The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-25 00:00:00

BANKRUPT LAWS.

Mr. COURTENAY presented a petition, praying foe the re-
vision of the Bankrupt Lars.
CATIIOLIO EMANCIPATION BILL.

Mr. PLUNKETT preamtted a petition from the town of Newry
in favour of the Catholic Emancipation Bill.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Mr. R. MARTIN rose to move for leave to bring in a Bill to
amend the Act 3 Geo. IV. c. 71, for preventing cruel rid din.
proper treatment of Cattle. The only punishment which could
be inflicted under the Act at present wi a a tine of W. or ion.
prisonment for a month or two. Now these punishments might be
sufficient when a person was only indicted cur beating a horse in
the streets ; but if a person should be cruel enough to knock out a
horse's eye, or tear his tongue out by the routs, no one could ray
that a line of 5/ or imprisonment for a month or two should be con-
sidered an adequate punishment. His (Mr. Martin's) object now
was, not so much to increase the punishment, as to render the Act
operative. He would not detain the House by entering into any
further details, but would simply conclude by moving that a clause
be introduced empowering slagiatrates at tt,, Quarter :tensions to
award the expenses of the prosecution agair.a prisons convicted.
Mr. HEA I'HCOTR briefly opposed the motion.
Mr. F. PALM RR reprobated the affectation of humanity dis-
played by some persons since the Act proposed by the lion. Mem.
be fin Gslwly had passed. Parsons tanned themselves warranted
ander this Act to interfere very frequently when no severity was
used. He thought the 12 onourahle Member had legislated too far
already, and that it was stoat injudicious to push the principle fur-
ther.

...
Mr. LOCI:HART was of opinion that the House and the reen-
try sere notch indebted to the I!on. M.truber for Galway for the
attention wh.ch he had given to this aubjee. The !louse, by the
Act referred to, had consecrated the onnciple that protection was
due front man to itlfe:ior Jle was of opinion, towerer,

Mr. ni.7511; considered that all difficulties would be removed, if
as it was in the Army, paymasters were appointed to each :hip as
they arc to each regiment.
After one or two remarks from a Member whose nrme we could
not kern,
Sir G. coLnuari, in reply to the observations of the Hen.
Member for Aberdeen, said, that sailors (nicht to be encouraged
to allot as much as possible of their pay to the maintenance of
their families. If it were the practice to pay them while on foreign
stations, mach of this advantage would be lost. He All:mid be the lest
In the world to censure the character of our seamen, but they were
a elan who were sometimes greatly benefited by baying others to
thine for them ; and assuredly their.bappines:s and comfort were :a
the end Much promoted by being paid at home, rather titan abroad.
He wished the House to cootd.ler what would be the difficulties
likely to embarrass a Commander on a foreign station, if his sailors
had more money titan they knew what to do with. Ali that was
necessary for them was that their comforts should be attended to,
and that they should have a fair allowance of pocket money ; the
remainder of their pay would be best spent to.lseitr allotted for the
use of their families. Considering the character of the men, end
the situations in which they are plasm!, it would .scent Impossible,
or at least highly inexpedient, to place them on the saute footicg
with rogard to payment as the Army.
Leave was then given to bring in a Dill for making further pro-
vision for the payment of sailors.
THREATENING LETTERS--CLERGYABLE FELO-
NIES.
Mr. Secretary PEEL rose to move ,for leave to bring in two
Bills, the object of which was to make a considerable alteration in
the Criminal Law. In applying for leave to introduce one of there
he would take the opportunity of stating his views with regard to
the second, but he would of course begin with that for which ha in-
tended in the first place to move. As the law now wood with re.
gard to threatening letters, it inffieted the punishment ct transpor-
tation upon any one convicted of sending a letter threatenin r to pro-
Seethe for a certain crime; but if the levee be merely confined to
' threatening a prosccution--not for committing the crime itself--
bat foe an attempt to commit it. then no punislitoent is provided
for the offence of writing such a letter, though in a moral point of
view it must be considered a (Mine calling for the lust severity
of the law. In the course of the last summer an individeal
had been convicted of sending a letter of the nature he de-
scribed ; but the law being found defective, no punizb-
meta could he intEcted on the culprit, for he confined himself to
threatening a prosecution for the attempt, not for the arms: com-
mission of the crime. Thesecond Bill which he intenthd to move
fur leave to introduce would have two objects; the lirst,of which was
to facilitate grants of pardon to such individuris as might be justly
esteemed objects of clemency. As the law at present stood a con.
rifted person might rec.ive the pardon of the Grown, and yet he
could not be restored to his rights as a free man unless his pardon
pass the Great Sea/—a form which was attended with seine trouble
and much delay. If a person having received full pardon for his
offence hnppcn to be called on its a witness in a Court of Justice,
lie is incomeetent to give testimony. What he thought would be
a salutary alteration in the law would be, that every pardoned con-.
vict should be restored to all his civil rights on his pardon receiving
the Sign Manual, and being counter-signed by the Secretary of
State. Suppose a man stood convicted of a crime not at all Rifest-
ing his credit, and that his testimony should be found material in a
ease depending in a Court of Jennie; neither plaintiff nor defend-
am could avail himself of that testimony until the pardon of the
convict has parsed under the Great Seal. Suppose a convict in New
South Wales has received the pardon of the Crown, he mien-pactedly learns the mortifying intelitgence that until he genet' to Eng-
land, and complies with several forms, he cannot exercise any civil
right. The object of the Bill which he intended to introduce was,
as he had already stated, to restore all civil rights to 11 CIrTICI
mediatcly on his pardon receiving the Sign Manual, and being
countersigned by the Secretary of State. When an accused and
convicted man has gone through ail that the law requires, he should
by the fulfilment of that condition to!coine ipso ji:rto a free subject.
One of the objects of the second hill which he intethicd to intro-
duce would be, to alter the law as it regarded Clergiahle Felonies.
An early punishment for offences of this class yes burning no the
cheek as nearly as possible to the nose; for that, burning on the tel
thumb was substituted, and various other atdrsequent ahsystions
were made. Where a woman is convicted of a crime which world
subject one of the other sex to 'shipping. her punishment ist com-
muted for one of • different nature, which wh-o she has endured,
she has the still further disability to suffer, in being deprived of
some of her most important civil rights, unless at an ieconwentenco
and delay which it is unjust she should undergo. With regard to
clergyabk felonies, it would scan scarcely credible to the House,
that if a clergyman commis one of these felonies ht must be dis-
charged. It he commit a capital offence he must be hanged. If
he commit a misdemeanour or a larceny, he must suffer like any
other man, but though convicted of a elergyable Moos:, he shall be
discharged. Although at all times an earnest advocate for ti.s
rights and privileges of the clergy, yet he considered that they
themselves did not desire a continuance of this exeniption. He
concluded with moving for leave to brink in a Hill tor amending
the law as it relates to the offence of sending threatening letters.
BRIGHT observer, that there had been some difficulties
on this subject in the Colt:Airs, and wished to know if the Bill
which the Right Hon. licntlemao intended to introduce were to
have a retrospective opera:ion.
Mr. FEDI. replied, that 1-e proposed it should be-retr-spectivs
in all eases where pardons had already passed the Sign Manual. e
. .

Mr. LOCKHART hoped that 'such alterations wove Li*
speedily introduced in the law as would prevent the escape •
criminals by means of petty technicalities. He thought that sera.
ing threatening letters, even where there was no design of extoruaz
money, was in itself' an offence, and ought to be punished.
Mr. PEEL answered, that he had received a s ggestion ham
an lion. /fiend (Sir James Mackintosh) on the subject, to wh.:n
he would direct his attention. and which in sit bsumce was the same
with the id ui thrown out by the Honourable Gentleman whh spoke
last. He then proceeded to make a few further obi.ervivirine, but
suddenly dropped his voice to so low a tone as to ec et:titbit °my
to those inzmediately around him.
Mr. S. RICE wished some alterations winzb had been reelleitly
made in the criminal law of Englard would he extended to Leland.
There existed numerous absurdities in Statutes applying to Irelarni,
which had been lo hp since repealed as far as they regarded England.
He wished to sec those absurd enactments entirely done away with
in both countries. As an illustration of his Ineuttng, the Hoer.
Member referred to the law of treason, as defined by the Statutes or
Henry VIII. and Elizabeth. By the Statute of llehry. any etc
convected of the crime of haring called the king a Schismatic. r-ut
held to be guilty of treason. Tnis Statute had wen repealed as tar
as this country was concerned, but had never been repealed as
it regarded Ireland. Ile looked upon the existence of ail suet laws
as disgraceful to the jurisprudence of the (pulite. He tied not .est
why city distinct on should be permitted to remaio '.anween the
help as they applied to the two countries and thee. tore tt.e poor:. r
a perfect assimilation was adopted, and the further the re•ation of
obNrg,tte ant' absurd enactments was carried hack the vr.
A Alemticr front under the Gsllery. whnv name °ye could etne
learn, expressed Lis approbation of the pro.:it It et tee Litarded
measure.

The question we. thew rut, and leave riven.
POLICE MAGISTRATES.
Mr. PEEL brought is a PM to sinced the Is.w As it reed to
the ogler of Justice (ditto Pease in the inettopotts. On the "'COMM
thaatt tva u.sct a hest time,
Mr. /411:{NAL der mewed the rTactice which he understood ex.
isted It:radir mtiivid :Ms race•kesed et crimes, mid brought up to
the polars dikes for examination. titaeugh the m.:Atert of tin memo.
pOiie. Six thonitht the rowelloe at lust to persons whit newly after-
wards be round riot guilty of the offences ir.potaiipoilsrat. it was
certainly Magus:mg se the hightail degree so veitaititsuutat proses -
swam, .the pat a is the Right liatie.trable Statuary ()ir. Ns.)

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sleeps a poops tootled essegpego eherWial=mmtiessah 1
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woad put an sae the di enspeeMile• eel
estaplained et.
Mt. PEEL smeared tbe Ilesoerable Geationlee
not eerapei hie attendee 4 bet, with all the
green it, he weld not see that it was practicable the
alematioe elapsed. He wee satisfied it world bosons ye
eatkineflcient From tie great extent of the metropel Mil tee
iiieesees betwdeo the several potter alloy, olio caravan be
Rik No answer the popsies and to establish several. at.
with . id/roles expense. He always b TB
..• conveyance of priaoners to end -
1... ..,:ss
. ' • of the ordinary piddle swevtiances, u far as
Si I woo dim read a first time, sad eedered so I. printed,
and seed a owed
HR
time on Monday next.
TEATENING LETTERS.
Idr. PEEL moved the first reading of his Bill he the IMO&
• mon tof the law valuing to the sending of Threatening Lonna.--
,-
Mead a first time and oidead to be printed ; and read a wood thee
. Ile Me , wit. I I
CLERGTABLE FELONIES.
On she motion of Mr. PEEL, the Bill for defisieg the rights oF
spites entices who receive pardons, and of convicts after &soft
beesepunished for Clergyable Felonies, was read a arse timm all
oared to be reed a second time on Monday nest.
EAST INDIA AFFAIRS.
Mr. aunts, in directing the attention of the Hosea to seine
r sent occurrences in our bast Indian territories, said it woe to be
regretted, notwithstanding the great importance of that '' tes
du empire, that is interests were so slightly considered, Be
name so seldom Introduced to the notice of the House.
then were few subjects to which their attention was so seldiste MM-
eats This might be accounted for in various ways : it =Oil be
pJ the House was not in a situation, and on account of their re-
waitetwas from the scene was but little calculated to legislate sok-
eselifally for a colony placed at such a distance from this country as
lodia. It might be thought the local Government of India was in
epery.respeet better qeslifla to adopt measures likely to promote
the • inu sedx of the Colony than *e could possibly be--thet Go.
"cement was there fee the purpose of legislation; and however
they sight be supposed to be there merely with the view of putting
in fume measures adopted in this country, he believed it would be
Mend that those individuals who had governed our Eait Indian
possessions with the greatest success had, generally speaking, ori-
ginated their own measures, and acted upon their own views of the
expediency of any panicular hue of conduct. Ile was not disposed
so quarrel with this assumption of authority, when placed In com-
petent hands; on the contrary, he thought r.o persons could be
• better judger of what was conducive to the interests of the Colony
titan men of sufficient ability who were resident upon the spot. He
cos aware that of late years the laws and regulations proposed by
tee Governor in Council in India, and sent over for the purpose of
• being submitted to the consideration of his Majesty's Ministers,
Sive nndergone considerable alterations and been much modified In
this counuy. Ile did not altogether 'approve of this principle; for
be thought if they could select fit and proper persons to whose
bends the government might be entrusted, then the less interference
with the regulations they saw fit to adopt the better India would be
&evened. But if the individuals sent out there in the capacity of
Governors-General were incapable of performing their functions
with the aid of the Council, it would be impossible to counteract
die mischievous effect of their measures by any revision they might
undergo in this country. As ling as the country continued quiet 1
and in the enjoyment of peace and tranquillity, and while the in-
habitants remained happy and contented, no interference .on the
part of this country was desirable or necessary. But whenever a
altar took place front that desirable situation of affairs—when the
pee *
f
became discontented, tranquillity destroyed, and a mutinous
spy t manifested itself among the native troops of the country--
often, in short, such a change took place as he believed at that
oriment had taken place, it became a question of consider-
:lois importance lo.• the House to examine the circumstances that
attended a change so unfortunate, and consider the course pro-
ve; to be pursued in such a state of things. It was with that
vow he had been induced to bring the present subject under
the notice of the Houte. It had been his wish to wait till he
ehastld, by a proper knowledge of the details, have been placed
is a situation to bring the subject of the Burmese war clearly
acd distinctly before the House. He believed he might say
the same of many of his Honourable Friends. If they desisted
from adverting to the subject, it was in consequence of their want
4,( due ir.foruiation. He would say, so meatire a mass of informa-
tan as that brought forward by his Majesty a Ministers relative to
tie war now raging in India, had never before been laid upon the
*bled that House. It might be that Ministers had communi•
sated all they knew ; but if so they were themselves in an extraor-
dim* state of ignorance, considering the great importance of the
He did not meats to accuse the Board of Control of hav-
ing back from the House any information possessed by itself;
bat
°lt
must repeat his surprise at the ignorance manifested by his
MajOley's Ministers in the present instance. He for one was wait.
tag Mitiously for some further information than that laid before the
How by the Board of Control. lie would not, therefore, in the
present dearth of information on the subject, allude further to the
war than carrying on in our Indian territories. Incidentally he
would say, that however the war might have begun, though it
might have originated imprudently or injudiciously ; as it had
commenced it should be brought to a successful and creditable ter-
mination. India had been favoured with the succesion of two or
Gust very able Governors, and it only requited a continuation of
their measures to secure and render permanent the advantages de-
rived to it by their exertions. It would be happy for this country
as well as India if the latter could be reinstated in the situation in
winch it had been left by the Marquis of Hastings at the termi.
flaunts of his admieistration. That unfortunately was not the
case. He (Mr. Hume) had hoped that the liberal principles at
present predurninant,iand which had been so successfully adopted
elsewhere, would have been extended to India. Had that been the
cats, and had due employment been given to the capabilities of the
country, its situation would have been very different to what it was
at the present moment. Had such a course been taken India
would have progressively advanced instead of retrograding as it
had. Unless Government adopted speedy and decisive measures
to remedy the errors that had been committed, he anticipated the
most calamitous results. The situation of our Indian territories
ass very peculiar, and, he was sorry to say, vory little known iii
quarters where the most accurate information was to be expected.
It contained an army composed of 160,000 native troops, while the
number of the Eurupesn forces only amounted to 20,00. Along
with this it was a vast and extensive country,tontaining an immense
population of no man could say how many millions. (Hear.)
Yes, such was the imperfection of our information on the subject
of Indian affairs, that we were actually ignorant of the precise
amount of the population. The census, commenced about 20 years
ago, bad never been completed. However, various opinions had
been broached upon the subject, and he considered himself as mak-
ing a very moderate estimate when he stated his belief that the po-
pulation of India amounted to between 80 and 90 millions. This
vast population was broken into a variety of distinct masses; they
differed in caste, religion, laws, and were subdivided into several
separate states. It required no common talent in the man who
should attempt to conduct the government of an empire so cit.
cainstanced. Not three years had elapsed since peace reigned uni-
venally and uninterrupted over this vast continent ; the people were
content, and looked up to the Government with the most complete
coofideece. This state of things continued as long as the Marquis
of Hastings remained Governor-General, and for a short time
longer. It had now suffered the most disastrous change. He (Mr.
Haire) was not desirlus of blaming the present Governor-Gensel
(Lord Amherst); but he blamed those who sent out liord Amherst,
ar.d placed him in a situation lie was incompetent to till. Lod
Amherst was doubtless an amiable man in private life, and might
be able to conduct the Government of India in a time of peace, and
wider favourable circumstance~, with the assistance of his Council.
Bet no man who knew any thing about the present state of India,
and looked to the difficult situation of affairs in that quarter, could
lay his band on his heart and say Lord Amherst was capable of
settaining the government of the country. He (Mr. Hume) mein.'
reined Um present Governor-General was wholly incapable of wield-
ing the energies of the country in a case of tercet and sudden enter.
getter like the present. The proceedings ofthe last two years had
verified his worst fears. Instead of the peace so universally peva.
lent at the termination of Lord Hastings' adininiseades, Leed '
Amherst had plunged the empire into a rash and ii cos
which, In whatever manse? it "ended, could never be
with advantage to the East India Company. Admitting for a nest.
meat, for the sake of argument, that the present was a fit, proper,
and unavoidable war, he would ask, had the mode of conducting k
been such as any loan connected with India, or at all acquainted
teeth the state of things there, could for a moment sanction ? Every
rr en who knew anything of the climate and seasons in that coml.
sty mos: be aware how utterly impracticable it was to conduct nsi-
inert operations with any degree of success during the rainy season.
If e spoke this, not theoretically or from the information of others,
but from practical and personal observation. He had himself, when
in India, witnessed the terrible effects of that season upon military
forces ; it rendered time men wholly incapable of active service, and
'objected them to the most dreadful diseases, It had been the rule
with all Governors-General to avoid exposing their troops to the
effects of that unhealthy period of the year, which was never thought
_
-'-'---- -- ------ The present °overawe-
ad attempted to trams-
, in the midst of the'
/crest reprobation. Aa
and he hoped a British
orders, but they woe
• to procure provides or
use intended to be of-
head-quarters till the
They were coesse.
tions, and disease na-
anks. The mortality
r great he could not
:red upon such sub-
lineations they could col-
-e the loss very high
..)w that the result of
had been to spread
r before entertained.
_ os effect upon the troops
understood the native troops
been a trivial mutiny in the
tie honour of the native
'fested no disposition to.
to the present time.
e native troops stood
did not mean to say
' there was a pout-
, and, in the pre-
. considered the Go-,
unfortunate occurrence ;

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of foe the purpose of nilitary opt.sationa; The
General, in defiance of all former example, had
pert the troops from lffarrackpore to Rangoon it
rainy season. Such a measure deserved the severe.
attempt was made on the part of the army, and
•
Varmy.always would attempt to execute their order
una•le to make any progress in the courtly to p
brirg the enemy to action. For purpose
fated, they might as well hare remained at het
opor period of commencing the campaign. '
quently subjected to great sufferings arid pnvatio
I totally enough arose and spread through the rant
Qat maned was understood to be great—how g
precisely say, for the press in India was fettered
jectst, and it was only from private conununicatit
tea information. He had seen letters stating tl
tr itdeed. It was sufficient for his purpose to knot
the checks and defeats sustained by the army Its
an alarm throughout the whole of India never I
'Milt 'tete of things could not fail to have its effi
Vito were the sufferers. He had never understoc
.s. be moUnouttly disposed. There had been a U
t.'ear 1795, but generally speaking, to the bur
ratips, it might be said that they had manifesto
wards irsubordination in their conduct up to
.ow, however, the case was altered, and the n
'sot, .cry ticklish ground indeed. He did
•tss inwizq should mu be repressed, but t.
::hey of the punishment being 100
/tot are he thought it had been so. lie t
:eroilmat wordy wrowerable for the norm
s