The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-23 00:00:00

thing being done, he steps forward with an an

" What is to

swer to the oft-repeated question,
be done with our criminals ?" That answer is in
brief—make them work—work for their living,
their correction, their reformation, and for the
means of obtaining a fresh start in life. Rogues
ought not to burden honest men with their keep,
nor prison chaplains have scope for the indulgence
of maudlin sentiment at the expense of society.

There is a great deal of wisdom in this. Little
doubt can exist that the present system of forcing
virtue in prison does not fit the tender plant for
the cold climate out of doors, and none that it is
frightfully expensive in the working. Our gaol-
birds are a groat burden, confessedly, on the na-
tional industry ; and the burden has annually
been growing heavier. In such a downward
march it is well to pause and listen to those who
point out a more excellent way. Some of our
prison philanthropists have fallen into the most
palpable absurdities. This is certain. Who can re-
frain from a smile, while glancing over the engraved
illustrations of " The Prison Palace at Reading,"
paraded with such grim humour by Mr. PEAR-
soN in his newly issued pamphlet, or deny the
force of his sarcastic comments? "The Prison
Palace !" "The Building is in the TUDOR or
castellated Gothic style . . . . With the
castellated it combines a collegiate appearance."
It is true, and the exquisite absurdity of it must
strike the most obtuse. There stands the build-
ing to speak for itself—a Prison Palace ! Mean-
while the workhouse is thrown completely into
the shade, and honest poverty pines for comforts
the burglar has offered him day by day.
We have great faith in the corrective virtues of
labour, and are by no means indisposed towards
the system Mr. PEARSON would have put in force.
So far we can go with him, but when we come to
grave offenders a difficulty at once presents itself.
The country, according to Mr. PEARSON'S plan,
would have to incur the risk of their not having
been reformed, on the completion of their term
and their liberation from prison. The enfran-
chised gaolbird might have earned by his labour
the means to transport himself to a country where
his past career would be unknown. So far as he
is concerned he would have nothing to com-
plain of. But with money in hand would
he go I We are afraid not ; and Mr. PEAR-
SON does not contemplate his departure being
compulsory to however questionable a class he
may belong. This may well be deemed a blot
or a defect in the City Solicitor's scheme, and to
its correction it would not be amiss to address
himself.

LABOUR .FOR THE UNEMPLOYED OP

LONDON.

The suggestion of works of sanitary improve-
ment as a source of public employment for the
unemployed artisans of the metropolis might, to
those accustomed to the routine of common local
administration, appear to be passing strange, and,
without doubt, public work of such high utility
prepared—with the additional utility of serving
as a relief at a period of distress—is very unusual ;
but we deem it right to state that we have good
authority for the recommendation. We commend
to the attention of the union and parochial autho-
rities the following dicta of the Poor Law Com-
missioners of Inquiry, in their Report of 1834.
Speaking of the relief of destitute able-bodied
labourers, they state--

- " Employment of some kind can, indeed, be always
provided, but it appears to us that it ought to be useful
employment. Parish officers, whilst they have had suffi-
cient labour of this description before their doors, in their
unwillingness or their inability to take upon themselves
the trouble of superintendence, or to make any imme-
diate pecuniary sacrifice for the purpose of enforcing the
performance of that labour, have resorted to the expe.
dient of sending paupers on fictitious errands, witk bas-
kets full of stones, or blank paper directed as letters,
and other devices of the same nature, obviously intended
to torment them. Such contrivances are pernicious
in the revengeful feelings which they generate in
the minds of the paupers themselves, and they are
also pernicious in exciting sympathy in behalf of the
indolent and vicious, and in the obstacles which they
create to the use of legitimate labour and salutary
discipline. We believe that they ought to be care•
folly prevented. The association of the utility of labour
to both parties, the employer as well as the employed, is
one which we consider it most important to preserve and
strengthen ; and we deem everything mischievous
which unnecessarily gives to it a repulsive aspect. At
the same time we believe that in extended districts the
requisite sources of employment will be easily found.
The supply of the articles consumed in workhouses and
prisons would afford a large outlet for the manufactures
carried on in the house ; and, with respect to out-door
employment, it is probable that there are few districts
to which such evidence as that contained in the follow.
ing extracts wou'd not be applicable. Mr. William
Wink worth, late overseer of the parish of St. Mary's,
Reading, whilst advocating the necessity of the incor-
poration of the parishes in that town states—
" The town, for example, wants draining. We hal •
brickm:ikers, and carpenters, and other lalourers on the
parish receiving relief ; and the whole town might be
well drained by the labour of these paupers, at the ex-
pense of materials only ; bricks, wood, mortar, and sand.
This, however, is a work which the parishes cannot, or
will not, undertake separately ; it is prevented by petty
jealousies and dissensions, and the want of able officers
to direct the work of the paupers.
As the surveyor of the road from this town to Basing-
stoke, and also of the road from hence to Shilling-
ford, I can state, from my observation of the several
parishes (nineteen in number) through which these roads
pass, that very considerable labour might be found,
under good direction, in improving their private roads."
After reciting other evidence to the same tenour,
the Commissioners conclude with the following
recommendations : _

" We further recommend, therefore, that the Central
Board be empowered to incorporate parishes for the pur•
pose of appointing and 'paying permanent officers, and
for the execution of works of public labour."
The principle of this recommendation was, that
parishes should be united, or the local means
combined, for the appointment of competent super-
intendents of useful public works wbenovef they
were required. General powers for this purpose
were given in the Poor-Law Amendment Act. Tao
metropolitan unions and parishes have at present no
officers of this description, but the Metropolitan
District Lards of Health have, with subordinates.
Thus we find in the local place list for Islington

parish—
" Surveyor of sewers, drains, and buildings, Charles
Higgins, F.R.S.
"Surveyor of roads and footpaths, George Pratt, do.
" Inspectors of nuisances, Joseph War and John Bul
worthy, do."
We copy from the official list, and we cannot
explain whether the *two latter-pained officers are