In Italy, out of 5,189 persons condemned at the assizes in 1887, 3 per cent. were between fourteen and eighteen, and 12 per cent. between eighteen and twenty-one. Out of 65,624 tried before the tribunals, 1.2 per cent. were under fourteen, 5 per cent. were between fourteen and eighteen, and 13 per cent. between eighteen and twenty-one. There is a continual increase of precocious criminals in Italy. Prisoners condemned at the assizes under the age of twenty-one stood at 15 per cent. from 1880 to 1887, whilst those of a similar age who were tried before the tribunals rose from 17 to 20 per cent. To these numerical data may be added others of a qualificative character, showing that precocity is most frequent in respect of the natural crimes and offences which are usually observed amongst born and habitual criminals. <p 33> In France the younger prisoners in 1882 had been sentenced in the following proportions:-- Male. Female. For murder and poisoning ... ... 0.9 per cent. .5 per cent. '' homicide, assaults, and wounding 1.6 '' 1.5 '' '' incendiarism... ... ... ... 1.8 '' 2 '' '' indecent assault ... ... ... 3.5 '' 11.8 '' '' specified thefts, forgery, uttering false coin ... ... ... ... 5.2 '' 2.4 '' '' simple theft, swindling ... 60.8 '' 49.7 '' '' mendicity and vagrancy ... 23 '' 20.5 '' '' other crimes and offences ... 2.7 '' 8 '' '' defiance of parents ... ... 1 '' 10.5 '' These figures, showing a greater frequency amongst females of precocious crimes against the person, and amongst males against property, are approximately repeated in Switzerland, where young prisoners in 1870-74 had been sentenced in these proportions:-- For crimes and offences against the person ... 12.1 per cent. '' '' '' morality ... 5.7 '' '' incendiarism... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4.3 '' '' theft ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 65.5 '' '' swindling ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5.4 '' '' forgery ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1.9 '' '' vagrancy ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4.6 '' The judicial statistics of France and Italy give these proportions:-- <p 34> {FIX THIS TABLE!} ITALY--1866. FRANCE--1886 ASSIZE COURTS Under 14--18. 28--21. Under j l6--2