Star. — London, England, 1818-02-26 00:00:00

•+~ ; r . be bed just s poke & • In ewes of 644 .and frau dulent bankruptcy is was judged improper ever to pardon unless some particular circtunstancet, ip the prisoner, should transpire. In the orwthibb he 'had first spoken the sentence was never executed, unless circumstances of peculiar a cevation• were proved against the prisoner. Id g caset, he contended, the severity of the law operated against the a dministration of justice, —Within the last eighty-five years there : had been . but font convictions for fraudulent bankruptcies.— Yet it was known that numerous persons were an nually defrauded by bankrulits, who calmly pesolved to let the offenders escape with impunity, 'because there was no alternative between this and .t hedding their blood. Forgeries had formerlyeseen uniformit . punished with death, but there had been such a great increase of forgeries of late years, in consequence of the great addition made to our paper circulating medium, that it had been found impossible to carry the sentence of the law into effect in every case. In most cases, it was true, the law had been executed, but still, from the uncertainty of punishment which had thus been introduced, all the benefit of the se verity of the law was lost. The feeling of the pub lic was against the severity of the punishment, yet many painful examples had been thought necessary. That very day two lads, the one 17 end the other 18 years of age, were to have been executed, but owing to the exertions of a worthy Magistrate of the City, who was also a Member of that • House, •and an Honourable Friend of his, they had been respited for a week. If sanguinary laws did not prevent crime they produced the most injurious effects. Not only were the lives of the victims wasted,. but the impression which such scenes made on the specta tors was not that which it was desirable to produce. This had been stated in stronger language than any he could use by Mr. Burke, who, speaking of the policy of punishing political crimes on a, great num ber of persons, had said, " Such exhibitions only in crease the ferocity of men, and teach them to re. gard their own lives, and the lives of others, as of very little value ; whereas, it should be the great policy of a Government to make them feel that both are of importance in the eye of GoD, and that they should never sacrifice, or even hazird them, but in c snformity with those rules prescribed by morality, Old under the direction of the law." He considered tie exhibition which had been made of the wretched man who had committed suicide in Newgate, from the accounts he had read in the Paper of the day, to be highly objectionable—(hear, hear, hear.)—His bloody and mangled corpse, it appeared, had been exposed to public view, with the instrument of death suspended over him--(hear, hear, hear.) — Such an exhibition before a crowd, partly made up of women and children, could net but produce the most unfavoura'sle impression on them. Besides, he had to remark, the Sheriff, or whoever had done this, had no authority for taking such a course. All the law directed where a verdict of felo de se was given ; was that the body should be buried in the highway, and those who made the exhibition to which he had just alluded, had no right to take upon themselves to pronounce a man who had not been tried, to be a murderer, and to dispose of him by the hands of the executioner. There was little or no doubt that this man had been guilty of the murder for v-hich he was to have been tried, but still those who had him in custbdy hid no right to make an exhibition of his wretched remains, that should be at once disgraceful to the country, and injurious to • the ch.uacter of the people. Such conduct had been justly reprobated in stronger and in better taints than any he could use, by a Right Honourable Gentle man now no more (Mr. Sheridan) when the body of Williams, the supposed perpe trator of the murders committed in Ratcliffe igtway, some years ago, was exposed in the same manner. He then moved to bring in a Bill, to repeal so -much of an Act passed in the 10th and 11th of King William HI. as went to take away the Benefit of Clergy from per sons convicted of stealing in shops, &c. to the amount of. ss. or more. Mr. JOHN SMITH corroborated the statements which had been made by the Learned Gentleman with respect to the numerous fraudulent bankrupt cies which occurred in every year, and the increased number of forgeries which had occurred of late years. He further remarked, the House were not aware of the many cases in which .forgeries were committed where the business was given up on account of the severity of the law. To guard against the effects which pity for the individual produced in such cases, he had belonged to an association formed for the purpose of bringing such offenders to justice. Pity, however, prevailed over all their arrangements, and their union had been of no avail. He supported the Motion. Sir J. NEWPORT supported the Motion, and hoped the Bill would pass into a law. Leave was given to bring in the Bill. 10•11 AN ISLANDS. Sir C. bIONCE said, by a Treaty concluded be tween the four Great Powers of Europe wfio were in Alliance at the close of the late war, the lonian Islands were placed under the protection of Great Britain, and it was in that Treaty stated, that a Constitution should be framed for them. The nature of the Constitution framed for them, it appeared to him, could not but be highly interesting to the coun try, and to the English Parliament. Ile wished to know, as he understood the Constitution had been framed and ratified, if it were intended to submit it to the House. Lord CASTLEREAGH stated that which had been done, to have been done in conformity with the prayers of the inhabitants of the lonian Isles.— The Constitution was framed, ratified, and in ope ration, but he had not received the commands of the Prince Regent to lay it before the House. Sir C. MONCK gave notice, that on Tuesday he would move for an Address to the Prince Regent, praying that the Constitution framed for the lonian Isles might be laid before the House. STATE PRISONERS. Sir WILLIAM BURROUGHS moved for an Ad dress to the Prince Regent for a return of all the persons arrested, committed, or detained on treaso nable charges, distinguishing those detained for high treason from those confined on " suspicion of trea son: or for " treasonable practices," and also distin guishing the warrants by which they had been cons mitred. He also Moved for a return of the prisons to which they had best► first committed, as also those to which they bad been subsegnently removed, ald the manner in which they had boss liberated.—The motions were agreed to. Maw warm • Mr. MACDONALD wished' to know why a new writ had not been issued for a burgess to serve in the rooin of Mr. G. H. Rose, who, since his election, had accepted the office of Clerk of the Parliament? Lord CASTLEREAGH said he was not prepared to answer the question, but would inquire into the circuthgance which had prevented the writ from being rPozed•for. As yet he believed the individual mennoned lied done no act which, in point of form, proved that he had accepted the office which had b-ri mentioned. Sir M. W. RIDLEY begged to state, that he un derstood the person who had been mentioned had I named an individual to act as his deputy. This prove 4 that he had accepted the situation of Clerk of the Parliament ; and he (Sir M. W. Ridley) would therefore move, that a new writ should be issued for Southampton. Lord CASTLEREAGH had no knowledge of the appointment of a deputy. The Motion for a new writ having been put from the Chair, Lord CASTLEREAGH moved that the debate on, this question should be adjourned to Friday, tha t time for inquiry might be afforded. Sir JOHN NEWPORT argued, that as no docu ments or proofs, or inquiry were called for when a Member accepted the Chiltern Hundreds, and a new writ was moved for, so none could be necessary now, and therefore it was not necessary to adjourn the question over to Friday. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had as yet not heard any Member say that he knew of his own knowledge that the Honourable Gentleman who had been mentioned iiad, since his election, done any act to prove that he bad accepted the Office in question. At present they had no facts before them, and what had been stated came in the shape of a mere surmise. Sir M. W. RIDLEY said he had had the informa tion on authority which he could not doubt, that Mr. Rose had appointed his deputy. Nothing but a mere form was wanting to induce the Chancellor of the Exchequer himself to move the new writ. The, Honourable Gentleman, however, as he had had the office in reversion, must be considered as having ac cepted it, as nothing to the contrary had appeared. ' Lord MILTON reminded the House, that for merly, when Gener4l 13eitie was supposed to have become Earl of Lindsey, a new writ was issued ; but some doubt having arisen whether he would actu ally succeed to that title, the writ was superseded, and the House sustained no inconvenience. In the present instance, the House had long been deprived of one of the Representatives of the People. As the office was held in reversion, he thought it ought to be reganifed as having been accepted. Mr. ABERCROMBY thought, as the office was held in reversion, the House ought to have been in formed before this by the Honourable Gentleman, or some one for him, that he had accepted it. To omit this was, in his opinion, censurable. His Honourable Friend, however, would lose nothing by letting the subject stand over to Friday, when, if the office should not have been accepted, the whole question could come before the House. The debate was then adjourned to Friday. Mr. MACDONALD said, he would now move for another writ, to which he thought no objection could be made. He moved that a new writ should be issued for Christchurch, for a Burgess to serve in the room of the Right Hon. George Rose, deceased. The motion was agreed to. BLOOD MONEY. Dr. PHILLIMORE begg ed to inform the Houie„ that he was a Member of the Committee which had been appointed to examine into the State of the Pri sons in the City of London; and that, in visiting the prison of Newgate on Monday last, he had received information that three men, of the names of Brock, Pelham, and Power, who had been tried at the Old Bailey, and convicted of the crime of having seduced three unfortunate Irishmen into the commission of a capital offence, in counterfeiting the coin, in order to get the rewards for the discovery and conviction of such persons, had received a free pardon, and been dismissed from that prison--(hear, hear.) He now wished to know whether that statement was correct? and whether any objection would be made to the production of the . judgment on which they were con-' demned, and the free pardon by which they recovered their liberty? He had heard, that on a previbus trial, for a similar offence, a doubt had arisen in the mind of the Judge who presided, respecting the ope ration of the law in such cases, and a point was re served for the decision of the twelve Judges, who gave an opinion that the person in question could not be executed ; and accordingly he received a free pardon from the Crown. That opinion, it was stated, had influenced the Officers of the Crown in the case of Brock, Pelham, and Power, and they had been discharged from custody. This was a matter which required explanation; for he could not conceive any thing more horrible in its consequences than that such blood-hounds, who had been guilty of so enormous an offence, should be let loose upon society, and have the opportunity of seducing other persons into the commission of crimes—{/fear, hear, hear.) Mr. B. BATHURST said, that the information which the Honourable Member had received, as to the free pardon of those men, was perfectly correct. The Law Officers of the Crown, how greatly soever they might wish such criminals to suffer the execu tion of the law, had found that they could not be brought to punishment. He was glad that this mat ter had now been agitated, as it was desirable that the public should know the ground on which those persons had been liberated. At the same time, he begged to state, that the Law O ffi cer s h a d b eer; de sired to take into consideration the necessity of intro ducing an Act for amending the law in that respect. With respect to the opinion of the Judges, on which these men had received their pardon, it did not e x ist in such a shape as to b e l a id bef or e re House. This was all the explanation which he was enabled to give to the statement of the Honourable Member. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT could not refrain from expressing his surprize that these villains had been suffered to escape from the punishment die to their crimes. He thought it impossible that there sitoulai not be a law in our criminal jurisprudence to meet Ruh cases of blood-money. ft was highly expedient that the opinion of the Judgel on this subject should be laid before the House; and he hoped that the Ho nourable Member would insist on its being produced. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, that the case I had been argued. in the Exchequer Chamber, and the Learned Judges were of opimon that the offence did not come within the ordinary laws of the land., He had since applied his mind to the subject, but he I found some difficulty in framing an Act to reach such cases. The prosecution against Brock, Pelham, and Powet, had been carried on by the City of London with great assiduity; and with respect to the Law Officers of the Crown, he could assure the House, that there never existed a more serious and anxious desire of bringing persons to justice—(hear, hear, hear, hear.)—But when the law came to be discussed, and most ably and gravely it was discussed, some very nice points arose, and the Learned Judges were of opinion that judgment could not be executed. The offence was enormous, and could not fail of being held in the greatest abhorrence. The persons, he admitted, deserved to suffer the most condign pa nishment ; but the law was defective ; and, under such circumstances, they were pardoned. Lord STANLEY was proceeding to offer some observations, when Lord CASTLEREAGH rose to order. There was no motion, he said, before the House ; and no bene fit could arise from prolonging the conversation. PROPERTY TAX. Mr. BROUGHAM wished to ask a question of the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, respecting the returns made under the Pro perty Tax. On alCormer occasion he had introduced this subject to the notice of the House, and it had been stated that all the papers which related to that odious tax had been destroyed. He now wishei to know whether the . Right Hon. Gentleman could un dertake to state that Al the copies had been destroyed? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that he had made further inquiries since the matter was last brought forward, and he found that all the original returns had been destroyed. He believed, however, that some blank returns might still exist in the office. Mr. BROUGHAM begged the Right Hon. Gen tleman to be more explicit. Did he mean that those blank returns contained the names of the places, parishes, &c.? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave no answer. Mr. BROUGHAM then gave notice, that on Wed nesday nest he should submit a motion to the House on this subject, unless some further explanation were previously given--f s kear, hear). CLOCK AND WATCHMAKERS. Mr. PETER MOORE moved, that a Select Com mittee be appointed to inquire into the state of the law as it now stands with respect to clock and watch makers; and that the Report of the Committee who were appointed to consider this subject in the last Session be referred to them. The motion was carried, and the Committee were returned, consisting of Mr. Moore, Mr. Butterworth, Sir William Curtis, and several others. BLOOD MONEY. Mr. BROUGHAM said he wag not at all satisfied with what had passed on the subject of the free par don granted to the three men who had committed a crime of great enormity—{hear, hear). Had they been pardoned, and no attempt made to found a prosecution against them for conspiring against the lives of their victims ?—( Hear, hear). Mr. BATHURST said, it was not in his power to give any further explanation on the case of tho s e persons. Lord MILTON wished to know in what manner this case had come before the twelve Judges ? lie conceived this to be a most important point, and it ought to be distinctly stated. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, that an ob jection had been taken by the prisoners at the trial, and the point was reserved in the usual way. The case was then argued by Counsel, and the judgment of the Court was delivered as the judgment which decided the case. Lord MILTON said, that from what he had heard, die same point had occurred in a previous case; and it struck his mind that it was irregular to grant a pardon to these men, merely on the opinion which had been given on that previous occasion. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL replied, that the opinion of the twelve Judges of course decided that case, and it became the duty of those who were con cerned for the Crown, to take care that those who had been convicted of a similar offence were not executed, however they might abhor the crime of which they had been convicted. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT was about to offer his opinions on this case, when The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER 'rose' to order. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT said, the Right Hon. Gentleman would not gain any thing by this mode of proceeding ; for, in a very few words, he could make a motion which would detain the House two hours. He wished to know why these persons had not been indicted for a conspiracy to take away men's lives for money ? Mr. BATHURST would merely state, that he had given all the information in his power. MISC - ELLANEOUS. Sir J. NEWPORT gave notice, that on Tuesday he would move for a Committee to examine the Reports on the Courts of Justice in Ireland. Mr. M'DONALD asked if the Report of the Secret Com mittee would be brought op this day? Mr. BATHURST said, a point had been started towards the close of the day, which had prevented the Committee from coming to a conclusion. The Report would not be brought up this day, but would probably be presented at the neat sitting of the House. The second reading of the Coroaers' Bill having been moved, a discussion took place, in which Mr. Dicamtbox, Mr. Craw's, Mr. SHAW Leravac, and Mr. MaLusa, partkipatd. Mr. MOORE moved that the Bill be read a second time on that day six months. Gent:rat THORNTON supported the Amendment. The House then divided--. For the Motion, 13—For the Amendment, 30—Majority against the second reading, 17. The Report of the Commissioners for Repairing the I ligh land Roads and be printed. Bridges in Scotland, was brought up and matt ed to Dr. PHILLIMORE postponed his notice respecting Slave Skim till Tuesday nem &vivant ONSLOW gave notice , that he would m ove , on the oth of April, for l eave to bring in a Bill to Repeal the I.Toarky ,Ltwa—Adjoursted. SoCIETY POE no! SVPPRESSA ALLIvDICITY. Yesterday a Public Meeting was held a• and Anchor Tavern, pursuant to adve n i, take into consideration the Report of the of this philanthropic Society. The atten far more numerous than on she forme r m e , many Ladies made part of the company. At one o'clock the chair was taken by ors Bovine, who stated, that the honor') Chairman at such a Meeting was what he 1 expected, as he had come there merely information. The Report of the Committee was then enumerated several sub-committees and d into which the Committee had divided and stated that they had invited the cier rechial officers engaged in the execution ul laws throughout the metropolis, to a conii result of which had been most satisfactor ) culated to ensure the necessary co -operati c the course of their investigation, the Coini had their attention attracted by an Act meet passed in the year 1662, which appear, been called for under circumstances peculi lar to the present, and from which they the per to submit an extract of the preamble• provisions of that act were for constitutin l tions or workhouses in London and Westin, parishes and districts throughout the lingo large powers for the apprehension of vagr employed them in workhouses to be b ui ; levying rates for the expenses of building nagement—that that act had nerer bee n a( except in London ; but that they thought , notice it, as it might hereafter become use they had benefited largely from the result Matthew Martin's experience, who had dee, tigattd the subject ; that they had classed on which they expected themselves likcl with general concurrence, under several principal of which were : That there should be a Central Superintending 0 urination. with Local Committees for subsequent is That they should have accurate accounts of exitti; Institutions, and immediate communication with P. That Tickets should be issued for dinribution gars, containing a reference to the Wire, where ear , be considered : That such Sturdy Beggars as would not be examir filmed begging, should be dealt with according to Li The Report earnestly recommended the of Local Committees, in the Districts into had divided the Metropolis and its envirun eluded with stating that the project of had received the approbation of Lord SID. CHANCRLLOR of the Exciinuont, the Duu and many other distinguished characters, they had engaged a central Office at N. Lion-square, where all friends to the thy were solicited henceforth to offer their as , , make their communications. The Commr declared their decided conviction of the , lity of annihilating street begging, if cord , ted by the public. The Rev. Dr. RANDOLPH, Rector of Covent-garden, said, he had a motion pc hands, which he had no doubt would be to the Meeting. It was, that the Ripon as the opinion of this Meeting. He was such a Meeting, but he would be infinite were the various Parishes of the Metro* forward and support the exertions of the To prevent the evils of Mendicity was a ordinary labour. Were the system of T. adopted instead of Money, it would lead to the disclosure of impostors. While mis rity administered to the wants of the idle at it was in vain to hope the penal laws of tl could have effect. It was proper, the: some measures should be adopted to brit punishment who thus wantonly insulted and human laws. Mr.COLQUHOLIN (the Magistrate of Queer seconded the motion. He lamented the had so long disgraced and harassed the by means of the idle and dissipated du: cants who had pestered the streets; and hi hoped, from the high patronage which Society had been honoured with, that their through the blessing of GOD, would be s! abolishing this nuisance, as thereby much be produced to the public. The Report was then agreed to. A Stranger, from the middle of the ro proved of some parts of the Report, as it no notice of that unfortunate class of bel in his opinion, formed the greater part cl! dicants. He meant journeymen mechanic! forced to beg, or starve, for want of work. up a series of Resolutions to be incorporx deport. • - The Ctt.tIRMMAN informed him that tlu. would meet every consideration from the but that the question now was, that the port be approved of. • _ _ _ The quest ion was then put, and carried us • Mr. R. TWINING pmposed the Thanks e ing to his Grace the Duke of Northurni his 'condescending to accept the office et' the Society. Ile passed many well-mer:eL on the splendid liberality of the Percy added that the feeling of the present I-a Noble House, at the death of his father, prevented him from attending the Meetin Mr. ROWCROFT, on rising to second t. declared that he felt too weak in body a do justice to his feelings ; but being one c mittee, he ought not to pass over the schic they had now met. Their object was to means and induce such measures as m mendicity by affording temporary relief. a the end of their labours would he the rem stain and reproach from the three parts dom altogether. We had all witnessed been done in the City with regard to the Seamen, and had seen how easily a ditlieu' to be insurmountable, had been overcome not only been relieved, but removed (rem and all who could be called seamen who wi this distress, did . not amount to more th, This shewed how much greater the cv roality tban in imagination. Of these 1..10 had been employed, and 6(X) more would and very soon, out of the whole. not would be left unprori Jed for, or would trouble to the Committee. rox /, Lt! C id Ctl Iddirce ta.14 4, 0 fel 31r. or o f • least • L: ht Tr.d . :ter, ; .gY arc A t:* .s ierun ct 4 4 • on ; t s z4 of }L . : , f. tred tc at sTI :ouga e—thzb c . mo t; ;dolt, r a nts , Lg a n d acted • , tp I. isefu ; To eit ci • w in i. C L, ° rwie l, t ' , l s '1) 1 7 title t .cL lig t . ns, Sp. S ke lei .0 1 jest.: ligt ar , prac:. .t1,41:7 Mr CL ce *- Mei pet 1....) e are+ ales be ac *en lajo t , its gg Co= .er wcrt en riclgrt• ch j e f t , ur listaken. risl and r the • ttl refer. le ing shoe bcfh • : ti err. S•St . evils r `lei • ; he • iv the F.-. eir elm to success. it n - room..•z eggs ' F street :s, . 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