The Sun. — 1850-10-17 (London, England)

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.  It was as if a well-stocked preserve were thrown open to a body of poachers, the caretakers and game- I keepers being prudently sent out of the way.l What materially enhanced the danger was, that there was no such negligence in the adjoining counties of Hants or Sussex. An efficient body of police were maintained in these more distant shires; while the wealthy inhabitants were left without protection. The plunderers were thus induced to carry on their depredations in this favoured district, where they were at the same time assured of a handsome booty and reasonable time to make their escape before any impertinent inquiries would be instituted as to their innocent amusements. If they trespassed in this quarter, patrolled by the Metropolitan Police, it was certain that there would be a speedy and energetic pursuit, that the scent would be actively followed up, and every point in the trail closely observed, so that if they even escaped conviction they would still be marked men, kept under close surveillance, and subject to arrest on every occasion when any reasonable suspicion could be entertained. The same might be asserted of Sussex and Hampshire, but it was very different in the lower portion of Surrey ; that was the land of promise, to which the gallant souls who scorned to be bound by legal trammels flocked whenever the neighbourhoods which they had previously patronised became too warm to hold them. The number and magnitude of the offences are, therefore, by no means so surprising as that the inhabitants should have so long remained contented, without making some effort to obtain the much-required protection. A simple fact in connexion with the Frimley murder will explain the entire state of affairs— " from the want of proper authorities on the spot, no less than sixteen hours elapsed before any policeman was engaged in endeavouring to detect the guilty parties." Under such circumstances the refusal to appoint a rural police on the ground of expense must be acknowledged to be of a piece with that policy which is generally denominated "penny wise and pound foolish." It must not be supposed that the appointment of such a force would alone be sufficient to protect the inhabitants. Offences will occur in the best-watched districts Reckless and desperate men will seize on every opportunity that may offer for crime; even in the busiest and most carefully guarded localities outrages of the most formidable character will be attempted, and frequently with success. All that can be done is to ensure prompt attention to every case, and a strict and vigilant search after the offenders, so, as far as practicable, to abridge their chances of escape. No pains, no expense, should be spared to detect the criminals, and make certain punishment attend on guilt. But this is the duty of the authorities, and not of the parties injured—of the public generally, and not of individuals. It is too much the habit to consider that the whole duty devolves on the person previously aggrieved. He is expected, whatever may be his circumstances, to offer a reward for the apprehension and conviction of the offenders, and to take upon himself the onus of their prosecution If any deficiency 'should occur, he is censured ; and what should be regarded as a great act of public justice, degenerates into the gratification of private vengeance.  It may be said that in uses of magnitude there will be public prosecutions. Undoubtedly so, where indictments for murder or capital felonies are preferred; but petty cases of robbery and offences against private property are comparatively disregarded, and the offenders are but too frequently suffered to evade the penalties due to their crimes, through the apathy, incompetence, or careless good nature of those whom  they have injured. Many, alas ! too many, persons have bczome practised hands, going through the several gradations of crime, until society has been horrified by some sanguinary murder, which can only be expiated by an ignominous death upon the scaffold, through the impunity that followed their earlier offences from the want of an efficient public prosecutor. For this society is often nearly as much to blame as the wretched criminal who may be strangled in due form of law, upon the scaffold.  We have received the Paris journals of yesterday. -  M. TEIEL, the ex-coachman of Louts Paimrrr, ambitious of the fame of M.