19 MAY 1849, Page 13

THE POISONINGS AND THEIR ANTIDOTE.

E Borgias adorned the fifteenth century ; it is England in the nineteenth century which exhibits poisoning as a domestic insti- tution. Of course, burial-societies must be placed under effective check and control ; but even if that were done, we still leave among the poorer, that is the more ignorant classes, a spirit which induces them to poison each other—even blood relations—for a profit. Is that spirit to continue unchecked except by the nega- tive denial of indulgence in the investment of the burial-society ? But in what way to control the murderous passion of the uncivi- lized class? By precept of law ? The people to be regulated are too ignorant to understand the wisdom, the necessity, or even the substance or letter of the law. By punishment? They are too stupid to connect the crime with the punishment. Blinded by ignorance, they are not awake to the chain of evidence that leads to detection, and each in his own case thinks that he has effec-

tively cut off the chain. By education T—They are too under- bred, too stunted in faculties, congenitally dull, to be redeemed by school-teaching, in one generation. How then? You cannot destroy the malevolent spirit directly, but you can encourage an atmosphere which is, in various way, fatal to it. Literally as well as metaphorically, by improved sanatory regu- lations, which tend to a healthy development of the human con- stitution, and with it of those instinctive affections that are so shockingly violated by the poisonings. Whatever tends to im- prove the material circumstances of the people and their sense of comfort also antagonizes these morbid cruelties : better days will be less cruel ; good statesmanship tends to make a less vicious people. Education can do its part. Communion between the educated classes and the uneducated, for guidance and a sus- taining sympathy, might have a still readier effect. Above all, if religion, instead of being wasted on the conflict of dogmas, were to make its true appeal to the conscience—that conscience which compels every horn man, of whatsoever faith, to know that he walks in the presence of God, and fain to obey the impulse under which he must further the Divine beneficence—it might win a precious homage in the increase to the happiness and life of the people. Such things might be ; the thing wanting is the will ; and, with shame be it said, most of us, except the vindicators of dogmatic formuhe, would be ashamed to go forth on such a mission of brotherhood among the people.