The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-05-02 00:00:00

71

6

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Aatt---- iii---- 44-71-3600 --CsAJNlaTaWitifiligll,lllffaifeA
• estatigrao arsors.so A sew, litsras Cosa, Ist.
• '.. Itr J. T. SAMBA ISAU3IIOI4T. Eili•
—4Ol--
, The object of dm .anthor of this laudable Essay is
twist/inept to sti/hie.griales and gibeseee with clearness
dad brevity; to Finder Postdate proportionote end
sooskittst. sad 4 promote a pore, speedy. and Amp
ramissistrotion of justice. in ;romance of these ends,
the first chapter. of the pamphlet commences with Ob-
servations on the Defects of the Penal Laws of Eng-
land ; and, after noticing the inersasisteney in the dis-
tribution of penalties, proceeds to consider the appli-
cation of pnaisbareat.
In considering, says•the author, the ifistransents of
yonishosext as sew administered, we cannot fail to be
• itrnek with the eject of the sew lights which hare
been shed on prison discipline daring the last twenty
r;r thirty years.
Darin these years prisons, from being dreary and
soiserable abodes, have become spacious, cnomroolions,
and agreeable ; the offensive term priso has been
mollified into the guilder names, House of Correction,
• Penitentiary, Ike.; the tender feelings of the humane
• tare been under a continual state of excitement, to
improre the unpleasantaces of imprisonment, and the
hard earning of the honest and industrious have been
drained to supply the means of rendering punish-
"cut comfortable ! Doting these years, also, the
tolormiag increase of crimes has been a subject of
continuarlameutatiou with the public. The coinci-
&nee is not an accidental owe, it is evidently that of
Faure anti effect. That a houseless, naked, and starv-
ing mate should be tempted to relieve his wants by
acts of dishonesty, when. if detected . and convicted,
.the penalty is good lodging, good bedding, warns
.clothing, excellent food, cheerful society, the daily
rialto of friends, the condolence and tender treatment
' superiors, and light work, or no work at all, is
might he expected. Instances are frequent
the accused candidly say, that they were
and "compel/14 Me theft to get into the
Cori teflon:*
matter of surprise is, when we View the
loess in which so many hard-working men and
.flies drag on existence, that a regard f.sr
character, anal a love of independence, should
them stall to continue honest, and work their
' frames to the very bones, while such exce.l-
- upon their choice if they will only
,nd to be dishonest. The wonder, however,
evaporating, much as the face of the coon-
itered by the immense buildings going forward,
better accommodation of criminals, they do
expand equally with the demand for places. In
-.. where a lilac old prison was seldom half 6,-
ea.teusiee buildings under the new system
found to be elegy* full, and in want of addi-
'bile candidates for admission infest our streets
prefer their claims upon our person and our pro-
swarms, and at noon day.
A the motives of the leaders of the new system
bees good ones, is not questioned, but that their
burs are useful to the public, or td the objects
solicitude, is wholly denied. Where shall
over one good result from their expensive pr -
While gratifying the tenderness of their
by rendering the criminal comfortable., they
sped to render him also religion., honest, in-
s.. Vain attetopt ! convicts may be taught a
air, and to snake hypocritical professions of
and amendment : a spurious artificial religion
also be infsed into some of them, as much at
will encourage them in the idea that through
.hey may. avoid future punishment for their
sues.. Some, we have accordingly fonod, go to
vkation of thieving, with religious tracts ill
pox and instruments of death in another.
rs have *an discovered at prayers, or at meet-
immediately after having committed a barbarous',
'sir, and numbers have been heard in their way
,execution shouting "glory, glory,' &c., anti ea-
in a belief that their crimes on earth will be
:ed by endless joys hereafter. But where are
me.a who from being conricted. thicres hare lse-
• loose and useful citizens? Alas, s• once a I
always a thief," is the sad rule of the eon-
,a .. The loss of honest character with men, as
irisous character with women, is seldom redeem-
, Alike they feel themselves to be outcasts from
respectahle.part of the community, and, according
ens itatioo and circumstances, pine or riot under
infamy of their new condition. Contosixed, as
infamy now is, with condolence and comforts,
feel ices itsciination so shun it or turn foto it
~ formerly. Comfortably fed on the ready pro-
,:ed bread of dishonesty, they are willing so to
on rather than to renew endeavours to earn their
.ally breast by hard labor. indeed the discoeraN
ley Am , and the acquai,:tanees they make, in prison,
isqnal.fy them for a return to honest pursuits.
"Mere the youth who in an unguarded mossiest has
•pVifereel souse trifling article, the man who has coon-
aitted :sn act of dishonesty to relieve a pressing
Int, and the clown who has been enticed into the
.commission of a crime by an old offender or a corn-.
*too intorater, are mixed with and compelled to her
the discourse of hardened thieves—their contrivance%
`eer daring., their hair-breadth scopes, and their jc&
ity, are recounted, compared, and often lighted 401
?with the fire of genius and talent ; they ar interested
.eatused, instructed, their outcast coodition. is seen ill 11
are charms of its own, which they never thought et
they Wells lighlilit of their offences when they sire,
that all *Mimi them have done the same, and nre,
.still comfortable and merry, and from having entrirest
,Putheir prMn bowed 'Awn with shame and cosupdne-
signet, •olitly come.ont ,of it reconciled to the ohmic
'id: in. the praise of its .comforts, and qualified by
-haftilses bare learnt to engage in a series of higher'
Ore against the peace of society:.
d If-the hearts of some few criminals be ain-
foray 'turned daring the terns of prison assoeiatioh,
and prison instructions, who trill repose cootie
fit; thi;na?:who.will employ them ? who will dial
tl.ean ?—Searcely non but those whose thodingai
Of en illicit °awe. Sven if the • criminalacor
.;t: i' &vacs. he has undergone, an re-sortabliphesi
..
iAose..f in an• honest line of fife, his' prison: '
• awillarlaaers Ilse him oat, sad .drain his ear
(-sus biro, .or. drive him Gutsy. limo is: n
cynrroosweattll assailed among the criminal
(state. Those who are in luck are sore to
h:. their destitute or greedy associates, nod .c,.
' : supply their denials& uuder pain of isupeac'

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