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DIMINUTION OF ENORMOUS OFFENCES, IN BRITAIN, CONJECTURES ON THE CAUSE.

In forming an estimate of times and manners it is necessary to look at all circumstances, and to pronounce not merely, as it were, in the gross, but after examination of particulars and incidents apparently of small importance, yet on the whole of great influence. The fact is undeniable, that amid all the civilization of the times, there is ample room for amendment of manners: The profligacies that interweave themselves with the public taste, amusements, and gratifications, are utterly indefensible, and are censurable in the highest degree-yet, that criminal and flagrant offences, have lost much of their savageness of character, may fairly be inferred from the foregoing tables. Crimes that disturb domestic peace, are not the immediate subjects of our reference; but crimes that disturb the peace of society. Murder, for instance, is one of those desperate violences, that demand the severest punishment: but murder is comparatively rare among us: because it is usually the effect of angry passions, not of systematic trade. Highway robbers who, formerly, very frequently added murder to their robbery, now very seldom do so. In fact, highway robbers, themselves, are far less numerous than formerly, regard being had to the greater temptations which are offered on the public roads, to the greater number of passengers, and to the greater quantity of wealth, always in transitu from place to place. Regard must also be had to the increased population of our country: burglaries and housebreakings, therefore, are not only less common in point of actual numbers, but they are considerably less common, if the increased number of houses, which of course offer so many more opportunities of prey, are, as they ought to be, taken into the accompt. We are therefore induced to conclude on the whole, that crimes importing barbarity, are greatly diminished, in fact, and much more in comparison. Our readers have seen the remarks of official authority on the foregoing tables: and that, as might be expect ed, the neighbourhood of the metropolis is most abundant in crime: yet if we may take the number of executions, as our guide in estimating the number of criminals that deserved to be executed, we shall find our notions on this article are completely justified. The number executed in London in seven years, was from 1749 to 1755-306: from 1784 to 1790-379: from 1791 to 1797-144: and from 1798 to 1804-103. Whatever, therefore, has been the character of our laws, as shedding too much blood, the administration of those laws, does not appear to have been,. lately, chargeable with that severity.

It might be worth the while of some intelligent patriot, to enquire into the causes of

this change. Sir Samuel Romilly has latelystated that a much smaller number of offences were convicted by juries than ought to be, as the juries were inclined to be merciful, by the consideration of the severities of our statutes." But, Old Bailey juries were always inclined to be merciful: neither twenty years nor forty, have made any difference in this respect. It has long been known as "the most merciful court in the kingdom." We must, also, attend to the diminished value of money. By the statute of William and Mary the stealing in a shop or dwelling house to the amount of five pounds in value, was rendered capital. But five pounds now, are not equal in value to five pounds at that time: and if the jury agree to consider ten pounds, or even fifteen pounds, as equal to five pounds then, they do but execute this law according to its spirit, when they acquit for five pounds, though they condemn for ten pounds. In Queen Elizabeth's time the theft of twelve pence under certain circumstances was made felony: but a jury under George II. does well in considering the relative value of money then, and now these twelve pence may justly be quoted at five shillings, where life is concerned; and a jury so quoting them deserves no reproach. This then is a striking instance of the excellence of our mixed, forms of administration of government. The jury qualifies the words of the law, according to the case before them: if it be marked by any unusual circumstance of profligacy, they can condemn for twelve pence; the law authorizes them. e. it is necssary for the public welfare that those unusual circumstances should be repressed by punishment: if the transgression appear to them in a less criminal light, they can take into their consideration the relative state of times, and things, and instead of pence, think of shillings, as contemplated by the spirit of the law. In like manner, though by the statute of queen Anne, stealing to the amount of forty shillings be made capital, yet the jury not unfrequently put the value of thirty-nine shillings on the article stolen, where the case admits of it: and in this they act properly enough, if the value of the arti cle be equal only to the value of thirty-nine shillings, in the days of queen Anne.

But there is another consideration not to be overlooked here. Has not the power of instruction, of letters, and better education been very greatly extended during the last twenty or thirty years? Has this had no influence in softening the ferocious passions of

:

This learned and worthy knight has lately introduced into the House of Commons, a bill for the improvement of our criminal judicature and for the remuneration of those who shall be declared innocent, after trial by their country; we shall notice this further when it is passed into a law.

word, though we own its incorrectness) in favour of good morals, good manners, the public welfare, social institutions and RELIGIOUS EXERCISES, that such having no irksome sense of the law, may, by habit, which is second nature, be a law to themselves.

THE GATHERER.

No. III.

I am but a Gatherer and disposer of other men's

stuff-WOTTON.

Curious Letter, by Dr. Walker, who accompanied the Expedition into Egypt for the purpose of extending Vaccine Inoculation. John Walker to friends Pemberton, Hewit and Gibson.

our nature? Have not the lessons implanted in the mind, in early youth, been so far woven into the habit, that a sense of horror at the commission of savage crimes, murder, for instance, or arson, withholds it from them? There is a kind of invisible pawer that restrains the mind, till passion be so vehemently excited as to overleap all bounds; but this does not take place, as a matter of course, even in hardened minds: they will go so far in guilt but beyond that they feel a remorse, a reluctance. To what is this owing, if not to better instruction impinging directly, or by reflection, on the consciences of such criminals. If this be true, the public is amply repaid for all the patronage it has afforded to letters: this instance, were there no other, is proof of what may be done by general educaHealth and peace be multiplied unto you : tion; and should encourage those who wish inasmuch as I intend to sojourn for a while to ameliorate mankind, to fresh exertions, that in the land of Judea, and have already a com the youth should be taught their duty (this is panion to go with me thither, who is an EDUCATION) and we may rationally hope and inhabitant of Bethlem Judea, I turn to you trust, that, in a general way, what the youth to request that you will commit to rememhas been taught as duty the man will prac-brance, that any letter sent for me to that tise as such. Solomon was of the same opinion:"train up a child in the way he should walk in, and when he is arrived at mature life, or even at old age, he will not depart

therefrom."

Another argument in corroboration shall close this paper: of what class, generally speaking, is that number of criminals, which is actually presented at the bar? Is it from among that rank of life, which has received a good education, that the mass of delinquents is derived that flagrant violences are called up for punishment. We believe not. This rank, and the upper ranks, of society, are polluted, no doubt, by more private vices but they seldom afford instances of atrocious guilt towards the public. Yet have they the same hearts, the same passions, the same perversities, and the same temptations, as the lowest of their race: what controuls these inclinations? what confines these corruptions? Certainly education. What reason can be given why this power which produces so beneficial an effect on one class of men should be altogether inefficient on another class? especially, is not the inference of its inefficiency contradicted and annulled by the proof that education has actually changed the character of the crimes committed among us, and diminished the number of those instances of violence which were at once our unhappiness and our disgrace! While, therefore, we cannot but approve of every attempt to bring the letter and the spirit of our laws to as complete a coalescence as the Auctuations of human affairs permit, we would add our hearty desires that such measures may be taken to implant in the minds of our population in early life, a right bias, a laudable bias, (we are not ashamed of the

ship of the King's which is by interpretation the Thunderer, and whose sign is the Eagle of Jupiter, will be likely to reach me in whatever part of myjourneyings it may be. The letters I sent to Joseph were directed to the care of the wife of him who commanded this ship and may yet be in her keeping; if so, it will be pleasant unto her, if ye call on her and take them into your charge;-farewell,

Written at Rosetta, on the 18th day of the 6th month, in the 41st year of the King, when his armies came from afar, from the East and from the West, and encompassed Cairo about, together with the armies of the Arabians and the Egyptians and the Syrians and those that dwell in the land round about the Hellespont and in the isles thereof, from the river even to the going down of the sun in the Adriatic; and behold the fall of the city, will it not be shortly written in the chronicles of the King, and all the world shall hear the report thereof.

Madame de Sévigne's Reflexions.

The following reflection of Mme. de Sévigné, however suitable it might be to the time in which she wrote, is infinitely more so to the present day. What would have been her astonishment had she lived to see a much thicker cloud gathered over the world, and Europe shaken in a manner of which the events she beheld furnished but a feeble, a very fecble resemblance!

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Que de sacrifices à faire à Dieu! je le regarde souvent dans tout ce qui arrive; et nous sommes tous bien foibles et bien tremblans sous la main toute-puissante, qui remue l'Europe d'une telle manière présentement, qu'on seroit bien empêché de dire ce qui arrivera de ce nuage répandu partout."

Letter of the King of Otaheite.

In our last we stated the progress of political
knowledge and power, together with civilization,
as exemplified in the augmenting resources of the
King of the Sandwich Islands, in the South Sea.
Another proof of the advances made in learning
by a Royal Savage has lately appeared in a letter
written by Pomare, King of Otaheite, to the
Missionary Society in London, and published in
their Transactions. As this royal communication
is curious for its style and novelty, we have
thought proper to preserve it in the Panorama.
It is to be understood, that Pomare originally
composed this letter in the Otaheitean language,
(this original we have seen; it is written with
considerable skill, and command of hand, in
fact, not inferior to many mercantile documents
among ourselves, of this we have given a copy, asa
specimen of the language.) This the Missionaries
translated into English, which language the King
understands partially, and he copied their transla-
tion. The writing of this letter is inferior to
that of the other, the writer not being so much
at home while engaged on it. Pomare had writ-
ten various other notes to the English on his
island, and his example has acted as a stimulus
to others of his people to acquire the same
talent.

The Letter in the Taheitean Language, being the
first written Specimen of that Language by
a Native, ever published.
(cory.)

Matarae, Tahele, January 1, 1807.

ΕΠΟΑΜΑ,

Eaorana utou choama ete nohoraa ete fenua, e ete faapee ra mae ete fenua ceno nee ete fenua maamaa nee ete fenua parau eno nee ete fenua ete ore ele peu mactatae, ete fenua ete ore ete Atua mau nee, ete fenua haapao ata nee. rana utou ehoama, eaora hoe au, Eaora' hoe ta tou ea Jehovah.

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Friends, I wish you'health and prosperity, may I also live, and may Jehovah save us all.

Friends with respect to your letter you wrote to me, I have this to say to you, that your business with me, and your wishes I fully consent to, and shall consequently banish Oro, and send him to Raeatca

Friends I do therefore believe and shall obey your word

Friends I hope you also will consent to my request, which is this, I wish you to send a great number of men, women and children here—

Friends send also property, and cloth for us, and we also will adopt English customs

Friends send also plenty of Muskets and Powder for wars are frequent in our country-should I be killed, you will have nothing in Tahete: do not come here when I am dead, Tahete is a Eao-regard less country, and should I die with sickness, do not come here. This also I wish, that you would send me all the curious things that you have in England.-Also send me every thing. necessary for writing. Paper Ink-and Pens in abundance, let no writing ulens it be wanting

Ehoama. Teee tau parau ca utou, eta utou parau eta mac na, eto útou tere, cto utou henaaro. Uatca roatu'ead; tatéa varu váu ea na ca Oro hopoe maore Oca e Raeatea.

Ehoama. Ua faarob maore ou, eta utou parau. Ehoama. Teee hoe stou henaara. E faatea mae hoe utou e tou henaaro, e faatono mae hoe utou ete Taota ea rahe, e te vahene, e te tamaetete. Ehoama, Homae hoe te ta oa ree, e te Ahu no matou, e haapee hoe matou ete peu no Peretane. Ehoama. Homae hoe te pupuhe ea rahe e te Powder ea rahe hoe, é fenua ta máe rahe to matou. Ea pohe au aeta Ooutou taua e Tahete nee, caha utou e fano mae ea pohe au. Fenua haa pao ata Tahete nee eaha utou e fano mae ea poe au ête mae. Teee hoe te tahe henaaro ou, e fapono mae utou e te ta oa ree eáha e toe te peu ree no Bretane. E fapono mae utou. Homae hoe te peu ree no te ta parau, e te Paper, e te Ink, e te Pen, earahe noa mae te peu, te peu te peu ree caba roa etoe te peu ree no te ta parau.

Friends I have done, and have nothing at all more to ask you for. as for. your desire to instruct Tahete, tis what I fully acquiese in. Tis 'a common thing for people not to understand at first, but your object is good, and I fully consent to it, and shall cast off all evil customs.

What I say is truth, and no lie, it is the real truth

This is all I have to write, I have done. Friends write to me, that I may know what you have to say,

For

'I wish you life and every blessing

may I also live and may Jehovah

save us all

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VIEWS OF SPAIN,

Taken in the Year 1805.
No. I.

CHARACTERISTIC DISPOSITION OF THE

SPANIARDS.

The political situation of Spain, induces s to lay before our readers extracts from a recent account of that country, the MS. of which has very lately been transmitted to us by a friend to our work. We shall introduce chapters from this communication as convenience permits. We have selected that which follows, in the first instance, because it forms some justification of opinions introduced in our PLRISCOPE for the present month.

was overlooked by three mountains, two of which were within gun shot, and the third within reach of bombs. Had Figueras belonged to the French, or any other nation, they doubtless would have decided that it was best to fortify those three mountains, and thus prevent the approach of an enemy to the fortress. The Spaniards thought it more simpie to lower the mountaius; two are already reduced below the fire of the place, and they are at work in levelling down the third. The government thought proper to dig a port at Taragona, a city in Catalonia. Taragona is situated in the center of a bay that forms a semi-circle. Steep rocks line the shore all along. No picce of land favoured the intended enterprise; they decided to drive the sea further off; a mine was sprung in consequence of that decision, and a rock being thereby detached, and thrown forward, they formed a jetty about six thousand yards in length under in-which shelter their men of war have already passed the winter in perfect safety. It is intended to gain about four thousand yards more, and by the constant labour of seven hundred galley slaves, a work will be completed, which alone would establish the glory of the age. But Tarragona is in Spain, and the Spaniard who constantly aims at what is useful, labours without ostentation, and cares but little for that vapour called vanity. He does not publish wonders! as other nations have done, be fore they were undertaken; their utility alone distinguishes them after they are completed. It is reckoned that three feet a day are conquered from the sea by the exertions of these seven hundred galley slaves.

There is no doubt bút climate has an fluence over the various characteristic dispositions of nations; but, to deduce from this alone the origin of serious and melancholy constitutions, is an error demonstrated by facts, which every individual is at liberty to verify. The climate of England is damp, and foggy: this is the cause of that spleen and taciturnity which prevail in the English nation, according to the opinion of the French; but the climate of Spain and Turkey is light, the sky serene and the sun always resplendent ought to incline the people of those countries to mirth; nevertheless the Turks and the Spaniards are silent, dull and thoughtful. The climate of Sweden and of Petersburgh is cold, foggy and damp; yet, the Swedes and Russians are as lively as the French.

It is well ascertained that high degrees of civilization far from facilitating the expectation and display of great characters, tend only to restrain them within the bounds of established custom. The passions are masked by forms, and by those deceitful manners which are qualified with the denomination of politeness and bon ton; the inhabitants of cities generally lose in point of energy what they gain in civilization.. The inhabitants of the country, or mountains, particularly, whose manners are harsh and rusticated, have more openness and sincerity of disposition. In cities, the great springs of the soul lose their elasticity, become rusty, and at length have neither play or strength.

But to return to the Spaniards. What nation in the known world has a more ardent imagination, a more acute and penetrating wit? What people are more fiery, more enthusiastic, and more constant in their undertakings? No obstacle can discourage them; if any offer, they behold it coolly, and surmount it by dint of patience. The fortress of San Fernando, commonly called Figueras,

It is deserving of remark in the Spanish character, that a nation which carries passion to a degree of trenzy, is, in its intercourse with the sex, most open-hearted and sincere. The Spaniard possesses a brave and manly spirit; he speaks to his prince with respect, but likewise with a freedom that belongs to the proper dignity of man; a dignity which he is fully conscious of, and which foreigners confound with pride.

The Spaniard is proud; but his pride does not incline him to insolence and arrogance. He does not express inuch, but he is sincere in what he does express; he makes no show of politeness, but his benevolence proceeds from the heart. He is compassionate and kind, and displays no ostentation in his mode of doing good.

The Spaniards are thought to be grave; but gravity is the mark of nations and persons who think, and preserve their own dignity; and gravity does not exclude gaiety: whoever has seen them dance the fandango and valero, must have inferred that they are not always grave. To talk is the result of imperious necessity among the French; it is an error of vanity and good manners; to be silent is

reckoned a sign of pride and stupidity. The success of a man in society is calculated according to the quantity of words which he utters: the ideas he follows too closely are heavy; a matter deeply investigated becomes a tiresome subject of conversation. In a quarter of an hour, a Frenchman, a Parisian, particularly, must, if he wishes to acquire the reputation of a clever fellow, review all the news of the day, from politics' down to fashions; explain the systems of cabinets, foretell their consequences, criticise the new productions, give the best account of an engagement, if in time of war, but above all he must not fail to mention Mademoiselle Rolandeau's song, and the tragic merits of Mademoiselle Georges or Duchesnois. Thus qualified he may be deemed an accomplished, a charming man! The flegmatic Spaniard calculates, and speaks deliberately. He follows without vivacity the plan he has formed, but he follows it steadily. He therefore finishes what the Frenchinan but begins. The Spaniard does not always perform great things, but he never undertakes useless ones. Silent by disposition, concentrating his ideas, he acquires the greater neatness of thought and propriety of expression. It requires four French sentences to convey an idea which the Spaniard will express in one. It might be asserted that a Spaniard has thought more during one year than a Frenchman during his whole life.

It has been pretty generally said, that Spaniards are lazy. But on what is this assertion founded? On the little activity observed among the Castillians. Go into Galicia, and there you will learn that sixty thousand Galicians yearly quit their province and spread as far as Andalusia. They set out in May, and return in September some bringing back from four to five pounds sterling. Thirty thousand, likewise, go yearly into Portugal, to labour in the harvest and vintage. They also bring back the earnings of their labour. Their country is gradually enriched with their industrious periodical emigrations. Visit Biscay, Navarre, Arragon, Catalonia, Valentia, Andalusia, and in general the mountainous provinces of Spain, with all those contiguous to the sea, and then charge their active and industrious inhabitants with idleness and indolence, if you can. The native of Castille is indolent, his national character is otium cum dignitate; but Castille is but one among many; it ought not to be taken for the whole, when you wish to be a fair and impartial judge. The aboriginal Spaniard is active, and apt to labour and industry. I confess that the Spaniard who descends from the Visigoths has not that ardour and aptitude which distinguishes the native Spaniard. The Castillian is lazy, it is true; but his indolence and laziness proceed rather from his partiality to ancient customs:

a ridiculous partiality, indeed, since it proves prejudicial to the good of society. From an immemorial lapse of time, the most arduous labours, those of agriculture, are, in Castilie, allotted to that sex which nature has destined to alleviate the moral and physical pains of man; you see the women in the fields, ploughing, sowing the ground, while the men, wrapped up in their cloak, are basking in the sun in public places (to mando el sol ) and this is their only occupation.

To encourage women in the practice of these agricultural labours, the ancient Castillians instituted a distribution of prizes, which took place yearly, with which those who had distinguished themselves by their exertions were crowned. They thus, out of pride, recompensed that diligence which encouraged their indolence and sloth. This festival is abolished, but the Castillians are still lazy.

The celebrated author of the Cartas Maruccas, Colonel Don Joseph de Calahalso, in a critique on his own countrymen, says, "There are a great many of them who rise late, take their chocolate very hot, and drink cold water afterwards: dress, go to market, purchase a couple of chickens; hear mass, return to the market place; walk about for a short time, enquire the chit chat news, return home, dine very slowly, take their afternoon nap (siesta), rise again, walk in the fields, return home, take refreshments, go into company, play, return at night, say their prayers, sup, and go to bed."

But what country has not its loungers, such as those who, at Paris, frequent the Thuilleries, the Champs Elysées, the Palais Royal; in London, New Bond Street, St. James's Street, Piccadilly, &c. whose chief morning occupation, is a consultation with the bootmaker or taylor, and whose evening_employment is, at Paris, the play-house, Frescati and La Roulette; in London the tavern, the theatres, houses of ill-fame, or gaming clubs. Of those three modes of idling time away, the Spanish is the least pernicious. But who would think of judging the English, or the French, from these particular instances? There are in every country persons who consume their days in futile occupations, and kill time in every way they possibly can.

The Spaniard is said to be ignorant: I think it has been pretty well ascertained that Spain has produced her list of literati and learned persons in various branches. As to the lower classes you very seldom indeed, meet with an individual of the lowest extraction but who knows how to read or write; and we doubt much whether among persons selected throughout all Spain, an instance of such marked ignorance, as that exhibited by a Deputy to the French Legislative Assembly, who, in one of his enthusiastic fits on the means of

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