[ 48 
Wovutp that the purpofes of trafic and the conveniencies 
of fociety could be attained by the labour of fuch men alone 
as have forfeited their lives to the violated laws of their 
country! But this quantity of labour will not fuflice to pro- 
cure fuch a ftock of minerals as the indifpenfable occafions 
of fociety.-demand. The working of mines, and the manu- 
facture of their produce muft, therefore, be in- part effected 
by hired labourers. 
Does it not, however, well deferve the confideration of legi- 
flators, whether the moft unwholefome part of this labour 
might not be alloted to fuch criminals as are now cut off 
from all poflibility of making any atonement for their crimes? 
The punifhment would be fufficiently fevere for the moft 
atrocious’ villainy: the example would be more durable, and, 
therefore, more impreflive than execution: criminals would 
enjoy fuperior opportunities of repenting: and the nation 
would receive fome compenfation for the injuries it had fuf- 
tained by their offences *. 
Or 
* Amongit the ancient Romans, with whom capital punifhments were much 
lefs frequent than they are with us, the “ damnati ad metalla” conftituted the 
principal part of thofe who were employed in the mines, in the feparation of the 
ore, and in the fulphur works. The political wifdom of preferving the lives of 
offenders appeared fo forcible to the Romans, that even Nero, who cannot be 
charged with any ill-timed clemency, not only employed the “ damnati in opus 
© publicum” in digging his canal from Mifemis to the lake Avernus, and from 
thence to Oftia, but even pardoned the moft atrocious malefa€tors to add to their 
number. 2 
Similar regulations to thofe of Rome obtain in fome modern ftates, particularly in 
Spain. The quickfilver mines of Almaden are almoft wholly wrought by criminals. 
