128 



Relation between Crime and Instruction. 



accused of crime against persons, in each region ; in the tliird, a similar 

 proportion with respect to crimes against property's in the fourth, the num- 

 ber out of a hundred young conscripts drawn from each region, who can read 

 aud write; in the fifth, the number out of a hundred accused criminals who 

 who can read and wiite j aud in the sixth, the proportional distribution 

 throughout tlie regions out of a hundred annual suicides. 



From this table, it appears that the least criminal region is the central ; 

 and the next the western j and tliat these two districts are also the most 

 ignorant ; while the northern and southern, — regions the best instructed, — 

 are also those the most prolific in crime. The fourth and fifth columns 

 shew that the proportion of criminals who can read and write, is very 

 nearly indeed as great as in an equal number of honest men. 



These are startling facts, aud as M. Cuerry justly observes, diametrically 

 opposed to the prevalent modern opinions upon the effects of instruction. 



But this conclusion is not confined to France. Similar results, as far as 

 can be judged, have been arrived at in England, Germany, and the United 

 States, and are gradually inculcating the conviction, that however beneficial 

 habits of industry may be to tiie improvement of morality, to check de- 

 moralization it is not sufficient merely to found schools, but that we must 

 look deeper for a remedy to counteract this evil. 



Instruction, as M. Guerry philosophically observes, is an instrument of 

 which a good or bad use may be made ; that given in the elementary 

 schools of France, consisting only in the teaching, and in a very imperfect 

 manner, reading, writing, and arithmetic, can never supply the want of 

 education, and can scarcely exercise any great influence on morality; he 

 is of opinion that it renders the pupils neither worse nor better, nor is it 

 easy to corapreiieud how " the teaching a man to perform certain, almost 

 mechanical operations, can suffice to give him regular habits, or develop in 

 him the sentiments of honour aud probity." 



With these words of M. Guerry we cannot but entirely concur. In this 

 country much interest is felt upon the subject, but we are very deficient in 

 accurate information. Sliould, however, our government ever attach the 



