The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-12 00:00:00

taken for the Duchess of Orleans at the Hotel Fon-
taine, her Roy 11 HiAhness sighted tLfliierlS%
The Duke de Nemours and suite stopped at the hotel.
At six in the morning, Queen Amelie went on foot
to pay a visit to her son. M. Dupla, President of the
Nalonal Assembly, waited in the morning upon her
Royal Highness. All the members of the Royal
Family meet at dinner. All seem much affected.
Qicen Amelia especially, though in good health, bears
on her features the marks of deep affliction."

THE PREVENTION OF CRIME.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR GEORGE

GREY, BART., ill. P., &c., &c.
Sir,— I propos addressing to you a few letters
upon the most important subject of the present day,
not merely on account of the fact that you have the
seals of the Home Department, but because the public
recognkse in you the most able colleague of Lord John
Russell in supporting those reforms which long neglect
have rendered necessary.
The subject is "The Prevention of Crime,' and, as
usual, the Government, instead of being in the van,
are far behind the people ; for, it seems either to be
the bad or good fortune of our institutions that re-
forms are never brought forward by those in office
until the public, wearied with the growing evil, re-
solve to extinguish it, if not in the best manner, at
least with celerity, and generally succeed, although
the idleness of the Government in permitting so long
an accumulation increases the difficulty, and renders
the remedy less effective than it would have been if
earlier applied.
The proposal I am about to offer has not, that I am
aware of, ever:before been made; but this fact will not,
I hope and believe, prevent your examining it with
the care which is demanded by the importance of the
subject. To minds less vigorous than yours its ex-
treme simplicity will be a great objection. Can any
good come out of Nazireth? is a question daily put
by those who cannot believe that much benefit can
arise from simple measures, or surely, they say, it
would have been discovered before—vanity and igno-
rance uniting in a happy combination.
The remedy I propose will be found in accordance
with the spirit of the age, which abhors severity of
punishment—nay, it would remove the greatest ob-
jection which I entertain, in common with many
others, against the abolition of the punishment of
death; assuredly it would tend to diminish those
heavy crimes which lead to the infliction of that
punishment.
If I succeed in establishing beyond the possibility
of doubt, to minds capable of grappling with the
question, that the following results must follow the
adoption of my plan, I might conclude my labour
and leave you to adopt the best mode of working it
into successful operation ; but I will go farther, and
show you that I have considered the subject in all its
bearings by proposing the means by which it could
be easily and safely carried out, and, although I con
cider the point of very minor consideration, at a much
less cost than the present system.
The results which I believe must follow from the
adoption of my proposal are—
let. It will secure to the criminal that which
should be the end of all punishment, the best possible
means of reforming his conduct, and becoming an
honest man. _

21 It will be, beyond doubt, most effectual in
preventing the increase of crime.
Keeping these propositions steadfastly in view,
without reference to other benefits which will cer-
tainly flaw from its adoption, my plan is, that
every person should upon his second conviction of any
crime be transported for life.
Do not for an instant suppose that my proposal carries
along with it anything so absurd as to visit with the
same punishment crimes of different degrees, or com-
mitted under circumstances of almost opposite cha-
racter. No ; but I would inflict the proper extent of
punishment in the colony instead of in this country,
according to the character of the crime fur which the
party was transported.
By adopting this plan, you inflict on the prisoner
no more punishment than that to which he was sen-
tenced; by pursuing the present plan, after he has
suffered the punishment imposed by the law, you in-
flict upon him one infinitely greater, and the more
cruel, because just in proportion to the man's sincere
desire of reformation, so is your second punishment
more heavy, more difficult to be borne.
This is clear to all who have reflected upon the
subject, but it is so important in reference to the
remedy I propose, that I trust you will excuse me if
I occupy your time by the statement of a case which
must appear to yourself and others a work of supere-
rogation, as it is of daily, nay, I am justified in saying,
of hourly occurrence.
A man is convicted of a theft, and sentenced to im-
prisonment; the time has passed away, his prison-
doors are open, and again he is a free man : say also
that he is sincerely convinced, if not of the wicked-
ness, at least of the folly of crime, and is resolved
never again to commit it. Destitute of resources, be
applies for employment, and the answer he receives
is, Show me your character.
If he speaks the truth the answer either harshly or
kindly given is, I cannot employ you ; if he begins his
task of reformation by a cunningly devised lie, and
succeeds in obtaining employment and bread, how
wretchedly does he live for fear of being detected and
ignominiously discharged.
I will not at present pursue the subject, and follow
the criminal, destitute of food, unable to obtain em-
ployment, again resorting to his old haunts and vicious
companions, again and again convicted of crime, and
sentenced, and, punished, and again pursuing the
same course, with a mind more and more hardened
as he progresses in crime until at last he commits a
fearful murder for which he suffers death upon the
gallows.
Sir George Grey—That man was made a murderer
by the Government of his country.
Adopt the proposal I have offered, and trace the
probable conduct and fate of the very same individual,
having committed the same crime. He is transported
—the time during which he would have suffered im-
prisonment in this country—he is bound to work
either for the Government or for a settler without
wages. This is his probationary period ; if he conducts
himself well, at the expiration of his term of punish-
ment his services are eagerly sought for in a colony,
the chief want of which is labour.
Every day he becomes more and more confirmed in
his new life, and sees more clearly the folly of crime,
to say nothing of the all-important fact, that even if
he wished, he has not that opportunity of committing
it, which is hourly presented to his view in this
country. The pickpocket, the thief, and the burglar,
still resolve-1 to follow a vicious course, would in
vain seek for a subject, and if one did present itself,
would find great difficulty in using or disposing of
the spoil.
To sum up the whole in a truthful sentence, the
present plan throws every difficulty in the way of a
criminal desirous of abandoning his former practices
and to become a virtuous member of society, and at
the same time affords every facility to the criminal
resolved to continue in his vicious course. The adop-
tion of my proposal would reverse .this infamous
system, would give every facility to the former, and
throw much difficulty in the path of the latter.
I have the honour to remain, Sir,

Your most obedient and faithful servant,

Corwar, Oot. 9.

RIGBY IVAON.

OPENING OF THE NEW POST-OFFICE.—OUF post-
office staff have at length taken possession of the new post-
office in the Market-place, built expressly by his Grace the
Duke of Norfolk for the purpose of a post-office. The edifice
does not form so ornamental a feature in the architecture of
the town as we bad hoped to see occupying so important and
conspicuous a situation. A great improvement, it strikes us,
would be effected by the addition of lateral wings, an addi
tion which possibly will be made at some future time. The
old premises were finally vacated on Sunday night, and the
transfer was effected so judiciously as to occasion no incon-
venience whatever to any of the numerous parties and
interests with which so important a public institution
is identified. The ample space afforded by the new office,
which is replete with appointments and conveniences which
were not to be found in the former office, places it far in ad-
vance of the many buildings successively used for the same
purpose, while in point of situation it ranks second to none
of them. The new Post-office occupies the whole of the
space between the two arched avenues at the west end of the
Shambles. The external arrangements are as follows :—.The
three boxes for the postage of letters, late letters, and news-
papers are placed at the south end of the building, in the
archway next to the Fruit Market. In the archway next to
King-street is the private entrance. There is also a passage
at the front of the building, at the left extremity, withia
which the money order department will be conducted. The
passage is to be fitted up with benches for the convenience
of parties waiting to transact business. The window imme-
diately to the right of this passage is for private bags and
for the sale of postage stamps ; the, centre window is for the
general delivery and for the receipt of paid letters; and the
window to the right is for the posting of letters when the
boxes are closed for the dispatch of mails while the letters
brought in by the mails are being sorted.— Sheffield Times.
CHARGE OF POISONING AGAINST A SOLDIER.—OH
Monday week William Dowling, a private in the Sth Bur-
sars, a detachment of which regiment is stationed in the Dor-
chester Barracks, was brought bef re the borough magistrates,
charged with attempting to poison Corporal Michael Riley.
It appeared from the evidence that the corporal was in the
habit of putting away overnight a basin of tea for the next
morning, which he kept in a black bottle, on a shelf over
his bed. The prisoner was seen to take the bottle down,
and shake something into it, on the night of the 24th of
September. The same night the corporal had his tea made
and put into the bottle; some of which he shortly after-
wards drank, as did also a private named Lennon; and the
next morning both of them felt violent pains in their sto-
machs and heads. The bottle containing the liquid was
then taken to Mr. Panton, surgeon, of this town, for exami-
nation, and on his tasting it he immediately said there was
sugar of lead in it. The prisoner was remanded for a week
to afford time for the contents of the bottle to be analysed.
He was brought up from the county gaol on Monday last for
further examination, when other evidence was adduced, and
lie was then fully committed t.) take his trial on the charge
at the next assizes. —Sherburne Journa'.

Captain Herbert Wynne was yesterday returned
without opposition, on Protectionist principles, for the county
-of Montgomery. He has forwarded a cheque for one hun-
dred pounds to the chairman of the Protectionist Society
(R. M. Bonnor Maurice, EFq. ), to be applied in aid of tLe
funds thereof.—Nortle Wales- Chronicle.