The Press. — 1856-06-14 (London, England)

ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. which Mr. Archer had been treated by the Treasury, gested that, with a view of relieving Secretaries of Mr. HEYWOOD moved for a select committee to and exposed a discreditable case of jobbery. Mr, State for the Home Department from importunities inquire what public measures can be adopted to ad- Archer in 1851 had completed his invention for perfrom the advocates of condemned criminals, whereby vance science and improve the position of its cal- forating postage-labels. The Treasury after offering the course of justice was impeded, a certain number tivators. He urged the deficiency of practical re- him 1001. agreed to give him 4,000/. for the invention, of persons, including the judge who tried the case, sults of science in this country, and thought the but they first insisted upon charging him 5001., the should, if there be any fresh evidence, decide whether subject ought to be brought under the considera• alleged cost of certain preliminary experiments made it was fit that the prerogative of mercy should be Lion and investigation of Parliament. with the machine, and then compelled Mr. Archer, exercised. Mr. MACKINNON thought that giving funds for the because he could not pay the 5001. down, to assign Mr. BLACKMORE supported the motion. cultivation of science was perfectly useless; it would the machine over to the Treasury. The machine Sir G. GREY said Mr. Ewart had contended that not create a genius for science. He had been was subsequently found by Mr. Archer to be applithe punishment of death was ineffective, unequal, twenty-five years a member of the Royal Society, and cable to perforating bankers' cheques, but the rreasury and uncertain, but statistical records would confirm he did not believe the society did much good in pro- refused to permit him to apply it to such a the fact that men looked at that punishment with moting men either of literature or of science. purpose, on the plea that the machine was The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed that already assigned. In April, 1851, Mr. Archer offered to greater dread than any other; for, since the abolition of that punishment for robberies, burglaries, and the practical question involved in the motion was print, gum, engrave, and perforate the postage-labels other felonies of the second class had been abolished, whether the Government, by the judicious applica- at the rate of 41d. per thousand, surface printing those crimes had progressively increased, whereas tion of public money, could advance science. But being used, but on the 16th Mas the Treasury conthe crime of murder had remained stationary in relit- the terms of the motion were so indefinite, proposing eluded a contract for five years with Messrs. Bacon tion to the increasing population. In 1845 the number merely that the committee should consider whether and Veitch (who had friends in the Treasury) to of persons convicted of murder was 65, in 1854 62, some means could not be discovered, that he print (on the old system) and gum only, the while the population had increased nearly 2,000,000. doubted whether any advantage could be derived stamps at sd. per thousand. But this was not the The objection of " inequality of eflect " was one from the motion, which he recommended Mr. Hey- worst part of the case. Messrs. Bacon and Veitch's which applied equally to all kinds of punishment as wood not to press. contract, by which they cleared nearly 8,0001. a year, well as that of death. The sensibility of a The motion was supported by Mr.