The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-08 00:00:00

the United Kingdom. No less than 500 libraries have been i eight months after in the infirmary, from mortification. Now,
established, containing no less than 60,000 volumes. The suppose the pretence medichl man was mime security in
v unjust posi`am b.
x llent one it is; rid I consider that the effect , Such men were p acmh in a vete mai.he
late Secretary at War was the ptoposer of this plan, and an this case, what Said Di r. Marshall on the subject. He said,
excellent
"such instinitions librariee, containing well-selected obviously it was irapo3sible, from the nature of the punish:.works—must have a most beneficial effect upon young men resent, and the uncertain circumstances cf the offerer, for a
going into the army. When I was at the head of the Chelsea medical man to be held responsible for the consequences ;
establishment, I found that the men were constantly at the climate, the physical and mental state of the patient's body,
public houses, and I therefore proposed that they should have and the other circumstances to be coosidered, rendered it im-
certain small gardens allotted upon which they could employ possible for the most skilful to be accountable." Itiflam-
themselves. I have just heard that the plan has proved most ' mation of the back, notwithstanding the greatest diligence
not understand the character of the British soldier, and it was fatal consequenci s. Now what was the nosinog me me-
prophesied
yet when I proposed the plan I was told that I did and attention on the -,tat.htat fat.mhee mdiceadiiemal3nmwalmiisglrartesl:nadt Walt
this nature, is hold responsible for life."
pro hesied that the plan would never succeed.—(Hear, hear.) sheet roan in th&t elm ? Why, Feetaarsque's book on that
gyeoutheg soldierivo
hi
min
sources
is hofe willo
us sauubjeexc
execution
it
ti wona s
of held,
743..cers were die- and amusement, you will find that he becomes a better Now this is legally untrue, and physically impossible.
be Why,Pid lief you
whei encourage o uirf a
soldier and a more contented man.---(Hear.) At the same This was a criterion that enabled him to judge fully
time that I was at the head of the Chelsea establish- en the subject, The same doctrine was laid down
mime. I advocated the establishment of savings' banke, but by another eminent authority. Some
the officers of the. army strongly objected to it, and in one in- posed to deal leniently, but there were others who were hol‘l 7-1
ooe of the banks. with reckless. and whe -• n,
for Inireeti beiure, looked On
hat it en
stance returned the
.edeney stestoMaasal
,;1,
an intimation t oght epees ite the emcees thought liumaissufferingwithout any sympathy or care. Dr. 'Mark-
propet. 4t isreeetstr howeyer, he was glad to say there was ham, on the subject of corporal punishment, said that in the
a strong disposition foe eneograging madiers to deposit army the suggestions of the surgeons were often neglented.
their money in savings' baphs.—(Hear, hear.) That He stated that in an island in the West Indies a man was, on
sehject has occupied the attention of Government and the an occasion he referred to, condemned to receive 500 lashes.
Comettieder for some weeks, with a view of devising When he had received 250 lashes the doctor ordered the
some great plea neer; the subject, and it will continue punishment to be stayed, but the officer in command ordered
to occupy the attention tai them) connected with the punishment to go on, reprimanded the surgeon for
the Government with the view of mainteinirg discipline in stopping the progress of the punishment, and placed him
the army, and at the salTle time diminishing, as far as under arrest. The surgeon was only released after an appeal
possible, the necessity for corporal punishment.—(Hear.) to the general officer, and after he had been in custody for ten
Sir, I trust I have now said enough to induce my Honourable days. Sir Charles Grey, late a Member of that House, said
Friend the Member for Bolton to postpone his motion, the medical art, which was one of the most useful and en-
of which he has given notice—(Dr. Bowring shook his nobling professions, was, in the present application of it in
head.) lam sorry to see that he makes a sign that the army, degraded. Medical men were called on to determine
he does not assent to my proposal, and I must the extreme limits of human suffering, and t• decide what
therefore go on to make one or two statements with regard amount of punishment could be endured without exhausted na.
to this subject which I think merit the attention of the tore sinking under the infliction. The late Sir Samuel
House, In the early part of 1835, there was a Commission ap- Rotnilly, in speaking on this question, said, the surgeon had to
pointed upon this subject. It consisted of Lord Wharncliffe, determine the extreme verge of human resistance under punish-
Lord Sandon, Sir W. .1. Heath, Mr. Tufnell, Colonel Bar, and ment. The surgeon had to feel the pulse of the victim, and to
Sir John Ross. This Commission, after examining declare when he considered exhausted nature could no more
a greet many witnesses, from the highest officers down to the resist the punishment, and was only permitted to take the poor
private in the guards, carne to the conclusion that corporal wretch from the halberts when the soul was about to take its de-
reetldutat be abolished immediately.—( Hear.) pasture from the lacerated body.—( Hear, hear.) He would
le, that even supposing that some not go at any length into the case which had occupied the at-
mTuhnoishfmouerntht
effectual substitute might be devised, it is not desirable that Sian of the public so much of late, if not their indignation.
it should be entirely abolished. Such is the opinion given by That case had, no doubt, been the main cause of the changes
men of considerable authority, and men who were members of that were now proposed. He believed that the colonel of the
that Committee, some of them military authorities and of consi- regiment was an average sample of the gallant officers in the
durable military repute. hie, a number of military authoritieshave army, and what did he say on the subject of flogging ? He
proceeded upon that opinion, to endeavour as much as pos. supported it, because, according to his own words, ae had,
Bible to reduce the amount of corporal punishment—(Hear, when a bey, received a " Devilish good flogging." Such weer)
hear)—and to substitute other punshments in its place.— the words attributed to him, which he believed to be correctly
(Hear, hear.) I consider that this House ought not, reported ;at least, this expression had not been denied by the
at the end of a session, suddenly to propose, on an gallant officer. During the whole progress of the inveatigs-
occasion that would scarcely warrant a material alteration tion, the subject of corporal punishment was talked of very
of the law—that this House ought not at the end of a session, lightly indeed. He observed a very considerable differ-
I say, to carry any resolution by which the whole system ence in the army, Ho found one stating that
monery discipline osnuld be altered--(Hear, hear)— the panishment was Inflicted in the ustial Wapner,
and the confidence at the army in general, bun of and another saying that sack was not 'the fact.
those military authorities which are placed over them He did not doubt the:, the death of White would lead to the
and of the soldiers, and people would be materially entire abolition of the punishment or clog tug es the arms.
shakeup—e( -Jeer, hear.) I cannot but think, even if my He would read for them the verdict of a British jury on the
Hon. Friend pessimisms no confidence in the designs, and de- late inquest. The Hon. Member then read the verdict, This
sires, and intentiosia pf the present Government— matter of flogging might be summed up in n few words. A
if that is his statement, that he does not believe man was put to death who was not condemned to death.—
what I say, that we wish to see this system of punishment re- (Hear, hear.) The British Parliament could not pass over
tained only as long as it is absolutely necessary-oeven Übe does this case quietly, Now these other cases had occurred within
not give credit to that statement, I think it is due to the illus the last few days, and he held in his hand an account of the
trious man now at the head of the array of this country to rest flogging of two men et Devonpert. Now if this system could be
satisfied with the orders he has now given, showing, as those defended, it must be because it produced good effects. But so far
orders do, the utmost desire to consider both the benefit from this being the case, all authorities concured in the opinion
of the army, and that which is due to humanity upon this that its results were most degrading, deplorable, and ineffective
question.—( Hear, hear.) ' Even omitting any reference to the Mr. al Pherson of the 9th Foot, says, "After the ems: rience of
glorious achievements of that chief in the space of 60 years, thirty-one years, in which I have been called upon to witness
I think, spent in the army, and in every position of that army— many scenes of military flogging, I have no hesitation in saying
(Cheers)—from serving in the lowest ranks up to the eminent that I never knew a single instance of a bad character being
station to which he has now attained ; the experience he reformed by it, and beg to express my firm belief that any mode
has had in the command of the armies, in the field and at of punishment is better than corporal punishment." And what
home—the knowledge that he has had of the modes said Dr. Vyse on the subject, " The lash used judicially, is a
of liscipline pursued in other armies, I think has entitled him virulous thing; self-exposure is the loss and the ruin of many a
to the confidence of the House with respect to the mode in which man ;it has destroyed many gallant spirits, but it has reformed
he proposes to carry on the discipline of the army. —( Hear, none. The heart which might have been contrite before this
hear.) For my part, I tell you now, as I told you public disgrace will be contrite no longer. A spirit of mmHg-
at the beginning, that these are the views the Commander- pity and disaffection takes the place of subordination. The
in-Chief takes, and in which the Government entirely concur man feels he has been disgraced before his comrades. Flog-
with the Commanderin-Chief.—( Hear.) I ask this House ging makes the youthful man a coward, and renders him more
therefore to pause before they adopt an inconside- reckless in his conduct. The system of flogging should he ex-
rate resolution.— ( Hear, hear.) • I ask them to punged from the rules of the army ;if that were done it would
rest satisfied with what has been done, and allow this soon be seen that this mode of castigation was productive of no
useful progress to continue, and if they wish not to mar the fair benefit." Sir Charles Brookes says, " I have seen many
work that has been commenced, to abstain from interposing a hundred men flogged, and I have seen when the skin
resolution to this House in the way that the Hon. and Learned is thoroughly cut up and completely flayed off.
Member proposes.—(Cheers.) that the great pain subsides, and the poor man bears the re-
Dr. HOWRING said that he had seldom risen impressed mainder of his sentence without a groan. They lie motion-
with emotions of a more painful nature than he did at the less, as if they were without life, and the drummers continue to
present time. He was sure that every Honourable Member ply as though they were flogging a lump of dead flesh. The
could with him bear witness to tie tone and temper in which soldiers look on with disgust—a low whispering sound, scarcely
the Noble Lord who had just sat down had addressed the audible, is heard issuing from the scene—sounds which rise
House. It was to him a matter of great disappointment that from lips which speak not, but produced by " hearts which
the Noble Lord had came to the conclusion which he had done feel I' " Now, continued the Hon. Member, was that a state of
upon the subject. He did hope that under the influence of things to be encouraged, and to be allowed to exist in the
public opinion, which had removed such masses of abominations army. In " The Sketches and Tales of a Soldier's Life,"
connected with military flogging associated with their past rni- there was this passage :—" I have known," says the old sol-
litary history—he did hope that public opinion, again called dier, " whole regiments demoralised by this system of flagging,
into energy and again reaching every bosom, would have so in a particular corps which came under my observation, and
influenced the Government as to persuade it that a total abo- which, for some time, bore the nickname of the bloody regi-
lition of the system of military flogging can be safely delayed ment.' " The consequence was, that all sense of shame was lost
nolonger, and that the country must get rid of it at once— among the men. One blackguard used to make it his boast
not a fragment, not a vestige, not a modification of them that he had received 1,000 lashes upon the back, upon the
must be left; but that the House was bound to consider what calves of his legs, and in the fleshy parts of his thighs ; and he
measures are necessary for the constitution of the army, and who could boast the greatest number of lashes considered him-
' for the preservation of its discipline, always bearing in view self the most honourable soldier."—(Laughter.) If such be the
that the lash is no longer to be put in the hands of the flogger effect upon the spectators, and if this be the effect on the suf-
-(Cheers.) When he considered the illustrious names con- ferers, could any other conclusion be come to than
netted with the modification of flogging in the army, and who that it tended to cause the brutalisation of
had from time to time made such progress in benevolent their army? He had heard it remarked that the
feelings, with such kindness, such wisdom, and such eloquence, French drummer had a bold dignified air, and presented a very
he could not but feel that the present subject had fallen into marked contrast to the English drummer, who was called upon
feeble hands. After all, there was only one single word—one to inflict that punishment. He had received several touching
single argument brought forward—the argument of necessity. letters from private soldiers, expressing a strong feeling of
This is an argument which has always been put forward in all disgust against the system. He had also received commu-
times by tyrants of all nations; from the earliest period of their nications from ofbeers to this effect :—" That blessed would be
history it had always been brought forward in support of the the day when this punishment would be taken out of their
lash. Torquemado, when he burnt his thousands—the hands." One old soldier said, " Give us the punishment of
monsters of the inquisition calmed their consciences by the death in addition to that of flogging, for by giving greater
belief that necessity demanded the frightful outrage—slavery responsibility greater humanity would be the result in the
and the slave trade were long justified by the plea of necessity infliction of this punishment." Lord W. Bentinek, whose
—when the sailor was flogged through the fleet, and 1,500 opinion was highly creditable to him, said " that in proportion
ashes were laid upon the back of the sufferers, necessity was as corporal punishment was diminished, and as the soldier was
then put forward as the plea of justification. The plea of ne- treated more like a rational being than a brute, his own pre-
cessity had justified everything which had been done by tyrant; judices as to flogging had given way." Sir C. Napier had
in every age—everything which had been done by the rack, by given a similar opinion, and stated that if minor rewards were
the torture, by the galley, and by the guillotine ; but he hoped substituted corporal punishment might be abolished." This
to show before he sat down that necessity did not justify the system of flogging, which was so much cherished by their
retention of any portion of this abominable system of flogging, country, had been abandoned by all the civilised countries of
and that the time had arrived when Parliament was bound Europe, and he was bound to ask if there was something so
unequivocally to declare that, whatever be the substitute, mili- base and brutal in British blood that it was only by such treat-
tary flogging was no longer to be endured.—( Cheers.) It ment that British soldiers could be subjected to proper discipline?
was delightful to witness in the present day the progress of The number of the French army was 317,675, while only
humanity with reference to this subject. Time was, when in 4,367 were punished, being lin 70. Out of this army of
their West Indian colonies, the slaves had the lash laid upon nearly 320,000 men, there were only 102 condemned to death,
their backs without mercy and without responsibility. Their and of these only five were executed, and all these five had
condition was much worse than the domestic slavery of the committed murder, and would have died by the civil law of
Roman times. Education hal since, however, exerted a England. The whole of the punishments in that army were
hunanising influence. Flogging had been gradually driven 2,028; of these 243 were punished with labour, 220 were
away from their schools. ( Laughter.) He thought that punished with hard labour, 419 were sent to the public works,
the time was now come when a humane discipline should and four were fined. The number of punishments in the French
characterise their military code. In a book lately published army averaged only one per cent., while in the British army
by the son of Dr. Ferguson, the Inspector-General of military the floggings were one per cent., and the general punishments
hospitals, the following description of the barbarous system were eight per cent., thus giving an average of nine to one
was given. (The Hon. Member here read an extract, from against the British army. This was according to the reports of
which it appeared that a soldier belonging to the sth Regiment 1834. In the American army, according to the work of Dr.
had brokers into the house of a person living in Sussex, and Southey, in Esprela's Letters, among a people of similar charac-
had been sentenced to be flogged for the offence. When ter and blood to of rselves, flogging had beets abolished thirty
stripped he exhibited the finest model of the human frame that years ago, and it was evident that public opinion would soon put
could possibly be conceived, and when tied up he told the an end to it in this country. The punishment might be pro
drummer boys to do their worst, for they should not extract a longed service, diminished pension, or severe imprisonment—
sigh or groan from him. After receiving 770 lashes, anything but this brutality. The press had lent invaluable aid
though not a word but one of defiance and abase had escaped to the destruction of this intolerable abuse and abomination.
his lips, nature failed him, and he was ordered to be Even the most strenuous Conservatives had agreed that flogging
taken down. After a few weeks he was reported cured, and must be abolished in the British army. If a better
the Colonel determiued to inflict the remainder of the punish- class of men were desirable for the army, let them
ment. He was again brought out and tied up. But it was be obtained; let an army be obtained which would not require
not now as before. At the very fi. st lash the new and scarcely the aid of such brutal inflictions. Let any thing be done to
formed skin wits torn to tatters, the scarcely cicatrised save the country from the imputation of this abomination. It
wounds were again torn open, and soon the whole of the was satisfactory to hear that the flogging was now in the pro-
integuments of the back were torn to ribbons, and screams, portion of Ito 19) of thenumhfehre punishments now inflicted
forth InlBolatnedd
shrieks, and all the other signs of writhing agony were called 1827 it was as one in 50.
forth at every stroke of the cat. The second cure was not as were of a lighter character, and yet the condition of the army
before. When the author left the regiment on promotion a few was more satisfactory. This punishment was also more on the
months afterwards, he left a poor hectic wretch in the hospi- decrease in the Colonies, and yet was the army in the Colonies
tat, creeping about with his back not healed, as before, for less efficient. Dr. Ferguson said that within the last half
healthy suppuration could not be obtained, but extensive century the lash was in universal requisition ; it was supposed
sloughings had taken place, and abscesses in various that the whip-cord formed the soldier, The result was that
parts had been formed, which could not be healed. ) the British soldier was, when discharged, a ruffian—than
He would now read an extract from Marshall's " Military :Vim whom no one more dangerous could be received into the bosom
cellany," which comprised the statement of an officer who hal of the country. The experiment of diminished punishment
himself formerly been a drummer. He stated that for eight was at length tried, and the public opinion was brought to bear
years it had been his miserable duty to inflict the punishment of on its cruelty. The lash was diminished and the result was a
flogging three times a week, and that after the first 100 lashes, tenfold better condition of the army. He could not but believe
the suffering was extreme, and that after 300 lashes, his clothes i hat the Noble Lord had been temporarily overruled ; and
were saturated with blood, and he would run to the barracks to with regard to any opposition he might have met with at the
escape the sight of his comrades, and to divest himself of the Horse Guards, he hoped that the Noble Duke, having made so
pollution of his fellow soldier's blood. That frequently he has great a concession to the public, would at length abolish the
picked pieces of skin and flesh from his clothes, which had been small remnant of the evil. The officers who inflicted these punish-
torn from the poor sufferer's back. A late friend of his, Air. ments were not themselves visited by it. Scenes of drunkenness
Jeremy Bentham, suffered much from this proximity to the were not uncommon amongst them, and yet what was called
flogging yard, and used to tell him that he was tortured by the their human weakness was visited upon the rank and file by
shrieks of agony he used to hear from the suffering soldiers. the lash. He would ask that, without reserve and hesitation,
One of the severest operations in surgery was the operation the House would agree with him in the resolution that flogging
for stone, and when skilfully performed, lasted only a few should be now once and for ever abolished.—( Cheers. )
minutes; and it had been said that each was equal to the Mr. 11. BERKELEY, in seconding the motion, said that it
incision of the skin in that operation ; 50 lashes were then to was not without some hesitation he consented to do so. When
be retained—the soldier was to be subjected to a punishment a civilian rose on a question lake the present,. he generally met
equal to 50 incisions. The extent of the punishment could that kind of derision and sneering which had marked this ques-
not be measured, as its operation would be different, according tion from its commencement. He now rejoiced to find that it
to the different temperament, and that which might kill one, was the intention of her Majesty's Government to take up
might be endured by another safely. There was one instance this subject, and that the edict for the modification of punish-
in which a soldier, in the course of his service, had received ment had gone forth from head-quarters. When he turned to
no less than 15,000 lashes. Mr. Slade, when examined before the debates which had taken place on this subject, he found the
a Committee on the subject of transportation, had also same remarkable feature which was to be observed in debates
given evidence as to the uncertainty of the punish- on all questions of reform, viz., argument met by dictatorial
ment, and its variation under different circumstances. assertions, which carried with it the majority. He could see
That man said that when punishments were administered by no difference in the ancient evil of the torture and the present
others who were liable to be bribed, the scourger inflicted the system of flogging, except that one was inflicted
blows so they merely seemed to take effect, bnt when it as a punishment and the torture was inflicted for
was administered under his superintendence, the skin was cut the purpose of forcing the truth from a witness. Ho
by four lashes. That same man said he ordered that the thought that the torture of the steel boot, with its
handle should be two feet long.—(Cries from several Members, horrible wedges, had a fair rival in the modern infliction of the
Who ?) lie meant Dr. Slade, who had charge of the flog- lash. When it was 'proposed to do away with the torture it
ging department. There were five lashes of whipcord, and on was said that law and justice would be done away with, and in
each lash six or seven knots. That person said he stood by the present age it was said that the army could not be ruled
and saw the punishment inflicted himself ; and when the without the lash. It was well known that in different institu-
scourger slid not do his duty, he adopted the system existing in times different punishments existed, and would any man say
her Majesty's army, and had the seourgers tied up themselves. that the gallant French army was not as well disciplined as
He said further that he found twenty-five lashes under his our own? He thought that there was too much distance placed
superintendence were worth one thousand administered by between the private and the officer in the English army. Ile
others. An eye-witness of one of these disgusting scenes, might say in the words of the bard of Elizabeth,
reports concerning a drummer in the Coldstream Guards that " That in the captain's hut a choleric word
he stood wee unnerved, and unable to strike with vigour Which in the soldier is fiat blasphemy."
during all the time of his 25 lashes, and behind him stood In the English army a man was thought to be a man of hormur
ping,
the drum-major with his cane, urging him to proceed. In and any officer who received a blow was considered to be. so
the late case which had excited so much attention, the farrier degraded that he must either lose his commission or wipe out
major said, on the inquiry, that he had no instructio: a how or the insult by a bloody remedy. A private soldier they allowed
where to strike, and that he struck where he thought best ; so might he a man of honour, and yet he was compelled to re-
that it seemed there was no law to limit them in the adminis- ceive any number of blows. That man might afterwards, by
station of this punishment just in those particulars where the some fortuitous circumstances, rise to a commission, and
•
greatest injustice could be done ; it was lett to individual taste, having been
flogged ithout mercy while a private soldier, a
or caprice, or malignity. It put him in mind of a case which blow inflicted upon him as an officer was considered as a gross
he (Dr. Bowring) witnessed in France. A convict condemned and glaring insult ismwas demo-
to be branded, happened on his way out of prison to trample on he believed t
lash
to a man not pm-f e
v ioit was,he feared, of
upon him. He objectedtl tothe lash, because
h
the foot of the executioner. The executioner looked at the ralising, and ,to a man perfectly vicious
prisoner and said " I'll pay you out for this," and on reaching little or no use.
f the best disciplined regiments, was
fire till it was red hot, and pressed it into the victim's forehead years' servicelin some
mo
ish ents were absolutely necessary, The
till it met the bone. He said he had several recorded cases that corpoora p
the scene of punishment, lifted the branding iron, put it into the Colone PEEL said his own opinion, acquired duringseveral
obliged to retain in their regiments men of the worst
it was necessary for colonels of regiments,
he
oe
leerecharacters. With regard to what had lately taken
iiowhichuse
to il
wasstr at thee t
caseh e e ffoef cot
one
of tEdwards,heprop sentencebefore,d
59 lashes—SO lashes, he must remind the House—the number p
ce at Hounslove, it was, he thought, most unfair to attemp
proposed to be retained by the Noble Lord. That man was pia
on to attach a stigmato
individuals in consequence • t of the inflic-
sentenced and received 50 lashes, but such was the effect
r tion of these unishments unless it could be prove at
him that he could not bear his cross belts
wag ha lexceeded their duty. From the momentthey
He was as that she
first ae-
use his arms for three months after.
count of that flogging appeared in the
young man. papers, Colonel Whyte
a tall, genteel looking, slender „
1 who suffered was assailed by every abuse that calumny could invent
or false-
There was another case of a man named Hen y
seven months before hoed furnish. Colonel Whyte h, d little more to do withthe
he lashes, and who was upwards of
e the execution punishment of that unfortunate man than he (Colonel
d
he recovered. The drum-major who witness Peel)
ofstruck the drummer had, and he certainly had as little power t h )
of the sentence of flogging on a private, H o remit Le sentence
e saw the man or any part of it. From the moment the
to the ground for not performing his
dutyhe died in Horse Guards it 're' taken case was before the
who was being flogged fall to the ground, and was enti out of his hands; and had
pwooh:oseibwr of ini,ang