[Hilary Nicholas Nissen.] Duplicated typescript address to the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, titled 'Brief Remarks on the Punishment of Death by H. N. Nissen - Sherriff of London 1864.'

An abridged abstract of this item, by 'Mr. Tallack', appeared in the Social Science Review, N.S. Vol.2 (July-December 1864), pp.421-422, but the present full version of the address, as delivered, is unpublished. 3pp., foolscap 8vo. On three leaves of laid Britannia paper by Conqueror of London. Held together with a brass stud, and with the last leaf laid down on a page removed from an album. With a few manuscript corrections. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. The address is written in a vivid but not entirely coherent style, and begins: 'I have been invited by the Secretary, G. H. Palmer Esq., of the Reformatory Section of the National Association for the promotion of Social Science, now being held in York, to offer an opinion on the punishment of death - an invitation that reaches me, simply from the fact of my having the honor to fill the Office of Sheriff of London & Middlesex - As the Sheriff of London, from the very peculiar nature of the locality over which he has any jurisdiction has probably been more frequently called upon in the discharge of his official duties, (than the Sheriff of any other County) to be present at Executions - it may have been considered that the Sheriff for the present year - during which there have been no less than seven criminals publicly executed, has some desire to express his feeling upon Capital Punishment [...]'. From his 'observation during the present Shrievalty' Nissen has come to the conclusion that 'death in public Execution has its solemnity destroyed, most utterly - by the conduct of those who assemble to witness the last moments of the dying criminal'. He is 'quite unable to offer any opinion in direct opposition to the infliction of Capital Punishment, because in every instance where an execution has taken place during my year of Office, I believe that the sentence has been just'. He finds that the 'rapidity or suddeness [sic] of the death of criminals as humanely practised in this Country' is 'without any salutary impression upon the minds of those, who constituting a peculiar class - invariably attend an execution; - there is perhaps for a few moments - on the appearance of the criminal - a cessation of the hooting - and rough conduct in which all mobs indulge - but no sooner has the drop fallen accompanied by a few shrieks from fainting women in the crowd - than the body hanging from the gallows, becomes the subject for loud criticism and obscene jests.' He has 'in every case moreover - heard from the lips of those who have been condemned to death - the fullest confession of their crimes - and in most cases an acknowledgment of the justness of the sentence'. He does not believe that death holds any terror 'for those whose conviction is to the scaffold', and gives as examples 'the pirates of the "Flowery Land"', of whom only one showed signs of fear ('One man danced out of the Dock at the time that he was sentenced to death' and 'they all readily and firmly (with one exception) - presented themselves to be bound') and 'the men who were subsequently executed for the murder at the Old Bailey - during my year of Office although very young men - neither of them exceeding in age five & twenty years - they also walked firmly to the scaffold - and held some kind of conversation with the Officials to the very last; without the slightest depression, even in the voice.' He repeats that he does not believe capital punishment has any deterrent effect, before stating: 'I earnestly hope, that the day is not distant, when an alteration in the laws, will abolish the punishment of death and consequently leave Juries unshackled'. He is 'at a loss' to suggest an alternative punishment, but hopes that if 'the punishment of death is to continue, the gallows might be erected in some enclosed yard - to which the public should be admitted indiscriminately till the place was filled - the execution performed in the presence of the authorities - and of those who had obtained admittance - and the crowd beyond the gates should deal with the apparent mystery of the death of those, who once within the walls of a Prison when convicted of the crime of murder - appeared in the world no more - either alive or dead -'.