of Prussia, together with the Chevalier Bunsen and the Austrian Ambassador, were present, contained the most valuable and excellent discourse delivered at the conferences, considered with reference to the subject proposed by those international assemblies. Its subject was, "The possible and probable result to be attained in literature and religion by the union of British and German Christians." It was delivered in excellent German by the Rev. J. Cairns, from Berwick-onTweed, than whom it is difficult to conceive any one more highly qualified to shed a clear light on this subject. This morning and afternoon, the reports on the state of religion in various other countries were taken, which had been of necessity adjourned on Friday, when, at the King's invitation, the members of the conferences proceeded to Potsdam. At the end of the evening meeting, the conferences were closed by a very eloquent speech from the Rev. Dr. Krummacher, and prayer by the Dean of Canterbury.

The last concluding act of all was, the administration of the Lord's Supper at the Church of the Moravian Brothers, to above 400 persons of all denominations. And with this joint communion of various nations and all denominations the Evangelical Conferences at Berlin closed.

STATISTICS OF CRIME.

WE give the following statistics from a Blue-book of 100 pages, relative to criminal justice for the year 1856. The "Home-office Statistics of Criminal Justice" have been compiled, so far as practicable, to comprise the enlarged amount of information which Secretary Sir G. Grey has desired in future to be prepared annually in this department. The book under our notice at present forms Part I., and it is proposed that the statistics of Civil and Commercial Justice shall form Part II. The statistics of "Criminal Justice" comprise, under three separate heads, but with conformity of arrangement, Police, Criminal Justice, and Prisons, and by combining this information in one report, much useless and cumbersome repetition will be avoided, and the matter be rendered more readily accessible, both by its more simple and uniform arrangement and by its collection and annual publication in one comprehensive record. The statistics thus supplied give the following information:

It appears, under the head of Police, that there were 22,221 inquests in the year 1856 in England and Wales-15,282 on males, and 6,939 on females. The percentage of the deaths

thus inquired into was as follows:-Murder, 0.9; manslaughter, 1.2; suicide, 5.9; accidental death, 43.8; injuries (causes unknown), 1.9; found dead, 14.3; and natural death, 32 per cent. Of this very large number of cases only 476 were of a class necessarily inducing criminal prosecution; but the open cases of injury, causes unknown, would seem to require much more extensive inquiries by coroners. 4,120 inquests were held on infants, 3,875 on children, 11,247 on adults, and 2,675 on aged and infirm persons. The total amount of the expense of these inquests last year was £68,439,- an average of £3 18. 7d. for each case.

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Under the head of "Criminal Proceedings" it is stated that the commitments for trial of 1856 show an unprecedented decrease; a result partly attributable to the extended summary jurisdiction of Justices. The decrease is equivalent to 6,535 persons, or 25.1 per cent., following the large decrease of 11.5 per cent. in 1855. This decrease extended to every county. As regards the nature of the offences, it appears that in cases of offences against the person (including rape and attempts to ravish), the numbers are nearly stationary; stabbing, wounding, and the unnatural crimes exhibit the largest decrease. In class 2, "Offences against property with violence," the most marked increase appears, amounting to 23.7 per cent. in burglary and shop-breaking. The great decrease of 33.7 per cent. is recorded under the head of "Offences against property without violence." Larceny, embezzlement, and sheep-stealing have decreased, while cattle-stealing, horse-stealing, and frauds have increased. There is a decrease of 24 per cent. in “ licious offences against property," and one of 2 per cent. in "forgery and currency offences." An unusual number of coiners have been convicted. There were 19,437 commitments for trial in 1856,-9,683 to County Quarter Sessions, 2,008 to the Middlesex Sessions, 2,889 to Borough Quarter Sessions, 3,787 to Circuit Assize Courts, and 1,060 to the Central Criminal Court. Of the persons thus committed to gaol for trial, 4,672 were acquitted, 31 found insane, and 14,734 convicted; of whom 69 were condemned to death, 273 to transportation, 2,158 to penal servitude, 12,107 to imprisonment, and 127 to be fined or whipped. The capital sentences last year exhibit a large increase, while the sentences to transportation declined by 15.5 per cent. The executions of last year were double the usual average, including 4 of foreigners. The proportion of female commitments, which has shown a marked increase of late years, suddenly decreased in 1856-a phenomenon attributable to the operation of the

Criminal Justice Act in cases of larceny. The grand total cost of the prosecutions last year was £194,912; viz. £173,249 on indictments, and £21,655 on summary proceedings. Under the head of "Prisons," it is shown that the total committals to prison last year exhibited an increase of 2.9 per cent., but the result is less unfavourable on analysing the commitments.

The relative criminality of the different counties is exhibited by a table, it appearing that the most criminal counties are Middlesex, Lancaster, and Surrey; and the least criminal the Welsh counties generally, Norfolk, Lincoln, Derby, Suffolk, and Cambridge. One in every 3.6 of the persons committed in 1856 (132,689 in all) is known to have been a previous offender; and among these relapsed culprits, or as the French criminal statistican calls them récidives, the females greatly preponderate. It is an important fact that no less than 11,808 males and 2,173 females were committed to gaol, and subject to prison discipline, who were under 16 years of age; nay, 1,990 under 12 years of age! Of the number under 16 only 272 males and 25 females have been removed to the reformatory schools. The proportion of commitments was, under 21 years, 34.2 per cent.; between 21 and 30 years 29.4 per cent; and 30 years and upwards 36.4 per cent. Of those committed, 33.1 were utterly illiterate, 53.8 could read, or read imperfectly, 5.4 could do so well, and 0.3 were of superior instruction. The last class is on the increase, probably owing to the general diffusion of education. The return of the occupation of the committed culprits proves the rule that the untaught, untrained, and unskilled form the great mass of the criminal population. Above one-half have no occupation whatever, or are classed as labourers, charwomen, and needleworkers. The proportion of mechanics and skilled labourers is only 21.7 per cent., and that of all persons raised above the mere artisan class only 3.8 per cent. The total cost of prisons amounted to £515,917, the annual charge of each prisoner being £29 1s. 2d., which is pretty nearly the same as in 1847. Of the expense last year £24,262 was supplied from prison receipts (prisoners' labour, &c.), £380,360 from local funds and rates, and £110,929 from public revenues. 2,892 prisoners were let loose in the year 1856 on tickets of leave, and 88 on pardon; 113 died, 2 committed suicide, and 11 escaped. The cases of sickness were numerous. Such is the substance of the Report on Judicial Statistics.

RESULTS OF RECENT LEGISLATION.

THE New Burial Act.-This Act has been printed. It contains thirty clauses to amend the former Burial Acts, and is to be read and constructed as one Statute with the four recited Acts. Among the new provisions is one, declaring that it shall not be necessary to erect or maintain any wall or fence between the consecrated and the unconsecrated portion of any burial-ground; provided that in the case of any burial-ground where there shall be no such wall or fence, it shall be the duty of the Burial Board having the care of such burialground, to place, and from time to time to repair and renew, such boundary marks of stone as may be sufficient to show the boundaries of such consecrated and unconsecrated portion. Further, by another clause, it is enacted that Burial Boards may provide more than one burial-ground, and may, with the approval of the Home Secretary, instead of setting a portion being used as unconsecrated ground, provide separate and distinct ground to be used as consecrated and as unconsecrated ground. A local "Board of Health" may, by an order in council, be constituted a "Burial Board."

THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACT.

A RETURN moved for by Mr. W. Ewart, M.P., the author of the Public Libraries Act, shows that it has not been very generally adopted. At Aberdeen and Preston the question had not been mooted. At Haslingden, Kingston-on-Hull, Limerick, Paddington, and Marylebone, meetings of the ratepayers have been held, and the result has been a refusal by the majority to adopt the Act. In the City of London no steps have been taken since the formal refusal of the ratepayers to adopt the Act of the 5th of November, 1855. In St. Margaret's and St. John's, Westminster, the Act was adopted, with the best results, in May, 1856, by 81 to 3 votes, and the library already includes 315 volumes. penny rate has been levied for the expenses. At Leamington the Act has been adopted by 94 to 20 votes. At Norwich, Bristol, Greenwich, and Preston, some kind of public library already exists, and at the last-named town it is intended to take steps towards the adoption of the Act as soon as a sum of £3,000 has been raised by the inhabitants.

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THE NEW ACT ON MARRIED WOMEN'S REVERSIONARY INTEREST.

THE new Act to enable married women to dispose of their reversionary interest in personal estate has been printed. After the 31st of December next married women may dispose of their reversionary interest in personal property and release powers over such estate, and also their rights to a settlement out of such estates in possession. The husband must concur in the deed, and such deeds are to be acknowledged in the same manner as fines and recoveries are passed by married women. The Act, which is not applicable to Scotland, is not to enable married women to dispose of any interest in personal estates settled upon them, or agreed to be settled, on the occasion of their marriage.

IMPORTANT MOVEMENT FOR THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE.

LORD BROUGHAM has consented to preside, and to deliver the inaugural address, at the formation of an association which is about to be established for the purpose of bringing together the supporters of the various efforts which are now being made for social improvement, and to elucidate by discussion the connection between each, and the mutual assistance they may render to each other. The new movement will partake to some extent of the character of the educational conference recently held in London, over which the Prince-Consort presided; various branches of social science being referred to "sections" or "departments" conducted by gentlemen who have paid attention to the subjects. The inaugural meeting will be held in the Town Hall, Birmingham, on Monday, October 12th, when Lord Brougham will deliver his introductory address. The meeting will then be divided into five departments, in each of which papers will be read and discussions taken on the following subjects:-1. Jurisprudence and amendment of the law. 2. Education. 3. Punishment and reformation. 4. Public health. 5. Social economy. On the mornings of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the 13th, 14th, and 15th of October, the departments will meet at Queen's College, Birmingham, for the reading of papers and discussion. On the evening of Tuesday, a soirée will be held in the Town Hall. On Wednesday evening, the 14th, a public entertainment will be given to Lord Brougham, and other members of the Association, by the Mayor of Birming

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