The Sun.
London, England, 1821-05-17 00:00:00

[NEW TIMES.I

The House of Commons has again decided on
the Manchester affair. The subject worn
threadbare ; falsehood and misrepresentation
have been.exposed again and again, and fresh dif-
cussion, at a distance of-time calculated to obviate
the danger of a ha:,ty, an alarmed, or a passionate
decision, has, we should hope, at last set at rest
this fruitful theme of exaggeration and calumny.

[MORNING HERALD.]
A question of some curiosity and interest was
put last night in the House of Commons, by Mr.
Hume. it is, whether lonian Islanders, in this
Country, are subject to the operation of the
Alien Act F Mr. Goulburn, the Colonial Under-
, Secretary, declared - his,incompetency to answer
the question. The, difficulty of the case, seems
to be this : the dominion exercised by his Ma-
jesty over the lonian Islands is one thing in fact
and another in name. The lonian Islands are
declared to be " under the protection " of his
Majesty. The fair construction of this term
is, that they are an independent nation. This
is implied in the very term " protection ;" for,
if it means any thing, it means the protec-
tion of their independence. But the com-
munity of the lonian Islands exercise none
of the attributes of independence. The follow-
ing is an analogous case ;—Buonaparte was ac-
knowledged Protector of what was called the
Confederation of the Rhine ; but., the powers
forming this league received Envoys from their
" Protector," were not governed in his name,
and had a, primary domestic Executive. The
lonian Islands, on the contrary,- are under the
authority of a chief. Governor, appointed, and
acting by command of his Majesty. -They re-
ceive no Envoy from this country. They, in
fact, possess none of the attributes of an inde-
pendent political community. The power
which. the British Government exercises
over them is, in fact, arid to all intents
and purposes, colonial dominion,. though styled,
by a curious misnomer, a Protectorate. Being
then under colonial dominion, the correlative of
colonial rights necessarily follows, and carries the,
people of those islands out of the operation of a
law Which bears only upon the subjects of Foreign
States. We suppose,---indeed we are quite sure,
that this question, started by Mr. Hume, has not
been suggested by any actual or menaced applica-
tion of this law to lonian islanders. Several, it is
known, have arrived in this country for 'some
time past in a character too sacred for such treat-
ment—that of petitioners to the supreme autho-
rity of the King and the Parliament against
vexation, injustice. and oppression.
_,_

On Friday, .pursuant to his sentence at last Circuit Court,
Edinburgh, John Fleming was executed at Stirling for issuing
a forged five pound note of the Paisley Banking Company. The
Reverend Messrs. Bruce, Ileugh, and Stewart, attended him in
his cell, and accompanied him to the Council Chamber, where
the Magistrates were waiting ; a psalm was sung, and the three
Clergymen prayed.; prisoner joined fervently in the devotions,
and was very much resigned to his fate. He was brought to the
scaffold 15 minutes past three o'clock, and almost immediate!.
after the drop fell.. An immense multitude of spectators A,
tended, suitably'affected with the awful scene.
An unfortunate occurrence took place in Shp: .. 1, tilas-
gow, on Wednesday last. A fine boy, about tw, 3 'of age,
put his mouth to the spout of a kettle containing Ag water,
and swalltrtived such a portion as makes his recovery improbable.

5. Criminals under sentence of death.
6. Males charged with misdemeanours, and others wanting
sureties to appear at the Assizesor Quarter Sessions.
7. Moles convicted of misdemeanours in execution or sen..
tence; or detained fdrpecuniary penalties, and deserters.
- 8. • Females clitto, ditto.
9. Male 6btors, and prisOners or. Exchequer process, -and
for contempt of courts of law.
10. Females ditto, ditto. 11. Boys.
There are many juvenile offenders who would
contaminate a class ; -and to prevent this, or any
other casual evil, the Gaoler should have autho-
rity to vary the classing, according to circum-
stances ; but every alteration ought to be noted
in his journal, and reported to the first Com-
mittee Magistrate who visits the gaol subsequent
to such alteration.
apprehend that houses of correction may not
require more than three male classes, viz. Game
Laws, Bastardy, other offences, ail females being
together. The" advantages of classification in
prisons are too apparent to every thinking person
to require comment, and I shall' pass to the next
key of discipline.

, INSPECTION,
The principal object hitherto studied has been
e sight of every prisoner, under all 'circum-
stances ; this. is essential, no doubt, but certainly
.not so much so as to hear their conversation; with
the lower orders, neither quarrels, conspiracy, or
gambling, are carried on in silence: I wi1.1,-ven-
ture-to assert, that no extensive mischief can oc-
cur without verbal communication ; and, from
the very nature of man, we may dedUce. the
certainty, that to hear one's danger provides
better means Of prevention than the sight only,
because the faculty of hearing, being watchful
day and night, is - the more general sense.
The plan I suggested in a former letter will ef-
fectually secure this desirable end, even if the
root) sbe very large. Let it not be supposed-that
--Ltaink lightly of actual inspection ; on the
contrary, it is an excellent secondary means,
when it can be obtained, and the combined
modes judiciously arranged Must contribute to
the regularity of a prison.
Ido not-feel competent to give any opinion on
the discipline of Penitentiaries ; enough.forane
to know that the government of those -pi isons
ought to be very different to that established in
gaols; all the inhabitants of the former are under
sentence, and that for a long peried,which creates a
vast difference of their mode of treatment, and it is
Matter of astonishment that they. should he Con,
sidered as assimilating to county prisons, when it
is known from practice, that the best rules- for
one would be the total ruin of the other ; more
of this when I treat of gaol labour.
The next subject under consideration is the go-
vernment of prisons. The Magistrates will'exert
all their ability, all their zeal, and all tlirii• au-
thority without effect unless they make -proper
selection in the choice of their gaolerand goVer-
nor of the House of. Correction it reqUires firm-
ness, humanity, cool deliberation, some education.
and a knowledge of human nature,--to qualify a
man for this office; the cast off livery servaritii no
longer competent to the task, and,-from personal
knowledge, I affirm that many respectable-per-
sons are prevented from devoting their Lillie-and
talents—to the profession only because public
opinion, founded on
.the declaration .6f-a great
man in other respects.,* has branded gaolers with
being a merciless race. of Men; and steeled against
any tender sensation.;: this stigma, Sir, haS' done
more to .deteriorate. gaol discipline than all the
indifference of the age ; there is Trot a Lawyer's
Clerk but at every assize or session points at the
gaoler as an'inferior being, one beneath the tlutraan
species-; on the contrary, if . the directors of
prisons were countenanced by respectable per-
sons as useful members of society, and (when de-
served) treated with common courtesy, there is
not a doubt but many gentlemen would undertake
the superintendence .of gaols, and the advantages
of such condescension are well known where the
Magistrates have made the experiment. • If the
Legislature will do away the harsh and oppres-
sive term gaoler and substitute some other ; if
this officer be proyided for in old age or infirmity,
and if merit .alone dictates the selection, rest
assured that our gaols and our country will be
much benefited, or there will cease to be a pan.
city of proper persons to do the imporlant. duty
'quisite for the well governing of prisons. My
next will treat of prison labour. I am, Sir, your
•ohedieat Servant, -
May 11; 1821.

CLIVIGER.

" Sir W. Blackstone.