from trying experiments in states, unless the utility is evident," he lived to see adopted by his country and hallowed by the approbation of all the virtue and intelligence by which he was at first resisted.

From judicial resistance to a mitigation of punishment, good may be hoped, but evil can seldom be dreaded. Such resistance may, indeed, originate partly in attachment to existing customs: (7) and partly in the operation of power: (") but it is chiefly to be ascribed to the influence of kind feeling, to that holy fear which suspects danger and foresees the possibilities of mischief in approaching innovation. Such fear, if illusive, soon passes away. We are told, in a work upon the alteration of the penal law of America, that "the late worthy and much respected "William Bradford, differed with his brethren on "the bench, who denied their consent from none but "the purest and most patriotic motives; such as their "tried knowledge of crimes and criminals had prompted "them conscientiously to respect. On the first appear"ance of the favourable symptoms effected in the go"vernment and conduct of the prisoners, they coin"cided, and afterwards contributed much to its main"tenance." The same opposition was experienced and the same sentiment is expressed by Pastoret, one of the French judges, in a publication upon the reform of the penal law of France, who says: "Des magistrats même, je ne me dissimule point, "sont opposés aux réformes desirées par la nation en

(2) See ante, xvii. as to Idols of the Den.

(*) See Rambler, No. 114.

<tiere.

Nourris dans une connoissance intime de la jurisprudence pénale, ayant pour elle l'attachement "si commun pour des idées anciennes, ils y sont en"cores attachés par un sentiment plus noble. Leur "vertu a souvent adouci la sévérité de la loi, et elle leur "rend cheres des maximes qu'ils rendent meilleures, en leur communiquant l'impression d'une ame ten"dre et vertueuse. Ce n'est pas eux qu'on doit "craindre: ils finissent par être justes."(")

દ

Mais ce qu'on doit redouter, parce qu'elle ne sait ni pardonner ni se corriger, c'est la mediocrité routiniere, toujours prête à accabler de reproches ceux qui ont le courage d'élever leurs pensées et leurs observations au-dessus du niveau auquel elle est condamnée. Ce sont des novateurs, s'ecrie-t-elle; c'est une innovation, répetent, avec un souris méprisant, les protecteurs des idées anciennes. Tout projet de réforme est à leurs yeux l'effet de l'ignorance ou du délire, et les plus compatissans sont ceux que daignent vous plaindre de ce qu'ils appellent l'egarement de votre raison.

L'admiration pour ce qu'est, pour ce qui fut, succede bien-tôt au mépris pour ce qu'on propose. Ils se croient plus sages que nos peres, ajoute-t-on; et avec ce mot, tout paroit décidé.

The following note expressive of the same sentiments, is from Liancourt's Travels: after mentioning with praise the Quakers, he thus proceeds:

"Un d'entr'eux (Caleb Lownes) en a presq' à lui seul tout l'honneur. La "doctrine de Beccaria et d'Howard a promptement germé dans son cœur tout "humain. C'est lui qui a principalement animé ses frères de l'espérance de

son execution. C'est lui qui a provoqué le changement de régime dans les "prisons; qui a proposé d'y substituer la douceur, la fermeté et la raison aux "fers et aux coups; qui s'est laissé patiemment traiter de visionnaire, sans re"lentir ses démarches, dans l'entiére confiance du bien que sa persévérance "opérerait. C'est lui dont le zèle infatigable, intéressant à sa cause tous ceux "qu'il croyant pouvoir l'aider dans sa réussite, a obtenu de la confiance de la ❝ législature, ces loix, je ne dis pas seulement de bienfaisance, mais de justice "stricte, de politique bien enténdue. C'est lui enfin, qui consentant à être "élu inspecteur à chaque nomination, est l'agent principal de cette œuvre ❝ respectable de raison et d'humanité. Que Dieu benisse c'est homme de bien! "J'ai dit que les juges avaient été d'une opinion contraire à cet établisse. ¡ "ment. Un d'entr'eux, plus jeune que les autres, dés espérant moins par con

❝séquent,

If these sentiments of our ancestors, if this practice of our contemporaries, are not deemed a sufficient reason for reflecting upon the untimely fate of the most wretched of mankind: If the thought of a condemned fellow-creature fail to move us to this work of pity, and we hesitate not, in the possession of his faculties and his strength, in the bloom of youth or in the perfection of manhood, in the full career of unrepented crime or the bitter sorrow of deep contrition, to consign his usefulness and his agonies to the grave: If pride will not look up with reverence to those great and good men, who, in their humanity, framed plans, which the active charity of our own time has fully realized: If the voice of wisdom should be disregarded and kindness itself be suspect'ed of design; it is some consolation to reflect that, in this country, prejudice is at least passive; that intolerance is pitied even by intellectual cowardice; that the labours of benevolence are suffered if not

"séquent, de l'espèce humaine, a embrassé avec ardeur ces nouvelles idées: "Il s'est associé à Caleb Lownes pour toutes les démarches, il l'a aidé des"conseils qu'un homme versé dans la jurisprudence pouvait seul donner, et a "partagé ainsi le désir, les peines et le mérite de ses succès. Ce juge est "William Bradford, alors Attorney-Général de Pensylvanie, depuis Attorney"Général des Etats-Unis, et mort récemment, honoré des regrets et de l'es"time générale des ses concitoyens. Il mérite sans doute un hommage parti"culier que je lui rends avec d'autant plus de plaisir, que ce n'est pas une censure 66 pour les autres juges: car ceux-ci, en se refusant à sanctionner de leur *. approbation le nouveau système, n'ont été guidés que par le doute sincère que leur experiènce leur donnait sur son succès; et ils se sont hâtes de l'aider "de tous leurs moyens, dès qu'ils en ont vu l'apparence, sans être arrêtés par "l'opinion_differente qu'ils avaient exprimée: ce qui certes sera un mérite < peu commun aux yeux de ceux qui connaissent les erreurs ordinaires de "l'amour-propre."

approved; and that those who have advanced this one step towards virtue, may see enough of her loveliness, to persevere in inquiring in "what cases we should "desire the death of a sinner," and when "that he "should turn from his wickedness and live!"

There appear to be three modes by which inquiry upon this subject may be beneficially promoted. 1st, By a register of facts, of the sentiments of eminent men, and of the laws of other countries.-2, By an arrangement of existing knowledge;-and 3, by the communication of new opinions with respect to the direction of the different passions intended to be restrained or shaped by the punishment of death.

Of arrangement(") and theory there is no fear but from haste and excess. Learning and genius press forward amidst applause, whilst the patient labourer contents himself with the less flattering toil of collecting materials to assist the contemplations of philosophy and the exertions of active benevolence. It is, however, by facts (") alone that prejudice can be combated and the invectives to which passion resorts effectually resisted. In procuring these facts: in the formation of this register of guilt and misery, how many obstacles oppose themselves! The thoughtless are averse from an interruption of their joy: reflection turns from wretchedness which it is unable to relieve. Can

(c) See page xxvii. where there is an analysis of some of Mr. Bentham's observations upon punishment.

(d) See Rawley's Preface to lord Bacon's Natural History,

we ask gaiety to exchange its light pleasures for the gloom of a prison?" the young tree to leave its "flowers and its sweetness or the olive its good fruit?” Can we invite opulence, knowing none but selfcreated wants, to witness the squalid poverty of him who is bereft of fortune and disowned by friends. The industrious shun him for he has no industry: the virtuous stand afar off for he is convicted of crime: and piety, fulfilling all other christian precepts, may forget that he has a brother "sick and in prison and visit " him not."

To this general apathy our country affords one glorious exception. "Hearing the cry of the "miserable," says Howard, "I devoted my time "to their relief, and, in order to procure it, I "made it my business to collect materials, the "authenticity of which could not be doubted. "I hope not to be entirely deserted in the conflict: "if I am the means of exciting the attention of my "countrymen to this important national concern of

alleviating the distress of prisoners of procuring "them cleanly and wholesome abodes: of extermi"nating the gaol fever: of introducing a habit of industry of restraining the shocking debauchery "and immorality which prevail in our gaols and "other prisons: if any of these beneficial conse

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quences shall accrue, I shall be happy in the "pleasing reflection, that I have not lived without "doing some good to my fellow-creatures: and I "shall think myself abundantly repaid for all the

pains I have taken, the time I have spent, and