the duty of the commission "to establish a comprehensive inquiry, nor inquire into the grievances of those who alleged the inadequacy of their payment." The report of the commission will not be satisfactory, if the whole subject is not thoroughly investigated. From what I heard throughout the country, a full inquiry is called for, so that an equitable settlement may be made on all points that have been raised. The service ought to be made attractive to wellqualified men, and loyal men, as the R.I.C. have always proved themselves. The question of pay must be considered. The increased cost of maintenance and the diminished value of money require a reconsideration of the scale of payment. The pension regulations also call for amendment. There ought to be readier provision for retirement with pension or allowance, not only after a fixed period of service, but on men being incapacitated from infirmity or from severe duty. Good-service stripes or badges ought to be introduced, the bearers of which should have slight increase of pay. The motives of hope and emulation are always stronger than the fear of fines and reprimands. Married men not having barrack accommodation ought to have sufficient allowance for house-rent. The allowances for fuel, for travelling, for making up uniform, and other expenses ought to be also increased, as well as

extra pay allowed for extraordinary duty, as during elections and other periods, when long stretches of time and unusual services are demanded.

It is also a grievance that promotions are not made more frequently from the ranks, young cadets being too often introduced over the head of well-deserving and well-qualified head-constables. If these grievances were removed, young men of good education as well as good character would again press for admission into the ranks, and the efficiency of the force be increased. It is too valuable a body to allow any paltry economy to stand in the way. An increase in their strength would save much outlay in less satisfactory ways. An increase of 1,000 in the constabulary would allow of the reduction of 5,000 troops in Ireland. And the reform ought to be made before the popularity of the force is further diminished.

The total charges for the constabulary for the year ending 31st March, 1871, was £862,282. The expense of the force charged on the Consolidated Fund in 1871 was £825,737, the remainder being made up by county rates.

The Dublin Metropolitan Police has a separate organization. It numbers in all 1,068, consisting of I chief commissioner, I assistant commissioner, 156 superintendents, inspectors, and sergeants, 44 detective-officers, and 912 constables. The annual cost is

£90,000, which includes the expense of offices, and salaries of five divisional magistrates. Of this sum upwards of £5,400 is paid by parliamentary grant, the rest by local taxes and rates.

Having referred to the grievances of the constabulary, I may add that much satisfaction was expressed on the appointment, last Parliament, of the Commission to inquire into the Irish Civil Service. A more liberal and more equitably adjusted scale of remuneration may be expected as one result of the inquiry. But other questions of importance will call for settlement. If the increase of pay throughout the civil service is to be secured only by reduction of the staff in the several departments, there ought to be some guarantee for the impartial carrying out of the reduction. Let the weeding commence with the incompetent and inefficient, and the service will not complain. The chiefs of departments are not likely to report cases of licensed inefficiency, where the relatives or dependants of men in power have been thrust into places over the heads of useful and plodding public servants. The discovery of these cases can only be made by the commission examining some other witnesses than the official chiefs of departments. There ought also to be more precise rules as to promotion. The discretionary power wielded by the chiefs often causes irritation and dissatisfaction.

It is a hard case when a man is lifted over others more competent and with better claims, because of the caprice of an official chief, or under pressure of social or political influence. That the discretionary power of promotion should exist all will admit, so that the public service may not lose the advantage of unusual ability or acquirement; but, apart from these exceptional cases, promotion ought to go according to rules laid down by authority of the Treasury.

CHAPTER XIX.

IRISH PRISONS AND PRISONERS.

Crofton Convict System-Lusk Farm Prison-The Fenian Prisoners.

A

T the meetings of the Social Science Association, and at Prison Conferences of various kinds, much is always said about the Irish or "Crofton convict system," so called after Sir Walter Crofton, the head of the Irish criminal prisons. The special features of this system, the working of which is highly praised, may be new to some readers.

Both in England and Ireland, all convict prisoners —that is, prisoners sentenced to penal servitude, a sentence now never less than for five years-pass the first period of their sentence in separate or "cellular" confinement, for about eight months. They are then removed to other establishments, where large bodies, organgs," of prisoners work together, at quarrying, as at Portland; excavating docks, as at Chatham, and Spike Island, near Cork; or cultivating the land, as at Dartmoor. Much industry of a profitable