TRANSACTIONS OP THE SECTIONS. llS 



(3) The establishment of places of refuge for the reception of liberated prisoners 

 who have behaved well in gaol and express a desire for reformation. The number 

 of prisoners of this description is much larger than is generally supposed. It has 

 been calculated that three-fourths of the liberated prisoners never return to prison, 

 and that in the country at large 90,000 criminals in a year, whether deterred by 

 punishment or really reformed, against extraordinarily great disadvantages, do actually 

 return to a better course of life after legal imprisonment. 



The refuge for discharged prisoners at Durham, which has existed for the last five 

 years, has been attended with the best results. Out of 804 prisoners, 747 have been 

 reclaimed. The cost of the Institution has not exceeded ^60 annually, which is 

 about eight shillings for each reformed prisoner. 



It is the careful uptraining of the young in sound religious and moral instruction 

 that will do more to lessen the prevalence of crime than any mode that can be de- 

 vised. Let all public temptations to crime be lessened ; let the prisoner be treated 

 with kindness and consideration, as a man, though fallen ; let a spirit of Christian 

 love rule in the heart and be seen in the conduct of all who are employed around 

 prisoners ; and let the unhappy man or woman see that it is their restoration to 

 society as healthy members of the same, and not simply their punishment, which 

 is the thing aimed at ; we may then expect a great diminution of crime, and a vast 

 amount of real permanent good to attend our labours. The effect of this Christian 

 treatment of prisoners is no chimerical thing. It has been accomplished, and God's 

 blessing may always be expected to attend labours undertaken and carried on in 

 dependence on His promised aid. 



MECHANICS. 



Description of some of the large Valves and other 3Iachinery ivhich have been 

 employed for the discharge of Water at the Manchester Waterworhs. By 

 J. F. Bateman, C.E., F,G.S. 



On the Tubular or Double Life-boat-, invented by Henry Richardson, Esq. 

 of Aber-Hirnant, Merioneth. By Colonel Chesney, Royal Artillery, 

 D.C.L., F.R.S. 



Parent Life-boat. — The parent life-boat of Mr. Greathead only appeared in 1790, 

 but although a parliamentary grant of .£1200 and other rewards were liberally be- 

 stowed upon this individual in consequence, public encouragement appears to have 

 been dormant until 360 plans and models were produced by the liberal reward of his 

 Grace the Duke of Northumberland. 



Failure of the PrizeLife-boat. — The prize was given to Beeching's boat, but her failure 

 on three occasions, with a lamentable loss of life at Rhyl and Lytham, shows that no 

 safe life-boat has, as yet, been adopted ; nor are such boats in sufficient numbers for 

 the wants of the community, even if they were perfectly efficient. 



Want of Life-boats and consequent Loss of Life. — Captain Washington, R.N., makes 

 known the astounding fact, as regards a maritime nation, that in 1500 miles of the 

 Scottish coast there are only 8 life-boats established ; and that no more than 75 are 

 provided for 2000 miles of the English coast; whilst 8 life-boats are all that belong 

 to Ireland. Capt. Washington shows, at the same time, that in 1850 there were 680 

 shipwrecks and 780 lives lost on the coast of Great Britain. 



But numerous as were these calamities at that time, they have greatly increased 

 subsequently ; for 800 seamen perished on the east coast of England during the 

 calamitous winter of 1852-53, and an aggregate of 2000 Brilish seamen on our 

 coasts elsewhere. 



Efforts of Public Bodies. — Since the efforts of the Trinity Board, the Shipwreck 

 and other Societies, however great and meritorious, can only be partial, a centralized 

 system under Government, with funds voted by Parliament, seems to be absolutely 

 necessary ; and since every seaman pays 3d, annually from his limited earnings, he 



1853, , 8 



