The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1825-07-29 (London, England)

IRELAND.  At the present Limerick Assizes Mr. Sergeant Lefroy, in his charge to the Grand Jury, on opening the Commission, made the following judicious observations:,-In looking to the offences on his Majesty's subjects, there were to be found no less than ten homicides; however, there was but one of them connected with those disturbances which had so lately disgraced this and other counties in the South of Ireland. Still there was something extraordinary in the circumstance; and it was with real anxiety he put the question to himself, bow ten homicides could exist on the face of the calendar. They should all put it to themselves with an hottest anxiety to sift, If possible, the cause, aid apply some effectual remedy. The majority of these homicides originated in affrays, sudden riots, or at tails. Now it is obvious (continued the Learned Sergeant), this states( crime creates a reckleseness of human lift, a precipitancy and unconcern in spilling human blood, never too much to be deplored. Although the law mitigates the offence to manslaughter, we should not forget that it habituates our population to acts of cruelty, and prepares them for desperate deeds of a deeper die, if ever there should be a regular system of disturbing the public pewee. It is therefore high time, and humanity calls on ua to stop those offences. Now that the county is quiet, there is the more time to apply those preventive remedies. Much change could not be expected in the nature of that more advanced part of the population, whose habits were matured, and who were innured to vice. If principle would not avail, they should try the terrors of the law, and his Lordship hoped the Bench would be found firm in its administration, and that no false hd. manitv would prevent it front exercising the duty that devolved on it. He took this opportunity of declaring. for his own part, his determination, in every case of aggravated manslaughter, to traus. port, either for life or for a term of years. He trusted that this would check the flippancy and unconcern in the shedding of human blood, particularly observable in the grown portion of the popula. lion. In the rising generation an improved education and improved morals would, he trusted, correct the defect. His Lordship congratulated the Jury on the determination of the Legislature to apply to the root of the evil. The Legislature have resolved to carry into execution a system of National Education, founded not only a principle that must suppress every stimulus to crime, but will substitute a feeling of true morality. The lower orders, he thanked Providence, would no longer be reared up like the berate of the field, without feeling or a sense of being accountable for their actions. Suth a system of education as he alluded to, now that it was entertained by Government, was no longer looked upon as enthosiastic or chimerical. Look at the thing with the eyes of common sense and experience or as a man, and who, not lost to all discernment, cannot perceive the important advantages to be derived by the State and society at large, from having a people impressed with an idea of thee being accountable for their actions, and the obligetions of averring truth when on oath. If properly carried into effect, no system could be better adapted for the attainment of the objects it has in view. It is high time such a remedial system should be carried into effect—hut it neither belonged to the present time or place to teach such a system.