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never parted with to foreigners, so that their condition is less a subject of commisera

tion.

"In reference to the third point, the means of affording relief to debtors, and enabling such persons to redeem themselves from slavery, we determined, on full consideration of the subject, to adopt the principles of the regulations framed by you, (Sir T. S. Raffles) for the reform of the Mengiring system at Bencoolen, which appear to us admirably adapted to the cir cumstances of this island, and to afford the utmost relief to the debtor, consistent with the claims of the creditor. Agreeably to these, any person who had fallen into the condition of a slave, or who was liable to it from inability to pay the amount of his debt, might redeem himself by entering into a voluntary contract with any person who should agree to pay the amount, to serve for a specified period of time, proportionate to the sum paid, such sum being considered as an advance, to be liquidated by a certain definite service to be rendered by the debtor. Thus, in lieu of absolute and unlimited slavery, will be substituted a system of free and voluntary contract, by which the debtor or slave enters at once on all the privileges of freedom, subject only to the fulfilment of an equitable contract, at the same time that the interest of the creditor is fully secured.

"A plan so obviously beneficial and equitable, could not fail to meet with the concurrence of the Nias chiefs, as it, in fact, gives as much security to the creditor as the present system of slavery, and is in an eminent degree favourable to the debtor. We required of the different rajahs the number of persons at present in a state of slavery on account of debt, in order to take measures for effecting their redemption on the above principles as soon as practicable, and the result of these inquiries strongly proves what we have above asserted, that the majority of the slaves are made so by violence, or on very unjust pretences, for we scarcely met with an instance in which they had a single slave on hand, whose redemption or sale they wished to effect. The answer was uniformly, "We have none, but if you wish to purchase, wait a few days, and you may have a hundred." On inquiring further how this was to be effected, we found that they had only to send notice to their agents among the interior rajahs, and any number were forthwith brought down bound. They probably sent word to catch so many slaves with as much indifference as they would

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have given an order to catch so many hogs for the same purpose. The fact is, the arrival of the trading boats which takes place at a certain season, is the signal for universal rapine and violence throughout the interior; hostile tribes endeavour to entrap stragglers belonging to their opponents, and the most frivolous pretences are resorted to, where violence is not deemed expedient.

"It is painful to dwell on this part of the picture, but we hope the time is not far distant, when, with the temptation from without, these scenes of violence will cease and be forgotten, tranquillity be restored, and industry, no longer repressed by inse. curity and danger, awake to new life and to new energies. We think the measures now commenced, if followed up and extended, are adequate to effect these desirable objects, and we trust that the people of this interesting island will hereafter look to the period of their placing themselves under the fostering care of Britain, as the commencement of a better era and of happier times.

"The benefits arising from the abolition of the slave trade will not be confined to the relief of the unhappy victims alone, but will be much more extensively felt as the first step to the civilization of the country, and the removal of the greatest check to its industry. Independently of the habits of cruelty and rapine which it tends to infuse, the exorbitant profits it holds out, like those of gambling, create an aversion to the slower advantages of legitimate commerce and agricultural labour. In order to convey their produce to the sea-ports, the inhabitants of the interior are at present obliged to unite into parties of several hundreds, all completely armed and with their loads of rice on their backs, descend in order of battle to the shores to dispose of it -such is the general insecurity and distrust, that the husbandman goes armed to his labour in the fields, that they select the most difficult situations for their villages, and construct their houses with every precaution against surprises. Their laws have, from the temptation of the slave trade, acquired a savage and cruel character, that was probably originally unknown to them, and feuds have been perpetuated, that would probably otherwise have long since passed into oblivion.

It is unnecessary to point out the innumerable advantages that must arise from stopping the source from whence all these evils have flowed. It will require no special interposition of foreign influence; the course of improvement will be spontaneous

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Increase of Lunacy and Idiotism.

and natural; confidence will gradually be restored; the operations of agriculture and commerce will no longer be interrupted, and British influence may be exerted with success, in reconciling feuds, and re-uniting the now divided and hostile tribes, into a community of interests, while those laws which derive their worst features from the facility of selling slaves, will by degrees fall into disuse, and give way to a milder code. Singapore Chronicle.

ON THE REPORTED INCREASE OF LUNACY AND IDIOTISM.

SOME time ago, and since I wrote my last letter for the Imperial Magazine, I have seen, in a London newspaper, remarks upon a letter addressed to Lord Robert Seymour, by Sir Andrew Halliday, the contents of which will to many be truly alarming. It gives a report, that the number of those who are at this time afflicted with mental disorder, or mental imbecility, is triple what it was twenty years ago; and if it were to triple every twenty years, in one hundred and fifty years, the number would greatly exceed what the whole population is at this time: but we need not entertain any such fears for posterity. On the contrary, we may confidently expect, that in future generations, the evils of mental affections will be greatly diminished in proportion to the population, for that wisdom and humanity, and a more correct knowledge of them, will disperse the cloud of superstitious ignorance, which at present hangs over the horizon of the united kingdom, on this very important subject; at any rate, that the united kingdom shall be equal to other nations of the earth in the treatment of mental complaints, which most assuredly it is not at present.

Extremes beget each other, and as we are certainly got to the extreme of bad treatment as a public measure, posterity may arrive at the opposite extreme of good treatment, for truth is great, and will in the end prevail. At present the obvious principles requiring the first attention, upon this very important subject, are over-ruled by the pride and influence of an extremely injudicious legislative measure, and popular prejudice, so that at this moment there is scarcely a magistrate or person of inquence to be found, who will not even take pains to recommend that very system which is most calculated to increase the evil they wish to diminish.

Some fifteen years ago, in a conversation with Lord Robert Seymour, and the right honourable George Rose, I did my best

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to recommend a better system for the cure of insanity; but their prejudices were much too strong for my feeble eloquence, and their zeal and great influence, without knowledge, did serious injury. Had they exerted themselves with equal zeal in a right path, thousands of pauper lunatics who are now languishing in hopeless insanity, a heavy burden to their respective parishes, might have been perfectly restored.

If "the march of intellect" has for the last twenty years been retrograde in what relates to mental diseases, I can have no doubt of its advancing in future; and the labours of Sir Andrew Halliday will in all probability very much contribute to it, by causing investigations: and therefore they are highly to be commended, notwithstanding that very erroneous conclusions may be drawn from that gentleman's report.

In the first place, the number he states of lunatics and idiots for the whole united kingdom, I suspect is greatly too small, and must suppose that many of the returns he has depended on, have only referred to paupers. Indeed, it is not to be expected that all the lunatics and idiots, of those who rank above paupers, would be returned by parish officers, if known by them. I know of four in one family, and three in another, but if called upon to make a return of all lunatics and idiots within my knowledge, I should not venture to include them. In the next place, the number of idiots returned is, I conceive, out of all proportion to the lunatics. Idiots, properly so called, are those only who were born such, who never had the mental faculties developed. Idiotism is absence of mind-lunacy is mental disorder or mental derangement; and though the long continuance of the latter will in many cases produce the appearance of the former, yet the distinction is important, and obvious to those conversant in such cases. Natural idiotism is, I am truly happy to say, not very common; none of these are married, and few become parents.

In the next place, Sir Andrew's report might lead us to think that fresh cases of insanity have alarmingly increased within the last twenty years; but this has not been proved, and, as far as my information goes, it is by no means the case. I am ready to admit, that the number of incurable pauper lunatics may be three times what it was twenty years ago, and that this is owing to a bad system of treatment prevailing to an alarming degree, and under

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Crime and Punishment.

which, it may be, the proportion of four to five do not recover now, of what recovered twenty years ago. Fifty years ago I was given to understand, that recent insanity was in almost every instance a perfectly curable disease; and thirty years ago it was confidently asserted by a person of much experience, that it was curable in nine cases out of ten; yet within the last two years I have heard it acknowledged, that at a much boasted Asylum established at a great public expense, nine out of ten did not recover.-The difference is quite sufficient to account for the truly alarming accumulation of these unfortunate fellow-beings.

Suppose there be a thousand fresh cases of insanity annually, and that we state fifteen years to be the average term of life of incurable lunatics, or, in other words, that we have always on hand the accumulation of fifteen years; if one only, (but say two out of ten,) remained incurable annually, the usual stock at that rate would be only four thousand five hundred; but if nine out of ten remained as incurable, the usual stock would be thirteen thousand five hundred; and in short, the great evils of mental complaints do in part only arise from the numbers who are visited by them or die under them, but chiefly from the great numbers who live as incurables under all the accumulating horrors of the disease. This I have often said before, and I can only hope that the repetition of it may make a proper impression.

One consolation may be entertained, even if we are to go on with the prison system for the care of pauper lunatics, and that is, the increase of the numbers will in a great measure cease at the end of the average term of life, for these poor creatures; after which, death will keep pace with the accession of fresh cases. It is true, an allowance should be made for the actual increase of fresh cases, which I hold would be trifling, and I feel confident that the great accumulation spoken of, within the last twenty years, is principally, if not entirely, owing to a sudden transition from a better system of treatment, to one preposterously bad.

T. BAKEWELL. Spring Vale, Stone, Nov. 1829.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT. (A true Story.) MANY severe imputations in latter times have been thrown out against the friars of the Romish Church in Spain; and when the following authentic fact is read, it will

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prove that such reports have not been altogether groundless.

It happened, in the year 1812, that a Franciscan friar, belonging to the convent of Mellide, in the province of Lugo, in Galicia, named Giovanni Campana, seduced, at confession, a young woman, the daughter of a shoemaker of that place. Maria Ximenes (for so she was called) made every effort at first to resist the allurements of the wicked friar, but at last became that demon's victim. The unfortunate girl was obliged to comply with his criminal desires, rather than end her days in the horrible dungeon of the Inquisition. Frequent were the visits of the friar, who, whenever he discovered an inclination on her part to break off this correspondence, had recourse to his usual threats to intimidate her: thus their meetings and assignations became so frequent, that the unhappy Maria, who repaired to the appointed places through fear, and not from any inclination, at last became pregnant by him.

The

I cannot describe to you, O reader, the consternation of the miserable young woman, who, finding herself in that state, without further dissimulation accused her betrayer, in the most bitter terms, of having robbed her of innocence and peace for ever. friar, not unaccustomed to those scenes, listened calmly; but exhorting her to be tranquil, promised to provide for all, and, in order to save her honour, but more for fear of losing his own reputation, said that he would, as soon as possible, get a husband for her. This declaration somewhat appeased her, as it was the only means now left to rescue her from infamy; and conjur ing him to effect his promise, or she would discover all to her parents, she left him. The friar had not much difficulty in finding a busband, as most of the young people of that place were his penitents.

After a few days, Paolo Nunez, a young man about twenty years old, an inhabitant of Mellide, went, according to his usual custom, to ease his conscience by relating his sins to the confessor. Scarcely had he terminated, when the friar requested that he would call at his cell the same afternoon, as he had something to propose that would be of great advantage to him. Paolo, as agreed upon, hastened to the apartment of the man he had knelt to that morning, to hear the proposal that promised him so much, when the friar thus addressed him.

"You know how well disposed I am to do good to every one, a precept enjoined by our holy religion. 'Tis doubly my duty to do so for my own penitents, whom God has confided to my particular care, obliging

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Crime and Punishment.

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me to watch over and direct their temporal | as well as their spiritual affairs. Knowing you, my dear Paolo, for a long time to be an obedient, industrious, and worthy young man, with the fear of God in your heart, I have been thinking to settle you in life, by giving you a wife capable of making you happy, fully persuaded that, with such qualifications as you possess, you will make a good husband, and a good father. It is this marriage that I have now to propose to you, by the direct inspiration of God, who suggests that I should thus reward you for having hitherto faithfully served him. The wife I selected is Maria Ximenes, whom you know to be a young woman of the strictest honour, of respectable parents, and an excellent Christian. I presume you have heard it said by all the parishioners, that Maria has always been an example to the young women of the country, as well for her charity as devotion. With the assistance of Providence, I shall be able to give you, with her, a tolerable sum as a dowry, which shall be handed to you on the day of the wedding. It now rests with you to consider my proposal, and to give me an answer." Paolo accepted the offer without hesitation, and begged that he would arrange matters so as to conclude it; adding, that he was quite ready to marry such a woman as Maria, in whose praise he had heard so much, as well because it would give him so amiable a wife. The friar, hearing the young man so well disposed to comply with his wishes, was satisfied; and promising that every thing should be speedily arranged, he dismissed him, and hastened to Maria's dwelling. He informed her, that he had found a husband, and desired her to prepare for the wedding; that he intended the same day to communicate the business to her parents, and as she had been already two months gone with child, it was necessary, without further delay, to bring matters to a speedy decision. "The young man,” continued he," that I have pitched upon to represent your future husband, is Paolo Nunez; he is quite satisfied to marry you, and has left the business entirely to my arrangements. I hope your union will not be any hinderance to my visiting you as usual, or to our keeping up the same correspondence as for the past. You know how dear you are to me, and how much I love you, and rest assured that it will always be my endeavour to prove the constancy of my affection. You must also know, that it is my intention after a short time to send your husband into Portugal, to purchase some goods, where I can induce him to remain until you are delivered, lest he should discover your

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premature pregnancy. For this object I have a sum of money ready, which I will lend, on condition that he remains there a smuggler, till such time as I shall think proper to recall him."

Maria, easily persuaded by the friar's reasoning, gave her assent to all he had proposed, and agreed to assist him. With as little difficulty he obtained her parent's consent to marry her to Nunez, (indeed the marriages between the lower classes in Spain are generally concerted by the priests and friars,) nor did he meet with any obstacle from the parents of Paolo, but, on the contrary, when he made them the proposal of the marriage he had planned for their son, they were glad to forward it, and a few days after they were united.

The new-married couple lived together about two months in good harmony, without the husband ever suspecting that his wife had any correspondence with the friar, who frequented the house constantly, They soon after fixed upon sending Nunez to Portugal, according to their former plans, to hide from him the period that would give birth to the child that she carried in her womb, and afterwards to make him believe whatever they thought proper. Nunez was easily persuaded to become a smuggler in Portugal; for when his wife made him the proposition, the friar, who was present to obviate all difficulties, offered him sufficient money to carry on the traffic he was recommended to, adding, "I have calculated, that after one year at this business, you will have gained enough to enable you, at your return, to make a better figure, and procure your living with less fatigue. As to your domestic affairs, I will see after them myself, and, deeply interested as I feel for you and for your wife, I moreover promise to assist her in whatever circumstances she may require my aid."

It needed no more than this discourse, added to all the logic of a finished hypocrite, to resolve Nunez. Scarcely had the friar ended, than he eagerly declared he would depart whenever it was his pleasure. He received the money, and letters of recommendation to some convents, situated in the country where he was to carry on his new traffic: the friar again desired him to remain there at least a year, to write to him often, and not to return without consulting him. He set out the next day, thus leaving the friar entire master of Maria, whom he visited at whatever hour of the day he thought proper.

Meanwhile, the enterprises of Nunez in Portugal were defeated by the vigilance of

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the custom-house officers, who seized the
greater part of the goods he meant to have
passed into that country. After this loss,
finding himself without sufficient means to
continue his commerce, but having still a
small sum of money, he resolved to return
to Mellide, with the intention of tempting
fortune the next year, seeing that she was
not likely to be propitious during the pre-
sent. So resolved, he again set out, and
arrived at home, to the great surprise of his
unfaithful wife and her paramour, who
never dreamed that he would so soon dis-
turb, with his presence, the intercourse that
they were enjoying with so much liberty
and ease.
As Nunez had had no corres-
pondence with any one, they immediately
set to work to send him off again, well
knowing that the day must soon arrive
when he would discover every thing, if he
remained in the country.

But Nunez, to whom the wife and the friar were constantly making proposals tending to induce his departure, began to perceive that he was betrayed by them, and determined to continue his former occupations, to till his own ground, and not to undertake any commerce out of his native soil. Seeing that it was impossible, by the most flattering promises, to prevail on him, they formed the horrible project of murdering him, and then throwing his body into the river Minho, persuading themselves that the crime would remain undiscovered, as they had spread a report | that he was again about to depart; so that after effecting their execrable intentions, they could easily make it be believed that he was gone on a new journey. The suspicion of Nunez once awakened, increased more and more every day; and, the better to discover the conduct of his wife, he took a boy, of about ten years old, into his service, and confided to him the task of espying their actions. Short, however, was the period that they allowed the ill-fated Nunez to discover their many heinous actions. During one of their infamous conferences, they swore to each other to put into execution, without further delay, their devilish projects.

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might not be aware of the horrible secret.

Wearied by the labours of the day, the unfortunate Nunez sought his home, thinking to repose his tired limbs in the arms of his wicked consort. Unusual kindness, and false demonstrations of affection, were prodigally lavished by the subtle and perfidious wretch, who, in the same moment, meditated how to assist the hand that was ready to imbrue itself in her husband's blood. He supped tranquilly, and, not doubting the allurements of his fawning wife, drank plentifully, and throwing himself on his contaminated bed, gave himself up to a profound sleep. Not many minutes were passed, when she admitted the friar into the chamber, and presented to him the innocent victim that was to be inhumanly slaughtered by such barbarous hands. Without seeming to discompose himself, he grasped the murderous weapon he always carried with him, and signing to the wife to hold him down by the hair, with repeated stabs perforated his breast. The single, acute, and languid groan, which escaped the dying man, awoke the poor boy, who slept in a room over that in which the horrible homicide was perpetrated.

Affrighted and trembling, he ran to the chamber, and, oh! horrible spectacle! he saw his master swimming in his own blood, languidly drawing his last breath, his eyes fixed towards heaven, as if imploring vengeance. At such a sight an involuntary shout escaped him, which startled the friarassassin, who, still plunging at his victim's heart, was not conscious of the boy's arrival; he now sprang at him like a tiger, and already was his hand uplifted to silence him for ever, when Maria, relenting for a moment, seized his arm, and hindered the fatal blow. Moved by her supplications, and covering himself with the mantle of hypocrisy, he entreated the boy to forgive his zeal, making him believe that heaven had ordered its vengeance to be thus executed by him on an impious and heretical being, menacing him with the same end, if he dared to reveal a word.

Profiting by the darkness of the night, conceal-wrapped in a sheet, they carried between them the bleeding corpse to the river that flowed not far from the house, and consigned it to its torrent, and then quietly returned home, as if nothing had happened. Many days passed over without any thing being discovered; but early one morning a corpse was found not many miles distant, on the bank of the river, that proved, after many inquiries, to be that of Nunez. This

The evening of the 7th of December, the friar, in concert with the wife, ed himself in a small chamber adjoining that of his destined victim, earnestly recommending Maria to caress him more than usual, to give him his supper, and to make him drink as much as possible. The crafty woman chose the hour that the friar had appointed to introduce him to his hiding-place, to send the boy to a neighbouring tavern for some wine, that he

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