The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-10 00:00:00

subscribed and enlisted men for the contest—the
Northerns must do the sato e, unless contented to
be distanced in the encounter, and to be compelled
eventually to fight on behalf of their own
positions.

Germanism is in the ascendant in Paris as well,
as in London. " Steps have already been taken
to prevent the collection of subscriptions for the
purpose of purchasing 100 guns for the protec-
tion and armament of the fortress of Alessandria."
Such is the answer of the Government of the
Tuileries to the insolent demand of the Austrian,
charge d'Affaires, which imperiously demandf,d
the prohibition of the unwelcome demons'aa-
tion. It was, in fact, a labour of love,
that required no prompting Sardinia had
been our ally in the late war, bad set
a brilliant example to the Imperial and Royal
faineants, who so grossly disregarded their duties,
and hung back in the dark hour of danger and
distress. Therefore, Sardinia should be dis-
couraged, and every effort in her favour sup-1
pressed with the strong arm. Sardinia is
the recognised champion of Italian free-
dom, Austria its oppressor ; therefore must
every Austrian desire be promptly anticipated,
and every legitimate expression of sym-
pathy for Piedmont discouraged. This is truly
Imperial logic, but we greatly doubt if it will
find any echo either in France or England.

We ask under what law has this insolent de-
mand been put forward ? What power is the re
of carrying it into practical execution ? We kno w
that PETER " the Cruel, the Cunning, the
Greedy"—(we could multiply titles far more
applicable than the abused term " the Great")—
demanded the execution of the Sheriff of Middle-
sex, who permitted the arrest of one of his Am-
bassador's servants. But even he was obliged to
be contented with the assurance that Queen Ali NE
had not the power to comply with his request,
and Louis NAPOLEON might (if his heart were not
in the cause) have made a similar answer ; for
there can be no doubt on the point. There is no
war between Sardinia and Austria. There can
therefore be no breach of the neutrality laws—no
point on which any despot can take hold, or found
a just complaint. If at this moment we chose to
subscribe for the purpose of replacing the cannon
taken from Sebastopol the Government could
not interfere. Nor can they do so with Sardinia.
Austria might as well complain of the loan
granted to that Government, and if the voluntary
exertions of the peoples of either country
produce so gratifying and, probably, so useful
a testimonial to VICTOR EMMANUEL, Austria must
simply bear it as she best can. We
say advisedly that there is no legal power to
arrest its progress either in France or England ;
and that if authority be so far strained in the
former country, it will only lead to its being
quadrupled, aye, made tenfold in England, where
we defy and laugh at any undue and illegal in-
terference with our just rights.

There can be little question as to the value of
transportation as a penal remedy. Hence we
are by no means surprised to find among the i
resolutions of the Select Committee on the sub-
ject °lie to the effect " that the punishment of
transportation is more effectual and deterring,
better adapted for the ultimate reformation of
convicts, and more beneficial to this country than
any other secondary punishment for serious
crimes which has yet been tried." By this
description of punishment we got rid of the
majority of convicts " for good," were enabled to
deal with them effectively, sad on the evpiration
of their appointed term to hold out to them
every encouragement to be honest, and otherwise
to submit themselves to the requirements of the
law.

The proposition is indisputable, nay, we will go
further and cordially join in the recommendation of
the Committee " that the sentence of transporta-
tion be continued so far as her MAJESTY'S domi-
nions may afford safe and proper facilities for the
purpose." The inferiority of the present system
is palpable to the meanest understanding. Not
merely the ticket-of-leave men, but those also
whose depravity is so great that tickets of leave
cannot be conceded to them, find every one of
them their way back into society when their term
is ended, no little to its danger and detriment—.
for there is but little temptation can be held out
to them to conduct themselves with propriety
for the future. It is quite probable also
that the locale was better adapted than the hulks
or the confined areas where convicts are now em-
ployed for their moral amelioration. Let us have
a continuation then of the sentence of transporta-
tion, if by that is implied a continuation also of
the accessories which gave the punishment its

principal value.
But how are we to set about it ? The reader
will have noticed the qualification of the recom-
mendation of the Committee—" so far as her
MAJESTY'S dominions may afford safe and proper
facilities for the purpose." Here is the rub.
Where aro we to find colonies wherein to subject
our convicts to the discipline needful for their re-
formation, and to offer them when liberated oppor-
tunity readily to obtain the means of living so as
to be preserved from want, that all-powerful
temptation to crime ? Western Australia is the
only receptacle at present available, and Western
Australia takes only a small proportion of the best
class of males, and rejects female convicts alto.
gether, besides being very expensive. In the five
years ending 1855, we are told upwards of
400,0001. had been spent in getting rid of berm
than 4,000 convicts, of which sum a considerable
item was devoted "to finding employment for
ticket-of-leave men, who, in so small a colony,
cannot find private masters." Islands may doubt-
less be found wherein to pour the black tide of
our criminals, but where shall we find any in
whioh the honest men shall be so numerous and in
such a condition as to be able to employ and re-
strain the thieves ? The transportation we could
desire differs widely from the only transportation
apparently open to us. Is the latter worth what
it will cost Y Doubtless so far as transporta-
tion operated as a determent it will Le
to the full as effective, more so, possibly, at
Gibraltar or Bermuda, than it was at the Anti-
podes. To be rid of our convicts as we wish,
however, employment must be found for them
abroad, and to this a host of objections will be
started, including, perhaps, the fatal one that
such a scheme would be found impracticable.
The suggestion of some of the witnesses, appa-
rently adopted by the Committee, " that in mora
serious cases a sentence should be passed of
transportation or penal servitude to be carried
out in prisons abroad" is worthy of consideration.
Its adoption would lead to the settlement of a
very difficult question, for it would then be seen
what advantages convict establishments abroad
have over such establishments at home, and if
these proved great the obstacle of increased
expenditure might be surmounted.

Viscount Palmerston arrived in town yesterday morn.
ing, from St. Leonard's•on•Sea.
Lord Rivers has left town for Dorsetshire.
About 15,0001, is Australian gold was taken to the
Batik yesterday.