The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING,IiJA.NUARY 17, 186 G.

produce harmony is a question that must be left for
the now rapidly approaching session of 1866 to
solve.

The proposal to afford aid to discharged prisoners
is one of those difficult questions of social life which
are important in themselves, and yet which are very
apt to give rise to misconception, and create doubts
and misgivings in the minds of well-informed per-
sons. Lord STANLEY'S able remarks on the subject
the other day are well worthy of consideration, and
tend to clear away the mists which envelope the
matter. The noble lord presided at a meeting in
the Manchester Town-hall, to promote the forma-
tion of a Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society in that
district, and his remarks appeared to give general
satisfaction. The purpose in view may be thus
summarily put forward : its object is to afford
temporary aid to discharged prisoners, and to assist
them, if willing, to find honest employment. It
stands to sense that this is a most desirable thing to
do, and that it is only strange that more has not
been done in this respect before. Few positions can
be more deplorable than that of a man set loose
upon the world with no prospect of honest employ-
ment ; indeed, his fate may be compared to that of
the man described in Scripture, who found his house
swept and garnished and knew not what to do, and
whose last state was worse than the first. A re-
lapse in crime, like everything else, is generally
worse than the original malady, and it is the
bounden duty of society to provide against the
probability, and in some cases the certainty, of these
unfortunate beings falling again into the ways of
evil. Lord STANLEY explained the case in that
clear and comprehensive manner in which he al-
ways sets to work in discussing these subjects.
Those who take too " hopeful or rose-coloured" a
view of our actual civilisation are recommended to
study the late judicial statistics, and they will
certainly find in those records that crime abounds
among us. The number of committals have in-
creased since 1861, andialthough, as Lord STANLEY
says, " we must take into account the increase of
population, and the greater efficiency of the police,
still it is evident that there is no considerable falling
off in the amount of detected crime."

Many causes combine to foster this inauspicious
state of things, and the moralist and philosopher
may alike regret the numerous tacit encouragements
which our highly civilised and wealthy country
affords to crime. While so many arc passing their
lives from the cradle to the grave, apart from all
the restraining influences and deterring motives
which draw men back and hold them aloof from
evil, how can we feel surprise, and why should we
not expect that sad and serious consequences must
ensue? The inhabitants of Manchester have not been
behind hand in discharging their duties in many im-
portant respects ; yet, as the noble lord reminded
his hearers, recent inquiries have shown that many
thousands, some estimate to the number of
fifty thousand children, are neither • at work nor
at school. "Of these," said he, "we must expect
that a certain proportion will turn out badly, and my
only consolation is that the number is not greater."
Those who are able and willing to understand the
full and important significance of these great social
questions will appreciate the truth and force of
the noble lord's remark when he said, "It is the
empty school, and the home which is no home,
which make the full prison." Those who push
away the whole subject of crime and criminals
as too low for their contemplation and too base
for their study are not likely to trouble themselves
about the relative connection between ignorance
and crime, but all who dwell upon the subject must
comprehend the fearful risk that we run in allowing
so much ignorance to be rife among us.
Lord STANLEY spoke from his own personal ex-
perience of Kirkdale when he said that of some
fifteen hundred cases in which he had to pass sen-
tence as chairman of the sessions, the great
majority of the prisoners with whom he had to do
had been for all " practical purposes" untaught.
It is an exception when you find a pri-
soner who is otherwise. From this fact Lord
STANLEY draws the conclusion that it is a hopeful
sign rather than otherwise, and he certainly makes
out his case very successfully. It would be, as he
says, still more unsatisfaCtory than it is, if criminals,
taken as a class, were men or women who " had
had good chances in life, and thrown those chances
away voluntarily." In order that misapprehension
or misrepresentation should not arise, the noble lord
explained the object of the society. The criminals
may be divided into three classes. Firstly, boys
and girls who ought to be provided for under the
reformatory acts; next, the old habitual offenders,
who have taken thieving for their occupation, and
very likely will do so to the end of their
lives ; and thirdly, that class which has yielded
to sudden temptation rather than deliberately
planned to commit offences. The second
class, the old gaol-birds, are better let alone, Lord
STANLEY thinks, and most people will agree with
him, because the chance of improvement with such
is small.

The class which the noble lord considers the
most deserving assistance is that which has gone
wrong from chance or misfortune rather than from
design. We can readily imagine what a city of
refuge such a society as this would be to a
wretched criminal coming out of prison, and almost
helpless to provide for himself. It is dreadful in every
view of the question to let such a weak, wavering indi-
vidual fall back into evil ways, and yet what else is
likely to occur if we let him alone ? Society in
general shun such characters ; the world puts
its veto on them, and yet they are told
to work. Too readily do they seek the wages
of sin, and hasten to that employment
which needs no character to fall back upon. As
the noble lord said, it is not right to say that by
thus affording assistance you are putting a crimi-
nal in a better position than an honest labourer,
because there is no want of employment for able-
bodied hatiest men nowadays. The object of this
society is to " guard against the risks of temptation
that attend a man just turned out of gaol neces-
sarily without a character, or rather with such a
character that to be without one would be
a gain to him, and with such a set of rascals
around him who will try to get him back
among them. " Who can ponder over
such a purpose, and declare that it is not a
wise anti good one, morally and socially, alike
calculated to prevent the spread of evil and to
protect tin interest and well-being of society. As
the noble lord emphatically stated a large criminal
class amon g us is a national disgrace and a heavy loss.
It has beet I calculated that every habitual thief costs
so that political economists
the public £3OO a year,
need not call those sums expended in vain which go
to support such societies and institutions as seek to
reclaim offenders, and to provide employment for
those who, get none owing to their sad position. It
is encouraging to find that in London and Bir-
mingham it has been found from the last reports
of similar societies there that " fully two-thirds of
those who have been selected for assistance are
knower to be earning their lives honestly."
Such a. testimony to the value and efficiency of these
efforts is, indeed, to be regarded as an incentive to
those -whohave begun to persevere, and to those who
are itiattzuratin their plans to commence, that the

weak maybe strengthened, the wavering encouraged,
and the erring reclaimed, by the energetic adoption
and earnest support of such societies ; and it is to
be hoped that this one especially referred to, and
others of a similar nature, may receive that public
support and sympathy which they deserve, for they
are working to serve the true interests of the
community'

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM S.)

THE MILITARY REVOLT IN SPAIN.
MADRID, JAN. 16.

Official intelligence announces that the insurgents
under Prim forded the Guadiana, near Villanueva
Serena, yesterday evening at six o'clock, and
arrived at Villanueva at 7 o'clock. They left that
place at 8 o'clock, marching towards the Portuguese
frontier.

ITALY.
NAPLES, JAN. IG.

The Municipal Council has sanctioned the
Gabrielle contract for the building of additional
streets round Naples.

THE BRAZILS.
(Per the Estramadura, via Lisbon.)
RIO DE JANEIRO, DEC. 23.

Exchange on London, 25i to 25i. Coffee good,
first, 6,900 to 7,100. Shipments since the departure
of the last steamer, 42,400 bags, including 22,000
for the Channel and north of Europe. Stock,
150,000 bags. Freight, 375. 6d.

FRANCE.
MARSEILLES, JAN. 16.

The Messageries Imperiales steamer Peluse, with
the Mauritius and Reunion mails, arrived here this
afternoon.

BOURSE, Jan. 16.—Two o'clock.—The market
to-day is heavy, and sales predominate. Threes,
for the Account, have declined 12j0.--to GBf. 45e.,
showing a fractional fall. Credit Mobilier Shares
are also a trifle lower—at 775 i. Spanish Mobilier
have lost 2f. 50c. The Railway Department is
likewise depressed. Northern show a decline of
2f. 50c.—at 1,112 f. 50c. ; Lombards of sf.—at 415 f.
Austrian Shares are quoted 411 f. 25c.—a fall of lf.
25c. Three o'clock.—The market has closed on the
following quotations :-
41 per Cents 9B
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 6B 50
Do. end month 6B 571
Credit Mobilier ~ 7Bl 25
Do. end month
Bank Shares 3645
Credit Foncier 1315 50
Italian Loan 62 35
Do. end month 62 40

Roman —
Ottoman Fiiies —
Mexican Loan 4B 50

Do. Bonds —
Russian —
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Home Debt —
Deferred

WAYS.

Orleans
Northern
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern
Western
Eastern
Sardinian ,
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
Saragossa
Ditto to Barcelona
Roman

Cash. Acct.
... 848 75
1112 50
~. 851 25
551. 25
557 50
„. 530 -
- „ 200 -
- „. 410 -
- „. 415
180
220

- - ... 156 25

Foundering of the Steam-ship London, with

270 Souls,

PLYMOUTH, Jan. 16 (Evening).

Messrs. Money AVigram and Son's steamship
London, Capt. Martin, from London for Melbourne,
has foundered at sea with about 270 souls on board.
The survivors, 16 of the crew and three passengers,
were landed at Falmouth to-day by the Italian
barque Marianople.

Mr. John Greenhill, the engineer, reports as fol-
lows :—" We left Plymouth on the 6th of January.
On the 7th we experienced heavy weather with
rain ; Bth the same ; 9th lost jibboom and foretop-
mast, topgallantmast, and royal mast. About 9
a.m. we lost the port lifeboat, a heavy gale prevail-
ing at the time. On the 10th, at three a.m., the ship
put about intending to put back to Plymouth.
About the same time the starboard lifeboat was
washed overboard by a heavy sea, which also stove
the starboard cutter. At noon, lat. 46 BN. long.
0 87 W., we were shipping heavy seas, which car-
ried away the engine-room hatch, the water going
down and putting the fires out. The passengers
were bailing the water out of the ship with buckets.
" Jan. 11.—The gale was still increasing, with
heavy cross seas nearly all coining over the ship.
During the morning all who could were trying to
stop the leak in the engine-room hatch, but to no
purpose. About 4 a.m. four of the sternposts were
drove in. Efforts were made to stop them, but it
was found to be impossible. At 10 a.m. bwered the
starboard pinnace, which foundered. At one p.m.
we could see the ship gradually sinking, it being then
as low in the water as the main chains. At 2 p.m.
the following persons left in the port cutter :
D. G. Wain, John Munro, and J. E. Wilson, pas-
sengers ; John Greenhill, engineer ; John Jones,
second engineer ; John Armour, third engineer ;
Thomas Brown, fireman ; W. M. Edwards, mid-
shipman ; D. T. Smith, boatswain's mate ; William
Daniels, quartermaster ; John King, Benj. Shield,
Richard Lewes, James Gough, Edward Quin, able
seamen ; Wm. Crimes, ordinary seaman ; A. G.
White, boatswain's boy ; Wm. Hart, carpenter's
mate ; and Edward Gardner, second class steward.
" About five minutes after leaving the vessel we
saw her go down stern foremost, with about 270
persons on board, all of whom are supposed to have
perished. There were two other boats getting ready
when we left, but they were too late.
" The above-nained persons who were saved were
picked up by the Marianople and treated with the
greatest kindness by her captain, Carasa.
(Signed) "J. GREENHILL, Engineer."
The survivors were driven before the gale in the
cutter for 20 hours before they were picked up, and
had one very narrow escape of being swamped, the
boat being half filled with water.

The London's pumps were kept working by a
donkey-engine up to the last moment.
The following persons are known at Plymouth to
have been among the London's cabin passengers :
Mr. and Mrs. Knerr, Mrs. Hybert, Miss Cutting,
Mr. and Mrs. Debenham, Dr. Woolley, Mrs. Owen
and child, Mr. and Mrs. Bevan, Mr. and Mrs.
Clark, Mr., Mrs., Miss, and Master Thomas, Miss
Maunder, Mrs. and Miss King, Miss Vaughan, Miss
M'Lachlan, Mr. and Mrs. Amos, Mrs. Trail and
child, Mr. and Mrs. Draper, Mr. and Mrs. Fenton
and family, Mr., Mrs., Miss, and Master Chapman,
Mr. and Mrs. Urquhart, Messrs. de Pass, Palma,
H. J. Denis, Marks, Brown, A/Milian, Sandilands,
Clark, Alderson, Lewin, Patrick, Burrell, Robert-
son, Benson, Smith, Vaughan, Youngman, J.
Richardson, Tennant, and Brooks.

MARKETS—This Day.

MARK-LANE.

Beans and peas were in slow request at the late decline
in prices.

Flour moved off slowly at previous quotations.
Fresh up to our markst to-day the arrivals of English
wheat were very moderate and in good condition. Dry
samples moved off steadily at full prices ; but damp pro-
duce was very dull, and a portion of the supply was left
unsold at the close of business.

There was a fair supply of foreign wheat on the stands.
The trade, for the most descriptions, ruled quiet at about
stationary prices.

Floating cargoes of grain were in but moderato request
at late rates.

The supply of barley on sale was moderate. Tho trade
generally was quiet on former terms.
Malt sold slowly at late rates.
The supply of oats on sale was very moderato. The de-
mand, however, ruled quiet, but at full prices.

OsHIP ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.
Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour.
English and Scotch 220 490 1,320 2910 450
Irish — 610
Foreign B6O 320 2490 80 sks.
-- brls.

COMPARATIVE QUANTITIES AND PRICES OF GRAIN.

For the week ending Jan.
13, 1866.
Qrs. Aver.
Wheat 51,964-46 s ld
Barley 58,612-32 s 6d
Oats

For the corresponding week
last year.
Qrs. Aver.
Wheat 86,286-383 7d
Barley ..... 73,9G7-28s Od
Oats

BOROUGH HOP.
The business passing in our market is only moderate;
prices, however, rule firm.

WHITECIIIAPEL.

The supply of meat on sale is moderate, and the trade is
slow, as follows :
Beef, from 2810 d to 4s 6d ; mutton, 3s 10d to 5s 2d;
veal, 3s 10d to 0 10d ; and pork, 3e 104 to Lis 4d per Bibs.
by the carcase.