The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-18 00:00:00

document, because it must be obvious that the opinions
of a number of gentleman of zeal and intelligence,
whose especial duty it was to institute the strictest
investigation into everything calculated to encourage
the cultivation of the soil, and to extend a better
system of agriculture, promulgated, too, at a period
when there was no such extraordinary necessity for
the means of providing occupation for a starving
peasantry, as has unhappily recently been the case,
must be far more valuable than any suggestion now
offered for the first time. It is • true that many
projects have been wildly and recklessly put forward,
and sanctioned, without due inquiry or fair con-
sideration being given thereto, and that, in too many
cases, the special sessions violated the trust and
betrayed the confidence reposed in them by Parlia-
ment, and passed every presentment brought before
them, en masse. But, happily, the fiat of the Board of
Works was necessary before any of these works could
be carried into execution ; and, severely as they have
as they have been
strongly
yome when the cordial
reprobated, the
censured,the andtime swtrounl
thanks of the public will be rendered to that body
for their extraordinary labours, their able and efficient
exertions, during the present emergency—indeed, they
have already received the approbation of the more
reasonable and intelligent portion of the community,
of those who do not suppose that a Government or a
public body can work miracles, and exceed the doings
of ordinary mortals.

We are satisfied that such works only as would be
of public benefit would be sanctioned by such a body,
and we are also satisfied that they will be cheaply
purchased by an average rate of threepence-halfpenny
in the pound for ten years, and that it will hereafter
be said (in the words of the Select Committee on the
state of the poor in Ireland), " That the effects pro-
duced by these public works appear to have been
extended cultivation, improved habits of industry,
a better administration of justice, the re-establish-
ment of peace and tranquillity in disturbed districts, a
domestic colonization of a population in excess in cer-
tain districts, a dimunition of, illicit distillation, and a
very considerable increase to the revenue."

The circular, of the 4th instant, that has just been
issued by the Board of Works to the county en-
gineers and surveyors, has confirmed the opinion that
had long been formed by every one acquainted with
the state of Ireland, viz., that the employment of the
destitute on roads, and other public works, must
soon terminate, and reproductive works be substituted
for them. The allowance that we have made of their
continuance for a period of fifteen weeks, and
the daily employment of four hundred thou-
sand labourers thereon, is, in all human
probability, much greater than there was any
necessity for, but our object was to show how
totally groundless was the panic that had arisen on
this subject; and we, therefore, mide our calculations
at the very highest rate that could be required, to
satisfy the public how trifling the burdens that
will fall upon the land by reason of the public works
that have already been commenced or may be re-
quired.

Every writer on Ireland has spoken of the extra-
ordinary capabilities of that:country, its great natural
advantages, the fertility of its soil and climate, and
deplored the imperfect cultivation and inadequate
produce of its lands under tillage. They have mar-
velled at the fatuity of the landowners, who, with such
an extraordinary quantity of labour at their disposal,
which could be obtained at the most moderate price,
have refused to expend anything in bringing the lands
into good order and condition. To use the words of
the Land Commissioners once more—" No person.
acquainted with Ireland, or who takes the trouble of
referring to the evidence collected by us (the Com-
missioners), can doubt the importance of encouraging
agricultural improvement throughout the country.''
This improvement, so desirable in every respect, will
now be effected; the want that has so long
been deplored will be supplied. Labour must be ex-
pended on the lands, the necessary capital will be
laid out, and an ample return obtained far exceeding
the expenditure. From this cause therefore there will
be no reasonable grounds of panic for those possessed
of charges affecting real property in Ireland; on the
contrary, it should be looked on as increasing
greatly the stability of the securities, and giving
them increased confidence. We trust that we have
established our proposition, " that estates in Ireland
are as good security as they have ever been for the
several sums advanced upon them, and that the tem-
porary indulgence which the creditor may be re-
quired to afford is a far less inconvenience than he
would sustain by throwing the property of his debtor
into Chancery, and thereby ruining the owner and
seriously injuring himself."

Severe laws defeat their makers. Unless the pu-
nishment decreed to attach to the offender against the
law be justly proportioned to the offence, juries will
refuse to convict, and thereby frequently allow the
guilty to escape. Juries may be told over and over
again, not only by the counsel for the prosecution,
but likewise by the judges, that they have only to
decide upon the fact, aye or nay; still, if they are
aware that their finding a verdict of guilty will bring
upon the prisoner a heavier sentence than that with
which the offence charged ought, in their opinion, to he
visited, they will, in very many instances, acquit him
though the evidence adduced be ever so conclusive as
to his guilt. When capital punishment was affixed
to the crimes of forgery and rape, juries constantly
refused to convict. Nothing could be more danger-
ous than such a state of things, Criminals escap-
ing with impunity rendered crime more prolific,
and the law, rendered impotent, was brought into
contempt. Public opinion forced itself to he re-
spected. The Legislature was compelled to mitigate
and mould legal punishments so as to have them in
better keeping with the feelings of a just, benevolent,
and enlightened people. The consequence has been,
that serious crimes, which formerly increased, because
juries would not convict where sentence of death was
to follow, have considerably diminished, by reason of
the prompt, certain, and juster punishments which
are now sure to overtake those who dare to commit
them. This result, too, is not to be detracted from,
because the number of trials for forgery, rape, &c.,
may appear to have been greater in some years
than it was before capital punishments, in these
wellt thebea s
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convict ; and, therefore, it may very well be, that
particular crimes have diminished, though, upon
first consideration, the calendars at the assizes and
the verdicts of the juries, might not seem to justify a
contrary conclusion. And yet, though much has un-
doubtedly been done towards rendering our criminal
code more acceptable to us as a civilised community,
its present deformities, incongruities, and deficiencies
demand immediate and extensive reformation. When
we punish, we punish upon no principle of uniformity.
The most disproportionate sentences are frequently
passed upon similar offences. Oftentimes a
comparatively trivial breach of the law draws
after it a very severe sentence, and vice verse ; con-
sequently-, persons who traffic in crime, regard it as a
species of lottery. The law is so uncertain they
reason, that they may get off just as lightly for com-
mitting a serious crime as for another of not so grave
a character. Besides, we have done literally nothing
towards reforming the character of the prisoner.
We incarcerate and punish him, and then we
turn him adrift upon the world, wounded
in his feelings, and expEct him to gain an
honest livelihood in a sphere where, naturally,
the respectable portion of society are at enmity with
him. All around him he perceives he is an object of
distrust and suspicion. He is chilled back to his old
haunts and companion; and, from very despair, re-
news his former vicious courses till he is again en-
thralled in the iron clutches of the law. The cruelty
of this system—that of neglecting the moral culture of
those who hate deservedly for a time forfeited their
liberty, and of not providin—
g- some industrial ordeal,
by which, whilst they are in prison, good habits may
be acquired, and a good certificate of character
handed over to the prisoner when he is about to
regain his liberty, and mingle once more with the
world,—the cruelty of our system, and of these our
acts of omission, tells upon no class so soverely as
upon juvenile delinquents. Such is at length felt to
be the harshness and folly of our proceeding, that
public sympathy is being roused in favour of the un-

fortunate beings of tender age who have been un-
warily seduced into temptation.
OnA mWenaddrfineesndtayof
the
Law
evening the Society for Promoting
the
held a special meeting at