HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



141 



were found — those discharged by 

 proclamation — those convicted — 

 those acquitted of the capital part 

 of the charge — the sentiments 

 pronounced, and the executions 

 which took place within the pe- 

 riods alluded to.'' This motion, 

 after some little conversation, was 

 agreed to. 



House of Commons, May 9 — 

 Sir Samuel Romilly stated, that 

 the subject to which he had now 

 to direct their attention, was of 

 no less importance than what he 

 had already submitted to their 

 judgment. In considering punish- 

 ments, as they operated to the pre- 

 vention of crimes, they might be 

 divided into three classes. The 

 principal of the first was, that 

 the punishment of the individual 

 should operate on society in the 

 way of terror. The second was, 

 to put it out of the power of the 

 person offending to commit crimes 

 in future, either for a certain time 

 specified in the sentence, or for 

 ever. The principle of the third 

 was, the reformation of the of- 

 fending party. This third mode, 

 he feared, had been very much 

 neglected of late years, though 

 he was ready to allow, that there 

 were many very honourable ex- 

 ceptions in the conduct of the 

 different counties which had esta- 

 blished penitentiaries ; of which 

 he proceeded to show the great 

 advantages. He was not, how- 

 ever an advocate for solitary im- 

 prisonment, unless combined with 

 useful labour. 



Mr. Secretary Ryder agreed in 

 many of the general observations 

 made by his right honourable 

 friend. He thought it would be 

 best to put off the discussion for 

 the present, and he should take 



all manner of pains to inform him- 

 self fully on the subject before it 

 should be again discussed. 



Mr. Frankland, too, Mr. Wil- 

 berforce, and Mr. W. Pole spoke 

 in recommendation of the peni« 

 tentiary system. 



Mr. Windham did not expect 

 much good from the establishment 

 of penitentiary Houses. He did 

 not object altogether to the prin- 

 ciple ; but if such Houses should 

 be established on the plan pro- 

 posed, he should be very jealous 

 as to the manner in which the re- 

 ligious instruction was inculcated. 

 Sir Samuel Romilly, with the con- 

 sent of the House, withdrew his 

 motion for the present, and fixed 

 it for a future day. 



This motion sir Samuel made 

 on the 5th of June. He stated 

 that the object of his motion was 

 to carry into execution a plan for 

 rendering the administration of 

 the laws more effectual, which 

 held out a better prospect of re- 

 forming criminals, and of attain- 

 ing all the other objects of all the 

 penal laws, than any that had 

 hitherto been found practicable. 

 It was a plan that had been formed 

 by some of the wisest men in this 

 country : Mr. Justice Blackstone, 

 Mr. Howard, and Mr. Eden, now 

 lord Aukland. The great objects 

 which they proposed to themselves 

 were to reform criminals, by se- 

 lecting them from their former 

 associates ; separating those of 

 whom hopes might be entertained 

 from those who were desperate; 

 teaching them useful trades ; ac- 

 customing them to habits of in- 

 dustry ; giving them religious in- 

 struction ; and providing them 

 with a recommendation to the 

 world, and the means of obtaining 



