The Sun. — 1857-08-14 (London, England)

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—On Monday, as the Imperial ya•At La Reines Hortense was passing the Royal Victoria Yacht Chub Ryde, on its departure to Havre with its Imperial fr.-ight, a salute was fired from the battery of the club. From some defect in sponging the piece, a portion ot fire was left in the bore, and on the introduction of the following cartridge an explosion took place, shattering the right arm of the gunner in such a manner that amputation at the shoulder was sabstquently considered necessary. The signalman of the club had the thumb of his left hand over the vent, and the limb was blown partly off by the expbsion. The name of the gunner is Jacob Harbour, and that of the signalman Edward Petty. A sum of 701. has been already subscribed for the sufferer Harbour ; and at a meeting ot the committee on Tuesday night it eras resolved to appropriate 25/. from the funds of the club for the same purpose.  A thick blue-book contains the rep ,rt 3 of the inspeaors of various convict prisons. The most _ _  interesting of these is that which refels to Pentonvale. It appears that one of the prisoners stabbed his officer Ns ith a shoe-knife, and that 522.offences were reported, of which 41 were dismissed. Of 1,054 prisoners confined last year 809 were not punished at all, a satisfact3ry proof that the general conduct of the prisoners was good. Two prisoners e4caped, it is supposed through the assistance of an officer, who was dismis3el in consequence. About 530 of the prisoners we're transferred to other prisons during the year, and 558 remained at Pentonville on the 31st of December, 1856. The total expenses of the prison, exclusive of buildings, amounted to 14,6951., reducsd by sundry receipts and by the labour of prisoners to 13,3111. The deaths in the prison were at the rate of 4.2 per mille, and co attempt at suicide occurred. The system of teaching remains the same as before, and the results are satis- , factory. Phe statistics prove that mere "education" is net to be received either as a panacea or preventive of serious crime, as it is plainly a twoedged sword, which cuts both ways, for evil and for good, according to the religious principles and moral habits of the possessors. In short, the greater the crime the higher will often be found the degree of education. The degree of education is higher in convicts (reports the chaplain) than in ordinary criminals. Experience shows that of 1,000 convicts released from this prison 200 will relapse into crime, with less success than before ; 3CO will abandon crime as a bad speculation, and. because their skill in thieving is pretty well lost ; 400 will bona fide, and from principle and choice, adopt a good course of life, and become useful members of socie'y ; and 100 will break down into permanent invalids, and end their days in a workhouse. Taking 1,000 prisoners sentenced to transportation for life, it is calculated that 113 can neither read nor write, 135 can read a little, 291 can both read and write imperfectly, 380 can read well, and 81 are of superior education. Of another 1,000 prisoners, about 15 or 16 appear to have been liberally educated and emplo,yed, 40 to 52 to have been clerks, shopmeu, and bagmen, 26 to 71 servants, and 317 to 388 tradesmen and mechanics. The report on Milbank prison shows that 2,765 prisoners were disposed of last year, 832 remaining et the close thereof. The (reduced) expenses of the prison amounted to 29,6751. 'Of 2,259 convicts whose educational status is recorded, only 243 were totally ignorant. At Parkhurst prison 638 prisoners were disposed of last year, and the cost was 11,1401, At Portland, 2,387 prisoners were disposed of, and the expense amounted to 52,161 i. The conduct of the prisoners as a body, has been good, and they are more patient under labour. At Portsmouth, 1,636 prisoners were disposed of, and the expense was 31,0351. At Dartmoor, 1,517 prisoners were disposed of, and the expense was, 34,4541. Lastly, at Chatham prison, 677 prisoners were disposed of, and the expense amounted to 36,3501.  Country lYlarketz,,.