The Reports of the Registrar General.

The Seventeenth Report of the Inspector of Reformatories, &c.

In matters relating to intoxicating liquors, publichouses, &c., prior to 1870, I have consulted

The Returns quoted in the British Almanac. The Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (in two volumes), 1870.

Parliamentary Report on the Wine Duties, &c.,

1852.

Parliamentary Return of Consumption of British and Foreign Spirits. No. 466. July, 1868.

Parliamentary Return of Spirits, Wines, &c., No. 367. August, 1874. &c., &c.

I need hardly say that the authorities quoted are indisputable, and that the greatest care has been taken to secure accuracy in making the extracts; and in cases where it has been needful to give an estimate which, however, are very rare-the author has endeavoured to be under, rather than over the mark.

Possibly the reader may occasionally be struck with the fact that some of the points appear to be repeated. This arises from two reasons :

1st-From the author's desire to impress such points upon the reader's mind; and

2nd-From the fact that the same points are useful in different connections.

The work has been written amid active pressing business and other engagements, and may perhaps therefore lack the literary finish which with more leisure might have been given to it. The author trusts however that the book may be of value in placing before the public correct information in regard to the crime of the country, and also in giving some indication as to the cause of much of the crime which so lamentably exists.

Claremont, Bury,

January 31st, 1876.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

In addition to the pleasure which is realised from the study of history, there are great practical advantages resulting therefrom, as it enables us to gauge the influences which conduce to the national well-being, and also to detect those which are detrimental thereto. Every patriotic and enlightened statesman will therefore avail himself of any experience which a retrospect of history may afford, and aim at making the circumstances and surroundings of his countrymen such as will conduce to the general weal.

I propose briefly to review the crime of the present century; and also to note a few of the circumstances which have been, or which still are in being, and which are thought to have an influence in promoting or retarding the growth thereof.

Such an investigation will be a matter of considerable difficulty, because—

1st-There are often a variety of influences at work counteracting and neutralizing each other, and it becomes impossible, often, to measure the respective force of each.

2nd-Apart from the neutralizing power of these influences upon each other, there is a vast divergence of opinion as to the intrinsic power and value of the influences themselves. It will be my aim, not so much to attempt to place a hard and fast value upon these, as to point them out, and leave the reader to use his own judgment as to the precise value which should be attached to each.

There cannot be two opinions as to the vast influence exerted on the crime of a country by the circumstances and surroundings of its population ; such, for instance, as :

1st-The condition of the people in regard to the necessaries of life, the state of trade, the price of food, and the opportunities for securing employment.

2nd-The relations of a people to its government; for, if there be much disaffection here, it will be sure to stimulate to the perpetration of crimes of a certain class.

3rd- The introduction of machinery, and its

INFLUENCES AFFECTING CRIME.

3

substitution for hand labour, has frequently been a cause of temporary distress. For a considerable time the operatives thought this unjust, and that machinery was being invented with a view to rob them of the chances of employment. Hence disturbances frequently arose, and outrages were often committed, such as the breaking of the power-looms in 1826-7, with many other disturbances of a more local character.

4th-There have sometimes also been periods when capital and labour have been at war. This, especially in former times, has had an influence upon crimes of a certain class. Although these disputes are not yet unknown, happily, the crimes formerly resulting from them are now of rarer occurrence.

5th-The intemperance of a country is a factor which has largely to do with the criminality of its population, particularly in relation to crimes of personal violence, assault, breaches of the peace, &c., and indeed, directly or indirectly, it may be said to have an influence, more or less upon all manner of crimes.

6th-Among causes of a more general character it may be pointed out that ignorance is generally