SCOTLAND. Report of the Select Committee on the State of the Prisons Page 191 IRELAND. Extracts from the Report of the Inspectors-General on the Extracts from the Reports of the Dublin Association for the Improvement of Prisons, &c. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. HOLLAND-Amsterdam Society FRANCE-Royal Society for the Improvement of Prisons, at Paris, visited by M. B. Appert 226 239 243 254 263 AMERICA-Report of the Boston Society for the Improve Statement of Criminal Commitments, Convictions, &c. in Page 362 Statements of Criminal Commitments in London and Middlesex Number of Persons Committed, Convicted, &c. for Felony, at the Spring Assizes 1825, on the Country Circuits 369 Number of Convictions under the Game Laws, from 1820 Number of Persons imprisoned for Debt, in England, on 374 Expenses, &c. of the Hulk Establishment, 1825 Ditto 382 General Penitentiary, Milbank 390 Return of Local Jurisdictions which have contracted with Counties, &c. SUPPLEMENT.-Additional Reports, &c. Inquiries relative to Lunatic Asylums, &c. Patron, H.R.H. THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, K.G. Vice-Presidents, The Duke of Buckingham. The Marquis of Lansdown. The Marquis of Cholmondeley. Earl of Derby. Albemarle. -Dartmouth. Harcourt. Hardwicke. Clarendon. -Grosvenor. -Liverpool. Rosslyn. Harrowby. Darnley. The Lord Bishop of St. Asaph. The Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells. The Lord Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. The Lord Bishop of Chester. Lord Holland. Dynevor. Suffield. Grenville. Auckland. Calthorpe. Clive. Lord Belgrave. Nugent. Althorpe. Rt. Hon. Charles Manners Sutton, M.P. Rt. Hon. William Sturges Bourne, M. P. Rt. Hon. W. H. Fremantle, M.P. Rt. Hon. Sir G. H. Rose, Bart. M.P. Hon. George Anson, M.P. Sir T. Baring, Bart. M. P. REPORT, &c. MORE than two centuries have elapsed since the illustrious Bacon urged the necessity, and the advantage, of a revision of the statute law of England. Time has rolled on, and each succeeding year has added weight to his authority, and enhanced the value of his opinions. But though all have acknowledged the wisdom of the counsel, few have contributed to render it availing. The amelioration of criminal jurisprudence has, in an especial manner, failed to secure that share of general interest which its importance to the welfare of society imperiously demands. Of this fact history supplies abundant evidence. While the civilization and refinement of mankind have gradually advanced-while social obligations have been defined with precision, and systems of civil polity matured almost to perfection-the progress of that science which aims at the prevention, by affixing the punishment, of crime, has in every age been obstructed by prejudice, and retarded by neglect. It was, however, an important cra in the history of jurisprudence, when revenge was discarded as a motive of legislation; when the vindictive passions were disclaimed by the lawgiver and the judge; and the object of punishment was declared to be simply to prevent the aggressor from repeating the offence, and to deter generally from the commission of crime. The wisdom of b |