The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-12-16 00:00:00

doubts of the culprit's power of endurance, is shown
by the fact of his consulting the surgeon. There is a

of the former, which de-
nands some slight observation. He stated that the
solitary cell was "precisely the same as those in the
hospital," with the exception of the absence, in the
former, of " the light." If such be the fact, (and we
take it for granted from such a quarter,) either the
punishment cells are far too " comfortabla,

point, too, in the evidence

' or the

hospital rooms are totally inadequate to the purpose of
accommodation and case for which they are intended
by the legislature; and the sooner an amendment is
made in them the better, both on the score of good
policy and humanity. What the contents of " the
letters" were which constituted the new offence of the
prisoner we cannot tell, as they did not transpire. This
is, however, of little or no moment as affecting our
argument ; for whatever their character, no great dread
need be entertained, we think, of epistles from such a
quarter being pregnant with " treasons, stratagems, and
spoils." If the writing of letters at all—except such
as are complimentary to a gaoler—be a crime, why
facilitate its commission by permitting prisoners the
use of pens, ink, and paper, which may easily be kept
beyond their reach. If, on the other hand, the prison
regulations permit the furnishing of the materials, and
the keeper has the legal power to intercept and peruse
the letters of prisoners, (of which last we have, how-
ever, strong doubts,) the simplest course, if they, con-
tain offensive matter, is to destroy them in the prisoner's
presence, and thus cure him for the future of his
furor seribendi. These are, however, minor points. What
we mainly complain of is the uncontrolled power given
(as herre developed) to a gaoler to inflict a new and
additional punishment on a prisoner after his judicial
sentence—that gaoler being himself sole witness, judge,
and jury—without the enquiry and immediate sanction
of one, or two, magistrates. A prisoner for felony is,
we admit, in the eye of the law, civilly and politically
dead ; but he ought not to be so far outlawed as to be
at the mercy or the caprice of any individual not
clothed with magisterial authority, and merely a ser-
vant to carry out the sentence pronounced by a legiti-
mate tribunal. We fully recognise the necessity of

strict discipline in a gaol, and of additional punishment
being inflicted on delinquents who infringe the esta-
blished and necessary rules ; but we deprecate the ad-
judication, in such case, and the:measure and kind of
punishment, being left solely in the hands of any go-
vernor—

be he who he may—much less, as in. this in-
tance, in those of a young man, not of the greatest
experience in the world, and who cannot be so well
qualified as his superiors and seniors to appreciate those
peculiar feelings, mental and bodily, of which, even
ed, in common with others of our

culprits are poss

species. We uoubt not but such a power is given by
the gaol regulations; but its delegation is impolitic and
dangerous, and as justice ought ever to be tempered

with mercy, and the tempers of gaolers are frequently
put to severe trials, the presumption is, that it may be
exercised at times without that due consideration and
discretion which would naturally characterise the de-

cisions of those, who, not being in immediate contact
with the offenders, are unenfluenced by personal of-
fence. We would, therefore, urge upon the authorities,
and particulark upon the Prison Committee, the pro-

priety of an amendment on this point. No new pun-
ishment ; no new deprivation or restraint, beyond those
involved in his original and legal sentence, should, we

investig

ation, sanction, and signature. There are al-

ways active visiting justices, whose aid may readily be
had on any emergency. Such a course would vindi-
cate the law from all suspicion of undue severity; ren-
der the management of our gaols as purely constitu-
tional and respected as that of our courts of justice;
and remove from their keepers a burden of responsi-
bility from which, we doubt not, they would most

LOCAL

NEWS

THE WHEAT CROP.—The wheat crop is coming up beau-
tifully every where, the seed having been got into the ground

son than for many years before. It is so luxu-
rious in some places as to require eating down with sheep.

better this

The Lord Lieutenant has appointed John M'Neile, Esq.,
of Parkmount, to be the high sheriff of the countylof Antrim
for the ensuing year.—Belfast Times.—[Mr. M`Neile is an
elder brother of the estimable incumbent of St. Jude's, in
this town.]

On Monday Evening last, a meeting was held in the Na-
tional School-room, Great Crosby, to take into consideration

n organ,

y subs(

willingness to exert themselves'in procuring subscriptions for
so desirable an object, and the subject having met with the
cordial approbation of the, majority of the congregation, there
is every reason to :hope that :Great Crosby will not long be
without what is now generally looked upon as a necessary
part of the temple of God.

There was seen on Tuesday morning, in the neighbourhood
of Bidstoti-hill, a large flock of wild geese, one of which fell
a prey to the unerring aim of Mr. William Knowle
Claughton.
DEATII BY DROWNINC

ku inquest was held on NV(
The decease