The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-22 00:00:00

STARVATION AND THE PRISON.

An inquest has been held in the governor's room, Hollo-
way Prison, at which evidence was given illustrating the
extent to which distress prevails in London, and the treat.
meat which is now and then accorded to a certain class of
distressed people. Last week an alderman sitting at the
Mansion House, in three days committed fifty-one persons
—men, women, and children—to the prison at Holloway
for various terms of imprisonment. Most of them were
sent there for from fourteen to twenty-one days. Their
crime was begging in the City streets. Many of the pri-
soners were in a sadly destitute condition, and some of
them were almost naked. Of the fifty-one, thirty-four
were in a state of physical exhaustion from want of food
when they entered the prison. Amongst them was a man
named Michael Lyons, a tailor, out of work, aged 27 years.
He was committed to prison fur twenty-one days, with
hard labour. That was on Saturday afternoon. It will
be difficult to understand what "hard labour" the man
could perform when the statement of the governor of the
gaol is considered. When he entered the prison-gate
Lyons was so thoroughly exhausted, so stupefied by want,
that it was not possible for him to answer the questions
put to him. About an hour after he entered he was sup-
plied with six ounces of dry bread and a pint of gruel. The
doctor might have ordered the prisoner more suitable food,
but unfortunately ho did not see him until Sunday. At
ten o'clock on Sunday morning the prison surgeon went
his "rounds," as his practice is, and saw Lyons amongst
the other prisoners. He looked pallid and thin, and
intellectually dull, but the surgeon still thought him
capable of undergoing twenty-one days' hard labour, and
could not see any necessity for deviating from the usual
diet of gruel and dry bread. When evening came, the
surgeon saw Lyons again, and had so altered his opinion
respecting him that he ordered his removal to the infir-
mary. He died at midnight. Death resulted, according
to the surgeon's statement, from " serous apoplexy, arising
from debility and weakness of the heart." In summing
up the evidence, the coroner took the opportunity to
remark that he thought a workhouse or a hospital was a

fitter place for the fifty-one than the prison. The follow-
ing verdict was returned :—" That the deceased died in
Holloway Prison from serous effusion on the brain from
weakness of the heart and debility ; and the jury desire
to add that they consider it would be advisable that
the governor of the prison should have the power of alter-
ing the diet of prisoners whenever he sees a necessity for
doing so."

THE LAND OF GOLD. —The trowel prepared for
presentation to his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh
on occasion of laying the foundation-stone of a new town
hall at Melbourne is made entirely of gold, both blade
and handle. Where the two join, the trowel is ornamented
with pearls and turquoises ; at the other end, the handle
has on it a duke's coronet, set off with diamonds and
emeralds.—Melbourne Argus.

NEW GOLD SPECULATION. —I find a profound
calculation in one of the French papers. It is proposed to
start a company in Paris to dig for gold in the cemeteries.
What gold ? That which has been used in stopping teeth.
There are buried in Paris every day more than 125 per-
sons. It is reckoned that of these at least ten have
auriferous jaws, and that in these ten there may be an
average of ten auriferous teeth. So the calculation pro-
ceeds, and Paris is threatened with a resurrection com-
pany. —Once 46 Week.

CHURCH CONFERENCE AT ROCHESTER. The
first conference of the Bishop of Rochester with the
clergy and laity of his diocese was held on Tuesday, in
the Chapter-room at Rochester Cathedral, on which occa-
tion an unusually large number of the clergy and laity
were present. The subjects previously arranged for dis-
cussion were-1. Compulsory Education; and 2. Diocesan
Synods. The Bishop of Rochester, in opening the
conference, expressed the gratification he experienced
laityperienceefdhiina
meeting so large a number of the clergy and
diocese on that occasion for the discussion of the
important subjects on which they were assembled
to confer. The first subject, that of " Compulsory
Education," was opened by the Rev. J. Leach, M.A.,
vicar of Gillingham, Chatham, the speakers taking part
in the discussion being the Mayor of Rochester (Mr.
V. Hills), the Ven. Archdeacon Grant, LL.D., 3,1 r.
E. Bernays, C.E., Colonel J. L. A. Simmons, C. 8.,
elntleioraullghy
Royal Engineers, the Rev. J. White,
no resolution was formally a 01)t
expressed by the several speakers were in favour of
some improved system of education, having especial
reference to the compulsory attendance of children,
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especially those at work under a certain age, and that
employers of children should be compelled to see that
such rules were carried out. In •the course of the dis-
cmsion which ensued, it was admitted by all the speakers
that the compulsory school attendance of children not
at work was impracticable, at least for the present, even
if desirable, public opinion not being yet ripe for any
such legislative movement, while sufficient time had not
been given for a full and fair trial of the present system
of education. The speakers, with scarcely an exception
advocated the necessity of stamping any system of national
education with a religious character, a purely secular edu-
cation, it was contended, being the greatest possible evil.
The subject of "Diocesan Synods" was introduced by the.
Rev. J. G. Carey, M.A., rector of Snodland, near
Rochester, who was followed by other speakers. In con-
sequence of the length to which the discussion on educa-
tion was extended, there was comparatively but little time
for the consideration of the question of diocesan synods.
In that which ensued, however, it was generally agreed
by the speakers, both lay and clerical, that some system
was eminently desirable by which clergy and laity might
consult together, with the view of adopting concerted
action for the good of the Church. AI; the close of the
proceedings the Bishop of Rochester expressed his satin.
faction at the part the laity had taken in the discussion.