The Sun. — 1861-07-13 (London, England)

CENSUS OF CIUME.—The commitments for trial for indictable offences are commonly taken as a measure of the amount of crime, and the year 1860 has no reason to shrink from this test, for the commitments in England and Wales fell from 16,674 in 1859 to 15,9 9 last year. But since the Criminal Justice Act came into operation in 1855, transferring a number of cases to the summary jurisdiction, the commitments have given a more imperfect idea of the prevalence of crime; last year upwards of 30,000 charges of stealing, or attempting to steal, were disposed of by the magistrates. A better test may be found probably in the number of offenders sentenced to gaol by courts and magistrates; and the following short table, made up on that principle, shows the centinued decrease of crime :1855. 1857. 1858. 1859. 1860. Sentenced on indict- 14,734.. 15,307 .. 13,246 ..12,470 12,068 menu Sentenced to gaol by 710 •85 795.. 83,123..74,769 70,151 magistrates • •  -92,446..102,102.. 96,374..87,299 82,219 The capital convictions in 1860 were only 48, the smallest number yet recorded. The extreme penalty of the law is virtually confined to murder, no execution having taken place for any other crime since 1841. The case which occurred in that 'year was for an attempt to murder, where life was seriously endangered. Tho average of convictions for murder in the last 10 years has been 17, and that was the exact number in 1860. In five cases the punishment was commuted to one ot penal servitude; in 12 the sentence fi veto atraebduelasetevib`e`fimostsivbeesingto any murders, attempt was inflicted. It is only in these cases that we have in our crime."statistic Of Oreturns e for the sake of robbery, two from jealousy, one from rejected love, two from hatred, one from excitement by drink, and in con instance no • • niotwo Is Antigua  GRAND TRUNK OF CANADA  ReIILWAY.  With respect to the plan of arrangement proposed by the committee of the Grand Trunk of Canada Railway, published on Thursday, the following modifications, suggested by Mr. William Smith, are stated to have received the concurrence of the committee ;  " Sec. B.—That a sinking fund be provided against this half-million, in accordance with the principle of the Drainage Aets referred to in the report, and, as a means of facilitating the raising of the money by increasing the security, that such security shall extend to the rolling stock. " Sec. 9.—That a special report be made by the proposed referee and submitted to the consideration of the shareholders and bondholders, before any new arrangement which may be recommended shall be adopted. " See. 19.—Failing any other effectual protection of the property from local claimants by judgment or otherwise, pending the negotiations for and the carrying into effect of the proposed reorganization, the company's referee be authorized to concur in the appointment of an ad interim receiver. " Sec. 20 and 22.—The words not less than' to be omitted.  " Additional Clause, 23.—1 n consideration of the preference bondholders consenting to a prior charge of half-a-million, and giving up as part of their security all claim to the present or any increased postal or military subsidy, their lien to be declared by the Consolidation Act to extend to the rolling stock and plant, so as to protect the same from seizure for fresh debts after the present debts shall .have been satisfied under the provisinos of the F.oheme."