The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-12-23

From the Boston Palladium.
BOSI'O.v MIN LvCfP.3L COURT.

BOSTON .MUALNCH.fL COURT.
On Saturday isst, three boys, the Oldest OF
whom was about sixteen years OF age and the
yoangcst about thirtecn,w-re sentenced In tho
Municipal Court to FIVE days solitary impris-
on ment and i've years hard labor in the State
Prison, for breaking into a store 10 the night
timc, and stealing pocket book containing,
with other articles, about nine hundred dollars
in bank bills. They had ascendcd to tho roof
OF the store, and had forced their way through
The scu,tle down to the counting room below,
where they broke open desk, from which
they took their booty. They afterwards divid-
cd their plundcr,and made of for Providence,
but were detected at Walpole, with the mon
oy upon them. II appeared, on their trial,
that they had used Us much adroitness in
com mitting their offence os il they had been
old offenders. The expected sentence, being
after school hours were ver,drew together
Concoursc Of boys from all parts of the town
10 hear il, aud after il was read to the three
prisoners by the Clerk, Judge Dawes took
occasion TO address them very nearly as fol-
lcws:
Prisoners as the Bar In the course Of
more than thirty years acquaintance with Ju-
dicial Courts,I have seldom head trial more
affec ting than yours. have known middle
aged men scoutged at the whipping post, set
in piorie., and upon the gallows, their faces
branded with hot irons, or their ears cut off,
for crimes not more aggravated than yours.
In pursuance Of later and milder laws you are
sentenced to five years Imprisonment which
tho Court might have extended TO hltcen.--
But compassion for boyhood, and a suspicion
that some Of the parents intrusted With your
education are fAemseiues too much 10 blame,
have induced the Court to temper i,s jAdgc-
ment with lenily. Had you been convicted Of
a similar offence in almost any other part OF
the known world, you might have been "hung
up between hea~eu and earth as unworthy OF
both" do not say these things TO cmbiter
your punishment, but to excite your rcmorse
and, il possible, to make you better objects of
future mercy. Ii is truo, you are now going,
for considerable period OF your youthful
prime, to place appointed for the wicked.
Bat you will not be obliged to select the worst
Of them for your companions and you will
be there taugh, to gain a livelihood by work
ing instead stealing. Poorly as you have been
educated, hope you can read the Bible. In
that book you will find forgiveness, If you re.
pent and at the end OF your iynprsonmen,,if
you make proper use of it, you may come
out purified rather than confirmed in guilt.
Bu, If you encourage evil propensitics, and
learn new lessons OIL WCkeuuess " your new
companions, you will come out worse than
you Z, in; aud an ignominious death will
soon afterwards put an end to your carecr.--
1t is to be hoped THAI the chrildren and young
lads who have ,hronged thi, Temple OF JOS.
tice upon the present melancholy occasion,
peahaps from curiosity, will take warning
from the fate Of the posr boys at tho bar
Had they been kept constant at school and
obedent 10 pious instruction, they woold not
now be standing there, such dreadE'l sights
for other boys to gaze az. The unhappy pris-
oncrs began their vicious course, first by ly
ing and swearing, then cheating their play
mates in little ma,ters,next by pi!ferng small
articles from older neighbors; and, on Suu-
days, either by going into water ard fishing,
or ripping off the lead from gates and fences,
when the owners were in Church at prayers
for thcm--for the rising generation.
Add, still wo:sc to relate, these boys must
have been encouraged by older villains, who
would not hesitate to purchase OF them the
lead, iron, and cordage, which they had stolen
from citizens who had obtained their proper
~ by the sweat Of their brows.
God grant that oia as we'll as young offend
crs may turn from their evil ways,before they 1
be adiuJged by Him, compared with who~
denuncistions the severest OF earthly punish
,uonts are as the dus, Of the balsnee.