The Penitentiary at Millb...
The Times, 1824-11-18T00:00:00

The Penitentiary at Millbank, to which the public atten- tion was so much attracted some time back, having been opened about three montlhs, is gradually increasing the numnber of its inmates. Governmnent appears to be anxiously solicitous to wipe away the opprobrium that has been cast upon this most expensive and hitherto unsuccessful substi- tute for the hulks and transportation to foreign parts. The convicts nowv sent to the Penitentiary are most carefully selected, respect being had to their former character, and scrupulous attention is paid to the state of their health and age; unid those only who are sentenced to seven years' transportation are admitted. A very considerable augrmen- tation has been made in the quantity of food allowedl. The prisoners, on first entering the establishment, are clothed in party-coleured garments of green and yellow ; the two side; of the jacket and trousers being of different lhues: after a shart time the dress is altered to other colours. Sueh bas been the caution adoptea in receiving convicts into this ex- tensive place, which stands upon nearly seven acrec of ground, that not much above a hundred have as yet been sent there, andl these are males only: it is said that females will be admitted in the course of next spring. No 'isiters are permitted to view this place, ualess furnished wvith aih order from the Secretary of State. It has been generally allowed, that English pickpockets are gifted with more dexterity and address in performing the duties of their calling, than persons of the same pro- fession in other countries; the following manceuvre would not, however, have disgraced Barrington or Bill Soames:- A merchant being in the pit of a foreign Opera-house, felt a movemest about his sides, which led him to suspect that his gold snuff-box was in seine jeopardy, and immediately taking measures for ascertaining whether it was safe, be found itwas gone. Seeinig an ill-looking felloweery near him, he did not hesitate to fix uponbhirn as the thief: immedi- ately seising him by the arm, he wvhispered in bis ear-not wishing to occasion any tumtlt, and disturb the perform- ance-- You have taken my snuff-box, restore it this mo- ment, or I wil give you over Co the- pbCb-bflflcerEs`f- " Sir," replied the thief, " pray do not give rn alarm, or I am undone,; it is true I have your box, but I am an un- fortunate man in great distress, and humbly entreat of you to take your preoertv out of my pocket, and the persons around us will know nothing of 42at has occurred." The merchant kindly acceded to this proposal-when the fellow vociferated " pickpocket!" calling on those near him to ob- serve that the hand of the merchant, which he held fhsf was in his pocket. The guard came to the spot, and *5re- headed the accused party, who of course protested nls in- nocence, and. ultimately explained. the nature of the trick which had been practised upon him; but while he was en- gaged in doihg this, the thief glided through the crowd, carrying the gold snuff-box with him. Slix WiALTER SCOTT.-TtiS Gentleman has addressed the folloving letter to the editor of a .3lorning paper, in coase. auence of some remarks vwhich appeared in that paper, reqctiog a. Latin Inscripdion which the Baronet had. hiscribed over the umage of his faivounite dog. The frankness and good htmoor of the wor- thy baronet, manifested in thih letter, strongly support the general opinijon that his morst qualities correspond with his intellectual powers " Sir,-As I am a friend to truth, even i- trifles, I cannot consent to shdlter myself under the classical mantle which Al. LioGel Ber- guer, and some unknown friend, have chosen to extend int their eha- rity over my faults in prosody. The two lines were wzitteP in mere whim, end withont the least intention of their being made public. In the first line, the word jtacs is a mistake of- the tJan- scriber (whoever took that trouble): the phrase is darntis, which I believe is good prosody. The error in the second line, adjiinwin, certainly exists, and I bow lo the castigation. I must plead the same apology which was used by the great Dr. Johnson, when he misinterpreted a veterinary phrase of ordinary occunrrence-iglO- rance-pure ignorance was the c-ause of my blunder. Forty years ago, longs and shorts were little attended to in Scottishetaucation, and I have, it appears, forgot the little I aiiay then haitu learned. I have only to add, that I- am far frein undervauin;g any 'bmdch of scholarship, because I have not the good fottune to possess it,. and heartily wish that those who suctceed us may have-the benefitef a more accurate classical education than was comotn in my earlier days. The inscription cannotnow he altered; but if it remains a memorial of mv want of learning, It shall not in addition convev any imputastion on rnv canadour. I shoulsd have cbeen ashlamcd, at a more stirring time, toask ssmission for this plea of guilty; bat at present you may think it wrorth n place in your paper. Pgugna est dc peapere re~gri.-l remain your obedient servant, " Abbotaford, Nov.12. " WALTER SCOTT."