The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-17 00:00:00

CURB FOR WIFE-BEATEM.

(From a Correspondent.)
First, we are going to say a few words for ourselves,
and, secondly, we wish our readers to bear in mind that
when a man comes out of the ranks to speak, it is, or
ought to be, that other people may think for themselves.
There are two points necessary to bear in mind while consi-
dering this question; first, avoiding to do evil that good may
come; and, secondly, the homoeopathic system applied to
words si India sintilibas curantur (like cures like), and how
far it is likely to be successful in this case. Let us trans-
late the Latin into plain English on this question—
Brutality cures brutality ! That is a striking way of put-
ting it; but it is not ono whit the less true on that
account, any more than it is untrue that if
this measure be carried it will in all probability increase
assaults on the person fivefold. Do not let us wait for
such a striking proof of the bad policy of immorality, of in-
troducing into the House of Commons the odious principle (?)
that the end justifies the means when the object is a good
one. " Oh! no," some ono will say, "it is only the lex
talionis (law of tit for tat) but if a Latin quotation will do
for an argument on one side of the question it will on the
other—" Dot veniam corns, vexat censura columbas." The
words are generally applied in mockery. There is no nega-
tive in the Latin. We put in the negative, and say what
we mean : Do net mete out one measure to the crows,
another to the dores.

Moreover, the lex talionis is not, and cannot, be applied
with perfect fairness by any man in a case of this kind, or
indeed any othor. How is it possible for any one to dis-
cover the exact amount of mental and bodily suffering un-
dergone by the victim of an aggravated assault, and then
decide whether it ought to be considered a provoked or un-
provoked one. And, lastly, how can any man breathing
suppose for a moment that he can inflict exactly the same
amount of torture of mind and body on the guilty party.
It is utter nonsense—flat blasphemy—to suppose anything
of the kind.

Do not pursue the lex talionis argument, my readers ; if
you can follow it logically, it will bring you to a dead-
lock sooner or later. It is immoral as well as absurd.
God only can thoroughly understand the workings of the
human mind—" Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord."
Nay, it is not attempted in our laws. What would the
lex talionis gentlemen have done with Redpath, the Bri-
tish Bank directors, or Paul, Strahan, and Co. ? The
only ease in which it appears to bo attempted is in, the
punishment of death for murder. To say it is attempted
would be an insult to every judge and every legislator in
the land. It is not necessary to remind you of the diffe-
rence between a protracted and yet unexpected death,
which is often the lot of a murdered man, and, a swift,
almost instantaneous one, after the preparation with the aid
of a chaplain. . . . •

In new countries something like it is practised, and called
" Lynching "—hitt is lynching always lex fallout's? Not to
waste time in mere talk, a man of common sense, after half
an hour's deliberation, can tear the argument to shreds,
and watch the blaze of the fragments while he smokes his
pipe.
Repton, Mfty 7, 1860.

FUNERAL OF SIR CHARLES BARRY.--The Dean
of Westminster, on the application of the President of the
Royal Institute of British Architects, having been pleased
to grant permission that the remains of the late Sir Charles
Barry, R.A., be interred in Westminster Abbey, the funeral
will take place in that sacred edifice on Tuesday next, at
one o'clock precisely.
ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, GRAY'S INN-ROAD.—
The number of patients relieved at this hospital, during
the week ending May 12, is 2,599; of which 688 were new
cases,