178 Sacral Scoence Congress. 
astonishment and indignation, in cases before magistrates, 
intoxication urged in extenuation of offences, whereas it is 
a gross aggravation. No magistrate is entitled to suffer 
one such word to be uttered before him on the part of the 
accused. Any magistrate is bound to stop the party or 
his advocate the instant he begins this, and to tell him 
that if intoxicated he must suffer a punishment more 
severe. It is undeniable that a most wholesome effect 
would be produced by the general impression being made 
that drunkenness, though by law it may not be liable to 
punishment, except by small pecuniary penalty, yet makes 
offences to which it has given rise more severely punishable. 
He concluded his address by a reference to the progress of 
co-operation, which is shown by the great increase of 
business. The traders have joined in giving those under 
them the incalculable benefits of reduced hours of work; 
and in the great towns, as well as in London, the half-time 
rule seems established on Saturdays, to the great benefit of 
the men, both physically and morally. Co-operation, he 
says, is due to the people—not to the Government or the 
Legislature. So are the institutions founded and conducted 
by private individuals, though licensed by Government. 
He referred to the Refuge of Female Convicts, the Carlisle 
Refuge in Ireland, the proceedings under Lady G. Fullarton 
for the Roman Catholics, and for the Protestants under 
Miss Twining, both which are highly approved by that 
philanthropist, our much respected colleague, Commissioner 
Hill. If, he says, in bringing his remarks to a close, so 
great have been the disappointments at home, have we 
anything to console us when we turn our eyes abroad ? 
We cannot, he says, pronounce anything with certainty on 
the state of the Continent as to what may be the distri- 
bution of dominion or the continuance of peace. He 
glances at the principal European powers, and thinks there 
is no doubt that the cause of progress is in a hopeful con- 
dition—that there is a general tendency towards free insti- 
tutions—that the ‘Protestant interest has gained con- 
siderably. In France, he says, there is so strong an 
opposition to the Imperial Government, and so general a 
desire of material prosperity, that there seems good ground 
for a belief in greater freedom of discussion being given to 
public bodies, and even in some relaxation of the laws re- 
specting the press also. Great sacrifices have been made 
for the termination of hostilities. The Emperor’s conduct 
to prevent their continuance has been highly meritorious, 
. 
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