Youproject，Iamtold，thepublicationofanewnovel，byyourself，inthepagesofyourMagazine。Awordinyourear。Iamnotayoungman，sir，andhavehadsomeexperience。Don’tputyourownnameonthetitle—page;itwouldbesuicideandmadness。TreatwithGeneralTomThumb，Mr。Hood，fortheuseofhisnameonanyterms。
Ifthegallantgeneralshoulddeclinetotreatwithyou，getMr。
Barnum’sname，whichisthenextbestinthemarket。Andwhen，throughthispoliticcourse，youshallhavereceived，inpresents，arichlyjewelledsetoftabletsfromBuckinghamPalace，andagoldwatchandappendagesfromMarlboroughHouse;andwhenthosevaluabletrinketsshallbeleftunderaglasscaseatyourpublisher’sforinspectionbyyourfriendsandthepublicingeneral;——then，sir，youwilldomethejusticeofrememberingthiscommunication。
Itisunnecessaryformetoadd，afterwhatIhaveobservedinthecourseofthisletter，thatIamnot，——sir，everyourCONSTANTREADER。
TUESDAY，23rdApril1844。
P。S。——Impressituponyourcontributorsthattheycannotbetooshort;andthatifnotdwarfish，theymustbewild——oratalleventsnottame。
CRIMEANDEDUCATION
IoffernoapologyforentreatingtheattentionofthereadersofTheDailyNewstoaneffortwhichhasbeenmakingforsomethreeyearsandahalf，andwhichismakingnow，tointroduceamongthemostmiserableandneglectedoutcastsinLondon，someknowledgeofthecommonestprinciplesofmoralityandreligion;tocommencetheirrecognitionasimmortalhumancreatures，beforetheGaolChaplainbecomestheironlyschoolmaster;tosuggesttoSocietythatitsdutytothiswretchedthrong，foredoomedtocrimeandpunishment，rightfullybeginsatsomedistancefromthepoliceoffice;andthatthecarelessmaintenancefromyeartoyear，inthis，thecapitalcityoftheworld，ofavasthopelessnurseryofignorance，miseryandvice;abreedingplaceforthehulksandjails:ishorribletocontemplate。
ThisattemptisbeingmadeincertainofthemostobscureandsqualidpartsoftheMetropolis，whereroomsareopened，atnight，forthegratuitousinstructionofallcomers，childrenoradults，underthetitleofRAGGEDSCHOOLS。Thenameimpliesthepurpose。
Theywhoaretooragged，wretched，filthy，andforlorn，toenteranyotherplace:whocouldgainadmissionintonocharityschool，andwhowouldbedrivenfromanychurchdoor;areinvitedtocomeinhere，andfindsomepeoplenotdepraved，willingtoteachthemsomething，andshowthemsomesympathy，andstretchahandout，whichisnottheironhandofLaw，fortheircorrection。
BeforeIdescribeavisitofmyowntoaRaggedSchool，andurgethereadersofthisletterforGod’ssaketovisitonethemselves，andthinkofit（whichismymainobject），letmesay，thatIknowtheprisonsofLondonwell;thatIhavevisitedthelargestofthemmoretimesthanIcouldcount;andthatthechildreninthemareenoughtobreaktheheartandhopeofanyman。IhavenevertakenaforeignerorastrangerofanykindtooneoftheseestablishmentsbutIhaveseenhimsomovedatsightofthechildoffenders，andsoaffectedbythecontemplationoftheirutterrenouncementanddesolationoutsidetheprisonwalls，thathehasbeenaslittleabletodisguisehisemotion，asifsomegreatgriefhadsuddenlyburstuponhim。Mr。ChestertonandLieutenantTracey（thanwhommoreintelligentandhumaneGovernorsofPrisonsitwouldbehard，ifnotimpossible，tofind）knowperfectlywellthatthesechildrenpassandrepassthroughtheprisonsalltheirlives;thattheyarenevertaught;thatthefirstdistinctionsbetweenrightandwrongare，fromtheircradles，perfectlyconfoundedandpervertedintheirminds;thattheycomeofuntaughtparents，andwillgivebirthtoanotheruntaughtgeneration;thatinexactproportiontotheirnaturalabilities，istheextentandscopeoftheirdepravity;andthatthereisnoescapeorchancefortheminanyordinaryrevolutionofhumanaffairs。Happily，thereareschoolsintheseprisonsnow。Ifanyreadersdoubthowignorantthechildrenare，letthemvisitthoseschoolsandseethemattheirtasks，andhearhowmuchtheyknewwhentheyweresentthere。Iftheywouldknowtheproduceofthisseed，letthemseeaclassofmenandboystogether，attheirbooks（asIhaveseenthemintheHouseofCorrectionforthiscountyofMiddlesex），andmarkhowpainfullythefullgrownfelonstoilattheveryshapeandformofletters;theirignorancebeingsoconfirmedandsolid。Thecontrastofthislabourinthemen，withthelessbluntedquicknessoftheboys;thelatentshameandsenseofdegradationstrugglingthroughtheirdullattemptsatinfantlessons;andtheuniversaleagernesstolearn，impressme，inthispassingretrospect，morepainfullythanIcantell。
Fortheinstruction，andasafirststepinthereformation，ofsuchunhappybeings，theRaggedSchoolswerefounded。Iwasfirstattractedtothesubject，andindeedwasfirstmadeconsciousoftheirexistence，abouttwoyearsago，ormore，byseeinganadvertisementinthepapersdatedfromWestStreet，SaffronHill，stating\"Thataroomhadbeenopenedandsupportedinthatwretchedneighbourhoodforupwardsoftwelvemonths，wherereligiousinstructionhadbeenimpartedtothepoor\"，andexplaininginafewwordswhatwasmeantbyRaggedSchoolsasagenericterm，including，then，fourorfivesimilarplacesofinstruction。Iwrotetothemastersofthisparticularschooltomakesomefurtherinquiries，andwentmyselfsoonafterwards。
Itwasahotsummernight;andtheairofFieldLaneandSaffronHillwasnotimprovedbysuchweather，norwerethepeopleinthosestreetsverysoberorhonestcompany。Beingunacquaintedwiththeexactlocalityoftheschool，Iwasfaintomakesomeinquiriesaboutit。Thesewereveryjocoselyreceivedingeneral;buteverybodyknewwhereitwas，andgavetherightdirectiontoit。
Theprevailingideaamongtheloungers（thegreaterpartofthemtheverysweepingsofthestreetsandstationhouses）seemedtobe，thattheteacherswerequixotic，andtheschooluponthewhole\"alark\"。
Buttherewascertainlyakindofroughrespectfortheintention，and（asIhavesaid）nobodydeniedtheschooloritswhereabouts，orrefusedassistanceindirectingtoit。
Itconsistedatthattimeofeithertwoorthree——Iforgetwhich——
miserablerooms，upstairsinamiserablehouse。Inthebestofthese，thepupilsinthefemaleschoolwerebeingtaughttoreadandwrite;andthoughtherewereamongthenumber，manywretchedcreaturessteepedindegradationtothelips，theyweretolerablyquiet，andlistenedwithapparentearnestnessandpatiencetotheirinstructors。Theappearanceofthisroomwassadandmelancholy，ofcourse——howcoulditbeotherwise！——but，onthewhole，encouraging。
Theclose，lowchamberattheback，inwhichtheboyswerecrowded，wassofoulandstiflingastobe，atfirst，almostinsupportable。
Butitsmoralaspectwassofarworsethanitsphysical，thatthiswassoonforgotten。Huddledtogetheronabenchabouttheroom，andshownoutbysomeflaringcandlesstuckagainstthewalls，wereacrowdofboys，varyingfrommereinfantstoyoungmen;sellersoffruit，herbs，lucifer—matches，flints;sleepersunderthedryarchesofbridges;youngthievesandbeggars——withnothingnaturaltoyouthaboutthem:withnothingfrank，ingenuous，orpleasantintheirfaces;low—browed，vicious，cunning，wicked;abandonedofallhelpbutthis;speedingdownwardtodestruction;andUNUTTERABLY
IGNORANT。
This，Reader，wasoneroomasfullasitcouldhold;butthesewereonlygrainsinsampleofaMultitudethatareperpetuallysiftingthroughtheseschools;insampleofaMultitudewhohadwithinthemonce，andperhapshavenow，theelementsofmenasgoodasyouorI，andmaybeinfinitelybetter;insampleofaMultitudeamongwhosedoomedandsinfulranks（oh，thinkofthis，andthinkofthem！）thechildofanymanuponthisearth，howeverloftyhisdegree，must，asbyDestinyandFate，befound，if，atitsbirth，itwereconsignedtosuchaninfancyandnurture，asthesefallencreatureshad！
ThiswastheClassIsawattheRaggedSchool。Theycouldnotbetrustedwithbooks;theycouldonlybeinstructedorally;theyweredifficultofreductiontoanythinglikeattention，obedience，ordecentbehaviour;theirbenightedignoranceinreferencetotheDeity，ortoanysocialduty（howcouldtheyguessatanysocialduty，beingsodiscardedbyallsocialteachersbutthegaolerandthehangman！）wasterribletosee。Yet，evenhere，andamongthese，somethinghadbeendonealready。TheRaggedSchoolwasofrecentdateandverypoor;buthehadinculcatedsomeassociationwiththenameoftheAlmighty，whichwasnotanoath，andhadtaughtthemtolookforwardinahymn（theysangit）toanotherlife，whichwouldcorrectthemiseriesandwoesofthis。
ThenewexpositionIfoundinthisRaggedSchool，ofthefrightfulneglectbytheStateofthosewhomitpunishessoconstantly，andwhomitmight，aseasilyandlessexpensively，instructandsave;
togetherwiththesightIhadseenthere，intheheartofLondon;
hauntedme，andfinallyimpelledmetoanendeavourtobringtheseInstitutionsunderthenoticeoftheGovernment;withsomefainthopethatthevastnessofthequestionwouldsupersedetheTheologyoftheschools，andthattheBenchofBishopsmightadjustthelatterquestion，aftersomesmallgranthadbeenconceded。Imadetheattempt;andhaveheardnomoreofthesubjectfromthathour。
Theperusalofanadvertisementinyesterday’spaper，announcingalectureontheRaggedSchoolslastnight，hasledmeintotheseremarks。Imighteasilyhavegiventhemanotherform;butIaddressthislettertoyou，inthehopethatsomefewreadersinwhomIhaveawakenedaninterest，asawriteroffiction，maybe，bythatmeans，attractedtothesubject，whomightotherwise，unintentionally，passitover。
IhavenodesiretopraisethesystempursuedintheRaggedSchools;
whichisnecessarilyveryimperfect，ifindeedtherebeone。SofarasIhaveanymeansofjudgingofwhatistaughtthere，Ishouldindividuallyobjecttoit，asnotbeingsufficientlysecular，andaspresentingtoomanyreligiousmysteriesanddifficulties，tomindsnotsufficientlypreparedfortheirreception。ButIshouldveryimperfectlydischargeinmyselfthedutyIwishtourgeandimpressonothers，ifIallowedanysuchdoubtofminetointerferewithmyappreciationoftheeffortsoftheseteachers，ormytruewishtopromotethembyanyslightmeansinmypower。Irritatingtopics，ofallkinds，areequallyfarremovedfrommypurposeandintention。
But，Iadjurethoseexcellentpersonswhoaid，munificently，inthebuildingofNewChurches，tothinkoftheseRaggedSchools;toreflectwhethersomeportionoftheirrichendowmentsmightnotbesparedforsuchapurpose;tocontemplate，calmly，thenecessityofbeginningatthebeginning;toconsiderforthemselveswheretheChristianReligionmostneedsandmostsuggestsimmediatehelpandillustration;andnottodecideonanytheoryorhearsay，buttogothemselvesintothePrisonsandtheRaggedSchools，andformtheirownconclusions。Theywillbeshocked，pained，andrepelled，bymuchthattheylearnthere;butnothingtheycanlearnwillbeone—
thousandthpartsoshocking，painful，andrepulsive，asthecontinuanceforoneyearmoreofthesethingsastheyhavebeenfortoomanyyearsalready。
AnticipatingthatsomeofthemoreprominentfactsconnectedwiththehistoryoftheRaggedSchools，maybecomeknowntothereadersofTheDailyNewsthroughyouraccountofthelectureinquestion，I
abstain（thoughinpossessionofsomesuchinformation）frompursuingthequestionfurther，atthistime。ButifIshouldseeoccasion，Iwilltakeleavetoreturntoit。
CAPITALPUNISHMENT
Iwilltakeforthesubjectofthisletter，theeffectofCapitalPunishmentonthecommissionofcrime，orratherofmurder;theonlycrimewithoneexception（andthatarareone）towhichitisnowapplied。Itseffectinpreventingcrime，Iwillreserveforanotherletter:andafewofthemorestrikingillustrationsofeachaspectofthesubject，foraconcludingone。
TheeffectofCapitalPunishmentonthecommissionofMurder。
Somemurdersarecommittedinhotbloodandfuriousrage;some，indeliberaterevenge;some，interribledespair;some（butnotmany）
formeregain;some，fortheremovalofanobjectdangeroustothemurderer’speaceorgoodname;some，towinamonstrousnotoriety。
Onmurderscommittedinrage，inthedespairofstrongaffection（aswhenastarvingchildismurderedbyitsparent）orforgain，I
believethepunishmentofdeathtohavenoeffectintheleast。Inthetwofirstcases，theimpulseisablindandwildone，infinitelybeyondthereachofanyreferencetothepunishment。Inthelast，thereislittlecalculationbeyondtheabsorbinggreedofthemoneytobegot。Courvoisier，forexample，mighthaverobbedhismasterwithgreatersafety，andwithfewerchancesofdetection，ifhehadnotmurderedhim。But，hiscalculationsgoingtothegainandnottotheloss，hehadnobalancefortheconsequencesofwhathedid。
So，itwouldhavebeenmoresafeandprudentinthewomanwhowashangedafewweekssince，forthemurderinWestminster，tohavesimplyrobbedheroldcompanioninanunguardedmoment，asinhersleep。But，hercalculationgoingtothegainofwhatshetooktobeaBanknote;andthepooroldwomanlivingbetweenherandthegain;shemurderedher。
Onmurderscommittedindeliberaterevenge，ortoremoveastumblingblockinthemurderer’spath，orinaninsatiatecravingfornotoriety，istherereasontosupposethatthepunishmentofdeathhasthedirecteffectofanincentiveandanimpulse？
Amurderiscommittedindeliberaterevenge。Themurdererisatnotroubletopreparehistrainofcircumstances，takeslittleornopainstoescape，isquitecoolandcollected，perfectlycontenttodeliverhimselfuptothePolice，makesnosecretofhisguilt，butboldlysays，\"Ikilledhim。I’mgladofit。Imeanttodoit。I
amreadytodie。\"Therewassuchacasetheotherday。Therewassuchanothercasenotlongago。Therearesuchcasesfrequently。
Itisthecommonestfirstexclamationonbeingseized。Now，whatisthisbutafalsearguingofthequestion，announcingaforegoneconclusion，expresslyleadingtothecrime，andinseparablyarisingoutofthePunishmentofDeath？\"Itookhislife。Igiveupminetopayforit。Lifeforlife;bloodforblood。Ihavedonethecrime。Iamreadywiththeatonement。Iknowallaboutit;it’safairbargainbetweenmeandthelaw。HereamItoexecutemypartofit;andwhatmoreistobesaidordone？\"Itistheveryessenceofthemaintenanceofthispunishmentformurder，thatitdoessetlifeagainstlife。Itisintheessenceofastupid，weak，orotherwiseill—regulatedmind（ofsuchamurderer’smind，inshort），torecogniseinthissetoff，asomethingthatdiminishesthebaseandcowardcharacterofmurder。\"Inapitchedbattle，I，acommonman，maykillmyadversary，buthemaykillme。Inaduel，agentlemanmayshoothisopponentthroughthehead，buttheopponentmayshoothimtoo，andthismakesitfair。Verywell。Itakethisman’slifeforareasonIhave，orchoosetothinkIhave，andthelawtakesmine。Thelawsays，andtheclergymansays，theremustbebloodforbloodandlifeforlife。Hereitis。Ipaythepenalty。\"
Amindincapable，orconfoundedinitsperceptions——andyoumustarguewithreferencetosuchamind，oryoucouldnothavesuchamurder——maynotonlyestablishonthesegroundsanideaofstrictjusticeandfairreparation，butastubbornanddoggedfortitudeandforesightthatsatisfyithugely。Whetherthefactbereallyso，ornot，isaquestionIwouldbecontenttorest，alone，onthenumberofcasesofrevengefulmurderinwhichthisiswellknown，withoutdispute，tohavebeentheprevailingdemeanourofthecriminal:andinwhichsuchspeechesandsuchabsurdreasoninghavebeenconstantlyuppermostwithhim。\"Bloodforblood\"，and\"lifeforlife\"，andsuchlikebalancedjingles，havepassedcurrentinpeople’smouths，fromlegislatorsdownwards，untiltheyhavebeencorruptedinto\"titfortat\"，andactedon。
Next，comethemurdersdone，tosweepoutofthewayadreadedordetestedobject。Atthebottomofthisclassofcrimes，thereisaslow，corroding，growinghate。Violentquarrelsarecommonlyfoundtohavetakenplacebetweenthemurderedpersonandthemurderer:
usuallyofoppositesexes。Therearewitnessestooldscenesofreproachandrecrimination，inwhichtheyweretheactors;andthemurdererhasbeenheardtosay，inthisorthatcoarsephrase，\"thathewouldn’tmindkillingher，thoughheshouldbehangedforit\"——inthesecases，thecommonestavowal。
Itseemstome，thatinthiswell—knownscrapofevidence，thereisadeepermeaningthanisusuallyattachedtoit。Idonotknow，butitmaybe——Ihaveastrongsuspicionthatitis——acluetotheslowgrowthofthecrime，anditsgradualdevelopmentinthemind。Morethanthis;acluetothementalconnectionofthedeed，withthepunishmenttowhichthedoerofthatdeedisliable，untilthetwo，conjoined，givebirthtomonstrousandmisshapenMurder。
Theideaofmurder，insuchacase，likethatofself—destructioninthegreatmajorityofinstances，isnotanewone。Itmayhavepresenteditselftothedisturbedmindinadimshapeandafaroff;
butithasbeenthere。Afteraquarrel，orwithsomestrongsenseuponhimofirritationordiscomfortarisingoutofthecontinuanceofthislifeinhispath，themanhasbroodedovertheunformeddesiretotakeit。\"Thoughheshouldbehangedforit。\"WiththeentranceofthePunishmentintohisthoughts，theshadowofthefatalbeambeginstoattend——notonhimself，butontheobjectofhishate。Ateverynewtemptation，itisthere，strongerandblackeryet，tryingtoterrifyhim。Whenshedefiesorthreatenshim，thescaffoldseemstobeherstrengthand\"vantageground\"。
Lethernotbetoosureofthat;\"thoughheshouldbehangedforit\"。
Thus，hebeginstoraiseup，inthecontemplationofthisdeathbyhanging，anewandviolentenemytobrave。Theprospectofaslowandsolitaryexpiationwouldhavenocongenialitywithhiswickedthoughts，butthisthrottlingandstranglinghas。Thereisalwaysbeforehim，anugly，bloody，scarecrowphantom，thatchampionsher，asitwere，andyetshowshim，inaghastlyway，theexampleofmurder。Issheveryweak，orverytrustfulinhim，orinfirm，orold？Itgivesahideouscouragetowhatwouldbemereslaughterotherwise;forthereitis，apresencealwaysabouther，darklymenacinghimwiththatpenaltywhosemurkysecrethasafascinationforallsecretandunwholesomethoughts。Andwhenhestruggleswithhisvictimatthelast，\"thoughheshouldbehangedforit\"，itisamercilesswrestle，notwithoneweaklifeonly，butwiththatever—
haunting，ever—beckoningshadowofthegallows，too;andwithafiercedefiancetoit，aftertheirlongsurveyofeachother，tocomeonanddoitsworst。
Presentthisblackideaofviolencetoabadmindcontemplatingviolence;holdupbeforeamanremotelycompassingthedeathofanotherperson，thespectacleofhisownghastlyanduntimelydeathbyman’shands;andoutofthedepthsofhisownnatureyoushallassuredlyraiseupthatwhichluresandtemptshimon。Thelawswhichregulatethosemysterieshavenotbeenstudiedorcaredfor，bythemaintainersofthislaw;buttheyareparamountandwillalwaysasserttheirpower。
Outofonehundredandsixty—sevenpersonsundersentenceofDeathinEngland，questionedatdifferenttimes，inthecourseofyears，byanEnglishclergymanintheperformanceofhisduty，therewereonlythreewhohadnotbeenspectatorsofexecutions。