
week, than from merely teaching them reading and writing, for
the short space of time they were under their prison controul.
That was his opinion, and he had exercised his discretion ac-
cordingly.
Sir THOMAS TURTON said, that the Visiting Magistrates
had the power of reconciling the contradictory import of the two
Acts of Parliament. Let those who thought with the worthy
Member (Mr. H. Sumner) express their assent, and then let
the Court decide what course they should recommend upon the
subject. He trusted they would exercise a very different dis-
cretion in the recommendation which they adopted.
Mr. H. SUMNER.—" But the law, as it stands, will not
allow this."

Mr. TROTTER.—" I say the law will allow it, and the
business is at the option of the Visiting Magistrate."
Mr. H. So IINER.--" Indeed, it is not the law ; and we say
that it is better to keep them six days in the week at labour, leav-
ing them the Sunday for their religions instruction, which the
Chaplain is always ready to furnish."

Mr. DIM mmoND--'‘ If the honourable member means to
include all the visiting magistrates, when he says we' do
so and so, I beg to differ from him. I should much rather
we mitigated the clause respecting the quantum of labour,
to admit an extension of the clause for suitable instruction."
—(Hear!)
Mr. BRISCOE suggested that the motion should be amended
by the insertion of the words " daily instruction."
After some further conversation, the motion was amended by
Sir Thom AS Tu ItT ow, and ultimately put as follows :
" That it be recommended to the several visiting magistrates
of the llouv-s of Correction in this county, to carry into effect
the rules and regulations for the instruction of prisoners, as far
as may be deemed by them expedient, and to report thereupon
at the next quarter sessions."
General TnoulgTox said that the act of Parliament gave
full power to the visiting magistrates to act, as they thought
proper on this subject.
Mr. PAl.Lsltia highly approved of the diffusion of moral and
religious education amongst the prisoners ; for they must at last
come to the consideration of the real question at issue, which
was—whether it was by corporal punishment, or by religious
and moral instruction, that they should haie the best chance of
ultimately undermining crime.—(Hear, hear !)
The motion was then put, and carried unanimously.
STIPENDIARY CHAIRMAN.

Mr. DRUidstown gave notice of a -resolution for the next
quarter sessions, to apply to Parliament for a bill to enable them
to appoint a stipendiary chairman, who was to be of a certain
standing at the bar, witi: a salary of 8001. a year, and who was
only to sit at the Newington sessions and the adjournment days.
They were, as usual, to hare the Chairman for the general
county business taken from among the body of their local ma-
gistracy. He was proceeding to urge his reasons in support of
his proposition, when he was called to order by Mr. Maberly,
for creating a debate upon a mere notice, and supported by
Mr. Holme Sumner. He then concluded by giving his notice.
Sir THOMAS TURTOY could not even, allow the notice to
stand, without recording his protest against it. He would not
delay raising his voice against this attempt to bring disgrace
upon the county. They had able and competent Magistrates
enough, who were willing to discharge the duties of the Chair—
why, then, bring in upon them the thraldom of a stipendiary
Chairman ? Sir Thomas was here calle4 to order for irregu-
larity, and the notice of motion was then entered without fur.
ther discussion.