The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-18 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM, FRIDAY Nic;ar.
This evening a highly influential meeting was hell in
the Town-hall in support of the Birmingham Discharged
Prisoners' Aid Society. Lord Calthorpe occupied the
chair, and among the gentlemen by whom he was sur-
rounded were Lord Lyttelton, Sir John Pakington,
M.P., Sir Stafford Northcote, M.P., Sir Peter Pole (the
High Sheriff of the County), the Right Hon. J. S.
Wortley (the Recorder of London), Mr. M. D. Hill (the
Recorder of Birmingham), Mr. Adderley, M.P., the
Hon. Frederick Calthorpe, the Rev. H. C. Miller, the
Rev. M. Burt, the Rev. C. Clarke, Mr. C. Ratcliffe, and
numerous other gentlemen resident in the neighbour.
hood. The presence of -a very large number of the
working classes of Birmingham was a principal feature
of the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, lamented
the absence of Lord Stanley, in consequence of indispo-
sition. Nothing but the advice of his medical atten-
dants prevented the noble Lord being present, but he
hoped he would be soon able to resume those pursuits in
which he seemod so much to delight. (Cheers.)
After letters were read from numerous clergymen and
other gentlemen in the neighbourhood, apologising for
their absence, the CHAIRMAN called the attention of the
meeting to the evils of drunkenness, the chief cause of
crime in this country, and advocated the necessity of
secular education combined with religious instruction,
The Rev. J. P. Bony (hon. sec.) read a document,
from which it appeared that one of the objects of the
assost;.ation was to find employment for meritorious dis-
charged prisoners, and give, if necessary, securities to
employers against robberies which it might be feared
would be committed by prisoners to whom they thus
benevo'.ently gave employment. They had assisted 21
prisoners, Id of whom were doing well, and had found
employment for 13.
The RECORDER of Birmingham, in moving the first re-
solution, said that all who bad listened to the able report
which had just been read must have been struck with the
magnitude of the want the Prisoners'Aid Society was in-
tended to supply. He mogratulaied them that at last
the true way for the repression of crime was found. The
question was no less than this--Shall the pain which
the prisoner has suffered within the walls of the prison
—shall the habits of industry he there acquired—shall
the counsels and exhortation of the worthy chaplain—.
yie=ld no fruit ? Shall the prisoner be thrust forth home-
less and friendless to fight his way back to his lost posi-
tion in society against a host of disadvantages ? Thirty-
three per cant, at least of those who have been convicted
fall again into crime, What is to be done ? He (the
Recorder) was not surprised that the manufacturers of
this town bad expressed their astonishment that no such
society as that had been before established. Seventeen
years ago, when he began his recordership, he followed
the example of the worthy magistrates of the Warwick-
shire sessions, in delivering up to relatives or friends
young prisoners whom he believed to be reclaimable.
These cases amounted to 483, only 78 of them having
been known again to appear at the bar of a court of jus-
tice. Many times he (the Recorder) had been thanked
by the prosecutor for being allowed to take back the
prisoner to his home. He (the Recorder) knew there-
fore he should not appeal in vain. It was well known
that the moment of departure from the doors of the gaol
was the most dangerous crisis in the prisoner's life. It
is then that the friendly hand should be stretched forth.
The meeting had heard that the tempter, the receiver of
stolen of stolen goods, his old companions in crime,
await him at the gates of his prison, and lead him back
into guilt. He (the Recorder) earnestly invited those
present to displace that wretched population—to meet
the prisoner on his release—to give to the poor out-
cast a friendly countenance. Let him feel that when
he has to encounter the frowns of the world there will
be at least one fellow-being to watch over him who
will encourage him in every good aspiration,
will warn him against the temptations with which
he is surrounded, rejoice if he should eFcape them,
and mourn with unaffected sorrow should he again fall
into crime. He addressed himself to the artisans
of Birmingham. They knew the temptations to which
the discharged convict was exposed. One in particular
there was which besets his path, thick set with seduc-
tions. In the presence of the great men of the land
seated around him he would proclaim it-1,500 dens of
temptation, in the shape of taverns, ginsbops, and beer-
houses open wide their doors, and so long as the dis-
charged criminal has the smallest of her Majesty's coins
in his pocket the Legislature authorises this greatest of
all temptations. Guard him from this snare by precept,
and—what is more effective than all precept —by example.
Verily, they would reap their reward. Not one penny
richer would they be for all their exertions and sacrifices ' •
but their reward—their exceeding great reward—would
be in the consciousness of having done their duty as
Christians—of having fulfilled the great command of
Him who uttered the immortal words—"Do unto others
as you would they should do unto you." The learned
recorder moved :

"That the plans and operations of the Birmingham
Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society, as detailed in the
statements now read, be approved by this meeting."
Lord LYTTELTON, in seconding the motion, eulogised
the voluntary labours of Mr. Wright, of Manchester
(who was present), and alluded to evils in the present
system of criminal punishment which must be reformed,
and contended that if prisoners could be improved while
undergoing punishment they ought to be encouraged in
habits of honest labour. He hoped that the movement
of that evening would only be the first of many others
throughout the country.
The RECORDER of London apologised for appearing
before the meeting, but justified his attendance on
the ground of his being engaged in the administration
of criminal justice in the metropolis. He fully con•
curred in the observations of the recorder of Bir•
mingliam, and bore testimony to the fact that in
consequence of the destitution of discharged prisoners
they fell by thousands into crime deeper than they
bad before committed. The question was what was to
be done with such prisoners. The plan of the associ-
ation was not only prudent and discreet, but, if they
would allow him to say so, it was, in his opinion, ex-
tremely modest. They did not pretend to deal with the
hardened thief or the brutal ruffian, but with those un
fortunate persons who, yielding to temptation, fell early
into- the commission of crime, and who by timely aid
might be restored to society. He called upon the manu-
facturers and tradespeople of the county to rescuealatch
objects from future crime and ruin by affording them em-
ployment, and concluded by moving a resolution to the
effect that the inhabitants of the berough, especially
employers, be earnestly recommended to co-operate with
the society in its important work.
_PAKINGTON seconded the mo-
The Right Hon. Sir J.
titan. They were met to promote a local charity, and in
his opinion there was scarcely any object more deserving
of their support than the reformation of their Christian
fellow-countrymen from crime. He Loped the society
would be the forerunner of many other similar charities
throughout the country. Who among them would lift
up his hand and say that at one time or another ho had
not yielded to temptation ? They boasted of their wealth
and their power, but they had forgotten too much the
welfare of the people. (Cheers.) They had neglected
the class of persons who were the object of that associa-
tion. In that respect America, Prussia, and even Italy
had set them examples ; they were now attempting to
make amends for their past negligence, and he believed
that their efforts would be successful. He cautioned
them, however, not to be carried away by exaggerated
expectations. He pressed upon them the necessity there
existed for the prevention of crime the necessity for a
sound, liberal, and practical education. (Cheers ) In
conclusion, while he urged them to adopt that society,
he urged them to adopt it only as a part of a great whole,
as only a part of that great plan of social progress which
he hoped soon to see crowned with triumphant success.
Mr. Alderman LUCY moved the next resolution.
Mr. ADDERLET, M.P., in sec ending the motion, said
it rested upon the public whether or not that great move.
ment should succeed. If they would come forward and
meet liberated prisoners in the spirit which had been
manifested in the heal that night, they might rely upon
it the success of the society would be insured.
Mr. WRIGHT, of Manchester, rest addressed the meet-
ing. He had been instrumental in restoring many pri•
goners to society, and many of de m no v held responsible
situations iu ',sweetie parts of the world. When he saw
many of these so occupied in various spheres of life he
experienced a peace of mind which the world could not
give, he did not see any other way of preventing
crime than by taking young chitdreu out of the street
and by law compelling their atterdance at School.
(Cheers.) He would not cenneel a Itinnan Catholic to send
bis child to his (Mr. Wright',) Protestant school, but he
should be compelled to send him to a school where be
would obtain an education acc,rding to the doctrines
of his own church.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE, M.P., moved a vote of thanks
to the Mayor and officers of the borough who had taken
part in the movement. This was seconded by the Stipen-
diary magis, rate, and shortly afterwards the meeting
separated.

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