There can be no apology, at this period of general enlightenment in the world, for such disgraceful exhibitions of the congregated vice of a country or capital. Punishments, or rather incarceration or labor on the streets, is in reality no sacrifice, because public exhibition deadens the felon's shame, inasmuch as such inflictions cannot become punishments, under any circumstances of a _lepero's_ life. Indeed, what _object_ in existence can the Mexican _lepero_ propose to himself? His day is one of precarious labor and income;--he thieves;--he has no regular home, or if he has, it is some miserable hovel of earth and mud, where his wife and children crawl about with scarce the instinct of beavers. His food and clothing are scant and miserable. He is without education or prospect of social improvement. He belongs to a class that does not rise, for his class is ostracised by hereditary public opinion. He dulls his sense of present misery by intoxicating drinks. His quick temper stimulates him to quarrel. His sleep, after a debauch, is unrefreshing, and he only wakes to encounter another day of uncertainty and wickedness. What, then, is the value of life to him, or one like him? Why toil? Why not steal? What shame has he? Is the prison, _with certainty of food_, a greater punishment than the free air with _uncertainty_? On the contrary, he regards it as a lighter punishment, whilst he is altogether insensible to its moral degradation. Mexico will thus continue to be infested with felons, as long as its prison is a house of refuge, and a comparatively happy home to so large a portion of its outcasts.[38] STATISTICS OF CRIME IN THE CAPITAL, 1826--1836--1842. The following table exhibits the condition of the public prisons of Mexico in 1826. Inmates on the 31st Dec., 1825, 553 {For Homicides and their accomplices, 151} Entered { " Robbery, " " " 1,090} in 1826. { " Rioting and bearing arms, 2,011} 4,750 { " Incontinence (incontinencia,) 543} { " Various crimes, 955} ----- Total number of persons, 5,303 ===== Of these there were Released, 4,155} Sentenced to death by garrotte, 7} " to prison for terms, 67} " to public works, 159} 4,628 " to house of correction, 3} " to service of the prison, 229} " chained at various places, 8} Remaining on the 31st December, 1826, 675 MILITARY TRIALS AND JUDGMENTS IN 1826.