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Transvaal is already a member of the Commission. The interests of Australasia are so fast and peculiar that that country could contribute to the value of our investigations and publications. The correctional institutions of Scotland and Ireland are notable, and their administrations are worthy of our recognition. Sir Evelyn Ruggles-Brise is already an esteemed member of our Commission, and we should like to have him consulted in any negotiations which may in any way afiect him. I am sending you, under another cover, a printed statement about the Congress of 1910, iv which we of the United States would be glad to have the British Empire fully represented. If you desire further information it will give me pleasure to respond to your inquiries. Very respectfully, Charles Richmond Henderson, United States Commissioner and President of the International Prison Commission. His Excellency the Right Hon. James Bryce, 0.M., &c. 184,962/2. Sir,— Home Office, Whitehall, 6th December, 1909. I am directed by the Secretary of State to send herewith copy of a letter that he has .addressed to the Foreign Office on the subject of the International Prison Congress, to be held next year at Washington, U.S.A., and to say that Mr. Gladstone hopes that Lord Crewe will be able to obtain the attendance of some representatives of the colonial Governments at the Congress. Sir E. Ruggles-Brise will be glad to give information with regard to the work of the International Commission, and the programme of the forthcoming Congress, to any representatives of the colonial Governments who may apply to him therefor. 1 have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. W. P. Byrne. 184962/2. Sir, — Home Office, Whitehall, 6th December, 1909. In reply to your letters of the 25th October last and of the Bth ultimo, with reference to the Prison Congress at Washington in 1910, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Gladstone to acquaint you, for the information of Secretary Sir Edward Grey, that he proposes that Sir E. RuggleeBrise, who is the British representative on the International Prison Commission, should attend the Congress as the representative of His Majesty's Government. Professor Henderson, who is the President-elect of the forthcoming Congress, has in a personal interview with Sir E. RugglesBrise expressed an earnest desire that representatives of the colonial Governments should attend the forthcoming Congress. The periodical meetings of the international Prison Commission have tended to set up an international standard in the matter of prison-administration, and the Secretary of State considers that it is most desirable that larg<> communities such as those of the self-governing colonies should be in touch with this movement. He therefore hopes that the colonial Governments will see their way to accept the invitat'on of the American Government, and send delegates to the Congress who are already acquainted with penal administration, and who might thereafter become members of the International Commission. In the matter of the treatment of criminals much may be learnt from the experience f.nd experiments of other countries, and the Secretary of State is confident that representatives fi om the colonies could not fail to profit by attendance at the Congress. Mr. Gladstone is communicating directly with the Colonial Office in this sense, and also with the Scottish and Irish Offices, to ascertain whether they wish to have a separate representation. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State. Foreign Office. W. P. Byrne. Prison Commission, Home Office, Whitehall, S.W., 9th December, 1909. The Eighth Quinquennial International Penitentiary Congreis will take place at Washington in October, 1910, on the invitation of the President of the T nited States. A strong personal appeal has been addressed to me as British representative on th» International Prison Commission by the President-elect of the forthcoming Congress—Professor Henderson, Chicago University— to use any influence I may possess in order to persuade the gi eat self-governing dominions both to send official representatives to the Congress, and also, if possible, to give their adhesion to the permanent International Commission, under whose auspices ihese Quinquennial Congresses are organized and held. In the introduction to my report on the last three Prison Congresses, pages vii to x, will be found a short statement as to the history and purpose of these International Congresses. Copies of this report, was enclosed. If the Secretary of State for the Colonies should think fit t'i support the appeal that has been made for colonial representation at the forthcoming Congress, it might be thought advisable to forward copies of this report to the Governments concerned, and to point out. at the same time, that, owing to the fact that the International Penitentiary Conp-ress is about to take place for the first time outside Europe, arrangements have been made whereby proceedings, oral and written, which have hitherto been conducted exclusively in French, shall lx> bilingual — i.e., rendered in French and English equally. This departure is not without significance, and furnishes, I think, an occasion for a fuller participation in the aims and purposes of such a Congress by the English-speaking races. It seems to me reasonable and fitting that each of the self-governing colonies should have their representatives on the permanent Commission, and that on the occasion

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