Birmingham and Midland Institute.
ADDRESS
DELIVERED IN THE TOWN HALL, BIRMINGHAM,
On Monday, 20th September, 1886,
By SIR FREDERICK BRAMWELL, D.C.L., F.R.S.,
PAST-PRESIDENT, INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, ETC., ETC.
"Thou shalt not covet." How simple, how intelligible; how comprehensive—so comprehensive indeed, as (if obeyed) to render unnecessary certain other commandments, one of which is, "Thou shalt not steal," stealing being merely covetousness brought into practice.
Let us for a few minutes, consider, what would be the altered condition of this kingdom, if its inhabitants ceased to covet.
On approaching a large town, what does the traveller commonly see on its outskirts? A pretentious building, frowning like some ancient castle, but turning out to be the gaol. What would he find to be the fact as regards the prisoners? What percentage of the numbers would be confined there, because they acquired by burglary, or by theft, that which they had first coveted?
Some may be awaiting their trial for murder, or even the doom consequent thereon; and this, culminating crime, how often has it grown out of the sin of coveting, resistance to capture when committing a burglary, bringing into use the too
