The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-13 00:00:00

Sl7 N 7 SEPTEMBER 13, 1848.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS
FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAT.

TIMES.—The reports from the west coast of Africa
are highly encouraging to the advocates of the block-
ading system. The Devastation has returned with a
living commander, and the Dolphin has just captured a
prize with 500 negroes aboard. • Both these assuring.
'acts, hoWever, are somewhat qualified by incidental cir-
.eumstai The commander of the Devastation is but
aten the reffitative of two unhappy victims who have
been carried off, and before the 500 negroes could-be Te-
lleased from their captivity they were decimated by the
long 32- pounders of their redeemers. We hope our
readers will considerately muse upon the facts our Intel-
figence supplied. The Devastation—a highly respect-
able steamer, whose first mission was the carrying out
a bishop and a large cargo of rockets to the coast of
Syria—only remained on the coast .of Africa
.18 short months, the rest 'of her time being
spent on more fortunate stations. During these
ireadful months, however, she plied about between
the Bights and Fernando Po—that is to say, from the
most deadly sea to the most pestiferous land which the
universe is known to contain. We have described the
Bights and their tributary rivers often enough, and cer-
tainly no land could ever have been selected so appro.
,priately as Fernando Po 'for a consistent and congenial
rendezvous. It was once part of our " system" to main-
tain a " settlement" there; but as this much-debated
term, even in its widest latitude, implies the continuous
existence of certain living creatures on the spot, the idea
- was abandoned as impracticable, though of course with
great reluctance, .and amidst the loud murmurs of the
philanthropists. Peopla whe have seen this island, and
lived, describe it as a spot more externally beautiful
than imagination can conceive. From the beach to
the highest mountain ridges there is one unbroken
xpanse of magnificent every-varying verdure, though
what is beneath this surface nobody can say, as the
brushwood of these gorgeous forests is quite impene-
i tralkla. „At , tids. insidinus spot we cleared a square
mile or two on a little -plateenk-beisted,elteMeitiele
flag, 'and compounded a few score of settlers out of
soldiers, seamen, and emigrants. Thirty mechanics
landed. in November (the healthy month), 1827, of
-whom five only were found alive by. the Eden (the vessel
-which in seven months lost 110 men out of 160) in the
iuceeeding June. Fifty-eight marines and mechanics,
,n'cluding officers and women, landed in June, 1829, of
whom, in the October following, only four had escaped.
Another party came from St. Helena in 1830, and a
lieutenant of marines actually exported himself, a wife,
and six children, to try the chances of the climate. But
,f all these scarcely one survived; and at length, about
1833, the settlement, that is to say the hospital and
burying-ground, was given up as a Government
establishment, though, how any Administration found
itself strong enough to make such a " sacrifice of prin-
ciple" appears, after the debates we have lately heard,
surprising enough. Few persons, however, will wonder
that the Devastation lost two commanders in eighteen
.nonths between this fairy isle and the Bight of Benin.
The :chase of the Pensamento contains incidents highly
instructive. to the " friends of ' the African." The
sillier find 500 negroes closely stowed under hatches,
Ind being a fast-sailing schooner she led our cruiser a
chase of no less than twelve hours. During all this
time the Dolphin was training her long 32's at so fair a
mark, and letting drive at her whenever she came within
range. Ffty shots were fired, of which forty-seven told
well.. We recommend to all friends of " humanity" this
picture of a cruiser discharging the very identical duty
on which philanthropists have dispatched her, and pelt-
ing her round shot into a vessel as full of human crea-
,ures as those strange wicker machines represented in
pictures of Druidical sacrifices. Sometimes, indeed, the
-esult of this practice gives the surest test of a slaver.
Not unfrequently, while skimming oft at the top of their
.peed, they used to disguise their calling by all manner
,)f expedients to throw the pursuers off the scent, but the

stash of asingle shot seat borne would be followed by a

long piercingiell, which rose high into the air, and brought
across the waters infallible evidence of the character of the
chase. Occasionally, of course, the prize escapes, as was
nearly being the case in the present instance, so that the
iecisions of Exeter-hall and the money of the English
people serve merely to diversify the horrors of the
middle passage by sending a few cannon-balls amongst
the victims between decks. Sometimes a single shot
may finish the business, and sink ship, slaves, and all, in
the deep. When we add to the aggravations of the
transit notoriously caused by our system, these pleasant
contingencies of an English broadside, it is really
'nough to suggest a few misgivings as to the effective.
ness of our humanity. The point with which we origi-
nally opened this question—the claims, namely, of our
iwn seamen to some of that consideration which we
so lavishly bestow upon the population of Ashantee—
las been of late so disingenuously evaded that we again
place before our readers the official report of the ex-
penses, reckoned in human blood, of our systematic hu-
nanity, and we recommend that it should be preserved
as a pendapt to those returns of more remediable " wear
tnd tear" for which Mr. Hume judiciously inquires.
['he average mortality of 21 years on the different
Laval stations of the English service is as follows, calcu-
lated per 1,000 of the mean force employed
South America ... ••• ••• 7.7
Mediterranean ... •• • • 9.3
Home 9.8
East India ... ••• ••• 15.1
' West Indies ... 18.1
Coast of Africa .. 58.4

—(Report on the Climate awl Diseases of the African
Station, p, 178).
fndependent, however, of this mortality, which is
reckoned from disease alone, and of that permanent loss
if health, which, though not reckoned as death, is nearly
equivalent to it, there are other liabilities incidental to
his agreeable station which are by no means to be dis-
regarded. Much of the servioe is boat service, and in
this boat service it is constantly necessary to cross the
bars" formed by alluvial deposits at the mouths of the
,iirious rivers. The utmost skill is often insufficient to
prevent the swamping of the boat in these expeditions,
aid as the surf is so violent as to baffle the hardiest
'simmers, and the sharks are so numerous and vigilant
is to give few swimmers any chance at all, it follows
•hat the deaths from drowning and devouring, as re-
nrned in the report, are almost equal to those from
ill natural diseases together on more favoured stations.
Now, we request dispassionate readers to ask themselves
.vhat they actually get for their money? • Surely this
question is a fair one. The disciples of Exeter Hall get
that satisfaction which is derivable from the simple re-
flection that they are persisting in certain sacrifices, and
we do not say that the sacrifices may not be considered
proportionately greater and more meritorious . when
there is no kind of return. But what do those get who
demand a more substantial quid pro quo ? Do they get
the stoppage of the traffic ? It is admitted on all hands
to have increased. Do they get a mitigation of the hor-
rors attending it ? These, also, as far as the mere fact
goes, are admitted likewise on all hands to have in-
creased. Do they get a prospect of better success ?
Thia.is what the advocates of the system anticipate, and
what nine-tenths of the officers employed have reported
as beyond any reasonable hope. Now, with half- a-mil-
lion of money, and 58.4 per 1,000 of our seamen
annually absorbed in the experiment, whose opinions
are we to listen to, and what resolutions are we to take?
CHRONICLE.—The question of secondary punish-
ments is one which the circumstances of the present
times must have forced, with peculiar urgency, upon the
attention of all thoughtful men. There is, we believe,
very little doubt, that most of the revolutionary move-
ments by which Europe has been lately convulsed, have
owed, if not their origin, at least their chief force and
their most fearful danger, to the active participation of
convicts. In Paris, whatever may be the extent to
which Communist doctrines have leavened the masses,
and however numerous may be the theoretical advocates
of that mysterious constitution which they call the Red
Republic, we have a strong conviction that but little
blood would have been shed in the cause of either the
one or the other, had it not been for the existence of
another and more dangerous element, represented by the
25,000 forcats liberes who fought behind the barricades
—men who- may be called the Ishmaelites of society—
their hand against every man, and every man's hand
against them—divided from the great mass of their
fellow-creatures by an impassable line, moral as well as
social—without faith, without conscience, without hope
—living, 'simply and solely, for the animal enjoyments
of the hour, and only distinguished from. the brutes
by a ferocious cunning which does not deserve the name
of reason. Nor have we, in England, so far solved
the problem of punishment as to justify us in feeling
secure against the growth of so fearful a• cancer in the
bosom of society. It is true that our ",desperate class"
is less numerous and less blood-thirsty than it is in
France—which may, in some degree, account for the
different results of revolutionary attempts in London and
in Paris; but we have gained our partial exemption from
that scourge by peopling our infant colonies with the
worst portion of-our own criminals. France and Eng-
land have adopted different courses in this matter, 'and
it might be hard to say which of the two has proved the
more pernicious. There is this, however, to be ad-
vanced in favour of the system hitherto pursued by our
neighbours—that its horrors are borne by the commu-
nity that is (in some measure at least) responsible for
the existence and growth of that crime from which it
suffers; and that the criminal minority is, after all, con-
trolled and overpowered by the physical force of the
sound majority. In our case the converse takes place—
the terrible population which is formed and nourished by
the influences prevailing in one country, is sent to
wreak, as it were, its vengeance upon another. - Great
Britain and Ireland escape, comparatively speaking, scot
free, but Van Dieman's Land is turned, from an earthly
paradise, into what has been designated, by thoSe who
know it best, a fit abode only for devils. Out of -sixty
thousand, inhabitants, nearly forty thousand are, or have
been, convicted criminals ; so that (horrible as it sounds)
the moral tone of the population is given by the criminal
majority. It is not wonderful that, under such circum-
stances, the whole of the free and innocent inhabitants
have either taken flight, or are retained in the colony
only by inability to leave it. Twelve thousand have ac-
tually departedmithin the last three or four years, and
the stream of emigration is still flowing ; so that, what-
ever may be the future destiny of that beautiful island,
it begins its national career with the awful moral taint
of 'a population sprung from felons.- It i.; not our pur-
pose to recapitulate here the various reasons which in-
duce us to think that, of 'all secondary Yeinishinents,
transportation, notwithstanding its plausibility and the

relief which it affords to the mother country, deci-
dedly the worst. At present, any argument on the subject
appears to be rendered unnecessary by the undotzbt, d
tendency of intelligent opinion towards this conchbion,
and by the fact that the present Colonial Secretary has
adopted it in theory, though he does not appear to see
his way very clearly towardi carrying it out in practice,.
Our object is rather to impress on our readers, that the
approximate abolition of transportation, and the danger-
ous results to be apprehended from the numbers and
character of the convict population in various European
countries, force upon us, with peculiar weight, the con-
sideration of the questions connected with the disposal
and treatment of prisoners—in fact, the investigation of
the whole theory of punishment. We See, accordingly,
with much pleasure, that a valuable addition has just
been made to the stock of materials available for such
investigation by Captain Maconochie, well-known as
having been, for a considerable time, the superinten-
dent of Norfolk Island, and who has acquired, therefore,
a dearly-bought experiences-which he brings, in the con-
sideration of this question, to the aid of undoubted abi-
lity and great benevolence. We are not prepared to say
that we unreservedly adopt all Captain Maconochie's
conclusions, any more than we assent in full to the doc-
trines which have suggested them. We agree, in fact,
with the Archbishop of Dublin (whose lucid and
thoughtful " Essay on Secondary Punishments," ought
to be in the hands of every one interested iu the subject);
that " the confidence 'with which several persons have
advocated each his favourite plan of prison discipline,
must be somewhat premature. It is but of late years
that the subject has engaged any large share of the at-
tention of active and intelligent men, at once philo-
sophical and practically observant, and we have still
much to learn which experience alone can teach. In the
present state of our knowledge, therefore, it is, perhaps,
the- wisest and safest course to establish, in different
places, several penitentiaries on different plans, and,
after a trial of a few years, we may introduce
such modifications as experience may suggest."
,Tlms„..,plan suggested by Captain Maconochie is
foundOd` -on She: Iniadiptecwhisda tie Arcbbish4
appears to think the most promising—that, namely, of
requiring from criminals a certain amount of work, but
permitting them to exceed this amount as much as they
please, and making the duration of imprisonment depend
upon the industry and good' conduct of the prisoner.
Captain Maconchie calls the system which he advocates,
the "mark system," because he recommends that the
labour of convicts should be paid for in "marks," a cer-
tain number of which should be required to be earned
by the prisoner before discharge, and that a fine, de-
priving him of his "marks," should be the ordinary
. .

punishment for misconduct. For ourselves, we confess
that the comparative failure of all reformatory sys-
tems hitherto adopted, renders us far from san-
guine as to the ultimate effects of any par-
ticular plan of prison discipline upon the character of
those who are subjected to it; and we greatly fear that
we must look at punishment, for some time to come,
rather with a view to its effects in deterring, than in re-
forming. Indeed we think it highly probable, that the
abolition of transportation, and the consequent necessity
for an increased amount of imprisonment, may lead, ere
long, to the reintroduction of other and more summary
modes of punishment, which, of late years, a morbid
philanthropy has succeeded in ostracising. But we fully
admit, at the same time, the immense importance of
keeping both ends of punishment in view, so long as they
are not placed in antagonism to each other; and we see
nothing in the system advocated by Captain Maconochie,
inconsistent with what we hold to be the primary object
of punishment, namely, its effectiveness for the preven-
tion of crime by its deterring influence on those who are
inclined to violate the law.

ADVERTISER—There has been a good deal of
speculation respecting the object of Lord John Russell's
visit to Ireland. We have good reason for the belief,
that all the conjectures which have been made on the
subject, have been wide of the truth. The amnesty
theory has been exploded for at least eight days, and
the other once popular supposition, that the visit was
connected with the proclamation of martial law,—bas
also ceased to retain its- hold on the public mind. The
chief, if no!...the sole, purpose of the Premier's visit
to Dublin is, we are assured, one which we have not
seen mentioned in any of the public journals. We have
it from the best authority, that the object of the Noble
Lord, in crossing the- Irish Channel, was to consult
with the Lord Lieutenant as to the best means to be
adopted for the endowment of the Roman Catholic
priesthood, so as to call forth the least possible ob-
jection on their part, and the least amount of clamour
on the part of the people. With regard to the Rornish
priesthood themselves, there will be no difficulty
in persuadiug them to accept a State endowment.
They may profess to have no wish to become
the pensioners of the State, but they will be
of a different mind when the Government gold is within
their grasp. Their conscientiot4 scruples will vanish at
the sight Of the SaNdOn money. "'To take'islraorto.give,"
will be a soothing sylup to itieir—tronsciences. Though
they they would not Teel justified is giving money for
Protestant purposes, they will have no hesitation in tak-
ing money from Protestant hands and transferring it to
their own pockets. Whether, therefore, the Roman
Catholic Priesthood of Ireland are or are not to be en-
dowed by the State, will not depend on themselves. So
far as they are concerned the deed may be considered as
one already done. It will entirely depend on the people
of England, whether the priesthood of Ireland are en-
dowed or not. Constituted as the House of Commons
now is, there is great reason to fear that the Ministerial
intentions will be carried into effect. It so happens
that all the recognised leaders of the various sec-
tions into which the House is divided, are
decided advocates for the contemplated endowment.
Sir Robert Peel, Lord George Bentinck, and Mr.
Cobden, will be found as strenuous supporters of
the measure as Lord John himself. The only hope of
defeating it, therefore, centres in the people themselves.
They only can do it; they only, we may add, will make
the attempt. And to make such attempt with any chance
of success, they ought to organize themselves forthwith.
There is no time for delay. We are glad to hear, that
the Dissenters are already moving in the matter. They
have fairly taken the field. Some of the leading men
among them met together on Monday, for the purpose
of adopting the necessary measures to commence a vigo-
rous agitation. The organization will soon be complete.
The agitation will be the most comprehensive ever
known. It will not only include Dissenters of all de•

nominations, but will emb-race members of the Churche:
of England and Scotland. The Dissenters will take up
the broad intelligible ground of opposition to all reli-
gious establishments, and, consequently, to the nevk
establishment which Ministers contemplate. The
adherents of the two national Churches, and
the Free Church of Scotland, which last still
theoretically recognizes the establishment prin
ciple,—will oppose the endowment of the Romish
priesthood in Ireland, on the ground of their hostility to
what they conceive to be a system of dangerous ano
deadly error. We will not trouble ourselves about the
ground on which the opposition is to be offered. That
is not our affair. Let every man act according to his
convictions. There is, however, a large body of per-
sons who will cordially join in the anti-endowment agita
tion now getting up, on grounds which involve no reli-

gious considerations whatever. They will view the
matter in a purely. pecuniary light—as a question of
mere pounds, shillings, and pence. They know that it
the Roman Catholic priesthood of Ireland are .to be
endowed, the country will have to pay the
piper. The money must come from the pockets, of
the people. Payment will be made out of the Consoli-
dated Fund. Supposing the Irish priests to number
somewhere about 6,000, and that their average
salaries would be 3001. per annum—this would give
the large sum of 1,800,0001. a year to be expended in
this way. It will be for the country to say whether it
is prepared to see this large sum added permanently to
the taxation of the country. Lord John Russell pro-
poses an odd time for the endowment of the Irish priest-
hood—if in reality he have any such intention. Just now
the universal complaint is directed against the excessive''
taxation under which the nation already groans. Wili
the Prime Minister answer that complaint by proposing
to increase the burthen? Lord John has always had
the reputation of.being a man of courage. There would
be more of the quality of folly than of courage in
any such endowment of the Romish Church in Ireland.
But the matter could not end with the endowment
of Roman Catholicism. If that measure wore carried,
on what ground or pretext could Lord John Russell, or
the Parliament which sanction his measure, object to the
endowment of other sects of religionists? To be just
and consistent, every other denomination of Christians
who are willing to accept the pay of the State must have
that pay tendered to them. The result would be, that
we should soon arrive at that state of things which, as
regards religious sectaries, now prevails in France. In
that country any body of persons who choose to form
themselves into a congregation for divine worship, pro-
vided they consist of a certain number and have a chosen
pastor, can prefer their claim to the Government for a
permanent endowment from the State.
In other words,
all religionists are paid by the State in France. Once
endow the Roman Catholic priesthood in Ireland, and to
this complexion it must also eventually come in England.

THE DANGER OF USING WAGER-BOATS.—Yester-
day Mr. Baker held an inquest at the David and Harp,
Fore-street, Limehouse, on view of the body of James
Watkins Guest, aaed 21, a sawyer. It appeared from
the evidence of ?Sat Pascoe that on Saturday evening,
about six o'clock, he and deceased were in a wager-
boat (which was covered over) in the river. They had
each a pair of sculls. When off Limehouse two Mar •
gate steamers were observed by them, approaching.
Deceased was alarmed, and in endeavouring to gain
the shore, he lost his outside stroke. The boat was
in consequence capsized, and they were both thrown
into the water. Deceased soon sank, but he (Pascoe)
got aside the boat, and was saved by a person coming
to his assistance. Some of the jury observed that there
were cmastantly accidents occurring by these boats.
Verdict =1! Accidental death, and the jury are of opinion
that such bo‘ats are unsafe and unfit
.to -
be navigated on
the river Thames."

REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.—The revision of the
lists of voters cannot (by the 6th Vic., cap. 18) be
commenced before the 15th instant, and must be com-
pleted by the last day in October. The revising bar-
ristpn, wvho were formerly paid ten guineas ar day,-now
receive 200 guineas for the entire SelSion, including
their expenses.