of traffic from Cape Colony to Delagoa Bay, the Transvaal openly violated the Convention. But by war in the one case, and by a threat of war in the other, the wrong was righted.

I must bring this article to a conclusion here, though the subject is so large that to many a few observations like these must appear ludicrously inadequate. But they will have served their purpose if they have helped to emphasize the urgent need there is for some broad and generallyrecognised principles of interpretation. If the Hague Court of Arbitration ever accomplished anything practical some of us may yet live to see the birth of a body of International Case-law, of which the construction of treaties will assuredly form no insignificant a portion. If not, we must content ourselves with the hope of the growth of a strong, educated, and uniform Public Opinion. HERBERT M. ADLER.

V. THE TREATMENT OF DISCHARGED

THE

PRISONERS.

HE platform at the St. Giles' Christian Mission to Discharged Prisoners, in Little Wild Street, Drury Lane, presented an interesting sight on Thursday, the 29th of November, 1900. It was the occasion of the winter treat to some of its beneficiaries, around which many friends habitually gather. The Chief Magistrate of the Metropolis was in the chair. He was supported by Mr. Lane and many other magistrates, by the Chairman and Deputy-Chairman of Middlesex Sessions, by police authorities, prison chaplains, county councillors, philanthropic bankers, and merchants.

All came to testify to the good work of the mission, and the remarkable success of Mr. Wheatley, its superintendent, in assisting discharged prisoners and obtaining

honest employment for those committed to his care without punishment, under the merciful provisions of the Probation of First Offenders Act, 1887, and the Summary Jurisdiction Act.

There was proof of this in the hall itself. In front were some thirty young women, all neatly dressed and happy looking. They were called forward, under a number, to receive rewards for having for having kept the situations found for them two years or over. Then double that number of youths received like encouragement under similar circumstances. Some of the latter had also a Savings Bank Book remitted to them. They had confided a portion of their earnings to the Mission, and here was the aggregate sum invested in Government securities.

One feels insensibly sceptical about the "Patterns" it has become increasingly fashionable to put forward as object lessons at philanthropic gatherings. The iteration of one reformed character after another is apt, I am convinced, rather to freeze than to thaw the sources of supply by its monotony and (one must say) apparent

cant.

But with the St. Giles' Christian Mission a very different course is taken. There, it is the reformer who testifies, rather than the reformed. Long years ago, at Scotland Yard, I made the acquaintance of Mr. Wheatley. I had been struck with the apparent helplessness of many of the Societies for the Assistance of Discharged Prisoners-as well as by frequent complaints that a discharged prisoner, or supervisee, could not retain honest employment on account of police interference. In no case did investigation into the charge show that it rested upon the slightest foundation. None the less was it undeniable that there was a want of system, a want of sympathy on the part both of the police and of the societies, as well as an absence of all police assistance.

Room upon room of unclaimed prisoners' property-or rather property found on prisoners and not claimed upon discharge, as likely to lead as likely to lead to awkward inquiries— remained stacked year after year. The Home Secretary

at length approved of its being sold; it realised a considerable sum, and this formed the nucleus of a fund for the assistance of discharged prisoners. A Convict Supervision Office was established under Superintendent Neame. Its staff, both male and female, were very carefully selected. It took charge of prisoners' property and identification papers. It put itself into communication not only with societies for assisting discharged prisoners, augmenting from time to time their resources, but established friendly relations with foremen and employers willing to give a good man a trial. Its success was, and is, great.

One of its principal assistants was Mr. Wheatley. By trade a gold beater, he devoted his leisure to helping his fellow men. His success has been extraordinary, not only in obtaining employment for hundreds, not only in redeeming hundreds from a life of crime, but also in winning the approval and cordial co-operation of every criminal judge and magistrate in the metropolis. Often Mr. Wheatley is sent for and asked if he can do any good for the prisoner in the dock if remitted to his care. A very brief conversation will enable him to give a safe answer. The most artful find difficulty in deceit or hoodwinking. Mr. Wheatley is difficult to impose upon. But if the circumstances justify it he will try, and in ninety per cent. of cases success follows.

The Probation of First Offenders Act, which I had the good fortune to place upon the Statute Book in 1887, enlarging the powers of the Summary Jurisdiction Act in withholding punishment and releasing upon recognisances, greatly increased Mr. Wheatley's work. In twelve years.

it has enabled not far from 100,000 persons in England and Wales-so far as can be calculated from the parliamentary returns from the six most populous police areas-to be saved from the taint of prison, and the State from the expense and trouble of maintaining them. Their average sentence would have been seven weeks, and adding is. 6d. per week as the proportion due for establishment charges of each prisoner in gaol, to the 8s. 6d. his food costs, shows a direct money saving to the tax payer of £30,000 at the very least, besides the ultimate gain to society. Relapses there have been, of course, but absolutely doubling the known figure of 6 per cent., they only number 12 in the hundred. Many of the 88 per cent. of those released under the Act have done well. We owe much in London to Mr. Wheatley's care. He gives a home and food to the homeless, and starts them on their way. Funds to help him are urgently needed, as the war has reduced the number of subscribers and donors.

But the St. Giles's Mission, in Brook Street, Holborn, where the Home is open to inspection, is far from being the only society in London for helping discharged prisoners. There are many others-The Royal Society, The Metropolitan, The Central Committee of the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Societies, under Mr. Arthur Maddison, at Charing Cross, the old-established Sheriff's Fund, are all doing something for the general good, while nearly every prison in the United Kingdom has a Society working in connection with it. The countenance and support long given by the prison authorities, have been placed upon an even more secure foundation, under the administration of Mr. Ruggles Brise, the Chairman of the Directors.

Nor has the good influence of the Societies been bounded by the English Channel. M. Lejeune, formerly Minister of Justice in Belgium, has been foremost among Continental reformers. Under his auspices admirable societies have

been formed in the neighbourhood of Brussels and Antwerp, and their work is zealously furthered by devoted men and women. There is also a Congrès International de Patronage, having its Headquarters at Brussels, with the indefatigable M. Batardy as honorary secretary. It is in close correspondence with similar associations in Paris and throughout Europe. In the French capital there is an Union Générale des Sociétiés des Patronage de France whereof M. Petit, an ex-Judge of the High Court, and M. Desfontaines are leaders.

Last summer the Congress, meeting triennially, was held in the Palais des Congrès at the French Exhibition. It would be difficult, perhaps, to point to any very direct result of these Congresses. But attended as they are by eager and sincere men and women from many countries, they cannot fail to direct a beneficial attention to the general subject, from which good must ensue-although the application in different countries, under different laws, interpreted according to special national characteristics and traditions, must vary greatly. This result is, however, undoubted, that the different treatment of discharged prisoners, and those guilty of first offences under extenuating circumstances of youth, distress, or especial temptation, prevailing now compared to a few years ago, is not a little responsible for the decrease of crime and criminals now so happily observable as much on the European Continent as in the United Kingdom at the beginning of the Twentieth Century.

C. E. HOWARD VINCENT.