Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

as the punishment of death, where every example supposes a new crime: perpetual labour on the other hand affords a frequent and lasting ex"ample*."

Doubtless, the fundamental principle of good legislation is, rather to prevent crimes than to punish.If a mathematical expression may be made use of, relative to the good and evil of human life, it is the art of conducting men to the maximum of happiness and the minimum of misery.

But in spite of all the efforts of human wisdom, aided by the lights of Philosophy, and freed from the mist of prejudice or the bigotry of darker ages ;—In spite of the best laws, and the most correct system of Police which the most enlightened Legislature can

The punishment of death is not authorized by any right.If it were so, how could it be reconciled to the maximn, that a man has no right to kill himself}

The punishment of death is a war of a whole nation against a citizen, whose destruction is considered as necessary or useful to the public good.-If I can demonstrate that it is neither necessary nor useful, I shall have gained the cause of humanity.-If the experience of all ages be not sufficient to prove that the punishment of death has never prevented determined men from injuring society-if the example of the Romans-if twenty years' reign of Elizabeth, Empress of Russia, be not sufficient, let us consult human nature in proof of my assertion.

The death of a criminal is a terrible, but momentary spectacle; and therefore a less efficacious method of deterring others, than the continued example of a man deprived of his liberty, and condemned to repair by his labour, the injury done to Society. A condition so miserable is a much more powerful preventive than the fear of death, which men always behold in distant obscurity. BECCARIA, cap. 28. form:

form: it will not be altogether possible, amid the various opposite attractions of pleasure and pain, to reduce the tumultuous activity of mankind to absolute regularity-We can only hope for a considerable reduction of the evils that exist.-Let the Laws be clear and simple;―let the entire force of the Nation be united in their defence; let the Laws be feared, and the Law's only.

CHAPTER III.

The causes and progress of small Thefts in London explained and traced to the numerous Receivers of stolen Goods, under the denominations of Dealers in Rags, Old Iron, and other Metals.--The great increase of these Dealers of late years.-Their ecil tendency, and the absolute necessity of Regulations, to prevent the extensive Mischiefs arising from the Encouragements they hold out, to persons of every age and description, to become Thieves, by the purchase of whatever is offered for sale.—A Remedy suggested.-Petty Thefts in the country round the Mctropolis-Workhouses the causes of idleness-Commons-Cottages-Gypsies-Labourers and Servants; their general bad character and propensity to thieving small articles from their Masters, encouraged by Receivers.-Thefts in Fields and Gardens— Their extent and amount throughout EnglandFrauds in the sale and adulteration of Milk in the Metropolis.

IN a preceding Chapter the small thefts committed by persons not known to belong to the fraternity of Thieves, are estimated to amount to the enormous sum of 700,000l. a year.

The

This discovery (except what relates to embezzled silk, cotton, and worsted) was originally made through the medium of a considerable Dealer in Rags and Old Iron, and other Metals, who communicated to the Author much interesting information, respecting Receivers of stolen Goods, confirmed afterwards through other channels, the substance of which has been already alluded to; and of which the following are more ample details:

"That there exists in this Metropolis, (and also in all the towns where his Majesty's Dock-Yards are established) a class of Dealers, of late years become extremely numerous, who keep open shops for the purchase of Rags, Old Iron, and other Metals. "That these Dealers are universally, almost without a single exception, the Receivers of stolen Goods of every denomination; from a nail, a skewer, a key, or a glass bottle, up to the most valuable article of portable household goods, merchandize, plate, or jewels, &c. &c.

"That they are divided into two classes:-Wholesale and Retail Dealers. That the Retail Dealers are generally (with some exceptions) the immediate purchasers in the first instance, from the pilferers or their agents; and as soon as they collect a sufficient quantity of iron, copper, brass, lead, tin, pewter, or other metals, worthy the notice of a large Dealer, they dispose of the same for ready

meney;

money; by which they are enabled to continue the trade.

"That the increase of these old iron, rag, and store shops has been astonishing within the last twenty

years.

"That, as the least trifle is received, the vigilance of

the parties, from whom the articles are stolen, is generally eluded; by the prevailing practice of taking only a small quantity of any article at a

time.

"That the articles thus received are generally purchased at about one third of the real value, and seldom at more than half;-glass bottles in particular, are bought at one penny each, and no question asked:-they are afterwards sold to dealers in this particular branch, who assort and wash them, and again re-sell them to inferior wine-dealers at nearly the full value:-this has become, of late, an extensive line of trade.

"That further facilities are afforded by the dealers in old iron, in the collection of metals, rags, and other articles purloined and stolen in the Country; which are conveyed to town by means of singlehorse carts, kept by itinerant Jews, and other doubtful characters; who travel to Portsmouth, Chatham, Woolwich, Deptford, and places in the vicinity of London, for the purpose of purchasing metals from persons who are in the habit of embezzling the King's stores, or from dealers on the

spot,

« AnteriorContinuar »