The National Register. — London, England, 1818-04-05 00:00:00

/ 7 ' z 4 z vivr vatiionali (te - try (!ontittition aub Isto. 530.—VuL. SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 1818. rouTICAL DISQUISITION. notes retained their pristine semblance, presenting to Europe an engraved libel on the state of the Arts in this country, and continuing the means of leading many a miserable. wretch to the F ettf To id . As arc have already said, any change must ha for the better ; and at this period, when the frequent occurrence of the crime, and its dreadful consequences, have ex,-It , d lu all .re fleeting minds the utmost horror, it becomes the impe rious duty of the Directors to redouble (or it might be more proper to say, to cow/nonce) their enertions , let them offer lane rewaids—there can he no rant of money ; let them assemble a Committee of scientific men, who shall use every endeavour to effect the ob ject, and submit their discoveiles to a candid and im partial investigation, and we are convinced that the purpose, which has occupied the grave Committee for fifteen years, would be accomplished in SS many weeks. We will tell them this—es long as- they suffer their notes to remain in their present form, they will have much to answer for ; a new•apecies of crime is crdated, and until the temptation to comcait that crime he re moved, the heaviest punishments will fail of effect. Tfll: BANK (W ENGLAND.-FORGERIIIS. AVz took occasion. a shoat time since, to make some o'.tervations upon the frtieeney .and the insufficiency of Opital Punishments, and we arc now induced to recur to the subject (though in a more limite , lview) from the afaieting circumstatices that have taken place at the I.ent Assizes. On nearly evcry circuit, there have. been numerous prosecni ions and convictions t'or coun terfeiting the notes of the Bank of England, and it is aimed that on the Midland Circuit alone, the Bank Solicitor lins.instidttted Vet.e- Tx° prosecutions for this ()Tone; nine of which were carried to conviction in the county of Leicester !" Is not this horrible? Is it not disgraceful ? Can we • reflect-on these facts, lvithout emiing to the conclusions diet the crime may be com mitted with the greatest facility, and that- the punish ment prosided by the law is wholly insufficient to re m" the evil? To prove the former of these positions, ute argument or illustration is needed. ; the lamentable cir4.-nmitances stilted above, and the daily repetition in the public journals, of committals and convictions with out end,, form the clearest evidence that Bank Notes ratty be counterfeited without difficulty ; and, as a fir ther cenfirmatiiin, we way refer to the statensent that they are fabricated in all parts of the country, and is at:nd by thousands at a time. No one can wonder at the distrust which is generally felt at remit jag Bank of England paper—it is falling into disrepute—its circu lation must diminish ; and yet, with all these facts.be fht:e their eyes—with all the executions staring them in the carc—and with the murinute of the whole nation resounding in their cars, the Directors arc sitting us quietly in Bartholontew-lane, as if nothing were the reamer But this is not all. On being interrupted at a meeting of the Proprietors, as to their exertions on this subject, the Chairman very gravely replied, that therehad been a Committee sitting fOr Fj/.en years, tbr the purpose of making discoveries! For fifteen yaws has this; Committee, consisting of some of tile most opulent and intelligent intlividteds in the metro.' uolis—with all the science of this wonder -wanking ago heibre them—with all the opportunities that wealth, iiilluence, end cerrespondence euuld atlbril, with every motive :that humanity and uecessity etiuld, suggest.-- Wen employed on this sehjeet; and up to this time they have discovered nothing—altered nothing--donte nofliing t I' • This is heyeul the reach of bur:an empprehenalen ; it is their duty, their interest, their inslination to remedy the eNil, and yet it is not dame. They cannot blend that it is impnwticable, iviien (Akre huve been made to theta of improvieg their these suggestion:: 'Lave received the sanction kris found that Death is inflioted in vain; that instead• of diminishing, the instances of fbrgery sire increasing , to nn incalculable extent ; that the crime is chosen as one which may be practised with impunity; and if these are not suffit•ient to induce nn immediate altera tion in the cause and instrument`Ot fraud, we shall lie almost inclined to believe thnt there is no humaniry, no science, no;petriotism in the cnuntry. MIT SDAY,. APRIL 2. Having considered the temptiliens to commit, let ns it the punishment for eh clime. • We have already expressed our opinion apt capital plinisluncnts generally, and we can only albloOst the eirevinnitain. ces which are daily occurring, It* ampect to forged Bank Notes, more strongly. configli-oia belief in their inefficacy. With regard to this estme; . we may argue thus a delinquent is exectstod or he is not—if he be—it Juggcsts tilt enquiry, Nititelier it be not too scvere.a pnnishmeut m or, wheiliavis really operates to diminish the evil; and, on the eltlier hand, if he be not executed, may Wu. not say, that the law is enacted in vain—is it not iinplied that Josticeitvoils at her own severities, and tacitly encourages ,hut she labours to prevent, by continually bolding out the hope of pardon or mitigation of punishment ? W are persuaded that all these questions mu.:t be miasmal - in the affirmative —the law is harsh in principle, *haa it is feeble in execution—like a crtic•Llmt impotent old man, whose fruitless menaces excite at* the sainvalowient, honor and contempt. If the punishment of death were inflicted on the great numbers who are. foutid guilty of this crime, we should shudder at the mnssacrc, mid when v..e sec paratiu so widely extendod, the ioutility of the law heenines apparent. tn.n of the lira e:ui►►ence tisangravera; and still they 1!.:vt: adopted nothing. Grimt that an altenition iu tlx c.ipear.::t:e. of their notes requir:s . scrious consideration In one way or the other, tl.c Legislature must in terfere—we t'o'ld wish in b.4h. Professing the sen timents (Lot we do, we have the greatest desire to wit ness enr criminal code (espetioli/ itt this instance) rem ticreti -,anguinary,'but more eCititin ; and we. think, ti ll t the people lava a- right to demand of the Bank of England, that they should athiPt settle measures tnr ren3ering their antes mote tliillettit to counterfeit. It is :t duty that the Dirtcturs (me ,to the country, and we trust that no fortlen• time Will be lost in giving at ernctical proof of their inclivati k olk and power to us silt in wiping away this stain upon our jurisprudence. 1' t• ---4;r4zlt ti.at it might be attoider! t‘milijorary vt they lx!'altered for the worse ? t Lon.% tinged uniter.anyalteratinn that the i‘nonitAge of the pre.:ent day could make, than they a.,e rsw ? But let us attend to a filet that bas been brcog%t forward within thc.ie few tlitys. In t;:o yciir 1797 ; !4r. A. sub:nit:el a ep.:.inten of an Art to•prevent t'org:rics, w &telt wits rtn•onstnetnit.i in the strongest matt:ter, ut:ti prottoottecti i:nposs;!Ae to be etiitll, 11.1itoit.toti, ttcatlt, Fittler, Slurp, -tore we conclude,, we cairuot avoid snyin,f; n few words upon the conduct of the Hunk, v'ith respetq to ot:ier points. There seems. to be :In attmipt at dicta' tion, in n certain (porter, which it; nut ottly offensive to tbinLing men, but contrary to Ow spirit of the Con "% Ville thugrent v:rrstrre-emploved in &hat ing their own interest, compared;With that of the nation, 'Le .'N'e rows lire netingtlicir pttrts, in a manner tr:- tren..:ly tacnvive and violent. ,Ws; have had liequent Le. '.otp Ngents if tlte Bank, lenrcver, t!c*,;t tho: bad made a pro:fret iviy of t:le Engraving, 1:-.e rejected Mr. 'lir pla:1, :!:‘ 't ,Ition. ti ; ti.c ~~~ l'iticr. 9.,'41. instances wherein the Agents of the Rank have trected individuals possesstxl of forged Notes--and it is not long since that Mr. Wmt woml, the solicitor, refused permission for a prisoner to see his Counsel, though it was stated there was a probability of the former being a victim to as conspiracy. W 6 have sect these and other examples of the.- increaairg power and ambition of the ilartizolomew-lane intereq, with much dissatis faction, and we regret tl.utt this Ilstabllshment should have so interwoven itself with the Financial depart. ment of the State, that there is no immediate probabi lity of checking its influence. We should not be sur prized to behold the Bank sol:citor assuming the style cf." Attorney General to the Bank of England," or the G,wernor setting forth in a memorial, his right, title andqualification to be first Lord ofthe Treason-. We repeat, that we wish the Nlinistent could de with• out them, as ue have a great distrr.l.t upon principle of any corporate body that degree of power, which enables it to hold any part of the government in check. ntrEitlAL PARLIAMENT. • HOUSE OF LORDS r •* 'file Earl .)f 5u:471.50w+ v presented a Petition front tho Tanners of Aberdeen and its neighbourhood, against the ad ditional dulte• can It titter.—Laid on the table. .1 he Longitude Act Amendment Bill was read a second time and the litishandryliorses' Bill watt committed. A person from the Secretary of State's office presented ti.a Report of the Lord President, Lord Justice Clerk, and Lords CoutinissiOners of the Jury Court of Scotland. STOCK nr.fiENTuriks. The Earl of LAUDERDALE moved for various papers rela-. live to the state of (he coinage autl ceirecncy, from nir com mencement of the tit esent rkign to the:it'll of Jahn:try Tact. pollens , t h e Noddle Earl stated, were.. 'uteri:Kay for the Alution of which lie 114 given notice ; but he should take the opportunity of oskim., die Noble Secretary of State a ipiestion on a .object int 0111•Ite:y connected with.that which at via-, hit • intention to bring tinder the considerations of their Lore hips. A rumour had for some time prevolltd, of his Majes. ty's Ministers having in preparation some plan for ISSRIII7, De bonnie+ on Stock. if a plan seat as that reported to be in centemplation were adopted, it would completely niter the state of the currency of the imitutrv. lie inigiit them foie find, Shit when the day uo fixed for his .Nitition a; lived, that the is hole suliieet to which Ili/ notice applied had b ecome a nonentity. lle vsishrd, therefore, to lie informed by the Noble Lord whether it was irac that at.) plat) of the nature of that to winch lei had alltitleit was in contemplation ? 'l4lte Earl of LIVERPOOL had braid vague rumours of several projects respecting the currency being under einvii. deratioa. AU he could say on the subject was, that if hii Majesty's Government should Mita; it ailvi•o:de to stitnitit any, financial plan.to the ronsideratiou. of paei. i n t enc, due notice would be given to their Loodsieips. ill:• mean time, ho could only express his litipe that the Noble Earl mould no, be Induced to delay any Nlotior i .which lie might think it to right to make; and woolti agoin,oti , :r..ite, that there WU no rea s on to titripow any IPNI•IIIL• UOllill he ',rosiest(' without pi epee time being attirdeil for its cons'aleratittis. Etitl of Lvent, - .0).u.5: did not nacho to call on the Noble Scer.etary of State to cx laitt the nature alloy project which :night be iii. coutemplathm, but it sorely was ill lii power, say, whether or not, it ads hit intention to propose ant pan 4.elatiye t'/t• COlrtlley • If he ohtaint il no answer to his question, their Lordships would be in a state of siiig;!„ tar mice' tainty 011 this important subject. They would pin- Willy hear 1 n of the plan until it was hiunght in another place, In the mean tittle he should be under the nevi...shy of postponing his motive Hold Ili' saw what wit!. in. whia, pi:limps, would not he lodine the bids is his M enkty!s 'Ministers think proper to introduce were cia the table. When a Aktinher of their Lord.hipso !foam. gave notice of a' motion on so important a subject as the eurrency. the county, he certainly was entitled to s t k. whether 3finisleri had it in eonteentilation to propose si is thing which might render his Motion altogether moo:story. The Etta of Listairoor. repeated, that Bit should he thong lit proper to unlink tiny plait on the su b ject to which the Nohln Lind had alluded, or oil any branch of that subject, to fhn altrntituof Parliament. doe notice of such intention would he given. The Noble Eatl would art according to ilk owe sen•ii of propriety as to Ilse •of bo tut 3loticit ; that OR a Melt be could gist: no opinion. •rr The Lure of I. OUR VALE corned that he et; told ect no • ha t i present I' , .r the I lth sitt• that i f ;it tcunld t 111 3 11.4 1 . I . l , : t er o ro t ,t s . l o ttui r. l 4 : : - .4 • , ' the ► twoo.itivtatonso. The Abitibi' fur the papers was agreed W.—Adjourned. f" x.. FRIDAY. Persons from tho• Office, limn the Mild, on 1 from , • Bank of Eintland, pcclett'••4 41tritoot• reittsivi In 4 • Petit, Sluktns Fund, Coinage, and Current-I-. ono rci on Nlotions of the Earl of Ltittlerthilc. These paper. ace s on the Minion of llit. Noble Gas I, mil t : Lt d to log pruiti il , \ . 764. j tiu 1, I , .i c olic declaration of Car aliuve cannon 0:11cn4, that the copy nits not like thou the itiveinion Lud not teen, iil.r opinion, be The Dice,•l, tl 4 :te d ,lit unit:m.6c, ti:e