able periods of fixed confinement, followed by a proportionate period of probationary detention, part of which should be open to remission in consequence of good behaviour, under the liability of such remission being revoked in consequence of bad behaviour while the prisoner was at large.'

We trust that the system which has worked so well in Ireland may be tried in England. The same determined purpose, unflinching zeal, and never-tiring industry' shown by Captain Crofton, may reform our adult criminals; and, aided by reformatory schools for the young, contribute to deliver the country from the large class of persons who now endanger property and life, occupy so much of the time of our courts and judges, and cost such vast expense in their conviction and punishment. Captain Crofton, as it appears to us, has most satisfactorily answered the many objections-some of which were made in our own pageswhich have been urged against his system. He has shown that there is no greater readiness in Ireland than in England to employ convicts: that the association of the convicts in the intermediate prisons is not productive of abuse either as to language or conduct; that the practice of giving the men a certain portion of their gratuity, with the privilege of spending it in certain ways, has not endangered but aided their self-command; that there is no indulgence offered by the diet of the prison, which is the lowest allowed by the medical officer; that those liberated from the intermediate prisons have felt ashamed of their criminal character; that they do not object to register themselves, but regard it as a privilege and a protection; that the system generally is most economical, and can be made, in the work of the convicts, very serviceable to the State.*

'I could,' said Captain Crofton, at Liverpool, 'give many bright and startling examples of well-doing coming under my own personal observation, which would shake the scepticism of the greatest unbeliever in adult criminal reformation. I could tell of men reared and steeped in crime changing their course, and prosecuting a career of honest industry, under the most trying circumstances and the most distasteful labour-men who have at times almost starved than again be sent to prison. I could tell you of discharged criminals transmitting money to others to go to lands where reformation is easier, because employment is less scarce. I could tell you of letters from Lucknow and Delhi, and from other parts of the world, from those who as soldiers have, by their good conduct, been raised to non-commissioned officers, imploring their late companions to turn from the paths of sin and evil. No suspicion of hypocrisy can rest here, for, as is obvious, there is nothing to be gained.'†

Nor is it Captain Crofton himself, or Mr. Organ, the able and devoted lecturer at Smithfield, who advocates this system. Lord Carlisle unhesitatingly spoke highly in its favour after personal observation. Mr. M. D. Hill, a well-known prison reformer, Mr.

*Condensed from Captain Crofton's speech, 'Bristol Mirror,' Feb. 26, 1859. Paper read at Liverpool. Transactions,' p. 381.

Barwick

Barwick Baker, and many others have urged its adoption in this country. Besides, the opinion of the National Association is of the highest value, and will, we trust, induce Government to improve upon the plans of Colonel Jebb for the reformation of English criminals.

Other valuable papers on Prison Reform were read, including one by Mr. Commissioner Hill on German prisons, read in his absence by Lord Brougham, who added some important interlocutory observations. Mr. Hill is well entitled to be heard on a question to which he has devoted a long and useful life. We hope that in the evening of his days he may have the satisfaction of seeing our prisons made reformatories, and our convicts, by such a practical scheme as Captain Crofton's, sent back to society honest, industrious, and pious members of the community.

6

On the subjects of Reformatories and Refuges many papers were read. Mr. Hanbury, M.P., led the way in reporting the operations of the Reformatory and Refuge Unions,' which have been of great service to social reform. Adult Reformatories' were treated by Mr. T. B. LI. Baker; and Miss Carpenter, who has consecrated her life to this sphere of philanthropic labour, contributed her portion to the Association in The Disposal of Girls from Reformatory Schools.' A very valuable paper was read by Mr. Joseph Adshead of Manchester, on the financial statistics of ten reformatories and as many ragged and industrial schools. After these carefully-arranged figures, nothing can be wanting to prove the economy of prevention as contrasted with the expensiveness of punishment. The Rev. W. Fraser of Paisley advocated large reformatories, as most likely to secure well-trained masters, more thorough education, greater variety of trades, more exciting emulation, besides more economy. This raised a very lively and most healthful discussion. But we may not tarry longer in this department.

The two remaining departments of the Association for the Promotion of Social Science are PUBLIC HEALTH and SOCIAL ECONOMY. They severally constitute most important branches of the science of philanthropy. At Liverpool the meetings of these sections were generally crowded, and the discussions were most animated. So many papers had been sent in, that on some of the days each department had to be divided. Over PUBLIC HEALTH the Earl of Shaftesbury presided, and he delivered an introductory address of great ability, to which even 'The Times' gave the palm. We wish that our space had afforded us opportunity of quoting from it. One of the papers which attracted large attention was by Miss Nightingale, on Hospital Construction. This matter was discussed by the distinguished lady-philanthropist with great minuteness and fulness of information drawn from other countries,

and

and with the exhibition of plans for the proper construction of hospitals. The other subjects introduced

'May be classed under two main heads-Drainage and Ventilation. To drain, our towns effectually, without polluting our rivers and lesser streams, and to utilize, as far as possible, the sewage-matter-to ventilate in the best way, and at the least cost, our private houses and public buildings, these are the two problems which sanitary reformers at the present moment desire to solve. It is hoped that the facts and suggestions collected in this, as in the previous volume of "Transactions," afford some useful materials for the formation of a sound public opinion on both these important points.'

The Right Hon. Sir James Stephen, K.C.B., was the President of the Department of SOCIAL ECONOMY, and delivered an introductory address on Emigration, which was characterized by his usual fulness of information and felicity of expression. In the outset of his address he referred to a difficulty felt in this section. By the term Social Economy we propose (as I understand) to designate all those branches of Social Science for which no appropriate place could be found within any of our four preceding specifications. That those branches are very numerous and widely dissimilar was sufficiently apparent at our last annual meeting.' This was abundantly corroborated by the Liverpool meeting. The subjects were so varied, and the papers so numerous, that it was found necessary to divide the section into two, both on Thursday and Friday. The subjects have been classified thus: first, Economic Science; secondly, Population, Labour, and Capital; thirdly, Condition of the Working Classes; fourthly, Workhouse Management; and, fifthly, Miscellaneous. To these might be added, though we have none of the papers printed, the two subjects which occupied the separate sections, Prostitution and the Currency. There was a large attendance in this department, and many practically engaged in the amelioration of society were ready to afford the assembly the benefit of their wisdom and experience.

The first class of subjects was introduced to the Association by two papers which are printed in the volume before us. The Office and Duty of the Statist were enlarged upon by Mr. J. T. Dawson. This is of highest consequence. Statistics are a most valuable portion of our knowledge, and lie at the foundation of our Social Science. The want of them make some transatlantic schemes of benevolence practically valueless to this country. Figures of rhetoric are not so influential here as in America; but figures of arithmetic tell more powerfully here than there. But observation must lead to reasoning, and the statist give way to the social economist. Dr. Hodgson therefore followed with an excellent paper on 'The Educational Aspect and Necessity of Economic Science.'

On Population, Labour, and Capital, several contributions were read, and four of them, very able and instructive, have been published. Mr. Henry Roberts read a paper on the Dwellings

of

The Memoirs and Chronicles of French Literature.

117

of the Labouring Classes, which has been since published separately, and contains a great amount of information, and most useful suggestions on this most important subject. It deserves the careful perusal of all interested in this imperative branch of social reform.

But it is impossible for us, at present, to go over the subjects discussed in this section, many of which suggest and merit separate articles. Brought forward as they were before a large number of social reformers, these questions affecting the welfare of the people must have been ventilated; and we sincerely trust the result will invariably be, that some earnest philanthropists will endeavour to carry out the plans proposed, in their own immediate locality. This had been done in most cases by the persons who read the different papers. Mr. Melly had erected drinking fountains; Mr. Akroyd had established penny savings banks; Miss Twining had taken a share in the Workhouse Visiting Society, which they severally advocated. Dr. Ogle founded his paper on Provident Dispensaries on personal observation, and argued their universal adoption from the advantages which they gave to the people at large; while the Rev. C. Hartshorne gave his own experience of the same in a detailed account of the provident dispensary at Nottingham.

Most encouraging hitherto has been the course of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science. Its influence on all departments of Sociology, speculative and practical, has been felt throughout the country. Its position is established, and by judicious management it may become one of the most important institutions of the empire. That which affects man in every aspect of his humanity concerns this association; and while advancing the interests of benevolence in every possible way, contributing to elevate, improve, and bless mankind, uniting all classes in promoting common interests, it is also preparing for the ultimate systematizing of knowledge, by constructing with considerate skill, extensive observation, and abundance of material the Science of Philanthropy.

ART. II.-1. La vie à Paris. By Auguste Villemot. 2 vols. Paris: Michel Levy.

2. Paris intimé. By Henry de Pène.

DIFFUSION is the law of the age. What was concentrated is now diffused. What was the privilege of the few is now the property of the many. This is more or less the case in everything and everywhere. In all countries, but especially in our own, there has arisen what we designate by the term 'Popular Literature,' or 'Literature for the Many.' That is to say, we associate together, Vol. 2.-No: 6.

K

and

and provide means for the promulgation of certain truths, for the spreading forth of certain facts, the accurate knowledge whereof was before only attainable by those who were rich enough to pay highly for good education. We teach the population at the cheapest possible rate; and the aim all the democratization (if we may use the word) of literature proposes to itself in this country, is to store the minds of the many, of the anonymous multitude, with a large portion of valuable, because practically useful, facts. This is comprehensible; and it shows the diffusive principle adapted to a most beneficent purpose. Nothing of the kind takes place in France. There is not throughout all France such a thing as a book-club, which proves the indifference of the middle class to general information; while of what we term popular literature-i. e., that enormous amount of printed and published matter whereby the intellectual current is directed from the centre of society to its circumference-our neighbours have not even the remotest idea. A number of the most highly educated—nay more, of the most illustrious-men in France refused to credit a statement made to them some weeks ago by a Scotch gentleman, establishing the fact of sixty copies of Carlyle's 'Frederick II.' being (among several other works ordered in proportionate numbers) provided by a book-club in Glasgow for its subscribers! The informant was forced to bring forward a printed advertisement in a Glasgow newspaper setting forth the figures we have quoted; at which the learned members of the Institute, and other persons present, were utterly confounded, and unable to understand how such combinations were brought about.

Yet the diffusive principle in literature is fully as much adopted in France as in England, and probably the receipts of 'Railway' and Shilling' libraries would, if reckoned up, be found, to say the least, to be equal to those realized by corresponding enterprises on this side the Channel. The absorption by the many of what was formerly absorbed only by the few is as considerable in France as in England; but it is with a totally different purpose. Their whole system is at variance with ours. We began by providing for the mass (and we have gradually taught the mass even to provide for itself) as large a sum of real information as was compatible with the limited time for reading of men whose livelihood depends upon their work. We have sought to improve the population; the aim in France is exclusively to amuse it. The difference between the two countries is so radical, that, whereas with us the higher the moral truth inculcated by any work, even of fiction, the stronger its action on the public, and the greater its sale, the exact reverse is the more inevitable in France. Attempt to preach, or merely to teach, and your book, however unquestionable its talent, will be received with suspicion by the French

public,