Star.
London, England, 1802-12-18 00:00:00

CONVICTS.

The ATTOILIIIY Gam IRAL moved the Order of
the Day for the third reading of the Convias Tranf-
portation Bill.
Sir Cm-mesas &INBUILT Tore, and after paying
his tribute of applaufe to the condua of his Maki.-
ty's Government, during the late and long arduous
war, and the aufpicious and flourifhing circum-
fiances in which this country has appeared fence the
reftoration of peace, exprelled his fincere hope, that
now their minds were relieved from the arduous
and extended concerns of war, they would turn
their attention towards fome amelioration of that
fyltem of jurifprudence, which applied to the im-
prifonment of thofe whom the Law configns to the
cuftody of jails, and to Convias fentencedlo trout-
portation, and other *laments- The number of
thofe Convias which conftandy crowded the pub.
lic jails, particularly in luxurious and overgrown
Cities, was a great and crying evil, if not a dan-
gerous nuifance • and one that, fo far. from cor-
reaing the morals of thofe to whom fuch punifh.
meats were applied, rather exaggerated their dif-
pofitions to vice and depravity ; betides, owing to
the want of more frequent tranfportation of chore
Convias. an enormous expence was entailed upon
the community for their fupport in idlenefs.
Honfe would no doubt be furprifed, that notwithr
(landing the Seffion fo recently terminated at the
Old Bailey, a Sellion falfely called for " General
Gaol Delivery," no Ws than 729 prifoners re-
mitted in Newgate, including Debtors, of which
number 512 were for felonies and fines. Con-
trolling this with the Rate of that Prifon in the year
1779, when vifited by the late benevolent. Mr.
Howard, and when the number of Convias was
not above 149, the necellity of fome reform was
too obvious for comment. Not only the long
confinement of many men in a clbfe prifon toge-
ther mutt be liable to produce infelhous difeafes
amongft them, but their morals becanie infinitely
more vitiated than ever. Thofe who were mere
novices in guilt—convias for their fira crimes,
and thofe, perhaps, very trivial ones—became,
among fuch alTociates, hardened adepts in every
fpecies of criminality that could portend danger
to fociety. Thofe who, before conviftion, were
xettraincd within come bounds, the moment that
their hopes of efeape were fruftratcd by that event,
became utterly unruly and incorrigible. If they
equally
health

at
the,

plation of Government to build another Prifon fey
the reception of Debtors, and leave the whole of
the Gaol of Newgate for Criminals ; or whether
it was in contemplation to carry into effeet the
laudable objet t propofed by the late Mr. Howard,
by building Penitentiaries, and endeavouring at
once to referm the morals of the convict, and ren-
der his labour contributary to his maintenance, he
knew not ; but certain he was, Tome fpeedy and
effeaual reform was neceirary in that part of the
jurifprudence of the country, applicable to crimi•
oafs after conviction.

Alderman Sir Wr.s. ANDrRSON fully coincided
in this idea, and recommended ftrcmgly the con-
fideration of this fubjeet to his Majefty's Miniflers.
There had been, he raid, no lefs than 349 Conviets
in Newgate for a confiderable time pail, under
fentence of tranfportation ; fome of them above
two years : that the expence of fupporting thefe
Criminals fell heavily on the City of London, the
charge for bread alone being 30001. a year. He
thought that either a claufe Mould be introduced
into this Bill, or another Bill for the purpofe
brought forward to limit the period between con-
vilion and tranfportation to two months, by which
means the purpofes of the Law would be carried
fpeedily into effect ; the expence of maintaining
thofe men in idlenefs greatly obviated ; and much
of that mifchief to their morals, which often tin-
rendered them for ever irreclaimable, prevented.
Mr. R. THORNTON and Doctor LAWRENCE per-
fedly coincided in the remarks of the two prece-
ding fpeakers.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL obferved, that the
rubjeet, as refpeeting the difpnfal of Criminals
after conviction, was one which required the moll
mature deliberation ; and which would be confi-
dered, in every humane mind, with the utmoft
caution. The prefent Bill went to meet the evil
complained of, with as much promptitude as poll
fible, under exiting circuratances, and though it
did not go fo far as to limit the period for tranf-
porting Felons after their conviction, according to
the fuggellion of the worthy Alderman, yet it
went to facilitate and render more frequent that
tranfportation, in a degree nearly adequate to the
purpofe he fuggefted. But whatever plans Gen-
tlemen might have in contemplation, for the re-
form of our jurifprudence on this head, be hoped
they would not, in the prefent crifis, attempt to
clog or impede the prefent Bill in its laft Rage, and
upon the very eve of a long recefs, by any motion
which might prevent its palling into law with
that promptitude fo very deferable, and which
motion might as well be made the fubjed of ano-
ther Bill, at fome future and fitter opportunity.
The Bill was read the third time, paired, and or-
dered to the Lords.

were fent on bOard the Hulks, the evil was equallj'
great, with Rill worfe circumßancei to the health
of thofe unfortunate men, who, after working all
day in the open air,c were crowded together at
night in , - and noifome limits of the
bolds of ,•,' • ' . liy• more frequently
•