No. 11.— 1858-9.] STATE OF CRIME IN CEYLON. 2D7 



Taking the above three periods of two years each, we find 

 the average result to be, that in the firstnamed period the 

 offences were about equal, in the second period offences 

 against property stood at to 1 against the person, and in the 

 latter period at 2 against property to 1 against person. The 

 latest returns I possess in reference to Crime in Great Britain 

 shew, that for every offence against the person, there were in 

 England and Wales 4, and in Ireland \ against property, while 

 in Bengal the relative numbers appear to be If against pro- 

 perty to 1 against the person. 



From the first period to the last, it does not appear that the 

 proportions of Convictions has shewn any increase, though 

 the latter compares favorably with the middle period, as may 

 be seen by the following Statement : — 





Cases tried. 



Conviction. 



Percentage of 

 Convictions. 



1834 



95 



72 



75 



1835 



54 



35 



66 



1841 



58 



32 



55 



1842 



99 



39 



39 



1852 



29 



25 



87 



1853 



54 



33 



62 



1854 



32 



20 



61 



1855 



56 



27 



51 



1856 



35 



23 



66 



1857 



43 



34 



78 



The average of the last three years is G5 per cent., omitting 

 fractions ; of the middle period 47 per cent., and of the 

 earliest period 70 per cent. 



Turning from the labours of the Supreme Court to those of 

 the District Courts of the Western Province, we find a con- 

 siderable difference in the results on the records of each of 

 them, arising chiefly from local causes. The returns in my 

 possession extend over six years for the Colombo Court, but 

 over only three for Kalutara and Ratnapura. 



