-1831.] 3 REVIEW.-Wakefield on the Punishment of Death. would have been the same, under different ircumstances; and was therefore, in my ›pinion, unequal and unfair.”—p. 8. After stating his reasons for voting against the Bill, which he understood was not to be materially amended, if submitted to a Committee of the House, the learned Prelate concludes: "I however have no hesitation in declaring, that to any legislative enactment which inay be brought forward, calculated to meet the general wishes and promote the real interests of the People, but which shall, at the same time, retain unimpaired the fundamentals of our unrivalled Constitutionto such a measure, I, for one, shall be ready to give my most hearty and conscientious support."-p. 10. Of the revenues of the Church, and the incomes of the Clergy, which have been grossly and often wilfully exaggerated, his Lordship observes: "The income of every Incumbent in my own diocese, if their revenues were equally divided, would not exceed 250l. per annum. And let me ask every unprejudiced person, in what manner this amount could be expended, with greater benefit to the spiritual and temporal interest of the people? A Lay Proprietor of land receives his hundreds and thousands without a single obligation attaching, of necessity, to its expenditure. Whilst a Minister of the Gospel, after having perhaps expended his patrimony in preparing himself for the sacred profession, receives the scanty pittance I have described, for the most part residing on the spot, dispensing to the parishioners on each sabbath day the truths of Holy Writ, and during the week assisting his parisioners, by counsel, by exhortation, by charity. "The account of the value of Bishoprics has been equally incorrect with that of Livings. The Bishopric of Bath and Wells, which ranks, I believe, among the most valuable, has been stated in several papers lately circulated, as yielding to its possessor 20,000l. per annum. Whereas, on reference to authentic documents, I am able to affirm, that its average amount does not exceed a fourth part of that sum. Which of these two statements is most worthy of credit, I must leave to the candour of my readers to determine. With respect also to the disposal of Episcopal incomes, I must add, that they are nearly all expended in the discharge of public duties, and circulated throughout the neighbonrhood in which they are received. "That the Clergy are rendered unpopular by the payment of tithes, we acknowledge and regret. The fault, however, attaching to this mode of remuneration, is in no degree theirs. Though the property be more sacred, and the tenure more antient, than 539 that of any other possessions, yet are they ready to receive in lieu of it any fair compensation, or composition. By none would such a legislative measure be hailed with more entire satisfaction, than by the main body of the English Clergy. But in whatever mode the tithes may be disposed of by Law, of this we are sure, that by no description of persons can they be exacted with greater moderation, than has uniformly marked the proceedings of the Clergy of our Church."-p. 15. Facts relating to the punishment of Death in the Metropolis. By Edw. Gibbon Wakefield, Esq. 12mo, pp. 198. IT is folly to expect cures where medicines do not act, or success in jurisprudence where laws are inoperative. The only punishments in this country which are effective, are those lemnly believe, that if great rogues of the Army and Navy; and we sowere subjected to Court-Martial floggings, crime would be soon diminished 75 per cent. At present the chances in favour of the culprit are as ten to one; and these chances, as enumerated by Mr. Wakefield, are-1. Tampering with prosecutors and witnesses; 2. Reluctance of prosecutors from humane feelings, to give unmitigated unwillingness, through dread of exevidence (murder excepted); 3. A like pense and trouble; 4. Subornation through bribes, or restitution, though made with other stolen property; 5. hired; 6. Commutation to transporPerjury of witnesses, who are often tation, which, says our author (p. 198), "is not an effectual punishment in any case;" 7. the rarity of a capital convict under sentence of death, being ordered for execution, wherefore convicts do not expect to be hanged; 8. The bias of religious persons rather to perjure themselves than convict; and here, that we may not be misconstrued, we shall give Mr. Wakefield's own words: "If he [the prosecutor or witness] be a religious man, you are almost sure of him; for, in that case, though he may have a stronger sense of the wickedness of perjury, he is impelled to conceal a part of the truth by an unconquerable repugnance to having any share in what, upon reflection, he considers a judicial murder."-p. 56. 9. Difficulty of detection, the preventive police going no further than making the commission of crime less 540 REVIEW.-Neander's History of the Christian Religion. [Dee. easy; 10. the bias of Judges and Juries to mercy rather than justice. These are the favourable chances before sentence; afterwards the decisions of the Council are so subject to error that the officers of Newgate say, "Those whom we know to be most guilty, often escape; whilst those whom we know to be least guilty often suffer-it is all a lottery."-p. 132. The punishments in this country are:-1. Imprisonment with hard labour, as it is called. Now there cannot be a greater relief to the ennui of imprisonment than having plenty to do, so that the latter neutralizes the former; 2. Whipping, but so gentle, that the sufferer soon forgets it; 3. Death, the punishment of which is so awful, that rogues escape because feeling men hate to enforce it; 4. Transportation, which makes upon a thief the following impressions: "Convicts believe (says Mr. Wakefield, p. 193) that transportation offers prospects of wealth and happiness. Here detection is, in itself, a severe punishment; there the state of society places settlers who have committed crimes in England, but none in the colony, on a line of equality with those who have not committed crimes any where. Here the punishment of disgrace is unbearable; by being sent thither, they wholly escape that punishment. Here they are without hope by being sent thither, they are filled with hope." Sectaries and enthusiasts are notorious for irrationality and notwithstanding the enormous mischief of forgery, they would, for the only efficient check to it, i. e. death, in all cases substitute transportation, by which substitute the crime would be increased to a most insufferable degree. No rational man can dispute the good sense of the following passage: "There is a description of forgeries, as to which detection is invariably followed by by death,-I mean forgeries to a very large amount, such as those of Dr. Dodd and Fauntleroy, in which cases the anger of society gets the better of compassion, and all combine the prosecutor, the witnesses, the magistrate, the grand jury, the judge, the petty jury, and the tribunal of last appeal to inflict the legal punishment. Considering the immense temptation to this crime, its rarity shows that the great check to crime is certainty of punishment. If, for this crime, transportation were substituted for death, we should exchange a punishment which, as to this particular crime, society is willing to make certain, for no punishment ment. at all. To men of the station of Dr. Dodd and Fauntleroy, detection is a severe punishOnce detected, their most earnest desire must be expatriation. If let alone, they would resort to self-banishment, as the only means of enjoying life. If at all acquainted with the state of society in our penal colonies, they would fly to one of these as the only place on earth where misconduct in other places does not subject men to the ill opinion of society. Consequently, to persons of this class, transporta tion to the colonies would not be an evilit would be a boon, though conferred by force. "Whenever the law of capital punishment shall be altered, a shift for avoiding the encouragement of forgeries for large sums, would be, to leave the law, as it exists as to forgeries, above a given sum: but a plan more worthy of an enlightened legislature would be, the substitution in all cases now made capital, of some milder but yet effectual punishment. Transportation, I feel convinced, is not an effectual punishment in any case; nor is there any prospect that it can ever be made effectual, since however improved, it would involve the absurdity of endeavouring to punish at the Antipodes for crimes committed here.”—p. 196. We recommend Mr. Wakefield's book to the perusal of all rational reformers of our Criminal Law; and so great is the unnecessary expense of its administration, and so feeble its check of crime (murder and forgery excepted), that it ought to be reformed. The History of the Christian Religion and Church during the three first Centuries, by Dr. Augustus Neander. Translated from the German, by Henry John Rose, B.D. Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. In 2 vols. Vol. I. Containing the Introduction, the History of the Persecutions of Christians, Church Government, and Christian Life and Worship. 8vo, pp. 391. HISTORY assures us, that persecutions of any particular classes of religionists, by the ruling powers, have been uniformly instigated by political objects. It is equally certain, that Christianity, if opposed to Polytheism and Sensuality, may (as it did) excite seditions which alarm Govern ments, whose political well-being depend upon existing follies or abuses. Add to this ignorance, that persecution benefits a cause; whereas the Romans thought "that the cause of the numerous seditions was the great number of the Christians who had increased so much from not being persecuted."-p. 128. The people at large sanctioned these cruelties, because "It was always a notion near the heart of the Roman statesinan, that the old political glory of the Roman empire was closely dependent on the old state religion, and that the former could never be restored without the latter."-p. 145. But mark the foolishness of man compared with the wisdom of God. The Roman Empire was not overthrown by Christians, but by pagan barbarians, and "out of these stones did the Almighty raise unto Christ. The Baal of the present day has all the changeable properties of the mythological Proteus, but all have not bowed the knee to him, or made of the Scripture a cameleon. To such as these we recommend this book. It is not so much a History, for then it would have been only a Mosheim, &c., but an illustration of that history, by valuable comments, drawn from those ancient works which are denominated Scholars' books. He, therefore, who reads that he may augment his knowledge, will find it useful. FINE ARTS. Mr. CONEY has commenced another Series of foreign views under the title of Architectural Beauties of Continental Europe. It so much resembles his other work on the same subject, which we have frequently noticed, that we have only to repeat our former praises, and to say that the present publication will find its recommendation in its more convenient size and price. The "Cathedrals, Hotels de Ville, &c." is truly a magnificent work; but its stature is beyond that of most private libraries. The present is a handsome folio volume; but only half the size of the former. The plates measure 8 inches by 10. It is wonderful with what little apparent effort Mr. Coney, our English Piranesi, transfers to his copper, and pourtrays to the very life, the most complicated views of architectural perspective, the picturesque scenery, and the busy traffic of the continental cities. The views in the present part are: 1. the beautiful tower of St. Ouen at Rouen, as it appears from the Place Eau de Robec, a grotesque old street, through which runs a canal, crossed by innumerable bridges; it is, we remember, the head quarters of the dyers, who stain the water with ever-changing hues. 2. The interior of the Cathedral of Beauvais, looking at once down the arcades of the choir, the transept, and the west transept aile, and exhibiting a combination of the most elegant and lovely forms of acutely pointed architecture, such as can hardly be surpassed; 3. the Hotel de Ville, Antwerp, a magnificent façade of Italian architecture, erected in 1576; 4. the interior of St. Peter's, Louvain, at the eastern end; giving a near view of the great shrine, which has the most gorgeous spire of tabernacle and pinnacle work that we ever beheld. There are in addition eight vignettes: the Fountains before the Cathedral and in the Place de la Pucelle, at Rouen; old Houses, and old Arches (from what edifice?) at Beauvais; Rubens' Chair, and a Pump, at Antwerp; a very singular old House (in the form of a pointed window of four lights), and a compartment of the Hotel de Ville, Louvain. All description of these vignettes is omitted, a deficiency which should be supplied in the list of plates hereafter; and the other descriptions, which are by Mr. H. E. Lloyd, in English and French, are somewhat too brief. We have before us the First Part of the Gallery of the Society of Painters in Water Colours, undertaken by Mr. Tilt, with the sanction of the Society. Its sizes are imperial and columbier quarto, and the plates will be engraved on copper, because, although "the adoption of steel has almost superseded the use of this metal, an effect greatly superior can be produced on copper." This plan will enable the proprietors to avail themselves of some excellent artists, who do not engrave on steel: and at any rate those collectors who delight in exclusiveness, will have a choice, not an hackneyed article. There are three plates in this Part 1. A view of the Palace and Quay at Venice, by Prout, as finely engraved (by E. Goodall) as the beautiful views which have been so generally admired in the Annuals prepared by the same draughtsman, but on a scale which admits of a greater perspicuity in the architectural features; 2. A very characteristic figure of a Gamekeeper, named Care, formerly in the service of Sir George Osborne, of Chicksands, and now of Charles Dixon, Esq. of Stanstead Park, Sussex; painted by William Hunt, and carefully engraved in lice by E. Smith; 3. Rembrandt in his Study, a picture by James Stephanoff, exhibited in 1826, and now the property of W. H. Harriott, Esq. The great artist is represented painting his celebrated picture of the Adoration of the Magi, which was purchased by his late Majesty George IV. for 4000 guineas; behind 542 Fine Arts-Literary and Scientpc Intelligence. him is his favourite pupil Gerard Douw, and the other figures are a venerable Rabbi and a lady and child in the rich costume which Rembrandt delighted to paint. It is very beautifully etched by Mr. Charles Lewis, somewhat in the style of Worlidge. We have to announce the completion of the Landscape Illustrations of the Waverley Novels, by the publication of the Twentieth Part. Besides views of the market place of Peronne, of Heriot's Hospital, and Niddrie Castle, it contains an interesting interior of the garret at Abbotsford, or rather an attic study, rich in its stores of antique furniture, armour, and other picturesque accessories, and showing the identical desk, or cabinet, in which the long-lost manuscript of Waverley is presumed to have been discovered. In taking leave of this meritorious publi [Dec, cation, we must repeat our testimony the it is equally to be esteemed as an interesting accompaniment to the novels, a very pleas ing series of views, and a very beautifu book of engravings. PANORAMA OF FLORENCE. A panoramic view of Florence, takes by Mr. Burford in 1830, has been opened for exhibition in the lesser circle at Lecerter Square. It is a very pleasing picture, taken from the Convent of Jesuits in the midst of the City; and looking both up and down the Arno. Among the palaces on the banks of that celebrated river, stand side by side those of Lucien Bonaparte, Prince of Canino, and the Countess d'Albany, widow of the last of the Stuarts. Most of the publie edifices are conspicuously seen; and the distant mountains are most beautifully delineated. LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. New Works announced for Publication. A. J. KEMPE, Esq. F.S.A. has completed for his sister, Mrs. Bray, that splendid proof of her late husband Mr. Charles Alfred Stothard's talents as an Antiquary and an Artist, the Monumental Effigies of Great Britain." The Mythology of the Hindus, with notices of various Mountain and Island Tribes who inhabit the two Peninsulas of India and the neighbouring Islands. By CHA. COLEMAN, Esq. An Essay on the Rights of Hindoos over Ancestral Property, according to the Law of Bengal. By RAJAH RAMMOHUN ROY. With an Appendix, containing Letters on the Hindoo Law of Inheritance. Also, by the same Author, Remarks on East India Affairs. Who Can They Be? or, a Description of a Singular Race of Aborigines, inhabiting the Summits of the Neilgherry Hills, or Blue Mountains of Coimbatoor. By Capt. H. HARKNESS, of the Madras Army. India; or, Facts submitted to illustrate the Character and Condition of the Native Inhabitants. By R. RICKARDS, Esq. Vol. II. of a Concise View of the Succession of Sacred Literature. By the Rev. J. B. B. CLARKE. The Shaking of the Nations, with the Corresponding Duties of Christians: a Sermon. By J. LEIFCHILD. To which is added, an Appendix, containing an account of some extraordinary Cases of Enthusiasm and Fanaticism in various ages of the world. The Offices of the Holy Spirit; four Sermons preached before the University of Cambridge. By the Rev. CHA. SIMEON. Travels in the North of Europe in 188031. By Mr. ELLIOT. Third and concluding volume of the "Lives and Adventures of Celebrated Tra llers." Temoirs of Great Commanders, including Marshal Turenne, Condé, the Duke of Marl Private Memoirs of Hortense, Duchesse ROYAL SOCIETY. Nov. 30. The anniversary meeting took place, when his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex was re-elected President; John William Lubbock, Esq., Treasurer; Peter Mark Roget, M. D., and John George Children, Esq., Secretaries; and Charles König, esq. Foreign Secretary. The following is a list of the New Council; those whose names are in italics are the new members. Peter Barlow, esq., John Bostock, M. D., Samuel Hunter Christie, Esq., Rev. Henry Codding ton, Charles Daubeny, M. D., George Dol lond, Esq., Davies Gilbert, Esq., Joseph Henry Green, Esq., Rev. Dr. Buckland, William George Maton, M. D., Roderick Impey Murchison, Esq., Rev. George Peacock, Sir George Rennie, Captain W. H. Smyth, R. N., Rev. William Whewell, Nicholas A. Vigors, Esq. A list was read, which contained the names of the several distinguished individuals, fellows of the Society, who had died during the past year; amongst these were Captain Henry Foster, late commander of the Chanticleer; Mr. Abernethy; the Rev. Fearon Fallows; Dr. Magee, Archbishop of Dublin; Mr. Thomas Hope; and the famous physiologist, Sommering of Gottingen. -His Royal Highness next read his address. It was a well-expressed epitome of the leading events that had taken place in the Society since the royal Duke's election as president. In the language of respect it referred to the distinguished scientific men who, since the days of Newton, had filled 1881.] Scientific Intelligence.-Royal Society. ex the same most honourable office. His (the Duke's) early education, his occupation, and his rank in life had somewhat prepared him for the important duties which were pected to be performed by the President of the Royal Society, who was the official representative of the institution at the British Museum, the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, and, in short, the medium of communication between the Society and other public bodies, as well as the Government. He looked for the prompt assistance of the Fellows, and disclaimed all other feelings than those which had for their end the advancement of Science, and the common honour of the Country. Of the accomplished philosopher* to whom he had the honour of being opposed at the last election, he felt it was impossible to speak otherwise than in terms of admiration, respect, and good-will, which future acquaintance would ripen into sincere friendship. In speaking of the deceased Fellows, whose names had been enumerated, the President character ised Mr. Abernethy as a man of a bold spirit for philosophical investigation,― rough probably in manner, but possessing in a superlative degree the finer feelings of the heart, which were frequently developed where the curse of poverty was superadded to that of disease. The Rev. Fearon Fallows was another name to be remembered with respect and regret. Appointed by the Government to the situation of Astronomer at the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, Mr. Fallows took with him to that settlement a variety of exquisitely constructed instruments, the proper management of which, and their application to useful purposes, being only understood by himself, so devoted was he to the cause of science, that, even when labouring under an incurable dropsy, he was carried in blankets, by his servants, to the observatory, in order that he might wind up his chronometers, adjust his apparatus, and take the necessary observations. Mr. Thomas Hope, author of Anastasius; and Archbishop Magee, author of the well-known work on the Atonement; were names not likely to be forgotten in litera ture. The Duke's address was followed by a report from the Secretary, Dr. Roget, chiefly relating to some changes in the statutes. It is settled that the election of Fellows shall for the future take place only on the first meeting in alternate months. The sum of 9561. raised by the sale of duplicate books from the British Museum, has been received from the trustees in part payment for the Arundel MSS., and future payment is expected in the spring, at which period a second sale of the British Museum's duplicates is to take place. * Sir John Herschell. The money 543 already received by the Royal Society, as above stated, has been nearly all expended in the purchase of books on science; and the additional room required for the proper keeping of these has led to a successful negociation, through the Royal President, for the adjoining chambers, lately belonging to the Privy-seal Office. The President then delivered the Copley medal to the Rev. George Peacock, who had been commissioned to receive it for Professor Airy, of Cambridge, to whom it was awarded for his various papers on achromatic eye-pieces, and on optics generally, published in the Cambridge Philosophical Transactions. The royal medal was not awarded, in consequence of the arrangements regarding its foundation not being yet permanently made. The Dec. 8. The President in the chair. reading of Mr. Faraday's paper "On the connexion of electricity and magnetism," was continued. Philip Hardwicke, Esq., Lord Oxmantown, T. Maclean, Esq., and Henry Robinson Paliner, Esq., of the London Docks, were elected Fellows. Dec. 15. J. W. Lubbock, Esq., V. P. in the chair. A paper by Mr. Griffen, on the Anatomy of the Ornithorynchus Paradoxus, was read. Mr. W. Cubitt, the civil engineer, exhibited some beautiful specimens of reduced busts in ivory, formed by an ingenious machine, in which a small block of ivory is placed, and after directing a part of the machine over a bust or other object, the miniature representation is immediately produced. Dec. 22. The Duke of Sussex, President, in the chair. The communication read was an account of the volcano which broke out last year on the southern shores of Sicily. It was written by Mr. Davy, brother of Sir Humphrey, and embraced not only the author's remarks and opinions, but also those of Capt. Swinburne, H. M. S. Rapid. They observe, that the crater is only a few feet above the level of the sea. Previous to the eruption in June last, several shocks of an earthquake were experienced in the neighbourhood, leaving no doubt that the crater was then in operation. During the eruption Etna was more active than usual. There was exhibited in the library a very ingenious apparatus, called a "fire-sentinel." Its chief use is for detecting increase of heat in hot-houses. An air-filled glass bulb is fixed nearly in the centre of a box; passing under and in contact with the bulb is a column of mercury; when the fluid is acted upon by the heated air contained in the bulb, it rises to a certain point, and becomes the medium of communication with the hammer of a hell. The Right Hon. Sir James Graham, M. Magendie, the celebrated French physiologist, and Drs. Barry and Russel, were elected Fellows. The meetings were adjourned to the 12th of January. |