, 1865-04-25

tondIy regard as their fathcrland> and a
happy settlement therein. These feelings
are worthy of every respect, although
they may not be found to survive for any
length OF time, the bitter experiences of
an emIsrant's life in the African jungle.
1t has been their wish, in some, perhaps,
their ambltion-no unworthy wish-an
ambition for which there is no reason to
be ashamed-to go back to Africa, in the
hope OF finding a wider field for their la
Dor, and better opportunities for their
abilities than this little Island afforded /;
and there is no one, we are persuaded,
who will not unite in wishing them God
speed.
The April Sessions of the Criminal
Court was opened on Monday, with the
usual tormaIilips. The Calendar contain
ed 81 cases., chiefly petty larcenies and
assaults, which were got through with
during the next two days, and the Court
has been discharged. So far as it goes,
II IS a favourable evidence of the condi-
ton Of the Island as to crime. But the
Chief Justice does not seem to take this
view OF The matter. AItho' he begins his
Charge to the Grand Jury with the state
ment of the diminished number Of cases
on the Calendar, amongst which ''there
is not any charge Of the highest decree
OF crlme;3' is larcenies of different kinds;
5 assaults and injuries of the person; four
charges OF forgery against one individual
"a S)oIdler), and a charge Of u~ttering coun-
tertelt cola j; all Of which was disposed of
III two days; and aItho' he goes on to
mention, that in the Bridgetown Gaol
the number OF prisoners under confne-
ment has been reduced from LAG in Deer.
last, to 1874; Or IS per CT. and so on
thro' The other Prisons in the Island and
the total number Of prisoners reduced
from 409 in Deer. last TO 375, or about
S per CT; and altho' with respect to the
existing system of discipline, he finds, it
has been carefully carried out in our pri-
sons, and has nothing TO say against it.
His Honor concludes his address with no
better assurance than that "for the last
Is years at least crime has been on the
increase - and as q means of checking it,
he has no other recommendation to make,
than a more stringent system of prison
discipline.
The Chief Justice arrives at this con-
Ciu>lul On com EdFlnT the GaOI returns
since lS45 in periods of S years. In the
first period, from 1916 to I849, there
were 432 cases tried and punished by the
Court. In the next period from 1849 to
1854, the number of cases was reduced
to 397 near 10 per cent from 1854
50 there was an increase from 387 to 46I,
or near 20 per cent; and from 1859-64,
an Increase from 469 to $50 or near 30
per cent. The increase has been since
1854, during the last 10 years. Previ-
ousIy the returns show a decrease in the
number of convictions for the period
1849 to 1854 compared with the proceed
ing period 1859. Sir Bowcher also
makes the remark that the smallest num-
brr of cases in any one year was 81 in
1851 and the smallest number of cases
on one Calendar was IS in August Of ihe
same year 1851 /; whilst the greatest
number Of cases IN any one year occurred
in 1868, and the greatest number on any
one Calendar was 81 in Deer. Of the
same year 1868.
Now what was the character of these
two years, The year 1851 was remark
ahtv ceasnnahla. the ausuinO cr0n of