The Sun.
London, England, 1869-01-12 00:00:00

REFORMATION OF CRIMINALS.

A discussion of some importance has just been concluded
at the Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions. Mr. Baker laid
before the court a memorial which he proposed should
be forwarded to the Home Office. It expressed the
desire of the court for the adcption of some
system which should prevent hardened and skilled
thieves from being loose on the world. The
statistics of crime prove that of those once convicted,
about one in five relapse ; of these twice convicted, nearly
one-half ; of those more than' one-half are convicted a
fourth time ; and of the fourth class of offenders, nearly
two-thirds are again found guilty. The court were
unanimously in favour of increased surveillance over
professional criminals, and for a stricter repression
of crime, and eventually passed a resolution embodying
their opinion " That the law as at present administered
does not afford due protection to the public against old and
repeatedly convicted offenders, who make crime their
trade."

LORD BERNERS ON FINANCIAL BOARDS,

At the annual meeting of the Leicestershire Chamber
of Commerce held on Saturday, at the Bell Hotel, the
council of the chamber presented their report for the past
year. Lord Berners, in commenting upon it,
objected to the proposed establishment of county
financial boards. Even the gentleman who first
introduced the subject, some years ago, admitted that no
saving would be effected by such boards. For himself,
when he saw the agreeable manner in which the highway
meetings and other things were conducted, be could not
wish for them. A great part of the expenses of the
county were regulated by an Act of Parliament, and
they could not go from them. They could not alter
the rates, but they might press upon Government the
necessity of the payment of all such matters upon all
descriptions of property. From the returns of the Poor-
law Board for the year ending Ladyday 1867, it seemed
that upwards of one-third of the whole poor rates were for
expenses allowed in respect of parliamentary or municipal
registration and cost of jury lists. Besides these charges
there were some others paid out of the poor rate which were
not discriminated, such as the expenses incurred for sanitary
purposes and providing burial•ground. At the conclusion
of the business Mr. Wilson, of Knaptoft Hall, was pre-
sented with a handsome testimonial in recognition of his
services as secretary since the establishment of the
chamber.

Sir Samuel Baker left town on Friday for Alex-
andria, to meet his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.
The death is announced of Sir J. A. Gordon, the
Governor of Greenwich Hospital, at the age of 86. The de-
ceased, who attained to the rank of admiral in 1822, had
held the post which is now vacant during more than fifteen
years.

As some labourers were at work on a road at Birk-
dale, Southport, a day or two back, one of them, named
Rimmer, who has been subject to fits of temporary insanity,
truck a fellow labourer a fearful blow on the head with a
spade, fracturing the skull. Rinnuer afterwards attempted
to cut his own throat.

The nomination for South Derbyshire took place
at half-past ten o'clock yesterday nt the County Hall,
Derby. Mr. Bagsbawe, High Sheriff, presided. Mr. Colvile
proposed, and Dr. Peach seconded, Mr. Evans, the Liberal
candidate. Mr. Mundy proposed, and Mr. Hunt seconded,
Colonel Wilmot, the Conservative cauditiate. The candidates
having spoken, the High Sheriff declared the show of hands
to be in favour of Mr. Evans. A poll was demanded for
Colonel Wilmot to take place on Thursday next.