The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-24 00:00:00

TIIE SUN_ LONDON. TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 24, 1867.

,crime. Mr. WALSH took under consideration more
especially the deterrent effect of punishment and
the education of criminals, with a view to their
reformation. Although criminal law is not his
peculiar department, a man who has devoted his life
to the study of the law must naturally be well
qualified to form an opinion on any part of it.,
while his wide and varied experience must have
afforded Mr. WALSH ample opportunities of
observing the working of our criminal code. After
alluding to the wonderful change in our laws with
respect to capital punishment, which is now inflicted
for murder alone, whereas a century ago it was
awarded to no less than 160 offences, the speaker
went on to consider bow far punishment deters from
crime. More than half the convictions for grave
offences are, it seems, of prisoners who have been
convicted more than once. What are called the " dan-
gerous classes" are known to be constantly seething
up to the surface of society. What with natural
tendency and predisposition, and the influence
of early training and evil associates, the habits
of a vicious life are confirmed, as the convicted
criminal in a great number of cases is pretty sure,
as soon as he has worked his sentence out, to be
breaking the law after some other fashion. One
of the great ends which philanthropists and legis-
lators should propose to themselves is the restric-
tion of these classes within the smallest possible
limits, and the most hopeful part to work upon is
undoubtedly the juvenile clement. Children and
women are more easily impressed, and therefore
have every chance of escaping the effect of evil
associations, but their very impressibility snakes it
easier to reclaim them. Every lesson of the kind
is easier learnt at ten than at thirty, especially if
the twenty years between have been spent as the
dangerous classes spend them. We aro not sur-
prised to find the Master of the Rolls looking to
our female refuges and juvenile reformatories as
the most hopeful means of diminishing the number
of our criminals. As regards the legal aspect of
the case the Master of the Rolls recommends that
greater freedom of expression should be given to the
accused. He advises that the tendency of prisoners
to confess should be left altogether unchecked by a
counterbalance in their favour; he would allow them
to give evidence in their own behalf. If confession
were encouraged, this privilege must in common
fairness be accorded to them, and in any case it de-
serves consideration, whether the truth would not
be more likely to be elicited by such a course. In
connection with this subject we may mention that
in the Health Department Dr. LANKESTER read an
interesting paper on Prison and Workhouse Dietaries.
As in the other sections questions are naturally
considered as they present themselves in Ireland,
and by this means much practical service may be
rendered to the sister country by the Congress. Dr.
LANKESTER said that his attention had recently
been called to the prison dietaries of Ireland, and
he had no hesitation in saying they were much too
low for the human frame. Remembering that the
ordinary diet of the population in Ireland is
not of the same kind as in England, we
may still accept Dr. LANKESTER'S censure as amply
deserved. From the last report of the inspector
of prisons, it appears that many of these dietaries
cost only twopence and a fraction a day, while
none cost so much as fourpence. The taxpayers of
Ireland, according to Mr. JOIIN NOBLE, think their
share of the Imperial burdens too heavy, but they
can hardly complain that too much is spent on their
prisons. Dr. LANKESTER says very truly that it is
false economy to starve a prisoner. The true wis-
dom is to reclaim him, and mental and moral refor-
mation are only possible with a well-nourished
body. By insufficient food the body is rendered
unhealthy, and demoralisation of the mind must
ensue. We hope that attention having been called
to this point an inquiry will be made into it. The
inspector has been remiss in passing over a system
under which it is unfair and unreasonable to expect
men to work • and thrive. Dr. LANKESTER has
devoted a good deal of attention to the various
qualities of different kinds of food—their flesh-
forming and heat-giving materials, &c. It would
be well if such knowledge were generally diffused,
since without it blunders possibly of a serious nature
are almost unavoidable.

The Prussian Chambers are to be dissolved. A
Royal decree, dated yesterday, has been promul-
gated to that effect. A report precedes it, signed
by all the Ministry, which explains the reasons for
this measure. The manner in which perfect free.
dom is developed in Berlin is extraordinary, to cay
the least of it, and the Government seems resolved
to try a few new experiments in all directions. The
most arbitrary fashion is adopted in the manage-
ment of the Chambers, for instance, and the
Deputies might as well ba the subjects of
a professed absolutist as the citizens of a
country where progress is the supposed order of the
day. Altogether it does not look as if things were
quite straight in high places at Berlin just now,
and at any rate they have not continued to please
the French by their airs and graces. The tone of
the French press is very significant at present, and
we see on all sides that there is a growing feeling of
dissatisfaction at the policy of Prussia. BISMARCK
may have wilfully provoked this outbreak, but be
that as it may, there is no doubt as to the
existence of the feeling. The Patric has
made some rather stilted observations on the
aspect of affairs, and seeks to account for the
reserve that has been manifested by the semi-official
papers by declaring that they know well what they
are about, and that the " pretended weakness and
want of pride about which so much is said have no
foundation in facts." Altogether a very discordant
element seems to have been introduced into the sen-
timents of Parisian politics, and Count BISMARCK
has made a great mistake if he thinks that he can
get out of the difficulty into which his presumption
ra
has placed him by holding out threats to France ;
and, unless he desires to come to a speedy collision
tadinogpstesdtraabigohutt,
ftohrer
worst
e e
n
Nmvietahnsthraotscsiobulen country, he
putting
s things
will never submit to the dictation of Prussia on any
terms.

The elements of political life in the United State
are very far from being in harmonious action. A
recent speech by Mr. WADE, at Cleveland, gives us
a good idea of the amenities of American public
life. The speaker declared his belief that the PRE-
SIDENT would attempt to enforce his policy at the
point of the bayonet, and he therefore advocated
impeachment. Ile thus prejudges a man, and sen-
tences him without scruple. Mr. WADE'S official
position might, one would think, have taught him a
little more moderation and judgment; but these
virtues have gone out of fashion. The Amnesty
Proclamation is, it seems, to be vigorously car-
ried out. The Secretary of the Navy and the
acting Attorney-General have issued circulars
transmitting them to their subordinates, with orders
to conform to their requirements. We have yet to see
what change this amnesty will work in the Southern
States. The district commanders will find them-
selves placed in an awkward position should the
PRESIDENT, as is probable, insist on its observance.
Thanks to the exclusive system of registration the
white population of the Southern States have been
altogether put aside ; but the amnesty, if it means

anything, does away with the registration regu-
lations altogether. If the negroes are to have
the majority of votes in every State we may expect
to see the ascendancy of the Radicals more firmly
established than ever, unless, indeed, their proteges
get too strong for them, and resent their well-
known dislike to admit them to personal and social
equality. A large and enthusiastic meeting has
been held at Baltimore, endorsing the PIIESI-
DENT'S policy, but neither side is ever at a loss for
such manifestation of favour. The public health is
not altogether satisfactory. Yellow fever still
continues its terrible ravages at New Orleans,
while cholera has shown itself in the vicinity of
New York.

We have no more direct intelligence respecting
the Alabama controversy ; but further correspon-
dence has been published, bringing down the de-
spatches to Aug. 27. On that day Mr. SEWARD
transmitted to Mr. ADAMS an abstract of all claims
for depredations by privateers during the rebellion
to be pressed upon the notice of Lord STANLEY.
The substance of Mr. SEWARD'S complaint against
us is the recognition of the rebels as belligerents—
a recognition which was forced upon us by the
blockade. But a statesman who brings forward
the Fenians in evidence cannot be very particular
about logic.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OIVN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Monday Evening.

It is stated in the Bulletin of the .1/onitclo, on
the authority of the official Gazette of Vienna, that
the project for the new judicial organisation of the
Empire of Austria, prepared by the Constitutional
Sub-Commission, will very shortly be submitted for
the sanction of the Reichsrath.

Baron de Bcust, Chancellor of the Empire of
Austria, who was recently at Dresden, has left
Saxony for Vienna to resame his functions.

The session of the Provincial States of the former
kingdom of Hanover was opened on Saturday by
Count de Stolberg, governor of the province.

The last news received from Mexico by the French
Government is dated August 26. It came by
telegraph from the llavannah. Admiral Tegethoff
had reached Vera Cruz, and left immediately for
Mexico to claim the body of Maximilian.

The official declaration of the Italian Government
of Its determination to maintain the independence
of the kingdom, and to frustrate the attempts of
agitators to pass the frontiers has given great satis-
faction to all parties. It has put an end to the last
chance of Garibaldi to attempt another game of
foolish but wicked agitation, and it has given con-
fidence to the friends of religion and independence.
The Bishop of Orleans has addressed a long
letter to the President of the Council of the
Italian Government, in which he denounces justly
but earnestly the culpable manoeuvres of Gari-
baldi. The Bishop calls upon M. Rattazzi to
take efficacious and definitive measures to ful-
fil the treaty of the 15th of September of last
year. The above declaration of the Italian Govern-
ment affords a satisfactory answer to the communi-
cation of the Bishop, but I have reason to believe
that M. Rattazzi has sent him au answer privately,
in which he reiterates the determination of the
Italian Government to maintain the independence
of Italy and the rights cf the Holy Father.
The Paris papers record further instances of
great damage done to the property in various parts
of the city from the thunderstorm of Friday, and
confirm what I said as to its almost unparalleled
violence. Unfortunately, the damage is not con-
fined to property, for it appears that three men
perished, who were employed in clearing the gutters
after the inundation. The violence of the rain
destroyed a house in the Rue Montparnasse.
The Moniteur states that several Ministerial
mo lifications have just taken place in Egypt. Rag-
hel Pacha is appointed Minister of the Interior, and
is charged at the same time with the Presidency of
the Grand Council. Hafirz Pacha, who was
Minister of Finance, is to have the charge of the
private propery of the Viceroy. The two ministers
whom they have succeeded in these facetious,
Abdallah and Hassin Rassim, will form part of the
Council as Ministers, but without holding any
specified office.
The candidates for the vacant seat at the
Academy of Fine Arts (section of painting) in the
room of the great painter, M. Ingres, are Messrs.
Roger, Pils, Bouguerean, Jalabert, Hebert, Yvon,
and Fromen tin. •

On further purusal of the work on " Modern
Abyssinia," to which I have already alluded, I find
some strange traits of character in regard to the
Emperor Theodore. The country was in a state of
chaos when he succeeded to the throne, but he soon
succeeded in pacifying it, and he issued an edict
ordering all his subjects to return to the profession
of their fathers. The next day a troop of incorri-
gible bandits of Thesba demanded an audience, and
were received by the Emperor. They claimed the
promised right of being allowed to continue to
exercise the profession of their fathers. " What is
your profession ?" said Theodore. " Highway
robbers !" impudently replied the chief of the
bandits. Theodore meekly remonstrated then, and
said it would be better if they would become agri-
culturists, give them oxen and
ploughs.
said
would
a d their determination to con-
tinue their profession was unshaken. The N egus
then said he would fulfil the edict, and give them
adTshuecy departed in high glee,
succeeded in intimidating
tbheelierviginhgt tthheaytcltahimeyedh.
Theodore. They were, however, rapidly overtaken
by a squadron of cavalry, who soon proved to them
that if, as they pretended, the Great King David
had bestowed a charter to enable robbers to live on
the highways, there also existed a decree of King
Lalibela which authorised the Gendarmerie to put
all highway robbers to the sword. There is no
" law's delay" in Abyssinia. On the contrary,
justice is very swift—so much so as to illustrate
the distich of a tax-gatherer, named Winter, who
used to say to taxpayers—
" Come, pay up your taxes; give me none of your flummery,
For though Winter's my name, my proceedings are
summary."
When a robber is convicted the right hand and
left foot are instantly cut off, the hand which held
the sword and the foot which served to mount on
horseback. The lex talion iS exists. The family of
a murdered person may claim the right to kill the
assassin, but the right is often sold for a sum of
money. One day a soldier who had murdered two
dealers on the road was brought before Theodore.
" Why did you kill them ?" said the Negus. "I
was hungry," replied the soldier. " But could you
not have taken what was necessary for you for the
moment," asked Theodore, " and allowed them to
live ?" "If I had not killed them," said the soldier,
" they would have defended their property." The
Emperor was exasperated at the reasoning, and
ordered the soldier's two hands to be cut off. They
-were set before him in a dish. " Ah," said Theo-
dore, "you were hungry. Eat then." A fact may
be added about Abyssinia which does not seem to
have been stated. In the south of Abyssinia the
Gallas are in revolt against him. The brigand
Goubwsie, before spoken of,
may place the whole
of the Tigre in insurrection.

FATAL GUN ACCIDENT.—On Thursday evening
Mr. S. Bromhead, sou-in-law of the Mayor of 'lgnitor],
wont rabbitiug on Round Ball Farm, in the parish of iloni-
ton, in company with Mr. Hewlingo. Mr. Ilromhead, while
assisting his companion to load, rested the stock of his own
gun upon his foot, with the muzzle pointing towards his
face. By somo mischance Mr. Brondiead's gun suddenly
exploded, and the contents entering the upper part of his
face completely shattered it, and carried away a portion of
the brain. In five minutes the unfortunate man was quite
dead. At the inquest, held by the district coroner, a ver-
dict of "Accidental death" was returned. Deceased wes
about 27 years of age, and leaves a widow and one child to
mourn his sad end.

FATAL ENCOUNTER WITH TROOPS IN IRELAND.—
A company of the 74th Highlanders and the mob of Lime-
rick have come into collision, in consequence, it is stated,
of the maltreatment by the latter of two soldiers. Eight
persons have been stabbed by bayonets, and one death is
reported. The 6th Dragoons mixed in the quarrel, which
was twice renewed. Much excitement prevails in the
town, and § magidorial inquiry has connll9llol

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ITALY.

FLORENCE, Sept. 23 (Evening).

Several chests containing 300 rifles, and directed
to Puma, were seized at the Florence railway

station to-day.

Several arrests were made in Florence last night.

A letter from Rome asserts that all the officers
of the Antibes legion sent in their resignations on
the 21st inst.

The Italie of this evening announces that the
Minister of War has sent orders to the commanders
of military divisions to despatch troops to the Papal

fronticrs.

RomE, Sept. 23.
Yesterday the Papal police made several arrests

at Narni.

Sr. PETERSBURG, Sept. 23.

The Russian journals declare the account pub-
lished by the New Free Press of a conversation
between the Emperor of Russia and Puad Pacha
to be entirely false.