Two of our Ex-.Judges have made public appearances. Sir John
Patteson vindicates his pension on the ground of his ser- vices. Sir John Taylor Coleridge, in an eminently liberal spirit, expounds his views on education. His enlarged schemes com- mend themselves to consideration ; and the arguments he ad- duced. in favour of school inspection, if adopted, would do much to improve the quality of our education.
The week has been signalized by the formation of a Working Men's Club in London, admitting the introduction of the social principle, so as to raise an element of antagonism to the tavern. It is gratifying to note that this great concession comes from a clergyman, who has had the wisdom to perceive the only mode of effectually dealing with the social instincts in connexion with mental improvement.
Social reformers will rejoice at the fact that there is a marked diminution in the number of criminals in the country. From every borough, and almost every county, we have the same en- couraging report. The advocates of Ragged. Schools and. Re- formatories, at last, are proved to be right in their views as to the wisdom of a curative treatment of crime. We have beaten ordinary crime by extraordinary means ; but the difficulty 'now before us is to grapple with extraordinary crime by the ordinary agencies. This year is gloomily marked by great undiscovered crimes, and the failure of our organizations for their detection. The time has come for the establishment of public prosecutors of high intelligence, guided. and controlled by a responsible Secre- tary of State for the Department of Justice.
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