The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-03 00:00:00

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S PET N 7 DECEMBER 3, 1846.

34%
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ABOLITION Of 'THE PUNISH-

MENT OF DEATH.

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A public meeting was held last evening at the London
Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, to promote the abolition of
the punishment of death. There was a numerous at-
tendance, the large room being filled to excess. Alder-
man Sidney filled the chair. Amongst those present
were Rev. Dr. Mortimer, Mr. D. W. Wire, Mr. W. Thorn-
borow, Mr. J. Meredith, Mr. H. Vincent, Mr. Frank H.
Leuthall, Mr. T. A. Tagg, Mr. H. Rickman, Mr. C. Gil-
pin, Mr. J. W. Greene, and Mr. Joseph Marsh.
The CHAIRMAN said he had had some experience of
the effect of capital punishment upon the great mass of
society, and he had come to the opinion, after the most
mature deliberation, that the continuance of the system
was not justified ; that it was unnecessary in the present
state of society, as such exhibitions, instead of inculcat-
ing a deeper moral lesson, brutalised those who wit-
nessed them. He thought they were, therefore,
justified in demanding its abrogation from the
Legislature, or, at least, its suspension, for seven
years.—(Hear, hear.) Not many years ago, from
150 to 200 offences were punishable by death, but since
the extreme penalty of the law had been abolished with
respect to all save the crime of murder, not only had
those crimes diminished in magnitude, but in numbers.
On the grounds of expediency, morality, and, above all,
on the higher ground -of Christianity, they were per-
fectly justified in calling on the Legislature to abolish
it. The omniscience of the law was often vaunted ; but
he had the authority of Sir Fitzroy Kelly for stating
that during the last few years fifteen innocent persons
had been hung—how many more might have died whose
innocence it might not have been in the power
of man to trace ; it was impossible to tell.
The commandment, " Whoso sheddeth man's blood by
man shall his blood be shed," was susceptible of more
meaning than the one generally received, but he could
not go to the length of stating that it was wholly un-
justified by Scripture.
Mr n ul
w w elonliently &Alt witl) the
objections to" tneaboution of the punishment of death,
and held that there was no authority in the Scriptures to
justify such vindictive justice. Even if the Scriptures
gave the power to inflict it where it was found beyond
doubt that the great end of punishment—the reforma-
tion of the criminal was destroyed, and no example en-
forced, it was wholly unnecessary to continue it. The
time was coming on when juries would shrink with re-
pugnance from finding men guilty of murder on ac-
count of the punishment. He quoted the opinion
of Alderman Harmer, to show this reluctance to con-
vict on the part of juries, who were glad to find
out any crotchet through which they might acquit him.
If the punishment was exemplary, why not, to quote
from Punch, bring all the charit) schools and children to
behold it ?—(Cheers.) Example forsooth ! it had been
ascertained that out of 164 executions which had taken
place, 162 of the malefactors had witnessed capital
punishments. It rather stimulated than deterred.
Thieves knew that murder was the only crime visited
with the extreme penalty of the law, and abstained
from it ; but when robhery was so punished they mur-
dered to screen their crimes.—(Hear.) Thousands of
punishments might be adopted more severe than the
punishment of death.—(Hear.) If a man were
imprisoned for life—if his name and memory were
blotted out—he would be living, a terrible example
to others. In Tuscany and Belgium capital punish-
ment had been abolished with excellent effect.—(Cheers.)
He concluded by moving a resolution to the effect that
the punishment of death is opposed to the spirit of
Christianity—that it does not answer its design—that
its effects are demoralizing—that it sometimes involves
the destruction of. the innocent by judicial process, and
at others favours the escape of the guilty, thus foster-
ing the crime it was meant to suppress.
The Rev. Dr. MORTIMER seconded the motion. He
referred to an assertion made by Lord John Russell,
that the treatment of criminals was a problem yet to be
solved—and contended that capital punishment was op-
posed to the true interpretation of the holy Scriptures
—that it cut off a sinner in the midst of his sin

—that it gave him no opportunity for true
repentance, and was opposed to the very
essence of punishment which ought to be remedial and
not vindictive. As the treatment of prisoners was yet
a problem, theie was no reason that solitary punishment
should be alone adopted. There was great reluctance
in juries to find persons concerned in fatal duels guilty
on account of the penalty, but if there was a minor
punishment the reverse would occur. The same might
be said with respect to the crime of infanticide, as
nineteen out of every twenty charged with this crime
are acquitted of the higher and found guilty of the
minor offence.

Mr. HENRY BROOKS proposed an amendment to the
effect that the meeting deeply deplored and commiserated
the distressed condition of the people, and considered
that capital punishment ought to be abolished,
but the meeting, with but one dissentient, voted the
first part of the amendment irrelevant to the object for
*ha mathir; 11.1 been
_noll.l

Mr. HENRY VINCENT submitted to the meeting a
petition to the Legislature, praying for the abolition of
capital punishment. He held, in a speech replete with
fervent eloquence, which was listened to and received
with great applause, that the scriptures did not justify
the taking away of human life—that Christ did not
come to the earth to preach revenge—to strike blow
for blow, but mercy and forbearance, and it was im-
pious in fallible man to step in between the created and
the Creator, instead of allowing the man to live his
natural period and to meet his God, and to receive
sentence at His hands. Murderers were not terrified by
the punishment which would be inflicted upon them if
they were discovered and found guilty. The actuating
principle was the fear of detection. He drew a vivid
picture of the neglected outcast children of London, the
children of the depraved and the criminal, being led by
curiosity to an execution, and of being thus perverted
and brutalised, and fitted for the course of life which
their parents were pursuing. There was a strong and
growing feeling in favour of the abrogation of capital
punishment, and the people, if they spoke out, would
have tlieir wishes complied with. Let them continue to
agitate, and let them take Lord John Russell at his
word, and teach him how to solve the problem of cri-
minal punishment.
Mr. J. MILLER seconded the adoption of the petition,
which was unanimously carried.
A vote of thanks having been passed to the Chairman,
which was suitably acknowledged, the numerous assem-
blage sepaiated.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.

OPENING of the iiii:WXi from RAMSGATE to

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ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA HOUSE.
The preparations for the rebuilding of the interior of
,Covent- garden Theatre commenced. at day-break on
Tuesday, and before the evening had set in the façade in
Bow%street was completely inclosed. The alterations
and improvements in the edifice will form a complete
revolution. The new proprietors have selected the
plans of Benedict Albano, Es.q., Civil Engineer, and
these plans have been duly submitted to and received
the approval of the official referees under the Metropo-
litan Buildings Act. As the present interior is to be
entirely removed, and the theatre is to be considerably
enlarged, it has been resolved that no expense shall be
spared to render it one of the most elegant and con-
venient lyrical establishments now in existence. In
every sense of the word, the new Royal Italian Opera
House is to be made a great Temple of Art.
Many erroneous notions existing as to the size of
Covent-garden Theatre, it may be as well to mention
that it will be the largest in Europe, after the great
theatres in Italy, which in point of space rank first. In
the original design, the architect seems to have taken
especial pains to construct the smallest possible interior
within the largest exterior space occupied by any other
London theatre. The room now lost in useless passages
and endless corridors is inconceivable; and when visi-
tors will hereafter gaze upon the vast interior now in
course of construction, they will indeed be amazed; for
although when completed there will be accommodation
for five hundred persons more than the largest theatre in
London now holds, and if requisite the number could be
carried to one thousand, there will be increased comfort
and convenience. Thus, the private boxes and stalls,
although exceeding in number those in any other house,
are to be each enlarged in point of space for the oc-
cupants. The private boxes will be, in fact, wider and
more lofty than any allowance previously made for those
receptacles of beauty and fashion. The grand staircase
at the front entrance will remain, and that of the royal
entrance in Hart-street ; but two new stone staircases
are to be built, extending froth the pit floor to the upper
~,,nneeted w;th facility
of ingress, and, what is of more importance, rapidity
of egress, has been carefully provided for, and all the
accesses and approaches to the audience portion of
the theatre will be fireproof. The interior is to
be divided into stalls and a commodious pit, as
regards the ground floor, with separate entrances
to go in and out, so that there will be no opposing
streams. There will be a tier of pit-boxes, above
which will be the royal and grand tier of double
boxes around the semicircle. Above will be successive

tiers of private boxes, with an extensive amphitheatre
of reserved seats occupying one circle. There is to be
a capacious gallery, the entrance to which will be solely
from the Covent-garden Piazza. The Hart- street en-
trance and court-yard will be reserved entirely for
Royalty ; the holders of the property-boxes— of which
(and fortunately for the proprietors) there are only five—
entering at the façade. Here a most valuable improve•
ment will be made. Doors will be opened in the
northern and southern wings ; the former, next to
Long acre, will lead to the box- office, and the latter
will be exclusively apportioned to the pit visi-
tors. Every entrance, excepting for the Royal
family and the gallery, will be in front of the
theatre in Bow-street. But a more important
innovation for the comfort of the subscribers to the
boxes and stalls is to be made. With the sanction of
the proper authorities, a tram-road for carriages will be
constructed, and the coachmen driving in at the
southern side of the façade will set the company down
under the portico, and then drive out at the northern
side. The immense advantage of this admirable plan
may beSmagined, when it is recollected that now the
carriages have to stop at the pavement, whilst the
visitors, between two files of people, have to cross the
path, ascend the steps of the façade, and cross some
yards of the portico elevation before the entrance doors
are attained. The elevated steps are to be removed, and
the space thus acquired, assigned for the benefit of the
foot passengers.
The locality for saloons, waiting rooms, and passages
affords every convenience for accommodation, and the de-
molition has supplied the opportunity of introducing a
new system of ventilation. The principle of lighting the
theatre to the best advantage, it is anticipated with con-
fidence, will be vastly improved, the experiment for that
purpose having been begun last night. The plans ex-
hibit extraordinary care in the precautions for seeing and
hearing to the best advantage. The architectural propor-
..

tious of the interior have been tested, so as to ensure for
the occupants of the most remote side boxes the certainty
of commanding a complete view of the stage. Mr. Costa,
the musical director and conductor, has expressed his en-
tire approval of the construction of the orchestra, which
is to enclose his formidable band ot eighty-four instrumen-
talists. The principles of acousties have been a constant
subject of study and investigation on the part of Mr. Al.
bano. The stage, in depth, height, and breadth, has
been always unrivalled, and will afford ample space for
the mounting of operas on the unprecedented scale pro-
posed by the managers, as also for the attractions of the
Pt fro. Slans.^ lo Ana/Nita of silo ntrary
statements of our contemporaries. The terpsichorean
arrangements and engagements have in fact long occu-
the attention of the proprietors, but they prudently
kept their plans secret until they had secured the ser-
vices of the most eminent European danseuses and of
the most experienced ballet-masters, whose names will
be published in due course. We are authorised to as-
sure our readers, that under no pretext will divertisse-
ments be given between the acts of operas, and that the
ballets are not to be of interminable length and dura-
tion. The main principle of this lyrical undertaking is
music, and the promotion of high art is intended ; but
the public will not be deprived of the opportunity of
witnessing the greatest dancers, who embody the poetry
of motion.
We break off here for the present, but in a few days
we shall give further details of the vast improvements
now in active progress. The style of decoration for the
interior, after Mr. Albano has completed his plans, is to
be on the most costly scale, and the best combination of
form and colours, with the choice of drapery so as to
harmonise with the general effect, will be adopted.
It is necessary to present, of course, the occupants of
the boxes in the best light, and yet not to sacrifice the
stage effects by gorgeous glare. The eye must embrace
the entire coup without fatigue, and it is to insure
this object that the best talents of Paris and London
have been engaged. The stage, the procenium, the
ceiling, the fronts of the tiers of boxes, and their curtains
must amalgamate in totality of design and harmony of
meaning ; so that the general effect may be neither
staring nor monotonous, but the most agreeable and ani-
mated assemblage in form and colour produced—the
" human face divine" not being deprived of its beauty by
any tawdriness of decoration.

RAILWAY GUNPOWD:BII DAN
GER SIGNAL.
From a Parliamentary volume, forming Appendix No.
3 of the Report of the Officers of the Railway Depart•
ment to the Loris of the Committee of Privy Counci
for Trade, and just printed for Parliament, the following
quotation is made, being a letter from Major- General
l'asley to the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council
for Trade, recommending that a circular should be sent
to railway companies, suggesting the adoption of a new
danger signal by means of gunpowder::—
"My Lords,—Two fatal accidents, which it was my
duty to inquire into, having occurred within the spec(
of thirteen months, in both of which one railway
train, detained beyond its proper time, was run
into by another train, causißg the death of a
passenger in one case, and of an engine-man in the
other, notwithstanding that the usual precaution had
been taken of sending a man back from the train that
was delayed with a red lantern as a signal of danger, to
meet and stop the approaching train, not only by this
signal, but also by calling out to the engine-man. In
both cases this caution proved ineffectual, as the men
sent back were neither heard, nor were their red lanterns
seen, by the engine-men of the approaching trains. In
fact, I have myself observed, more than once, that it is
impossible for the engine-man or fireman of a railway
train in motion to hear a person calling to him, even from
a very short distance, especially when the train is passing
under a tunnel, which causes a louder rattling noise than
in the open air.
" I therefore beg leave to bring under your Lordships'
notice a very ingenious arrangement adopted on the
London and Birmingham Railway, as a fog or danger
signal at the suggestion of Mr. Cowper, son of the
King's College professor of that name. This con-
sists in sending a man back to place a small flat circu-
lar tin box, containing a charge of gunpowder, mixed
.with a little fulminating powder, on the line of rails by
which the next train is advancing, which box has two
leaden fangs attached to it for clasping the rail, which at
ether times are doubled fiat down upon the box to save
room. As soon as the wheel of the locomotive engine
of' the approaching train passes over this box, it fires the
charge, with an explosion sufficiently loud to be ,heard in
the moss stormy night, or in going through a tunnel, but
not powerful enough to injure the rails or the w heels of the
engine. Under the circumstances supposed, this arrange-
ment, as a signal of danger or caution, is preferable to a red
light by night, or in a tunnel, because no neglect or inatten-
tion on the part of the engineme.n or fireman of the coming
train can render it rissible- for them to pass without.
being aware of the explosion, which cannot fail to take
plaze, and on hearing which it would be their duty to
stop, The best way of proceeding would be for the man
s
sent back to carry red light also, and after placin
explosion signeA-box on the rail to return part of
hti .
way from wherace he came, and remitinthhderetowietxhplaiihs
red light to meet the train on stopping, and
to the engirtcman whatever may be necessary.
" I shall conclude by observing that I am fully per-
suaded the t the more perfect system of danger-signal
j• t deseri' 'Dad, if generally adopted on railways, may be
ust
the means of saving lives hereafter ; and therefore, I
request, should your Lordships concur in this opinion,
that you will be pleased to call the attention of the Di-
rectors of railway companies to the subject by a circular
letter.- —I have, &c.
" C. W. PASLEY, M

Ir-General

V/ICANT INSPECTORSHIP OF LUNATIC ASYLUMS.—
With regard to a paragraph under this head, which we
recently copied, stating that Dr. John Mollan, of Dublin,
hskd been promised the situation, but, owing-to the in-
fenenCe of Mr. O'Connell, it had been oonferred on Dr.
Nugent, we are authorised to state that no promise of
the situation in question was ever made to Dr. Mollan
nor lass the appointment been given to Dr. Nugent.