The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-14 00:00:00

SOCIAL ECONOMY.

Sir U. BRODIN, who has undertaken the preSidency of
the department in the unavoidable absence of Lord
Lyttelton, owing to a domestic a>t cam], was. next in,
troduced to the meeting. In briefly reviewing the re-
forms which it was necessary to undertake in order to
the advancement of the principles of social economy, he
urged the necessity of looking below the surface, and
taking a far more conipreheasive view of these matters
than persons were usually apt to do. For example; in
considering the social evils to which the poorer portions
of the public were more
,particularly liable, it would not
be enough merely to endeavour to prevent chrunkennes,,
but to take into view the whole question of the effect of
,drinking habits,generally ;, they ehoul I then go to the
educational section and ask for information as to the
meant' provided for the intellectual instruction and
amusement of the poor, and thence they should proceed
to the, sanitary section, and aecertaio what measures
were being adopted to secure the healthy and comfort-
able condition of the home of the working man., (Hear.)
The subjects which came within the purview of the
social economy department were of a miscellaneous and
almost ft heterogenous description, but having regard to

that economy of time'which was essential, he lift these
various subjects to be discussed more in detail in the
sectio,n over which he wag about to preside. Touching
upuu the question of public charities, Sir Benjamin
observed that many of these institutions were open te
the serious charge of paralysing that spirit of independ-
ance and self-reliance which was more valuable to a
mean than any amount of charity that could be given
them. As an instance of this he cited the case of a
London parish to which, within Lis, own knowledge,
persons removed for_the express reason that large gams
of money were given away there he, knew

that in other casee the: existence of almshouses at-
tracted to the parish numbers of the idle, dissolute,
and worthless. He remarked, also, .upon the large
amount of money which was expended by many pub!ie
charities in "establishment charges" before any ofit was
distributed to deserving objects ; and in other cases upon
the cost which..poor persons bad to incur before ,they
could avail themselves of the benefits which the charitles
were calculated to confer. 'ln conclusion Sir Benjamin
expressed a hope that the subject of our great public
charities would ere long engage the attention of those
who were competent to deal with them, and to propose
a remedy for the:existing evils.
PIINIRRMENT AND REFORMATION.
,The Recorder of BIRMINGNAM having been called upon
by Lord Brougham to address the meeting as President
of this department, stated that being tnuoh interested in
what he had heard of the manner' in which r'eforniatory
treatment of adult Convicts is being carried on in Irelsed,
he recently repaired thither, where the fullest facilities
were afforded him of examining the goVernment prisons
in which are confined persons senteneed• to transporta-
tion and penal servitude. These prisons, which contain
between two add three thoUsand prisoners, are governed
by a board of directors, appointed by the Lord Lieu-.
tenant. Convicts enter these prisons soon after convic-
tion. Those sentenced to transportation remain until
their sentence has expired, unless earlier liberated 'on a
ticket-of-leave, to which it is eeneidered they are enti-
tled if they behave well. The prisoners sentenced to penal
servitude, on' the other hand-, are not; under the regula-
tions of the Home-office, entitled to any mitigation, of;
their sentence,. hewever.goed may, be their behaviour.
This remark, however, does not apply since the passing
of the act of 'last session (20 and 21. Vic„ c. 3). This
last and most signal improvement_ (.ho., intermediate pri--
sow.) has only been in existence since January,'lBso,yet
it has already proved eminently successful: :The men
work hard and well. They are gradually inured to
freedom by being allowed to do about- the netglibbur-
hood- on errands, and to pr9videuee, by being per•
witted, to spend or. save 61 a week 'oat of the p)rtion
of their earnings which is set aside for themselve?, the
remainder• of which'is put by for -their use niter leaving
the establishment. In practice it is found .that most
of this ad, is saved. The education which was carried
on, in the former prisons is continued rine extended ;
lectures on interesting moral practical subjsete being
given by the schoolmaster, and a sort of competitive
inter-examination being carried on by the men them-
iielves. The Recorder stated, from his ob6ervation, that
the:ailpearanca and manners of these men Was not much
inferior to that of freemen of their clasp. When rowed

in a boat front island to island by them, he felt as safe as
in the hands of Thames watermete (Hear, hear.) At
Lusk, about 20 miles from Dublin, a number of inter-
mediate prisoners are engaged in beginning to erect a
building for a boys' reformatory. These men d well in
a portable iron building, and are, as far as bolts and
bars go, at liberty, yet no desertions take place.. This
concern is self-supporting, and the plan might be ex-
tended with great benefit to our public works generally.
Priioners in this stage have a right to have their cases
investigated for a discharge on a ticket-of-leave, sup-
posing the requisite portion of their period has arrived,
If one is considered to hive sufficient serlf-eontiol to be
trusted at laige, a situation with an eligible master is
sought for him, and when it is found a ticket-of-leave is
granted to him. A prisoner is never liberated until
employment is provided. .A supervision is still kept up
over him ; he has to report himself to the police, of his
district monthly, and a sort of correspondence is kept
up with him by the schoolmaster of the institution. On
a relea-ed prisouer being found without visible means of
subsistent e associating with bad Characters, or other-
wise appearing to be relapsing into his former habits,
the eioket-of-leave is withdrawn, and he is remitted to
_prison to recommence the course of reformation. This
has been done in several instances. So far for the men.
There is as yet no reformatory for the boys ; but they
are well taught in the prisons by Mr. MI-I...mien and
Mr. Dwyer, on a plan much like that Of the men.
The female convicts prisons are :enutatis mutandis eon-
ducted like the male ones. When ripe for the inter-
mediate 'stage, the Roman Catholic women are sent
to the Reformatory at Golden Bridge, new Dublin,
conducted bee the Sisters of Mercy. Here they are
employed in housework, in laundry work (the
washing for many establishments in Dublin being done),
and in cultivating a kitchen garden. The ladies, Some
of whom, as also the female governors of the prisons, are
of high and even noble rank, exercise a most potent and
salutary influence over their charges. The women, when
thoright sufficiently advanced to be released,, are sent to
service, places being foUnd for them. They usually
evince great desire to go to service • and when there are
found to keep their places wall. due poor woman even
submitted to grossly cruel treatment from her employers,
and refused to return when kindly invited by the nuns,
because she was determined to have it in her power to
say that she had Stayed twelve months in her place. A
supervision is kept over the released women, even' more
perfect than it has been found practicable to maintain
with the men. The inmates of Gel len Bridge are not
in confinement, but the license in,the ticket-of-leave is
confined to that establishment. A breach of the condi-
tion would be followed by a re-eo:nreittal to gaol. There
are now about fifty women in Golden Bridge, who are
managed by two of the ladies. The resoles of the
system above described are as follows :—First, the
health of the prisoners is greatly improved and their
mortality diminished (varying from 8 to 2 per cent, per
annum). Secondly, the queeitity of work performed by
the prisoners is increased to -about threefold. Thirdly,
the moral chiracter of the prisoners bee much.improyed ;
indeed, the improvement in their health can only be
attributed to this source ; the buildings remain as
before ; the number of punishments has_ much dimi-
nished. Fourthly, the demand by employers for the
services of discharged prisoners now exceeds the supply.
(Cheers.) The Recorder concluded by expressing his
belief that the vast majority of all who enter the prisons
as criminals can be sent back into the world, alter Ito
unreasonable term of probation, honest men and useful
citizens. Let the small minority remain, and if. death
arrive before reformation, let them remain for life.
(Loud cheers.)
In consequence of the late hour at which the delivery
of the president's speech concluded, little progress has
been made with the papers of the varions departments.
They will be proceeded with on Wednesday morning.
There is a soiree at the Town-hall, and Lord
Brougham's inaugural address at the Midland Institute
this evening.

CAPTAIN TUDOR, R.N.—We (says the John o'Groat
Journal) understand that Captain Mier, R.N., agent
for the British Fisheries Society, at Pulteneytown, ha-
received a communication from the Secretary to the
Board of Trade, intimating that the board have awarded
their medal to himself and to each of the other fifteen
volunteers who manned the life-boat in Wick Bay on
the evening of the 9th of September. The board have
also awarded 'a gratuity of 2/. to each of the men in
the boat, and to the widow of the man Bain, who lost
his life by being washed overboard.

MATH or MR. CRAWFORD, THS SCULPTOR.—We regret
to learn the death on Saturday last, in the metropolis,
of the American sculptor, Mr. Thomas Crawford. The
deceased artist. was born at New York in 1814, but
since 1834 resided at Rome. His " Orpheus," pro-
duced in 1839, after studying under Therwaldsen, in-
troduced him io :general notice. His later, achieve-
meal have been noticed from- time to time in the
letters of our correspondent at Rome. One of his most
celebrated works is the '..Babes in the Wood." Two
of his opecimeas, figures, of children, are in the Crystal
Palace, "Flora." and the " Dancers."
CRYSTAL. PAl4oll.—Ooe Shilling Day, Oct. 13.
Admissions on payment, 2,3?5 ; do. by season tickets,
278 ; total, 2,673.

lion di the Grenadier Guards io-morrow;- and on
Fridai the Majhr-General mid make an-; inspection
of th 4 Ist battalion of the Coldstream Guards.
Both attalious are ,quartered at the Wellingimi
Barra ks. , „- • • ._
:The strength of the garrison at Chatham has been
•augme sea by the arrival of the depot companies uf
the 98 h Reg;ment.from Ireland, for the purpose of
Wing ttached to the 2el battalion, under CoL R..
N. PI illips. ' - : , - - •
The 10th and 91st companies of Royal Engi-
'neers ill leave head-quarters, Brompton Barracks,
to-da and embark ou board.theDutchmu steamer
a't.Ch ham dockyard for conveyance to Alexandria,
when they will proceed to-Caldutta by the Over=
land r ute.' The officers in command of the cora-
-panie are Capt. A. A. Fisher, 10th, and Capt. G.
f
Nevil e, 21st. ' - ; 1 -
• Marr T. L.;Philipps and:Lieut. A. 13reedon,-
89th Regiment, sailed on the yth in theehip Ta-
mar, 4or Auckland, New Zealand, to join their re 7
g:menit, whiCh is under orders to proceed. from the
Cape opif Good -lloue to that colony. -
A. large 91 gun screw steamer, to be called the
Atlas, has been 'commenced at Chatham dockyard,
on the slip from which the Renown,. 91,,-;tigew-

,
steatnbr, • was lauiteleed.-- , - 7-- —'-
The scraw_steam-sloop Lyra, 9, lately constructed
at Ddptford, is ordered to be got ready at Wool-
wich, together' - with the iron paddle-wheel stsam-
vessel Triton' and' ibe -paddle-wheel steam-sloop
Ardent, as they are required foreommission,
Thi, Cyclops, 6, paddle, Capt. W. 3.. S. Pullen,
is rec,iviog an enormous quantity of sounding line
froth the Portsmouth Dockyard, as well as other
articles necessary for her taking'soundings in the
Red Sea.
The Invitigator-, brig, lately.employed- at the
Thathes Police vessel, ciff.Somerset House, has been
takeri into, dock; at Deptfciril, and is being broken
•
V P. .
• T Otter,: 3; paddle, Lieut. Commander Gimp
:sou rrived. at Sheerness on. Sunday last. from
Scotland, leaving* Hull on. Saturday evening-last.
Her ration for' cruising, ground for the protection
'of th British fisherthen extended from 150 to 200
i mile taking in the coast of Northumberland, Dur-
ham and Yorkshire. The depredationScommitted
Iby t e French fishermen have been'conSiderable on
the ritish fishermen. In the more advanced part
of t e season, when the fish take in shore; the
French higgers: continued their depredations, and
theii, masters and crews frequently boasted that
they, could very-well afford to pay the tines inflicted
on them, as-the produce of one night's fishing in-
v. shoe left them a surplus fund after the fine was
paid On' the inquiry made by the flag captain of
the aterloo, who -was recently sent from Sneer-
nessiin the ste-im vessel Locust, Limit. Commander
J. Ilv . Field, it was made evident to- Capt. Henry
llkr ey that the coast could' not he *protected
by one steam vessel, -as the French fishermen gene .
, rail chose the Uight-time for committing 'their de-
pre Idiom on the British -nets and boats. i. It ~
the , fore, prOpesed that- nexb season a sufficient •
number of steam vessels should be sent, so as effi-
ciently to keep the entire* line of the fishing cost,
thereby protecting the fishermen from outrages
such. as have hither been practised- upon them. It
is right ta state that, some of the French masters of '
tho luggeri have - worked off the coast arithmid-
,chatitiel most cordially with our fishermen, by
avoiding the casting their nets so as to foul those
of our fishermen... ... *.

- The Persian, 12, sailing sloop of war, has been
towed down from Salt-pan reaCh, to Sheernessond
iy coldered to'he fitted out immediately for commis-
%ioning. This -vessel had an overhaul a year ago
in lae.erness,Dockyard of such an extensive charac-

tari that glee is censi(Jered now as gpod as ever. In
all iprobability, considering her class and build; she
intended for the coast of Africa.

Sulphiir,.sloop, late convict hulk at Wool-

wi4h, has been towed to Deptford, to be broken up.
The Viiconnt'`Carining, transport, belonging to
Messrs. Dennis, Brothers, having beari-engaged by
tbei .Company for . the•conveyanca .of
trobps aid stores to India, arrived at Woolwich
yesterday from LiverpOoL
News has been received at Woolwich of the
safe arrival at Singapore,- on the 10th August,
of the freight ship Admiral, which left England
in April, having on board two companies of time
Rdyal Engineers. After .landing the troops the
Admiral . embarked. a number .of the Medical
Corps wrecked in the Transit, and convoyed them
to. Hong Kong.
dice-Admiral dward Harvey, Commander-in-
Chief of Sheerness, struck his :flag—viz., white
at the fore, and hoisted red in its place, about
nine yesterday morning, in' honour of which the
Edinbuigh, 60, 'screw, Captain E. Pelle w Halsted
(senior captain), saluted the flag with 15,guns,.
which was itnineilately rot-Uri-tea by the Water-
Too, 120, flag, Captain Henry Harvey ; the next
step -wilt be blue at the.-main, when we regret to,
say the above gallant admiral will leave Sheer-
ness.

Second-Lieutenant C. H. Staubridie; was :on
Monday promoted to first-lieutenant; vice- Crit-
obeli, who is invalided on half-pay.
Commander F. C. Herbert is appointed Inspec-
-tor-Conamander of the Coast Guard, in the room
of Commander Skipwith, whose time of service has
expired. .
The Accountant-General, R. M. Bromley, Esq.,
C. 8., paid an official visit to' the dock and victual-
ling yards at Deptford:yesterday.
Mr. George Gregory Tunks and Mr. A. On-
fray, late extra Clerks in the Deptford dock and
victualling yards, having passed a creditable
competitive examination, have • been appointed
to the Accountant-General's department at the
Admiralty, Somerset-house. Four other gentle-
men who passed at the same time have also re-
ceived ;appointments, Of the nine-extra or tempo-
rary clerks who have been nominated by Sir Chas.
Wood, from the two yards at Deptford, to pass exa-
minations for established appointments, only two
have been unsuccessful. Some of the most efficient
and experienced clerks now filling important posi-
tions at the Admiralty, Somerset Howe, took their
first official lesson in the naval yards ; in-proof of
.which statement we may refer to the present able
and talentel Accountant-General, who first Com-
menced his official career in a naval yard. We know
it is the opinion of oldand experienced officers who

have superintended our naval establishments at
different ports, and some of whom are now high in
office, that it would be of great advantage to the
publ►c service tO promote the clerks of the yards ge-
nerally to the Admiralty departments at Somerset
House. .

The new board of the Conservators of the Thames

had a meeting on Saturday ILIA, on which occasion
Commodore Shepherd, the superintendent of Wool.
with Dockyard, and other naval officers, atteudei on
the part of the Admiralty, and Captain Robertson,
R.N., for the Board of Trade.

THE ADMIRALTY "FIVE POUND REWARD" FOR
THE SAVING OF A LINE-OF-BATTLE SHIP.—The fol-
lowing yarn has gone the rounds of the metropolitan
and local press;--" When the Exmouth, 91, screw,
unfortunately got ashore in a dense fog while com-
ing up channel to Portsmouth, she struck on the
rocks, when by the interposition of a fisherman she
was timely warned and saved from utter destruction.
Thus a ship worth 100,000/., with some 709 British
sailors, were saved from an untimely fate, and their
lordships were pleased to reward the said fisherman
with the muniffcent sum of Five Pounds !" From
the best authority we are enabled to give the precise
facts :—The Exmouth had struck on a rock, and
half an hour afterwards the fisherman came off, and
was admitted on board. He very properly offered
his services, and pointed out 'the direction_ of the
rocks, and stated that the Exmouth would never
get off. In the interim steam had been getting up,
and, somewhat to his surprise, she backed off with
but little damage. The commanding officer, how-
ever, feeling pleased with the fisherman's attention,
asked him. what he could do for him. The mall
was delighted with a certificate to the effect that he
came off to render any assistance that might be
required, but that the ship needed not his service.
It appears that some land sharks got hold of the
fisherman, and persuaded him to make application
to the Board of Admiralty for the remuneration
for saving the Exmouth. Their lordships very
properly forwarded such communication t) the
commanding officer, desiring an official report. The
commanding officer, in reply, stated the simple
facts Of the case, and said that if it met with their
lordships' approval, be would respectfully recom-
mend that, as the man had shown a•disposition to
render whatever assistance might have been re-
quired of him, W. would be well appreciated by
the fisherman, and that it would be a stimulus for
future -exertions. Their lordships consequently