The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-23 00:00:00

" Accept, Sir, I beg, my expressions of the esteem
respect, and admiration with which your distinguished
talents and ardent philanthropy inspire me.—Your
very- obedient and devoted servant,
"L. DURAND,
" Professor of Philosophy in the College at Cherbourg,
Officer of the Royal University of Paris.
"Cherbourg, Nov. 8, 1845."

the confinement of unnatural offenders, and others,
charged with heavy and brutal crimes ; they are, besides,
cold, ill-ventilated, and gloomy, and thus from assecia-
don, as well as their actual condition, are peculiarly
repulsive; but many prisoners, unused to such scenes as
are prevalent in Newgate, and desirous of retaining the
little good that remains in them, have the courage to
seek an asylum even in those comfortless and offensive
cells, rather than live in the contaminating atmosphere
of the common wards. We found two young men at
our last inspection who preferred being separately con-
fined even in these places to being associated with
others worse than themselves. Oe, "I. 0.," had
been a month alone, and did not regret the choice he
had made ; nor did the other, " E. 5.," who had beers
there five weeks. From all that we could learn,
prisoners very seldom, if ever, request to be again
associated with others after a short confinement even
in those cheerless cells. An imperative sense of duty
has compelled us, year after year, to remonstrate against
Newgate as a most objectionable prison, and on the pre-
sent occasion we have no alternative but to reiterate our
complaints of it. We have repeatedly entered into the
details of its radically wrong construction, and of its
pernicious system of discipline. In whatever light we
contemplate this prison, we see in it a vast school, where
the jui emle and immature offender, or any one in whom
there may yet he some sense of virtue remaining, is, by
reason of a compulsory gaol association, quickly' per-
fected in the arts of crime. This result is inevitable.
Here prisoners of various degrees of depravity are
thrown into the most intimate companionship, in
numbers varying from three to nineteen, for twenty
hours of the twenty-four, in the various wards,
in utter idleness, and without even the re-
straining presence of an officer. And during the
two hours allowed for exercise, that sphere of association
snd mutual contamination is prodigiously inert ased by
the prisoners of the different wards being allowed freely
to associate in the airing-yards. That contamination
goes on to a fearful extent in the wards and yards of
Newgate is not a matter of conjecture or random specu-
le tion, for every day's experience demonstrates it. It is
no uneomnion thing for young men, committed to this
prison for a first offence (although they may on entering
evince deep and unfeigned sorrow for a short period), to
recover rapidly from their depression of spirits, and give
way to a reckless state of mind, which soon binds them
in the closest intimacy with the depraved, and the old
and oft-committed depredator. The reply of a prison
officer on this point was very significant; he said that it
is a commoe occurrence to see persons brought into
prison fur the first time, who, when their
grief had subsided, became the companions of
the worst characters, and in a short time
they may be seen walking with them in the
common airing yards, arm in arm. Every one must ad-
mit, who Las paid attention to the subject, and narrowly
watched the progress of the criminal's career, that his
first commitment to prison is the crisis of his future
destiny. The very turning-point of such a culprit'ir:
subsequent career depends upon the kind of discipline.-
he may be subjected to on his first commitment. A per-
son, for instance, under circumstances of greater or less
tempation, is led to commit a criminal act, without duly
weighing the probability of detection. It is only when
he finds himself lodged within the walls of a prison
that he becomes thoroughly alive to his unhappy con-
dition. And then, indeed, he sees every thing in the
darkest point of view ; his prospects are blighted, his
characte r is gone ; sorrow and disgrace are brought
home to those nearest and dearest to him, and
his own utter ruin would seem complete. We
snbmit that this is the state of mind prevail-
ing in the case of most criminals upon their
' first commitment to prison—a mental condition predis-
posing them to be the recipients of good or bad impres-
sions, according as circumstances may present either
the oneor the othei to his mind. If the prisoner be at this
critical moment set apart from the viciouN, and be made
the object of kind treatment, judicious instruction, and
religious admonition, the best hopes may be entertained
of his being rescued from ruin, and restored to society
as a useful member of the community. But if his
treatment be the reverse of this—if he be thrown at
once and unavoidably into the society of the corrupted,
the result is inevitable. To drown his cares, he listens
to the seductive narratives of his depraved companions;
and only longs for his liberty that he may give scope
and gratification to his criminal propensities. The
common dictates of humanity, the safety and well-
being of the community at large, and the all im-
portance of moral discipline to the prisoner himself,
alike condemn a system of discipline that compels a
prisoner to be the companion and close associate of the
hardened and depraved. It is no mitigation or excuse
to urge that prisoners are here confined but for short
periods; that they are classified; and that order is main-
tained. We reply, that no discipline, however rigor-
ously enforced—no classification, however judicious—
can prevent contamination where there is gaol associa-
tion, and that the period of this association matters
little, if it allows of the evil being accomplished. It
might have been reasonably supposed that Newgate,
the chief prison for the untried in the metropolis,
should combine everything in its construction
and management which experience could suggest to
render it an example worthy of imitation. Indeed, the
necessity of its being so is as great as any other con-
sideration, receiving as it does within its walls nearly
4,000 prisoners per annum, many of whom are of the
most prefligate character, and who are as dangerous to
eoeie:y from their dexterity and daring as from their
numbers. But in Newgate we find arrangements the
most inefficient in construction, and pernicious in disci-
pline. A strict compliance with our duties gives us no
choice but to.report matters as we find them, and again
and again protest against Newgate as it at present exists.
We earnestly submit that nothing short of its complete
re construction on the separate system will avail, by
which prisoner may be separated from prisoner by day
and by night ; the innocent be protected ; the moral
welfare of the first offender, and those just entering
upon a course of guilt, be carefully attended to ; the
hardened and often convicted criminal have no opportu-
nity of disseminating his baneful influence among others,
and by which even he may be brought to feel the effi-
cacy of the means employed for his reformation.

LORD MAYOR'S COURT.
(Before the Hon. C. E. LAW, Recorder.)
DENTON, PLAINTIFF, THE GLOUCESTER, ABERTSTWITH, AND
CENTRAL WALES RAILWAY COMPANY, DEFENDANTS, AND
MESSRS. GLYNN, HALIFAX, AND CO. GARNISHEES.
Mr. Locke appeared on behalf of the Gloucester, Aberys-
twith, and Central Wales Railway Company, to move that an
attachment issued from this Court of moneys in the bands of
the garnishees alleged to belong to the above company should
he dissolved. Mr. Ryland appeared to watch the case for
the plaintiff.
Mr. LOCKE contended that the attachment could not be
maintained, as, in fact, no such company was legally in ex-
istence, it nut having been incorporated, but only provision-
ally registered ; and therefore the parties connected with it
could not be sued as a company.
Mr. RYLAND said it did not matter if they chose to assume
a title; but, at all events, this was not the time or mode to
ti y the question, as the matter of the attachment could not be
brought before the Court till the case came on for hearing.
The REconDER said the attachment was with Messrs..
Glynn and Co., the garnishees, and he therefore wished to
try the question on affidavits by another party whether that
attachment was right er not.
Mr. LOCKE—Our answer to it is, that the garnishees have
no such goods, for there are no such persons or no such
Company.
The RECORDER—I do not see how I can decide that point.
You want to dissolve the attachment, but you do not put
your answer in the shape of a plea; the garnishees may
plead that they have no money belonging to such persons,
and if they succeed in proving that on your present or future
argument, then, of course, there will be an end of the attach-
ment.
Mr. LOCKE—But the great difficulty is, that the garnishees
are not likely to plead.
The RECORDER-1f you make out that there is ne such
company in existence, how will you make out that any
money paid into the bankers belongs to you at all? You
wish to be a vivacious body for one purpose, and a disem-
bodied spirit for another—that you have a legal competency
to become a plaintiff, but not to be sued. You would appear
as a brave body against the bankers, but on the appearance
of a plaintiff would vanish. (Laughter.) The Learned
Judge said that these unincorporated persons had a quick
sense of their rights and a very dim view of their obliga-
tions. He did not consider he could take off the attach-
ment on the ground submitted; it must be argued on the
merits. If the garnishees did not plead, the defendant was
not condemned if he could make out his plea.
The motion was refused.
ISAACS V. GREEN.
This was an action to recover the suns of 51. for money lent.
It appeared by the evidence that the defendant had been
treasurer to a club called the Friendly Union, held in Hounds-
ditch, which, in the early part of last year was about to be
dissolved. Defendant was found to be deficient 1201., but,
on a day appointed, paid 90/., and the difference was
advanced by a person named Brandon, on Isaacs and
his brother, and two other persons, undertaking to
leave their five pounds each due from the club as
security to Brandon. The Isaacses shortly after commenced
an action against the defendant, but afterwards, in March
last, agreed to suspend all proceedings for twelve months, if
the costs in the two actions were paid, and Brandon paid the
cost, 6/. lls. Sd.
An agreement was put in to prove that fact, and Mr.
Ryland and Mr. Laurie, who appeared for the plaintiff, said
they had been very much deceived in their instructions, and
must at once consent to a nonsuit, and begin again when the
-me had fully transpired.

AN IRISH. WITNESS At an inquest held on Friday,
Mr. Walley, M.P., on the ins?'
died suddenly on the even Great Wild,-street, Drury-lane, by
at the Ben Jonson public -house,
suing of
St.
Patrick's-day, the following sin-
gulare y,of Thomas I ower, an Irishman, who
and ludicrous evidence was :—The. deceased lived at
No. 1, Brewer's-court, in the neighbourhood, and it was alleged that.
he had been drinking to an unusual
Julia llolleus examined —1 alasaualriselteesl knewon the day in question.
believe he was supported by his son,. who is athboricdtelcaeased, andH
lis a daughter that is married, an tWs daughter, andyemr.e an 3
himself were together, drinking a bit, on St. Patrick's-day,' and
the desase, told his daughter that he thought he was going for
good, and then he began to cry tears. The Coroner—Was he
tipsy? Witness—lle was drunk before he got t
(Laughter.) Coroner—How old was lie? Witness—l should say about
forty. Coroner—flow long should you think he had been married?
Witntss—l know he was married about thirty-six yea(Laughs
ter.) A Juror—He n t have married very young, then. Witnes
(in continuation)—Yes• because his daughter is more than thirty.
Coroner—What was the deceased man? Witness—Not
Witness —We
hiag at all,
Sar. Coroner—I mean formerly, my good woman. l,
then, he was a miller and wheelwright by trade.—(Great laughter.)
Coroner—Those arc two very different things, which do yeti mean ?
Witness—l don't know, but this I know, that he had something to
do with the making of "whales" (looking at the jury), and that was
his prodshian, gentlemen. it here because evident that little or
nothing could be made out of this witness, and the eaughter or de-
ceased was therefore called to give evididtee, but her paucity of ideas
rendered her statement very little mote intelliglbla than the testi-
mony of the former Witness, and the jury, convulsed with laughter,
returned a verdict of " Died from natural causes."
A COSTLY WEDDING ORNAISIENT.—TiIe Paris papas
inform the curious in such matters, that there is now to be
seen in a jeweller's shop on the Boulevards the diadem of
precious stones to be worn by the Princess Olga, of Russia,
on her wedding day. This diadem is worth 18,000,000 f.
The large central diamond is estimated at 1,000,000 f. This
6
diadem Is to be presented to the bride by her Imperial
father.
MAGISTERIAL APPOINTMENT.—J. 0. Seeker, Esq., of
the Oxford Circuit, should have been named as the successor of Mr
Trail' at the Southwark Police-court, instead of Mr. Luckett, of •
Bath, and the Chester Circuit,