CEIMmAL STATISTICS. 



27 



to discover the truth will abandon his hypothesis the moment 

 those facts resist his effoi'ts to reduce them into accordance 

 with it. 



Since writing the foregoing I have been favoured with a copy 

 of the Criminal Statistics of New South Wales for the year 1873. 

 In their general results they do not differ materially from those of 

 the thirteen previous years, — that is to say as regards the 

 offenders lodged in the gaols, for it seems that the "uninstructed" 

 supply about one fourtli of the whole. 



The figures are — 



Average 



Persons. Percent. 1860 to 72. Difference. 



Read and write 4,221 43" 60" 17 decrease. 



Eeadonly. 3,103 82- 15- 17 increase. 



Not read 2,367 24- 25- 1 decrease. 



9,691 



The difference here, it will be observed, is in the relative pro- 

 portion of those who are credited with the higher and secondary 

 degree of instruction ; — in the first case there is a decrease of 17 

 per cent., and in the second case an increase in exactly the same 

 proportion. 



The Summary Jurisdiction cases again exhibit different results. 

 These are the figures : — 



Average 



Persons. Percent. 1860 to 72. Difference. 



Eead and write 17,016 78* 58- 20 increase. 



Eeadonly 1,173 5' 18' 13 decrease. 



Not read 3,595 17- 24- 7 



21,784 



Thus we see that the offenders credited with the higher degree 

 of instruction yield a proportion of 20 per cent, in excess of the 

 average of the thirteen previous years, while there is a propor- 

 tional decrease of 13 per cent, in the class which is credited with 

 reading only, and of 7 per cent, in the uninstructed class. 



I have also the Criminal Statistics of Victoria for the year 

 1873 before me, and perhaps a comparison with our own may 

 present some points of interest. They are somewhat differently 

 classified. They distinguish — 



1st. Those unable to read. 



2nd. Those who can read only, or can read and write imperfectly. 



3rd. Those who can read and write well ; and, 4th, those who 

 have had superior instruction, a class Avhich has no place in our 

 returns, and which contributes 285 only to the 43,403 forming 

 the total of those who were taken into custody, summarily dis- 



