The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-29 00:00:00

Mina

r,*,-,-

LONDON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1850.

Towards the development of commerce there is ab-
solutely nothing of course more riquidte than the
opening up of new lines of communication. To this
end, therefore, the efforts of persons interested in the
advancement of mercantile enterprise, are, as a mat-
ter of course, perpetually- directed. Formerly this
was the case among all intelligeßtcommunities. Now-
a-days, it is still more generally the custom, in con-
sequence of those marvellous facilities to locomotion
which have been afforded by the invention of the
steam-engine. Aided by railroads and by vessels fitted
out on the new principle, the tradars of the world
have found themselves enabled to accomplish more
in the way of exportation and importation than could
ever have been dreamed of even by an imagination
such as that-of Sir Epieure Mammon, when the Do-

'an galleys were yet gliding over the gulf of Genoa,
when the Doges yet passed in proce►sion through
the streets of Venice to celebrate their nuptials with
the,Adriatic, while enthusiasts yet cherished a belief in
the ruby pebbled rivulets of Cathay, and in the golden
palaces cf El Dorado. Still, notwithstanding all that
has been accomplished in the way of developmentsince
the practical genius of WATT first opened those gi-
gantic paths of intercourse, infinitely greater benefits
in the way of promoting that intercourse remain yet
to be secured, and still more wonderful achievethents
are capable of being compassed and brought to a
state of maturity. With the intention of seizing
those advantages as speedily as possible, engineering
skill has now for some time been directed from the
interior of our own country to adjacent territories,
and through those territories to the most dis-
tant quarters of the habitable globe. Esti-
mates have been made of the cost likely to be
incurred in the prosecution of great public works at
the other extremity' of Africa and on the opposite
shores of the Atlantic. Scientific men have examined
into the practicability of opening ship canals between
the two great oceans in the one direction, and in the
other between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.
According to a beautiful analogy in geographical con-
formation, which has been recently pointed out by an
ingenious writer,* as being observable in the general
aspect of our planet, it is found that " the southern
continents are chiefly peninsular, being joined at one
of their northern angles to an adjacent continent."
An instant's thought;will remind the reader that such
is proved to be the case by the neck of land con-
necting Africa with Asia, and by the similar bond of
union joining with each other the northern and
southern continents of America. Until such times as
these barriers between the seas and oceans shall be so
far cut through as to present navigable channels of
intercommunication, two enormous obstacles
will continue to impede the commerce of the eastern
and western hemispheres. Such being Indisputably
ihe case, nothing should, of course, be disregarded by
the enterprising, whioh can in any meaner tend to the
realization of the desired improvement.
Already we have repeatedly directed the attention
of the public to the project of constructing a ship
canal across the isthmus of Panama. Less
taaquetitly, but also at intervals, we have,

on one or two occasions, commented upon
a similar scheme for the severance, by a like
channel, of the Ist hnius of Suez. Of the enormous
advantages which would forthwith result from the
performance of th( use feats of engineering science, it
would be idle to r.ttempt any explicit enumeration-
The benefits derivable from either are sufficiently
obvious in themsfAves, removing all necessity for the
perilous voyages now necessarily made round the
Cape of Good Hope and the southern shores
of Terra del Fuego. Of the practicability of
either scheme it would be scarcely less super-
fluous to speak in the way of demonstration,
that having been virtually acknowledged long since
by those acquaiatted with the resources of modern
science. In testimony of this it is only requisite to
refer to the intention, now for a considerable period
entertained, of carrying both ideas into actual opera-
tion. A number of practical men, not mere enthu-
siast•, but men of practical sagacity, have from time
to time raised the project in reference to Panama.
NAPOLEON dreamed of running a ship-canal through
the sands of Suez. MABOMET Au entertained the same
determination. Since their reigus the notion has not lost
any of its attractiveness ; on the contrary, it is now
none the whit less feasible, and, more than ever, the
object of fascination. Supposing the latter canal once
opened, au immediate and marvellous impulse would
be at once given to the trade between Great Britain
and the Red See, and the Persian Gulf and the east
coast of . Africa. A transit trade of 305,714 tons
per annum each way, at a toll of seven shillings
per ton, would be sufficient to produce the
means essential to the carrying out of the
undertaking, namely, 214,2001. Of this gross re-
venue 64,2001. would be devoted to current ex-
penses and contingencies, leaving 150,0001. as the
dividend upon the necessary capital of 1,500,0001.
taken at 10 per cent. Such are the most rational
calculations yet made as to the project of a canal
between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.
From the Bay of Tineh on the latter to Suez
on the former, the navigation would extend a
distance of eighty-five miles in length, with
a current running through the cut at the rate of from
two to three miles an hour, and always from the Red
Sea to the Mediterranean. By means alternately of
sailing vessels, steam-tugs, and screw-propellers this
line of communication might always be rendered
available in either direction. Having recalled this
matter once more to general recollection, we would
again, mpress upon all men of engineering science
and mercantile enterprise the importance to British
commerce of such canals across Suez and Panama.

* Mr. George Smith Brent, F.R.G.S.L., in the first
section of his "Notes on a Map of the World. Facci-
culus I. On The Configuration of Continents." Bvo.,
pp. 16. Brettell, London: 1850.

What is the object of penal laws ? Is it that
society wishes to avenge itself on an offender, or that
1t is desirable to prevent the repetition of similar prac-
tices ? If Sir SAMUEL Rosmax was right in
stating that it was " the protection and security of
the innocent, alai that the punishment of the guilty
is resorted to only as the means of attaining that
end," there can be but little doubt as to the answer
that must be returned to that interrogatory. That
" prevention is better than punishment " has long been
received as a self-evident proposition. It may, how-
ever, be carried even to this extent—that, except
for the purpose of prevention, punishment cannot
'possibly be justified. The entire spirit of the
Christian religion is opposed to the desire for revenge.
Its most sublime precepts are founded in the forgive-
ness of injuries. " Vengeance is mine, saitb the LORD,
I will repay." And although the feeling is deeply
implanted in 'the human heart, it is at least but a
portion of our fallen nature that should be discouraged
as far as practicable.
We feel justified then in asserting that the "sole
object of punishment is to deter from a repetition of
the crime." Whenever it fails to attain that end,
remedies of a different character must be applied.
It does not follow that those remedies should be
more stringent than those formerly in operation.
Experience has proved that the extreme penalty of death
did not prevent the commission of larcenies and other
comparatively minor offences, for which the perpetra-
tors forfeited their lives in "the good old times." All
right-minded, persons were horrified at the constant
repetition of the revolting spectacles of human beings
in the full rigour and strength of their existence being
strangled on the gallows. The penal laws have been
materially altered during the last quarter of a century.
They no longer emulate the Draconic code, which
might be said to be written in letters of blood, con-
demning every offender to be cut off from among the
people, and yet crime has not increased! Since
the tenour of the punishment has been abated
new measures of precaution have been adopted.
Persons 'do not rely for the protection
of their property merely on " fear ;" . they are
obliged to guard it with greater vigilance, so that
the chances of success are diminished, while those of
"detection," and if so, of " punishment," are greatly
increased. Numbers of criminals having been suf-
fered to escape altogether in the oldeit time, rather
than be exposed to such disproportionate punishment,
as excited the sympathies of the people in favour of
the offender, rather than of the law he had violated.
Tried by this test, then, it cannot be denied that
the practice of summary convictions, and inflicting
corporal punishment on juvenile offenders, has failed
to attain its object. When once a youth has entered
upon a course of " thieving " as a profession he can-
not be retrieved merely by flogging, or imprisonment
with hard labour. Something more must be at-
tempted If any effort is to be made for his redemp-
tion; he must be separated from his evil companions
and in structed in the mode of earning an honest
livelihood by his own industry. Under the present
system an unfortunate child,without friends orrelatives
to shelter or protect him, is detected in some
paltry theft, brought before the magistrates,
summarily convicted, and sentenced to a few
days' imprisonment, and to be " well whipped." He
is discharged ; bat nothing is done to divert his infant
mind into a better direction. He has no means orob-
taining the common necessaries of life ; no one will
employ him with a blasted character, and he must
" thieve" in order to gain his livelihood. Again and
again the same thing occurs. He becomes familiar
with every House of Correction, and indifferent to the
lash. He is unquestionably tortured a great deal,
but he preys upon society, and costs far more, to
use no higher argument, than would have done to
direct him into the paths of industry, if adequate
measures were taken for that purpose when" his
destitute condition first became known to the autho-
rities. At length he is convicted, after numerous
trials, of some offence that justifies a sentence of
transportation, and then, but not till then, he is sent
to Parkhurst, and steps are .taken to reclaim him,
who by that time has become a hardened and expe-
rienced tbie f.
A strong illustration was afforded of such a case
at Hicks's Hall, on Tuesday. Two boys were convicted
of picking pockets in St. James's Park, on the 15th
instant, during the prorogation of Parliament. The
following history was given of one of them, aged
fourteen years :

"Lockyer, one of the officers of the Westminster
House of Correction, replied that he could give the
Court the history of the boy Durkin, which, he added,
was rather an eventful one. It was as fulluws:—On the
19th of May, 1848, he was committed for two days, and
was well whipped. On the 3d of June following he was
committed for four days, and was well whipped. On the
221 of the same month he was again committed for two
days, and was well whipped. On the 3d of July suc-
ceeding he was committed for 14 days, and was whipped.
On the 9th of March, 1849, he was committed for three
months, and was again whipped. On the 10th of Novem-
ber, in the same year, he was committed for ten days.
On the 29th of that month he was committed for one
month; on the 6th of April, 1850, he was once more
committed for one month, and was well whipped. Ou the
1 I th of May, having
been out of prison but five days, he
was committed tor two months, which term of t
cncEt expired on the 11th of July, arid, having come cut
frcm his confinement, on that very day he was again
convicted of picking pockets, when he was fur the tenth
time sentenced to imprisonment for the period of one
month, and to be sell whipped. From that imprison-
ment the boy was released on the 11th of the present
month, and four days afterwards, namely, on the 15th,
he was apprehended upon the present charge."
What chance, we ask, was there for that wretched
lad during any portion of that time ? What advan-
tage was derived from the various summary convic-
tions—the repeated floggings to which he was sen-
tenced ? Would it not have been far better if he had,
on the 19th of May, 1848, been brought before a
jury and then sent to Parkhurst? We believe no
person who reads the above melancholy narrative
will differ from that opinion, and will anti conga

with us in saying that " prevention is better than
punishment."

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
They all contain long extracts from the English
journals, narrating the death of Louis PHILIPS'S.
The Republique says, "He carries into the tomb with
him the crowned forehead of the last King of the
French ;" while the Journal des Debats thus com-
ments on the death of that monarch of whose rule
and policy it was certainly the most talented, and, we
believe, the most honest supporter. The Debais
says :
" Melancholy news, too surely foreseen for some time
past, was yesterday received in Paris, where it produced
a general and painful impression. King Louis Philippe
died on Monday, at Claremont, in the 77th year of his
age. We have a right to here express, without any
reserve, the bitter regret and deep 'affiiction which the
death f this lap King of Constitutional France caut,es
us. We have always honoured, supported, and served
him. His cause, which was that of representative mo-
narchy, was our own; we honoured his person—we de-
fended his policy. But we do not know whether there
exists in France and in Europe an honest party, an
avowable opinion, a man of fealiog who does not, with
us, feel regret at this sad end of a Prince who,
after having scoured to his country the most
calm and the most prosperous eighteen years of its
history, went to die in a foreign land, !Afore his time,
it may be said, for his old age was still green and
vigorous; but neither the vigour of his health nor the
strong spirit of his mind were sufficient to bear up
against the ingratitude of his country. Not only has
the life of King Louis Philippe terminated in exile—it
has been shortened by exile. If his heart had been less
French, the King who saved France in 1830, and whom
France abandoned in 1848—he whom the great alarm
of French society had raised as a buckler in July, and
whom a caprice of the country overthrew eighteen years
afterwards—this King, if he had not been an honest
man, public misfortune would have well avenged after
February. Had he been less of a patriot than he was,
he would have triumphed at the ruin, the humiliations,
the disasters, and the disgraces of all kinds, which vio-
lently succeeded his peaceful and honoured reign ! He
would have triumphed at these sanguinary struggles to
which factions, unchained by the fall of his Throne, gave
themselves up over its ruins. But at all these misfor-
tunes, which were like a demonstration, which Provi-
dence, justly severe, wished to give of the wisdom of his
policy, the King only felt the most bitter affliction. The
striking justification which the catastrophe of February
gave him, supported his conscience; it desolated his heart
and shortened his lite. It is this which makes us think
that we shall not be alone in regretting and deploring
the death of the King. His cause was, before his fall,
that of constitutional monarchy; it became after Febru-
ary that of society itself."
The Assemblie Nationale says—" We have been
informed that the body of Louis PutiarrE will not
be transported to Dreux. The Princes of the Orleans
family have refused to entrust to any one the duties
which the loss of the head of their family imposes on
them."

The PRESIDENT of the Republic left Meta on the
morning of the 27th ; he was to visit Verdun, sleep at
Chalons-sur-Marne, proceed to Rheims on Wed-
nesday, and return to the Elysee on Thursday
evening.
_ _

Thelifoniteur publishes a circular from the Minis-
ter of the Interior to the Prefects of the Departments
with respect to the business to which the attention of
the Councils-General ought to be directed. He strongly
recommends economy of the departmental funds, and
gives some advice with respect to local taxation. He
makes no allujion to the questio vexata of the revision
of the Constitution, unless the following general re-
commendation with which he closed his circular
should be considered as including it :—" In closing, I
request you once more, Monsieur le Prefect, to second
the views of the Government by the most serious and
the most severe examination of all the projects which
in any degree whatsoever can affect the fortune of the
department."
The Bulletin de Paris contains a notice of the
Nepaulese Ambassador, from which we extract as
follows :

" The Ambassador is accompanied by his two
brothers, and has a suite of 20 persons. He is only JJ
26 years of age, but he is already a distinguished gene-
ral, aed is considered ono of the most intelligent men of
his country. He appreciates the diplomatic attentions
that he has received here, but expresses an earnest de-
sire to see the President of the Republic before his de-
parture, which is at present fixed for the 29th instant.
In his own language he said, When will the Sove-
reign President return ? nd his interpreter replied
that it would be possible for him to be presented to the
President before his departure. He then said, It is
well, for my nation and myself have a great venera-
tion for the name of the Emperor, whose courage and
exploits we admire.' General Changarnier and his
suite have paid him a visit, as also the Mi-
nister for Foreign Affairs, and he was much flattered
at this mark of attention by the Government.
The Turkish Ambassador had previously called
upon him. It is difficult, however, to make the Ambas-
sador comprehend that France i■ a Republic, and cannot
offer him the same splendid fetes as Queen Victoria
when he was in London. 'tie Ambassador and his
suite have expressed a wish to conform as much as pos-
sible in Europe to the religious usages of India, which
require that the Princes should themselves immolate the
animals destined for their food, but they have experi-
enced great obstacles. It has been erroneously stated
in the journals that the animals are slaughtered daily in
the yard of the Hovel Sinet. It is true that the Prefect
of Police has given permission for this to be dune, but
neither Paris nor the banlieue have furnished the kind
of animals fit fur immolation according to the prescrip-
tions of the Indian religion. The Amoassag.lor asked for
a fat male deer, of from one to three years old, but could
not obtain it. Several females were brought, but these
would not do. As yet neither he nor his suite have
killed any animal. Their mode of living is very sin-
gular. There must be as many rooms as there are per-
sons, for each must eat alone. As yet their only animal
food in Paris has been a little game. Their principal
food is fish and vegetables. On the return of the Presi-
dent of the Republic, he will offer a grand fête to the
Ambassador, if he can postpone his departure."
A letter from Cherbourg of the 25th says :
" The 24 division of the squadron has not yet arrived.
The maritime authorities are so astonished that they in-
tend sending out to seek it. The Magellan steamer,
which put into port on the 18th for repairs, went out on
the 22d. The following is the list of the vessels here at
present:—ln the roadstead: 6 ships of the line, the
Friedland, the Hercule, the Jemmappes, the Henry IV.,
the Inflexible, and the leia; 1 sailing-frigate, the
Minerve ; 3 steam-frigates, the Descartes, the Magellan,
and the Caffarelli; 2 transport-corvettes, the Licoree
and the Bucephale; 2 steam-corvettes, the Caton and
the Chaptal; and 2 advice boats, the Pt 6nix and the
Ariel; in all 16 vessels. In commission de port 1 sailing-
frigate, the Porte, of 60 guns; 1 steam-frigate, of 20 guns
and 450-horse power, the Canada; 3 corvettes, the
Colbert of 8 guns and 320-horse power, the Patriote,
of 8 guns and 220-horse power, and the Newton, of
26 guns and 220-horse power; the Passe-Partout, ad•
vice-boat of 120-horse power, and the Colibri, of 80-
horse power. Under repairs: The Artemise, sailing
corvette of 30 guns, and the Infernal steam corvette, of
400-horse power and 12 guns. Disarmed: The Rossig-
nol, advice-boat of 10 guns, and the Parisien, of 8.
This makes 22 vessels, and with the others, 38 in, all.
All the lodgings are engaged. There is not a room to
be had at the hotels or in private houses, and, in the
evening the jetty is literally encumbered with promo.
naders. All persons, whether foreigners or not, who
go on board the vessels, are received with the greatest
politeness."
PARIS -BOURSE, AUG. 28.—Latest Prices.—Five
per Cents: 971. ; Three per Cents. 58f. 35c. ; Bank
Actions, 2,322 f. 50c.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK-EXCHANCE, Aug. 2E3.

Central of France (Orleans and Vierzon), 14—Dutzh
Rhenish, 234—East Indian, 7914—Great Indian Penisula, 1%
—Northern of France, 14%—Orleans and Borkieaux, 2%
—Paris and Roues, 231,14.