8 JANUARY 1842, Page 2

At a meeting of Surrey Magistrates, at Newington Sessions - house, on

Tuesday, the Chairman, Mr. Puckle, observed that crime had increased in the county ; which would be a disappointment to those benevolent individuals who had endeavoured to improve the condition of the lower orders by educating them—

He differed, however, from many of those persons as to the mode in which that education was carried out; he entertained an opinion—and it was a strong one—that the children in many of our charity-schools and union workhouses

were too highly educated. He had seen them taught the use of the globes, geometry, geography, and other branches of learning which could be of little or no service to them in after life, and in place of which he considered it would be much more beneficial if they were taught their moral and religious duties ; for unless education was based upon religion it might be applied to a bad purpose by those who received it. If the condition of those outside the prisons, however, had not improved, that of the prisoners had—

He knew that there were men who entertained the opinion that persons who had been frequently imprisoned were irreclaimable; he knew, however, better.

He knew indeed that there were men who, upon their discharge, were driven by necessity to rejoin their abandoned associates, and in a few weeks, or per

haps in a few hours, they were brought back to the prisons which they had just quitted. But he was happy to say the Magistrates of Surrey were endeavouring to meet this difficulty; and an asylum had been established into which offenders were received, at the recommendation of the chaplain of the prison;

and they were taught trades and furnished with the means of obtaining an honest livelihood. He was glad to say that many who had been thus treated were become good and useful members of society; and he hoped the institution would have the patronage of all who could contribute towards its support. Perhaps in a short time the subject would meet with the attention of Government.

From the various reports of the Governors of the different Gaols in

the county, it appeared that there were at present in Horsemonger _ Gaol 218 prisoners—namely, 183 males and 35 females ; in Brixtein House of Correction, 223 males and 64 females—total, 287; in the House of Correction at Guildford, 82 males and 13 females—making 95; and in Kingston Goal, 13 males and 10 females. Mr. SamIlpiece, the Treasurer of the county, reported, that since the last quarter he had received the sum of 17,511/. and that the balance overpaid in the last account was 2,1061.; that he had since paid 8,702/. ; and that, with outstanding bills to be ordered for payment, together with a sum of 4,1431., principal and interest, for the County Lunatic Asylum, would give an excess of payments of 481/. over and above the expenditure of the current quarter. A twopenny rate was allowed. Mr. Hawes, M.P., moved rod carried a memorial to the Home Secretary, requesting that the Justices might be enabled to raise rates for‘the maintenance of asylums for discharged and destitute prisoners.