The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-10 00:00:00

LETTER 111.

TO THE EMIT HON. SIR GEORGE GREY, EARL, M.P.
&c. &c. &c.
Sir,—lt has been often asked, How does it happen
that all the plans of the Colonial-office have so
signally failed, and that at this moment, as far as the
transportation system operates, the reclamation of the
convict is more hopeless than at any former period,
and crime increasing to en enormous extent ; for
assuredly such plans have included every variety of
treatment, from that which bordered upon excessive
cruelty to that whose fault was of an opposite
character.
Of the effict produced by the plan of cruel treat-
ment, the Chief Justice of New South Wales told
the Transportation Committee, "That he would not
hesitate to prefer death under any form that it could
be presented to him, rather than such a state of en-
durance as that of the convict in Norfolk Island."
Nor were the effects produced by a lenient plan of
a better description, for, after having been in opera-
tion some years, Mr. Stewart, who was directed to
report upon the condition of the convicts in Norfolk
Island in 1846, represents "the state of crime there
as being of the most atrocious character, and the in-
subordination of the men as very excessive." Upon
this Lord Grey directed measures should be taken to
break up the establishment with the least possible
delay.
But Archbishop Whately's proposition shows most
clearly why it is that all the plans have so utterly
failed ;it is because the Colonial-office has always
wade the interests of the colony, through the medium
of the settler, the primary object. Thus we have the
deliberate opinion of one of the foremost men of the
present day fully confirmed by the results of expo.
rience. Surely such a coincidence must to every
rational mind be conclusive as to the necessity of 11
change. _ _

Now it is clear there are only two modes of effect-
ing a change of the present system--either to abolish
the punishment of transportation, or to continue it in
a totally different manner from any yet practised;
there is no third course worthy the attention of a
statesman, or a philanthropist, and any different
manner of continuing transportation can only ac-
complish the desired effect by strictly adhering to the
principle laid down by the Archbishop; and caring
nothing for the colony, nothing for the settler, except
as such interests must be incidentally promoted, by
an effectual punishment of the convict, giving the
best prospect of his reclamation from ♦ice.
Such was the object of the plan which last year I
submitted for your consideration, believing that you,
who have already effected so great and salutary
change in the treatment and in the condition of the
convict in this country, would, although the subject
was not in your department, exert yourself to pre-
vent your praiseworthy exertions being rendered
nearly useless, by handing over the half-reformed
convict to the tender mercies of the Colonial-office,
to be treated as formerly, contrary to every sound
principle as deducible from theory—from logic—and
from experience.
I observed in my former letter that my plan had
this material distinction from the probation system
devised and carried out by Lord Stanley and Sir J.
Graham, inasmuch as they sent the convicts to an old
colony, whereas I proposed that they should be trans-
ported to a new one; and I submit to your judgment
that this distinction alone would be quite sufficient to
account for the failure of their plan, and to hope for
success from the adoption of mine.
But as two of the most eminent statesmen of the
present day entrusted with the responsibilities of office
devised and carried into effect a plan for the reclama-
tion of convicts in the colonies, surely it must be con-
ceded that there cannot be anything very absurd or
ridiculous in the principle of such plan ; and when it
WAS found to produce such lamentable effects a wise
man and a fair man would have endeavoured in the
first place to ascertain the cause of failure.
And the slightest examination would have convinced
even the Colonial-office that the failure of the plan
could most easily be accounted for, without imputing
the slightest blame to the principle. I think the at-
tempt to carry it out in an old colony instead of a new
one is in itself a sufficient cause, but beyond this nothing
can be more certain than that the plan never had a
fair trial ; and that, if the authorities in the colony
had resolved that it should fail, they could not pos-
sibly have adopted plans more certain to produce that
effect, for the best plan must fail unless carried out
by faithful agents.
Sir W. Denison's statement is decisive upon the
point as to the manner the authorities in the colony
carried out Lord Stanley's plan. He says, " The
general complaint of the inefficiency of the officers at
the different convict stations applies in its full force to
those to whom the religious instruction of the convict is
entrusted." Can it be necessary to say a single ad-
ditional word to prove that the failure of his Lord-
ship's plan was eruirely owing to the manner in which
it was attempted to carry it out, and did not proceed
from the plan itself?

Why ! it is precisely the same plan which you have
carried out with such marked benefit at the Island of
Portland. What earthly reason can exist why that
which has been effected at Portland cannot be equally
well carried out in the colonies ? Certainly, it would
not be reasonable to expect that talent such as yours,
or Lord John Russell's, or Sir James Graham's should
hs found in the colonies ; neither is it necessary, be-
cause in your hands ought still to remain the adminis-
trative authority ; and all that is requisite is zeal and
fidelity to carry out your plans.
I cannot conceive that anything short of imperious
necessity would induce any man of sound judgment
to propose that gangs of convicts, to the number of
30,000 or 40,000,* should be distributed throughout
these realms, and then let loose upon society, after the
expiration of their respective sentences, in a country
where there is little or no employment for them,
and still less desire to take them into service.
I have the honour to remain, &c.,
RIGBY WASON.

Corwar, Sept. 1, 1851.
• The number now under sentence in the colonies.

BALLOON DESCENT AT A LUNATIC ASYLUM.-
The veteran Green, having made his 485th ascent from
Vauxhall gardens in the Nassau balloon on Monday evening
acconipad;re • d by a party of gentlemen, effected a safe descent
on the lawn in front of the Surrey County Lunatic Asylum.
Many of the patienis, who were enjoying their evening,
amusements immediately assisted him in securing the bal-
loon, and rendering him the required assistance. It being
the intention of the company, which consisted of a party of
distinguished military officers, again to embark at dawn of
day on an aerial voyage, the descent was accomplished with
scarcely any loss of gas. Balloon ascents being now of so
frequent occurrence they scarcely deserve any notice in a
public journal, but it is with much pleasure that we record
this, being a practical illustration of the great improvement
which has been effected by Dr. Conolly, and others hallos,' ing
his humane views, in the treatment of the insane in this
country. here a large quantity of afflicted persons imme-
diately rendered the r, quired assistance; and, although the
extensive grounds soon became visited by neighbours from
all directions, with whom they mixed, they cheerfully re-
turned to the wards of the building, without any mischievous
excitement from the event. Mr. G. een and his friends hav-
ing been received and made welcome by Dr. Diamond, they
again ascended early in the morning, Mr. Green observing,
it had never been his lot to alight in a more suitable or
cheerful spot; his companions, some of whom had travelled
much in foreign countries, expressing in very strong lan-
guage the "immense humanity" now here displayed in the
treatment of lunatics compared to similar establishments
they had visited.
T E NEW PRINCIPLE OF ASCERTAINING VITALITY.
_ _

—Yesterday an inquest was held by Mr. Bedford, the coroner,
in the Board-room of St. James's I`, orkhouse, on the body
of a male chill. The circumstances of this case would
scarcely be worth reporting but for the new light shown by
the surgeon as to the probable existence of a child, and the
inquiry altogether was of a moat interesting charac:er. On
Friday night a lad was going through Golden-square, when
a child called to him that there was a bundle by the side of
the railings. When he took it up he saw the body of a
child, and took it to the workhouse, in case life should
exist, but as the child was dead they told him he must take
it to the Station-house in 'Vine-street, and bring it back in
the usual way. The body was accordingly taken to the
station-house, and, of course, immediately sent back to the
workhouse. 'Mr. French, of 41, Great Marlborough-street,
here examined the body, and had no doubt the child lived,
although now in a state of almost putrefaction. He found
the lungs were fully inflated, which showed that the child
had breathed. The foreman of the jury asked if the inflation
of the lunge might not be caused by the gases arising from
decomposition. Mr. French said it could not be so.
had weighed the lungs of the child, and they w -
place
the vessels
grains. If the child had not breathed the ordinary weight
810
would have been 600 grains. '1 he foreman wished'
how this difference was accounted for, and he repliedtolv ke
thatingollwitf
ewxeisrteed
life existed, respiration must of course take l
heavier where
tion sets the functions of the heart in motionthp Respira-
loiffethhea lungsd
been
tbecamehanw filled.hen
it h a Theyd n
ot
thus
she jury seemed
highly satisfied with Mr. I, tench's •
and probably the best test, andexplanation of this new
dead." returned a verdict of "Found

THE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE BUCKIIsGHAMsHIRE
RAILWAY.—The inquest on the bodies of the persons who
were killed in consequence of this accident was yesterday
resumed at Bicester, The Engine-driver underwent a long
examination, as did Mr. M'Connell, the superintendent of the
Locomotive Department of the North-Western Railway-
They both gave it as their opinion that the aecidentwaa
occasioned by some displacement taking place
in tb epointsthe
after the locomotive had passed over them, and
before
carriages had arrived on them. The inquest was
gain
journed. again ad-

SHOOTING IT A RAILWAY TRAIN.—The seven
o'clock train from Paddington, on passing the Roebuck Inn,
aUtxb:
believing
r Oxford-road,
o- ruo
ea d , on Tuesday evening last, was maliciously shot
party unknown. The engine-driver in command
he had passed over a detonating ball, the usual
signal of danger, blew the guard's whistle and stopped the
train, when he found that the stoker distinctly saw two per-
sons, one of whom pointed the gun and fired, the shots of
which wore heard on the tender.
SUSPECTED PoisoNntos IN NORTHUMBERLAND.—
The county of Northumberland bids fair to be notorious for
its poisonings, another suspected case having just come to
village of Strkwhelpington. Two children in
et a peasant died last week, within twenty-
ftloihguehrtfhoaimn the
'uirisj of each other. both of whom are supposed to
have died from poison. The coroner, Mr. Stephen Reed, has
fixed Wednesday (this day) tor holding the inquest, and has
directed a post morkm examiaition ti? be mete til • the
lasi:
WU%