Star.
London, England, 1828-10-14 00:00:00

• •PRISON DISCIPLINE.

The following observations are taken from a sermon
just piiblished, which was preached in St: poillip's
Chapel, Regent-street. for the benefit of she Society for
the Improvement of Psison D and for the It,-
formation of Juvenile Offenders, on Sunday, June 22,
1828 ; by CHARLES JAMBS BLONIFIELD, D. D. Bishop
of Cbesttr, niw bishop et London. The tesnatlts are
sound and judiciou-, displaying great practical sense,
combined with a very reflecii .g hum inity.l
a' It is no longer necessary to prove by argnmef
t.
that the true end of punishment is the prevention of
time; 'or that such prevention is to be accomplished
ptincipally by two methods,—the collection and re-
formation of the criminals themselves, and the tel.
gions and moral improvement of those classes which
are most :pissed to temptation. These methods I con-
sider to be incomparably the most effectual; without
overlooking the impoitaoce of a due apportionment of
punislittient to crime, and of establishing, in the opinions
and expectations of the people, a certain and uniform
connexion between the offence and 'its appropsiste
penalty. The latter measures of prevention fall within
the exclusive province of the civil government; the
former upon a wide and promising field for the ries-
tibni of individual charity; not to the removal, or
suspension, of that duty which is incumbent upon the
state, but in furtherance and aid of its endeavours.
Sr It naturally bappetts..that in the process of moral
improvement, as connected with the provisions of civil
polity, individual sagacity, or benevolence, is almost be-
forehand with-the sta e. It is not only unshackled by the
same rest aints of form and custom, but it acts uncles the
influence of higher and more sacred motives. It is ge-
nerally considered, that men's temporal, not their spiri-
tual intesests, are wide, the case of the Magistrate; and
that he is no otherwise concerned in the maintenance and
propagation of religion, than as it is connected with the
interests of s iciety. No roan can' be ignorant in how
great a degree religious conduct bears upon Vie *Ware
of society ; and for this the State endeavour: to provide,'
on the one hand, by an established church ; on the other,
by the ehactineets of its criminal law. But these enact-
inentt do not. as indeed they cannot, touch the hidden
springs of action, the first principles of conduct t and
they may perhaps be, either 'in themselves, or in the
mode of their application. injurious to tie motel stale of
those who die dotted), affected bythem. Tne Magistrate
looks to die interests of the community, n 4 to those of
the individual who is putiislieJ. How to combine the
two, and to make pro- ision for them both, is a problem
to be determined by experiment. It is here that indi-
vidual charity may tender its aid, and lead the way to
those improvements, if not in the principles of criminal
jurisprudence, >et in the application of it. rules, wt,ich
'would escape the observation, and fail to awaken the
'sympathies of those who ate intrusted wnh the govein•
meat of the State.

" Individual charity is actuated by higher and holier
motives than those of secuisi policy.; and considers
man, not solely, nor even priumpally, as a member of
the body politic. but as a responsible moral agent—as
the heir of lite eternal—as a serv.int of GOD—as a
disciple of ',UM Cu aisr, It is therefore earnest and
anxious in its inquiiies after the most probable methods,
not merely r f .preserving unbroken the bond of civil
peace and unity, and or preventing the injuries which
the commission if crime inflicts upon the integrity of
the social fabric; but of saving souls to the Luau—to
Rik, who bath no pleasure in the death of the wicked,
but that the wicked turn from his way and live. _ .

" The grand principleof prevention is this—and it is
a principle which the state can only indirectly enforce,
but for the enforcement of which in every possible di-
rection and degree it ought to make provision—that
men should be convint ed, not only of the unlawtulness,,
but the sinfulness of crime; that they should he disin-
clined from its commission by the influence of more
pervading and more constraining motives than the
animal fear of punishment ; that they should be taught,
to regard it as infinitely detrimental to their own into
rests. To conimutocate these views and motives to
those who have actually incurred the penalties of
the law,- and so to recover them out of the snare of the
devil, and to those who are 'peculiarly exposed% by the
circumstances of their condition. to the temptaticnis of
dishonesty and vice, is to strike at the very root ,f
crime; end to purify the sources of that liuntain, which
may be made to send forth at the same place either
sweet waters or bitter When the heavy hand of justice
has fallen upon its despisers, and the wicked are matte
to useable, and the thoughtless to consider, are all the
ends of good government answered ? are all the demands
of Christian policy complied with? Surely not ; it the
criminal be turned back upon society, wits' all the dis-
grace of punishment. but, with none of the improve•
ment of discipline—furnished with no higher motives
of right conduct than those of fear, which act only in
proportion to the chance cif detection. and the probable
severity of punishment—taught by bitter experience the
evil consequences of crime, yet disqualified by the very
process of correction for the pursuits of honest industry.
" The restraints and penalties of the law may be de-,
vised with sagacity, and in theory judiciously propor-
tioned to the offences which they are intended to coerce;
and yet, since the details of their application must of
necessity be intrusted to persons, sometime, of a less
enlarged wisd..m, sometimes of a less comprehensive
charity, than those who enacted them; it may happen,
it provision be hot carefully made to guard againti the
chance of these defects, that the wise and b neenlent
intentions of the legislature may be defeated; the season
of correction may be made the oppottunity of corrup-
tion;. and the pimp, instead cf a school of discipline
and reform, may become the fat ir house of a moral
pestilence, in which those who are dying of the plague,
and those who are only suspected of infection, are
crowded together in one promiscuous mare of disease
and de-th.

"In this case it is clear that the offender is treated
with injustice and cruelty. The punishment which was
justly decreed against him, is aggravated by unautho-
tized circumstances of horror--circumstances; which
inflict an undesigned but irreparable injury upon his,
soul, without add ng in any degree to t:.e awlutness'
and exemplarity of his punishment.
" It is not easy, certainly it has not been usual, for
he Government of rcountry to descend to a considesisa,
tion of all the circumstances and details which attend
the execution of its penal laws; and it bat been a deice
in the administration oran such laws, that it has I.)oke.l',
more to prevent the Increase of crime by the influence
of a salutary terror, than to diminish its actual amount
by reforming the offender himself. But the speculations'
of Christian philosophy, and the energies of an active
piety, have led many wise and benevolent individual
w take a personal interest in this great question of po-
licy and religion ; and to prove ezFerimentally, tt the
cost of mach pains and labour, and in opposition to
ebleis prejudice, the possibility, and consequently the
sacred duty, of combining bath objects of punisnoseat.
the secoeity of the public, and the reformation of the
criminal.

"T. drat this. without dimming justice of hes

wholesome tenors, is RR. undertaking wroth, of V
children and servants of that, ALMIGHTY Hausa anc:
&woe, who desireth not the death of a sinner ; worth).
of the of that TRACHitt who csme not to call
the tighten's., but sinners to repentance; worthy the
followers of that lIEDIMUARR. who was in all thing-
maple like unto his brethren; that he might be a into-
caul and faithful High Priest—to make reconciliation
for the sins of the people. It there be joy in the pie-
:vice of the angels of Goo, over one sinner that to
penteth.. Loa, acceptable a service is renoered to the
SAVIOUR himself, who died to procure and Multiply
that joy, when those, who are most in danger of peri•h-
ing us their sins, are rescued from the jaws of death,
and restored to the possession of an interest in his re•
deem ng mercies
" Tea/rest the progress of those who are already
entered into the broad way that leadeth to destruction,
and are hurrying along the downward path of sin, is a
task which requires and deserves all the ingenuity and
per severance of Chris, ian chrrity. The methods of ac-
complisting it ate various; but the ultimate tendency
of all should be a reformation, not merely of habits, but
f principle—a purification of the heart—a renovation
of the inner man by the effectual Grace of GOD. It is
something to make an offender feel the temporal incon-
veniences which his crime has brought upon him—it is
something to convince him that a course of honesty and
industry is the most advantageous to him,. in a wordly
point of view—ir is something to initiate him into those
useful arts, by which he may raise himself above the
temptations of indigence; bit it is infinitely more than
all this, to min the disobedient to the *radon' of the just ;
to quicken those who are dead in trespasses and sins, b)
the efficacy of Gospel faith and love; to make tiles
who were sometimes darkness to be light in the LOAD;
and to send them forth into the wistld, emancipated
item its evil influence, transformed by the renewing
of their mind ; teconciled unto GOD by Jesus CHRIST,
and enabled by his Spirit to walk windy of the voca.
tion wherewith they are called. It is true, that in the case
of those wins have been hardened by a long inteicourre
with the deceitfulness of sin, this wink of reformation is
an arduous and unpromising, and, except to the pale
vering energies of Christian charity, a hopeless task. Still
it is to be attempted s none can tell helot elisnd, in what
degree the endeavours of the pious and humane. to
bring a sinner to CHRtST, will be blessed and prospered
by Him, who desireth not the death of the nicked, but
rather that he should turn bons his ways and live. No, e
nay presume to limit the wonder-working efficacy of
that word, which is quick and powerful, and *bat pet
than any two-edge d.sword,and a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the, earl. As in many splendid instance,
belive, so it timy again in any case, be found effectual,
and mighty, through GOD. to the pulling down of the.
s rong bolds of sin in the heart; casting down imagina-
tions, and evety high thing that ezalteth itself against
•the knowledge of GOD ; and bonging into captivity
every thought to ;fie obedience of CHRIST. It is in the
arplication of this remedy. no less than in the pieven-
non cf Lite, that the benefit; of an early education are
strikingly perceptible. Upon the uneducated ignorant
utt-tly unacquainted with the truths, and pre-
cepts, and prohibitions of the Gospel, the word of ex-
hortation falls poweiless and unheeded. The soil, which
was never cultivated, has by neglect become harder
than the rock; and the good seed is scattered upon it
to no purpose. But the offender, whose early yeass
were spent in die school of Christian instructionfaequired
there a knowledge of the leading principles of eeligion,
an acquaintance is kb the contents of Gov 's wori,,which,
although it has lain dormant and inactive in the mind
for many years, recurs to the sinner's conscience in the
season of correction and sorrow; enables hint to com-
prehend the bearing of those arguments, by which the
friendly voice of charity seeks to reduce him to the way
of life; and the Holy Scriptures, which he had known
as a child, may even then make him wise unto salva-
tion, through faith, which is in CHRIST J 11.115.
"Still it may be said, that experience has given us
' but slender rounds of hope ; that Vie cases are but hew,
in which old and practised offenders have been effec-
tually reformed by punisliniient, even when accom-
panied ,by the kindest and most judicious instruction.
Be it sot yet none will presume to deny, that instances of
such reformation have occulted, however rarely ; and is
not the bate possibility of its being effected in a single
instance sufficient, I will not say to justify, but to re-
quire all the exertions of Chi istian chai ; which, great
and painful as they may be, are not more than com-
mensurate to the value of a soul ? And is not one ease
of genuine repentance and tinning ut.to GOD—one vic-
tim rescued from the great destroyer rf souls—one
trophy raised, by the grace of lion over the passers of
sin and death. a large and abundant recompense to those
who have been p. milted to become instrumental in so
chat amble a work ? Know, that he which converteth the
sinner born the error of his ways. shall save a soul from
death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

4' But the pretest ut unsuccessful experiment, by which
*lw unfeeling or the timid may seek to excuse their
indifference, tails them in the Case of juvenile offenders.
Heir, at least, experience is on the side of benevo-
lence: whatever encouragements to fresh exertions can
be derived from past success, is enjoyed by those who
have entered upon thus department of Christian charity.
That class of criminals, whom it is the most important,
it is also the must easy to reins m. lf, as the Prophet says.
it is good fur a nianthat he bear the yoke its his yoith, it
is then, alsn..mosr easily laid upon him; and its burden is
the lightest and the least galling. Upon the treatment
which a youthful delinquent receives, wh n detected is
his first offence, depends, in all pi obability his character
and conduct for tr.. Remainder of his life, and his
prospects in eteinity. To consign bim, when only
suspected, (and therefore presumbd by the law to
he innocent), or even when convicted of a slight
offence. to a common punishment, and an indiscri-
initiate intercourse with the most hardened and eban-
doued criminals, is to force him into moral contagion,and
probably upon spiritual destruction. To punish, with-
out insti meting him, tends only to harden and brutalize
his mind. To dismiss him, aler a period of confine-
ment, a ithosit any attempt to replace him in that state
and capacity horn which he has fallen. is to throw him
back of necessit, upon evil companions and evil practices.
4, To avoid the first of these evils, no effort ought
to be spared by the Government of a Christian el un-
ary. It it dues not acknowledge the duty, which, in
the eye of sound policy and true piety. is. incumbent
upon i of providing for the religious education of
the people. it is at least under an unquestionable
obligation.not to aggravate. by its detective institutions,
the arils of ignorance ; nor to follow a process for the
correction of its most helpless members, which must
inevitably render them more vicious and depraved.
But the restui ation of an offender to society, when
the demands of public just ce have been sstisfted.
a delicate and difficult work, which requires all the
care, and atten,ion, and perseverance of Christian
charity, employed in humble reliance upon the
blessings f Him who can alone give the increase. Witt.
respect to juvenile offenders, we have reason to prat'.
, his goodness in basing prosp..ted. in • remarkable de

gree, the expel invents which have kitherto been madeol
a scale, infinitely .clisquate tot e erigencie. of betas.,
alyd to the duties of thi. gre t Christian natinn, het
sdfficiently large to justify the asseition, that the wad
of reclaiming and reforming youthful criminals is
•
work so full of encouragement and hope, as to have ll°,
come a fit subject for legislative provision, and natialli
expenditure. indeed, it is well worthy of considerations
even in 11n economical point of virgin how far a mode,
rate expenditure, bestowed upon the education cf peer
children, might be the Means of curtailing, and rende,.
leg tinnecrssary the cumbrous and costly machinery°,
punishment, which is now employed to constrain, ruts
crush) as useless or nokious, members of society,
who have becoine ata for want or early insiroctio:Z

THE EVENING STAR.

LON DON .

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1825.

P.RICB OF STOCKS AT TWO O'CLOCt
Ku& Stock NW 6 et et India bads 114
3 par Cent. Red. 8511 1 let My South Sea Stock
Spot Ct. Cana. mg 1 f 1 Old Annuidel
si per Cent. 931 et die New Ditto 116 i
31 per Cent. lied. 9.3 i 1,1 jet d 41000 Rachel. mil 74
4 per Ct. New,loll I 4500 Ditto 26 S
i per Cent. 1626, 103 i et slit 4100 and 4100 Ulits 74
Lows Ann. let j et die Cowmen:id
India Stock Consols for Acct. 1164
FOKRION FUNDS, TWO 01:1.00K.
Buenos Ayres Bd. fp C. 47 De Acculit
4110111.14 lid., 6 per Ct. Ram 1i5k.1922,5 pet. 13k
Do. Ilcands,l624, 19 Spanish Ns 3 p Ct. 116
Do Acct lsj Do Asct. 115
Danish lids. 3 p Ct. Do. Acct.
BKITIItH AND FOREIGN SHARKS. TWO (Mite&
Nh*LLht PAM
Anglo 31ezican 100 95
Iksiliau 31 20
Potosi Ls Paz & Penw. Asso. 14 3
Ditto Consolidated 10
Marine Alliance 100 1 SI

74 73 7,

It is rather startling to hear, that anothet fleet 4'
Russian men•of•war is immediately eapected to paw
through the Downs from the Balic. Our Deal eons,
pondent informs us, that the pilots of that port an is
momentary expectation of the arrival of lament at
fifteen sail of tessels of war, on their way to joie, the
Russian fleet in the Mediresrahean ; and a kite, which
we have seen states, that ruse of these Russian ships bad
already passed by, as a large ship was seen in the offing
on Sunday evening, which was supposed to be a
She however kept close to the French shore, and palmed
her course down Channel. It was therefore ebourbil
that the whole squadron would probably continue**
voyage without tluching at an Englith port. Surely
'all this must excite some uneasiness as to the intentices
of our magnanimous Ally.

Of all the demands of Russia for the obtaining of
which the present war against Turkey is caged, that
of the liberation of the commerce of the Black Sea ap•
pears to have met with the most general approbation,
particularly en the Continent. The Autocrat ((Russia
has assumed, it is said, the character of a Liberator, and
associating the general freedom of commerce with Oats(
his own trade, demands an unmolested passage of tbs
Bosphorus for vessels of all nations. Such an acquisition,
it effected in its literal sense, would indeed be highly
beneficial to every commercial Power, though the au.
vantages reaped byßussia, in having her southern ports
opened to ships from all parts of the world, would far
exceed those likely to be obtained by any other natio..
But supposing the Porte to be reduced to a condition of
helplessness, or ultimately driven out of Europe, and the
Russian Eagles planted in Constantinople, what is then
I to be the security of Europe for the freedom of this
passage?. or in whose keeping is it proposed to be
placed? The Porte has certainly ale ays been faithfel
to Treaties concluded with her, and claims in this respect
full as much confidence as the Essence. Any change
of events that should put the Bosphorus and the D4lO
dandles into the hands of Russia, whether as undis-
puted mistress of them, or as tru tee for the rest of
Europe, mini tbe regarded without apprehension. Oar
merchants may judge from the consideration shown to
British commerce by the present blockade of the Dir.
danelles, how much their interests would be likely to
be advanced by their being in any way dependent on
the caprice of NICHOLAS or his Imperial successors.

The French Papers received last night add little to
the information previously received, respecting the
state of affairs in the East of Europe. They merely
stet- that a confident hope was entertained at Odesss,
of the speedy fall of Varna, and coccur in representing
the Russian array in so distie,sed a state, in their retreat
from Schoml4, as to make the Euratom desitals
peace.

Last night we received Dutch and Berlin Papers; the
latter contains a blandest() of the Emperor NICHOLAS,
issued at St. Petersbtugh on the 20th ult. ordering s
levy of four out of every Svc hundred men thoroughote
the Russian Empire. This Manifesto, though it telto
of the success ut the Russian arms against the Ottomsa
Porte, is emstrained to admit that the Turks will not
submit to any terms. According to the estimate, the
levy will produce about two hundred and forty tboe•
sand men, and it is ordained this new corps shall be
ready is two months from the Ist of November.

We limit received this morning Hambergh Papers to
the 9:h; and the Algaseine Zeitousg to the Bth instant.
Their contests possess no interest—

STOCKHOLM, sit I*.

21. da Combs, wbo bap used for Ike or cis Tars ao Ports
Cigars* d'Afairse in this city, bee sold Ms fermium sad tato
Mose in the pantry, subsea be will wait to see abet torn the slain
of Ms eamotry will taint. The Court traits bias whit the seme
tined= as before.

San. 16.--In erase to encourage the cow wens of Sweden with
distant commies, ws ooderstand that the Closentmenat Wends
shortly to Woe a Decree for the diabetics or the dudes of cos.
mina on pods caning direst from such COINNAIII. Wand= die
Governateot has, so special application, wily declared that pre'
Juce and lIMMIteCtILI re brought direct from the Cape of 6'44
Hope in Swedish ships, Sc which shall be **pseud to that armour.
.had *ay a todostiets in the duties d swims awl coovur sfll3
per dad. and has pat tly illowsd a redaction if Ca per corn. on do