| Year. | Suicides committed. | Year. | Suicides committed. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1841 | 139 | 1851 | 120 |
| 1842 | 134 | 1852 | 109 |
| 1843 | 112 | 1853 | 131 |
| 1844 | 155 | 1854 | 118 |
| 1845 | 144 | 1855 | 116 |
| 1846 | 162 | 1856 | 127 |
| 1847 | 152 | 1857 | 154 |
| 1848 | 100 | 1858 | 90 |
| 1849 | 131 | 1859 | 180 |
| 1850 | 140 | 1860 | 104 |
I find also that the number of suicides prevented by the police, or otherwise, is on an average nearly equal to the actual number of suicides committed.
Many attempted suicides may not be genuine attempts; for we often hear in the police courts of people endeavouring to make the public believe they wished to destroy themselves, with the sole object of exciting sympathy and drawing attention to their case. However, it is difficult to distinguish, and it is clear there are annually many unhappy wretches who do make away with their lives, and also numbers who are providentially prevented.
Rape is a crime that has not fluctuated to any great extent during the last ten years. I see that in 1850 there were 22 arrests for this offence, and the same number in 1860. Most of the prisoners were in a low station in life; 17 in 1850 only being able to read, or read and write imperfectly, and 15 in 1860 were in the same unintellectual position. In 1855, 21 individuals were given in charge, 16 of whom were imperfectly instructed. It must be remembered that not all those who were charged were convicted, or even committed for trial, because the charge of rape is one easy to trump up, and it requires very sound and unconflicting evidence to bring the charge home.
Concealing the births of infants is a crime I am glad to perceive of more frequent occurrence, than feloniously attempting to procure abortion; for of two evils it is better the less preponderate.
| Year. | Concealing Birth of their Infants. | Feloniously attempting to procure Abortion. |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 12 | 1 |
| 1855 | 10 | 1 |
| 1860 | 17 | 0 |
In 1860 there were 2 cases of abduction, and in 1850 none at all; but in the latter year there were 61 cases of indecently exposing the person, which offence had in 1860 attained the dimensions of 103, three only, of which number were females, in the former instance eight.
Of course it is only natural to expect that as the population of the empire increases, crime also will increase; and will more especially show its hideous and unwelcome visage in the metropolis, the centre of a vast and densely-populated kingdom. Where masses of men congregate, there disorder, dissension, and crime will have a place. We have to thank an efficient police force for keeping them within reasonable dimensions.
I have already adverted to the difficulty experienced in even approximating to the actual number of prostitutes existing; but the magisterial authorities are enabled to catalogue and number those who are known to the police and those living in brothels.
The subjoined table will be found extremely interesting: