4 f 8 
OX THE HABITUAL USE OF OPIUM. 
The conclusions I would draw from the consideration of these ta¬ 
bles and the facts already known regarding Opium smoking are, 
first that amongst the Chinese we have a powerful, and direct in¬ 
centive to crime in the habit of Opium smoking, which, while it im¬ 
poverishes the individual, yet requires great expense to gratify it. 
Second, that the very indulgence of this habit to excess, is socie¬ 
ty’s best protection from crime, by incapacitating the individual for 
mental and bodily vigour. Opium smokers are only able to perpe¬ 
trate lesser crimes, see Table No. 1, being a list of persons sen¬ 
tenced to the House of Correction by the Police for vagrancy, sus¬ 
picion of crime and misdemeanors not worthy of a higher tribunal. 
In this class of criminals 80 per cent are Opium smokers, but for 
crimes of greater moment, such as Highway Robbery, Burglary &c., 
certain ingenuity is required, method and calculation are needed, 
mental vigour and excitement of the passions are necessary, more 
than the debased Opium smoker is possessed of, the want of which 
therefore unfits him for carrying out any such enterprise requiring 
such adjuncts, and only leaves him capable of being h criminal on a 
small scale. This accounts for the criminals sentenced! for Larceny, 
Highway Robbery, Burglary &e,, and greivous offences against the 
person* being Opium smokers according to one Table in proportion 
only of 40, according to the other 50 per cent. 
The third conclusion which I would draw is, that betwixt drunk¬ 
enness and the habitual use of Opium, there is criminally a great dif¬ 
ference. For instance, we find that the abuse of ardent spirits leads to 
©rimes against the person, while the abuse of Opium leads to crimes 
against property. Til© victim to the use of ardent spirits commits his 
crimes while under their influence, the devotee to Opium while under 
its influence is at peace with all mankind, and dreams of nothing but 
his own happiness. The drunkard when not under the influence of 
liqour, may be a moral member of society, and is often a contrite one ; 
but the Opium smoker at that time is scheming the violation of mo¬ 
ral and social laws which when effected makes him a criminal, but 
enables him to gratify his appetite. This third conclusion is borne 
out by Table No. 0 where we find out of 25, 13 are Opium smokers, 
