The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-08 00:00:00

LON D,)N TH URSDA Y EVENING, JANUARY 8, 1857.

I ONDON and NORTH-WESTERN
11...4 RAILWAY. —TO RAILWAY CONTRACTOR; AND
(,TIIERS.—The Directors are desirous of receiving Tenders for
Widening the Railway between Primrose-hill Tunnel and Willesden
Station.
Parties desirous of tendering may inspect the drawings and spe-
cification., and obtain a statement of the quantities, at the Engi-
neer s Office, Enston Station, on llionday, January 19, between the
hours of 10 and 4 o'c ock.
Seated Tend,rs, addressed to the Secretary, at this Office, to be
sent in on or before Wednesday, 28th January, at 10 o'clock a.m.
By order.
CHAS. E. STEWART, Secretary. •
Secretary's °dice, Jan. 7, 1857.

with Gen. Sourochokoff, a common man, whose whole
anxiety was to impose upon people who trusted in him.
At my command he had sent for we to the station a mag-
nificent carriage, with four magnificent grey horses. I
hastened at once to our dwelling; near the English em-
bassy, accompanied by my wife, Lord. Stafford and his
wife, the Duke of Newcastle's son, and Lord Shaftesbury's
son. Sourochokoff charged me 1001. for the hire of each
horse ; and, although 1 strongly objected to the impost, I
was compelled to pay his exorbitant demand. We all had
enormous establishments, and lived at an enormous rate.
As the great fair was being held at Nishni, and that being
a matter thoroughly unique, in itself six or seven of us de-
termined to visit it. I went to the postmaster and found
him one mass of decorations. I was quite frightened with
his pomp and ceremony. He gave me shat he called an
official., but a man I should have taken for a general officer,
so splendid was his uniform—(laughter)—he was to guide
us, and see that everything was done es la Aunt. We
started in two carriages and six on the 2d of Aug. for Nishni,
situated on the Volga, and just had one week to do every-
thing in. We went from Moscosi without provisions,
thinking we should find plenty on the road. We could•
not speak one word to the man who took us in charge,
and of course had to leave ourselves entirely in his hands.
He took us at w tremendous pace. We travelled on a road
as smooth as Hyde-park frogi Moscow to Nishni, 400
miles, in 28 hours-15, 16, and iT miles per hour fre-
quently. We were in the second carriage, and I once
made signs to, our richly-dressed director that we were not
going fast enough, and that the first carriage was outstrip-
ping us. He immediately rose from his seat, dragged the-
man from the box, and cast him to the ground, nearly
killing him. (Laughter.) I took care not to complain
again. There was no postilion ready for one of the six
horses when we stopped at one post house, but the director
in gold insisted that we must have six horses and six
riders, and to supply, the vacancy rushed into the crowd
which had collected, seized the first person, put him upon
the horse, and started off again. The man had no stock-
ings or shoes on, but that did not matter; he soon got into
a dreadful state from riding, and dropped off the animal.
The horses frequently became tired, and when they fell
down exhausted were left by the roadside. The postboys
suffered the same treatment when they became unable
to perform their duties. (Laughter.) Ido not think I
ever enjoyed travelling so in my life. (Laughter.) We
slipped quantities of money into their hands, and they were
well contented with us. When we arrived at Nishni,
which, under ordinary circumstances, numbers 30,000 inh-
abitants, but at the fair times contains 400,000 and 500,000,
we could not for some time get lodgings ; and I assure you
that, after travelling at that tremendous pace for 28 hours
in carriages without springs, and without tasting food, we
were thoroughly worn out. Eventually we all got into a
room ; we were compelled to rough it, and shook down in
an inn we found there. (Laughter.) Our arrival caused
a great sensation, for they had never perhaps seen an
English face before. The following night sone of oar
party went to the theatre. The Governor was there,
and, seeing strangers, inquired who we were, and as soon
as he ascertained he treated us with the greatest pos-
sible hospitality. During the whole time I was in Rus-
sia I, never saw such a brick as the Governor was.
(Laughter.) While quietly walking over an immense

bridge at Nishni, smoking a cigar, I was seized by a
Cossack, who nearly wrung my neck off, and who, holding
his great weapon over my head, took me prisoner along
the streets. (Laughter.) I could not speak a word to the
fierce soldier, and was in, something like the same position
as the Englishman in France, of whom Hood or Matthews
sung :

" Never go to France, unless you know the lingo,
Or else you will, like me, repent of it, by jingo—
Staring like a fool, silent as a mummy,
There I stood, looking 'nation like a dummy."
Bursts of merriment.) We had nothing to sleep bn, hub
had plenty to drink. I never saw a man with such a capa-
city for drinking as this brick of a Governor—(laughter)—
and no matter how much champagne he drank, I did not
notice that he ever appeared affected by it. (Laughter.)
He gave us a fete on the Volgai and we had an excellent
opportunity of seeing the scenery of this fine river, which
flows into the Caspian Sea. What delighted us most was
going into the fair. We saw there Kalmucks and lovely
Circassians, the latter being particularly engaging, and I
was nearly engaged twice by some of them. (Laughter.)
Nishni is the tea emporium of Europe. We saw thousands
of pounds of tea brought there. I brought several cases
home with me, and paid 345. per pound for them upon the
spot. I also saw the people from Bokhara with their pre-
cious stones, and purchased from them some torquoises,
which I feel sure would realise in this country all that
Gen. ScuroehokciErob bed mire ors falr rtgbter.) I am always
anxious to recover, and' never like "to be done." (Renewed
mirth.) "After alluding to a purchase or caviare? which cost
100/. per pound before it reached Moscow, and *as nasty
even then, and mentioning the various races, and the arti-
cles they ffered for sale at the grand fair, Sir Robert ob-
served—" I saw among the trowded and varied people men
from Manchester and Birmingham, a Staffordshire yeoman
and a Scotch lassie, and as I gazed upon them I felt proud
of my country. ((",beers.). We hurried back because we
knew that on the 24th the Emperor was to enter Moscow,
and after a rapid drive of 28 hours arrived in the Imperial
city at 5 o'clock in the morning. Shortly after that hour
the Emperor and Empress arrived at Moscow in grand
state—nothing could exceed the magnificence of the Em-
press's carriage. The Emperor Alexandria is a fine-look-
ing man, his appearance and the expression
of his physiog-
nomy being mild—in fact, nothing desperate-looking about
him. The homage he receives from his subjects is God-
like, and such as could scarcely be conceived in a free coun-
try. At the unearthly hour of 6 o'clock in the evening I
had to dress in uniform to commence a series of presenta-
tionsT which lasted every mortal hour of the whole week.
The fatigue we underwent in this duty was enormous; in-
deed, so gi eat was it that our uniforms hung about us, and
we all lost that reputable rotundity
which so peculiarly
characterises Englishmen. We were presented at the co-
ronation by Count Morny, the French Ambassador, a spick
and span man of considerable aplonib, and who, by the
way, is one of the greatest speculators in the world. Re
got
speculates in everything, and bought a lot of pictures to
sell again and make a profit of. Next to Count Morny
stood the representative of a country which deserves
lrthe sympathies of all civilised people, Sardinia—(cheers)—
General Dabormida. Then came the Ambassador of the
smallest kingdom in Europe, Belgium, the Prince de Ligne,
the very picture of swelling
insignificance,
deed, that he could not for the life so
look swelling,
ofhim
clowne lin i
the contemplation of his own importance. Then there was
that fine specimen of a elan, Prince Esterhazy, the repre-
sentative of Austria. Then the representative of Naples,
of whom, in charity, I will say nothing. Then the Turkish
representative, a clever Turk. Of course he was not ad-
mitted into the church. At the same time you could not
look at him without feeling that he was the representative
of an effete and worn-out nation. It was impossible for
Turkey to long resist the aggression of Russia without as-
sistance. Then came the Papal representative, and, finally,
that of this country, Lord Granville, then whom no one
could more thoroughly represent a true Englishman, He
was the representative of the most powerful nation in the
world, yet plainly dressed. When I saw him standing
amid the decorated group around him I was reminded of
the lines of Burns—
" A king can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, and a' that;
But an honest man's aboon his might—
Guid faith he manna fa' that !"
(Loud cheers.) Then, casting the eye across the cathedral,
you saw the distinguished generals of the Russian army—
Todtleben, Gortschakoff, and others—and, just beside the
Emperor, Count Orloff. I believe he was in the palace
when Paul was assassinated, and has been the favourite of
three great Emperors. He possesses quality of heart and
hospitality for which I am much indebted. As the Empress
entered she fell flat on the floor, I supposed by accident, It
was, however, to kiss some sacred atone or other; and then
she came in with her hair dishevelled, looking like Norma in
the opera. The ceremony then took place, and Emperor and
Empress were duly crowned. At the moment when the Empe-
ror placed his crown on his head the imperial ermine fell to
his feet, while that of the Empress fell from her head and
broke into pieces. These accidents in Rome would have been
deemed ill omens. In the evening their Majesties went out
to see the illuminations, which lasted three days, and were
most magnificent, so much so as to make one wonder whore
the Russians got their supply of candles. Then there was a
review of 140,000 men, where I figured in the full uniform
of a captain of the Burton Yeomanry, who would be well
pleased to see their commander in the imperial cortege.
There were troops of all the tribes of Russia, Cossacks and
Circassians, and so hostile are some of them that two regi-
ments turned their sham fight into earnest. There was a
grand charge of 40,000 cavalry en Masse towards the spot
I was standing on. Many of the Russian soldiers had hel-
mets with bullet marks; but I suspect they must have been
of their own making, ortheir heads would not have escaped
at the same time. The next grand spectacle was an enor-
mous dinner. There is an account of an enormous feast
somewhere in the Bible, which I looked for and couldn't
find, and whichmust have been very likethe one I beheld at
Moscow. Unfortunately the officer who had the management
of the feast thought the people would not behave themselves
without a rehearsal, the result of which was that it was all
demolished prematurely. Of course he was tried by a
drum-head court-martial, and if he did not lose his head
was, at all events, (a isgraced. Then we had a grand chasm,
In his chasse at least 800 horsemen were present, besides
about 20 men blowing enormous horns, and some 20 dogs.
They started hares, and they started foxes, and they
started wolves ; but all the 800 horsemen, with the dogs
and the trumpeters, could never manage to run down
one of them. In fact, they no mare understand the chase
than you understand what serfs are. Lastly, they had
eagle hunting, in which a Khirgish carried an eagle on
his fist, and then having started a fox, the eagle flew
after him, but always missed him ; the chase never
extended over more than 20 yards of ground." The hon.
baronet next spoke of the immense size of the great bell in
the courtyard of the Kremlin, 21 feet high, 22 feet in cir-
cumference, and weighing 150,0001 b., while our Groat Tom
of Lincoln only weighed 10,0001 b., and the greatest bell in
Franco 36,0001 b. The Russian bell had never been raised.
and when he asked a man why it had not been elevated
he said it was too heavy, and when an attempt was made
it broke the scaffolding and fell 100 yards into the ground,
but with respect to this latter point," added Sir Robert,
" my informant must have been mistaken." (Laughter.)
The hon. baronet next alluded to the battle of Borodino,
when Napoleon's army of 120,000 men defeated a Russian
army of a like number, under Kutusoff, leaving 80,000
men dead on the field, and in vigorous language described
his feelings as he gazed from Moscow upon the scene of
the great contest. He went to say, looking back to his-
tory, and contemplating the present position of the Run- !

sians, they could not but feel that they were a brave pleple,
who, under a better government and more liberal institu-
tions, might become a mighty and flourishing nation.
" What I wish to impress upon you is," said Sir Robert,
" that you should not throw away your money to improve
. the internal condition of a country which will turn the
benefits you confer to their own advantage. (Cheers.)
I know not whether I have afforded some little enter-
tainment, but if I have J am well pleased, and shall be
glad to devote my little abilities at any time to your ser-
vice. I would close mey observations with this
which cannot fail:to be that of every one who hears me
great as Russia is, when I contemplate the power of my
own country, I would ten thousand times sooner repose in
-the lap of Britannia the humblest' citizen in the land than
own the allegiance or bow the knee to the power that
sways the sceptre in Russia."

Tile hon. b;ronet resumed his seat amid vehement cheer.
ing, and the meeting silortly afterwards sepa.ated.

TICKET OP-LEAVE AND SEOONDA.RT

PUNISIEVP,NTS.

Col. J. Jebb writes to a morning contemporary
as follows :

, Sir, am induced to beg the favour of your allow-
ing me to offer a few explanations concerning the ticket
of-leave men, not with any view of advocating the sys-
tem, but in the hope that it may serve to clear up the
misapprehensions which still exist concerning them, and
show in its real proportion the magnitude of the evil
which the country is enduring.
It might seem superfluous again to explain who ticket-
of-leave men are, but I think a little preliminary informa-
tion is necessary to clear up doubts and make a fair start.
Up to September, 1853, persons who had committed
certain classes of crimes were sentenced, not to three. 0-1
four years' imprisonment, but to be transported beyond
the seas for terms of seven and ten years.
The colony of Van Diemen's Land, previous to that
time, may be said to be a consenting party to this ar-
rangement, and willing to receive them.
In the three years-1850, 1851, and 1852—an average
of 1,173 men, and about 350 women had been disposed
of from England in that colony.
The colony, however, without much previous notice,
withdrew her consent, and the Government were thus
left in the dilemma of having a number of men under
sentence to be transported, but with no place to which
the majority could possibly be sent.
This was the difficulty they had to deal with.
Referring to former precedent, the sentences would,
as a matter of course, have been changed or commuted
into imprisonment for half the period, with release at
home. Such was the invariable practice with invalids
and others, who could not,, from circumstances, be em-
barked for a colony, and at one period was the general
practice in regard to all male convicts under sentence of
seven years' transportation.
Between the year-, 1843 and 1847 no less than 3,450,
chiefly of the latter class, were released from the hulks
with free pardons.

Instead of closely following this precedent, however,
an act was passed in August, 1853 (16th and 17th Vic.,
c. 99), enabling the Secretary of State to impose an ad-
ditional restriction upon their liberty by granting to
them a revocable pardon or licence instead of a free par-
don. This measure was designed as a protection to the
public, but it unfortunately has also had the effect of
making the men, as a class, distinct from prisoners re-
leased from ordinary gaols, the effect of which has not
been favourable to their obtaining employment, and has
doubtless driven many into crime from sheer necessity.
The periods when the men referred to would become
eligible for release with a licence or ticket of leave were
determined, after much consideration, at three years for
the seven, and four years for the ten years' sentences,
with good conduct, and the men have respectively been
brought forward for release with ticket of leave at those
periods.

I would here beg permission to notice two points in
connection with this apparently early release.
1. It must not be regarded as a measure of benevolence
or any special tenderness towards the convicts, for expe-
rience has sufficiently proved that by the great majority
transportation after 2 and 2i years' confinement, which
were the periods respectively assigned to seven and ten
years' men under the former rule, would have been pre-
ferred to release at home with a ticket of leave after

three and four years' imprisonment, which was the rule
established in its place.

2. The chaplains have had little or nothing to do with
determining the period. It has mainly been exemplary
conduct and a good character for industry that has been
taken i❑to consideration.

It is, however, much to be regretted that it has been,
from circumstances, impossible, with a due regard to
justice and keeping faith with the whole body, to take
into account the difference in their crimes. It was
absolutely necessary to treat them all alike in this re-
spect, and to assume that distinction in their crimes had
been considered and disposed of by the judge in passing
sentence.

On the whole, it may fairly be said that, as a general
rule, each convict released on licence had endured such
'a measure of punishment as would have been awarded
to him if sentence of imprisonment had been originally
passed ; and she restrictions imposed by the licence,
which subject them to be again confined for the whole
period they would otherwise have been at liberty in the
colony, have been so much penal infliction in addition.
Now, as regards the number with which we have to
deal. Thera have been released on licence between
Sept., 1853, and Dec. 15, 1856, a period of about 3i
years, 6,730 male convicts ; the greater part being from
convict prisons in England, the remainder from Bermuda
and Gibraltar.

The following is an extract from the Home-office regis-
ter of the number who have been committed to prison
from the commencement to Dec. 15, 1856, showing how
they were disposed of :

Men and women committed
Ditto acquitted
Ditto oases still undecided

1,021
101

Deduct women

Total number of men convicted
Of these licenses revoked on conviction
of some trifling offence
Number reconvicted and sentenced to
penal servitude
Percentage on the whole number in 3i years 11.3
The crimes of which these ticket•of-leave men have
been convicted, either before magistrates, or at the
assizes, or quarter sessions, are as follq

762

Larceny 285
Uttering base coin .... 14
Against Vagrant Act
Assaults 3
Ditto on police ..
Against game laws
Desertion
Misdemeanour

Picking pockets or at-
tempting
Theft and reputed theft 86
Wilful damage 3

Total minor crimes ... 588
Felony, housebreak-

Offences of a graver char
Murderl 1
Forgery 7
Burglary
Ai son' 2
Robbery with violence 7

ing,
97
inter, viz.:—

Highway robbery
Cutting and wounding 2

The following statement vi
ticket-of-leave men at large i
victed of the criminal classes

77
Total
rill show the proportion of
in comparison with the con-

The summary convictions and sentences passed in
court (luring the period of three years and a quarter, be-
tween Sept., 1853, and Dec. 15, 1856, may be taken in
round numbers as follows :
Summary convictions ... 170,000
Sentenced in court... 65,000

235,000

The total number of ticket-of-leave men would, there-
fore, have been short of 3 per cent., if they bad all re-
lapsed into crime ; and a little store than 3 in 1,000
have appeared among those convicted of crime.
Those who are interested in the fate of men who, during
their imprisonment, bave had opportunity affordel them
of instruction and industrial training, might be disposed
to regret that even this limited portion should relapse ;
but if there be a matter of surprise, it will surely be
found in the fact of the comparatively small number who
have fallen.

The whole body were, as a class, less likely to give up
their criminal courses than those who pass their time in
and out of ordinary prisons ; and yet, if there be not a
greater fallacy in figures than I trust many will be dis-
posed to admit, they have struggled far more successfully
against their difficulties.
As regards the number of ticket-of-leave men released
in different localities, the following is the proportion to
100,000 inhabitants, in the undermentioned counties,
the first three being the highest in the scale, and the last
three the lowest :-
1. Somerset 7O I 7. York
2. Middlesex
3. Berkshire
4. Hereford 45 1 10. Durham l6
5. Lancaster
6. Stafford
A candid consideration of these statements, with a de-
sire to arrive at the truth, will, I think, tend to dimi-
nish the alarm that exists on account of the " ticket-of-
leave men."

So far as they are concerned they are neither formid-
able from their number nor dangerous above their fel•
lows from the nature of their crimes.
But still it is of great importance to consider whether
any, and what, measures can be resorted to which will
lessen the evil of adding, in however small proportion,
to the criminal classes, or, I should rather say, how that
very numerous class can best be diminished.
This is the real question at issue, and it is one to which
you have frequently directed the attention of your readers.
In a leading article which appeared in your impression
of the Ist of Jan. you advert to "a complete revision of
the whole system." This is a task that might well en-
gage the utmost exertions of all who desire to see an im-
pression made on the crime and criminals of the country.
A complete review of our system would embrace-7
1. Measures of prevention which besides questions
of education and the industrial training of pauper and
criminal children, will include a systematic pressure on
the known causes of crime • among others will be found
all that promotes drunkenness and immorality, all the
facilities for the disposal of stolen property, &c.
2, The consideration of the discipline in ordinary pri-
sons with a view to establish a more uniform and strin-
gent, and at the same time a more reformatory system,