Star.
London, England, 1824-04-12 00:00:00

FOREIGN FUNDS.

There has been a good deal done in the New Colombian Scrip,'
which is now at a premium of 2/ to 3 per cent. In Spanish Bonds
there has been some fluctuation ; they opened at 161.
Current Prices:—Old Spanish 171, Chilian 851 to 86, Russian
98, Mexican Scrip 111, Greek par, Alliance Shares 161 to 17,
Colombian 921, Austrian Scrip 161 1.
_

New COlcimbian Scrip was done at 4 per cent. premium, but is
now 2e to 1.

A New Peruvian Loan is coming out of XBOO,OOO.
FOREIGN EXCHANGES.
AwnessAm, Aram 9.—On London, 39. 4. 2 M. 39.2.

PRICE OF STOCKS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Bank Stock 514514 es. div.

3 per Cent. Reduced 951/8 sA ex. div.
S per Cent. Consols 95%8 961 A sA
• 31A per Cents. 1021/4 ex. div.
4 per Cents. Assented 101% 1021/4 ex. div.
4 per Cents. Old 1001/4 ex. div.
4 per Cents. New 1081/4 3/8
Bank Long Ann!. 23 3-16 1/4 3-16 ex. div.
India Bonds 82s. 80s. _ _

Exchequer Hills (El ,000) 525. 425. 455.
1)o. Small S2s. 425. 45%

Bank for Acct. 2491/2—lndia for Acct. 900
Consols for Acct. 961, 1/8 97 96% N.

The Tread-wheel, now in such general use in our
different prisons throughout the kingdom, has excited
much discussion. On this subject 66 A second Letter to
Sir JOHN COY HIPPISLEY, Bent. By JOHN MASON GOOD,
M.D. F.R.S." has just made its appearance: as also an
Bvo. volume entitled "Thoughts on Prison Labour; by
a S:udent of the Inner Temple." Both works condemn,
with much acrimony, the use of the Tread-mill, whether
considered as a species of discipline calculated to deter
the vicious, and immoral, from the commission of
crimes; or as a species of hard labour" agreeing with
the intention of the statute in enacting the infliction so
called : and both agree in opinion, that the use of this
machine, instead of improving the morals of those sub-
jected to it, is calculated to render them more vicious
and hardened, and is, at the same time injurious to
their health, in a manner, and to an extent that could
never have been contemplated by the Legislature.
In both works the facts on which they build their
conclusions ate chiefly drawn from the Reposes of the
Filson Discipline Society; from Sir J. C. Iltrpt-LEy's
Pamphlet on Prison Labour and from the Official
Documents ordered by the house of Commons to be
printed, the 10th of March. In both publications- too
their respective authors appeAr to be so much in earnest,
that it isbut Ltir to give them credit for being thoroughly
convinced that the exercise of the Thread-wheel de-
serves to be loaded with every execration.

To, speak soberly and impartially on this subject, we
believe that but few persons who have examined the
frets. that have been made public respecting this mode of
discipline, or punishment, will deny that it has, in some
instances, been productive of evil ; and that some
Magisttates, ignorant pet haps of the constitutional view
that should be taken of all our laws respecting punish-
ments, have been more than imprudent in their indis-
criminate employment of this species of discipline,
—And we should have been flinch surprised indeed,
had the first application of so new and singular a mode
of procedure with prisoners—or indeed of any new way
of compelling labour by mechanical means—been car-
ried into effect without the same or other results equally
to be regretted. It has been admitted on the highest
atithority—and, indeed, none but people as stupid as
50MC of our Country Magistrates could ever have
doubted it—that nothing can be conceived mote con-
trary to the spirit of our laws than to set prisoners
to work on these mills, or to any hard labour, as a
punishment, who have not yet been convicted of any
crime: this part of the general question may therefore
be considered as set entirely at rest. But still it will
remain to be enquired—should these mills be enoiluyed
at all in our prisons?
On this question much may be said ; but we are not
called upon to receive for argument all the declamatory
matter that has been urged against the use the Tiead-
m heel, and which has been collected At ith great in-
du-t' y by the Student of the Inner TenFple, who cer-
tainly knows that dedanzation is not evidence. Much
that has been stated might, with equal justice, be urged
against many common labours in which people ate re-
gularly and willingly employed for bite: nor do we
say this met ely as it respects the hardness of the
labour, but also as to the possibility of accidents
to which the individuals are exposed. indeed it
is hardly possible to point out any species of em-
ployment about machinery, driven by steam or by
animal power, that does not expose the individual to
some risk ;—and the more so if the machinery be of
a slew description, to which the people have not been
accustomed, and have not yet received those improve-
ments which are commonly induced by time and expe-
rience.—Now everything that can be urged against the
nse of the Tread-mill, that may be referred to such
zrounds, as the basis of the objection, should be sepa-
rated entirely from the argument—excepting only in
As far as the consideration of them ought to stimulate
those who have the superintendence to labour to have
*heir construction rendered as perfect as-possible.
Another objection has been employed against these
Mills which to us appears not to have been properly
sifted.;.....“ the exercise causes pains andaches," &c. but

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1.1)A

;~~---~-

no inquiry seems to have been shade, Whether, or how
long, these aches continued? On the proper answer to
this question will depend the force of the objection ; for
almost every person knows—and one of these authors,
from his professional pursuits, must be well ac-
quainted with the fact—that, when muscles are sub-
jected to a regular and continued action, to which they
have not been accustomed, pains and aches are the usual
result, till removed by habit. This must have been ex-
perienced by many of our Readers from even the com-
mon and healthful exercise of riding on horseback.
Another objection that has been urged carries its ans
swer with it—" the hands of the prisoners, by holding
the rail, get blistered and painful for some days, and
aftertvards become hardened and homey." This harden-
ing is Nature's remedy in this case. When a person has
been long prevented from walking by illness, his first
attempts cause blisters : Ought he, therefore, to discon-
tinue the exercise for fear that his feet should get hard
and his heels homey, as they have denominated this
hardening ?
These, and such objections, ought to have no other'
weight than to cause inquiry and watchfulness, as•to
their duration and consequences; but others have been
urged which are deserving of more consideration. Of
Iwhat benefit can it be to the individual, or to society
afterwards, that a man should learn to work at a Tread-
wheel—indeed it requires no learning—when he cannot
possibly, on the termination of his confinement, find
such an employment (were he even in love with it) by
which to earn a livelihood? If his imprisonment be
only for a short term this objection can have but little
weight; but if it be long, it is very weighty—not, how-
ever, against the machine as such.
But it has been also objected—and the objection, if
really well founded, ought to operate the entire sup-
pression of these machines. It has been urged that
their employment is injurious to the constitution; and,
in proof of this, cases have been adduced in which the
exercise has certainly caused a loss of weight and an
actual diminution •of animal strength. But, in answer
to this, other cases have been adduced in which the
general habit was improved, and which was evidenced
by the individuals gaining in flesh and weight, while
subjected to this discipline. So far, some might be in-
clined to say, the argument on this point balances itself:
but we say No, if it stop here; for it establishes a
positive evil to some individuals, which the benefits de-
rived by others, from the exercise, can never compensate.
—But we have not yet got the whole case. It appears
from the facts adduced by the writers against the
Tread-mill, that the prisoners while subjected to this
labour, in some of the Houses of Correction, were not al-
lowed a sufficiency °flood. This every person possessed
of the smallest degree of humanity must deplore as
much as Dr. Goou, or Sir Jolts Cox Ihrelseey, or the
Student of the Inner Temple. In urging this fact, how-
ever, they invalidate, if they do not entirely overturn,
everything they have stated on the score of injury to
health. There is no necessity to refer to the machine in
cases where the individual has not had a regular sup-
ply of food, or a supply equal to the increased animal
exhaustion occasioned by the labour. Indeed, it may
be assumed, as stated by the Rev. Ji. IIEADLANI, in his
pamphlet on Prison Labour (in which, by the bye, he
attempts to vindicate the practice of compelling untried
prisoners to work), " that the sentence of hard labour has
never been construed to impose more than Me average
uorl: of an ordinary labourer." Why ?...14 Because," as
stated by the Student of the Inner Temple, " the ordi-
nary Ltbourer daily expends as much, and sometimes
mot eanimal exertion tlianNature can healthfullyenclure."
Need we add that the argument of the opposers of
the Tread-wheel is defective precisely on a similar
ground to that which has just been stated, where they
make the injury sustained to rest on the hours of labour
' being too many, in certain prisons,—or the steps too
high—or the rate of velocity of the wheel to great.
This is so palpable that we wonder they did not them-
selves perceive it..
We will not take upon us to assert, that the Tread-
mill, which is so strongly condemned by others, is a
proper instrument of discipline, or of work to those
condemned to hard labour—because we yet wait for
evidence :. but this we mill say, that decisive evidence
against its fitness has not yet beep adduced by its oppo-
nents. We think that we have established this from
their own sliming. But we do believe in our conscience
that the fact is fully established, of the prisoners having
been overworked in some places—a fact, however, which
whatever remedy it may call for—and remedied it cer-
tainly will be, now that it has come under the cogni-
zance of a Government so-active and vigilant in seeking
the public good, as that of England can boast—makes
nothing against the use of these machines• as a mean to
make criminals contribute to their own maintenance.—
To us, so far as the evidence yet goes, the only solid
objection that can be urged is in the case to which we
have already alluded—that of an individual loag con-
fines:42nd then let loose on society with the qualification
of being able to mount the steps of a Tread-wheel.
We would not however be understood, from any
thing we have said, to condemn the labours of these
and other writers—excepting only the mere declaimers—
against the Tread-wheel. On the contrary, we think
the Public ought to feel indebted to them, as well as to
the Prison Discipline Society (whose aim and exertions
have, we think, been under-rated—or rather, we may
say, stated with some- prejudice by these writers) for
bringing the question into discussion ;• for the enquiry
must eventually prove beneficial.

Dutch and Brussels Papers to the 9th inst. reached
us this morning. A Brussels Journal contains the fol-
lowing vague article respecting the Spanish Loans:
" Letters from Amsterdam inform us that the

rrr-rr,