The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-06-05 00:00:00

VEGETABLE POWDER.

The 1101114 went two • Contiottlee uw the Vegetable Pow-
der Bill.
.

Mr LUSHINGTON prepaid sense teaolutiuus lo legalize
the tale urraaeletl grata.
• Sir R. WILSON ingested that* clause sbcould be inserted

Sir R. FERGUSON presented a Petition from the Ship-
owners of the Port of Leith and other Ports i■ Scotland,
against the Navigation Bill.
Mr. HUME wished to take that opportunity of impressing
upon the 'Plod of t►e Right Huauurable President of the
Board of Tend. the necessity of a revision of the charge, of
Cobauls. There were also other charges to which the ship.
ping interest were subject ; and be hoped that in their deep
distress that important class of the eonsmunity would not be
forgotten. He considered the tax of sixpence a month, which
was levied on the sailors in that service an extrema hard-
ship. It now masousted to the enormous sum o(21 per cent.
■ad he hoped suite Bill would be introduced to remedy
these evils.

Sir ISAAC COFFIN said. that the sai lora is the regular
service were subject to • mu of • shilling • month, whilst
the men is the merchant 'trek e paid only 6d. and for that
they were entitled to relief from Gre•awich Hospital; he
could ant, therefore, corsider that the latter were subject to
any area, hardship.
Mr. WALLACE said, that all diem @objects were at pre•
sent ander cousillerathin.

Mr. ROBERTSON expressed hie regret that the Navi-
gation Bill, "dwelt was a weenie* @Smiles impertaace, ehoolil
be postponed fry day to day.
The Petition was ordered to be printed.
INDIA TRADE.

Mr. W. WYNN brought up the India Trade Amendment
Bill, which was rend a Aral time. The Right Honourable
Genulemas moved ibat :t be ;rad • wood time ou.Friday
next, and printed.
_ _

- -
The Bill was ordered to be read a second time on Friday
near.

Mr. LESTER presented a Petition from Manchester end
Salford, preyiiig for • revision of she Criminal Code. He
expressed his retire whits the prayer of the petstiooers.
He wished to see punishment applied upon a principle of
specific counteraction. Cremes had their source in idlessess
and sensual indulgence ; to repress these, irksome labour
arid imprisonment, sometimes is solitude sometimes in dark-
ness, should hr applied.
Sir F. BURDETT saw great difficulties, especially after
what had passed respecting lichesier gaol, its arlopturg soli-
tary confinement on seek a plan as to geared ■g■iost those
horrors of abuse wine!' had always hitherto accompanied it.
He was unglues that some measure should be introduced,
and it would he impossible to know what were likely to he
the results of any specific alteratios omit they were wholly
explained before the House. At •uy rates change was likely
to be beneficial. But from his experience of the use made
of solitary confinement hitheino, he saw no prospect of being
•ble to adopt it with safety. He Sall far from supposing
that the present system of prison dlseiplise. which made the
gaols schools of dissoluteness, and prepared malefactors
fur the perpetraliun of greater crimes than they were
capable of before, ought to routioue; but the treatment of
prisoners was geoerally bad and ea rarity harsh, and io
no
places worse than those which were must uuder cover of
authority, and shut in from public view.
Lauri STA NLEY, to shew how much the criminal
rode demanded altsration, would awe • few circum•
mances ennuected will; the gaol delivery of Lancaster. At
a recent Assize there were 53 prisoners etrometed, only five
interred seateaces under the penally of death. There were
48 who received the capital sentence. This could hardly
have happered under a really equitable jorirprudeace. Of
these 41 were reprieved before the Judges left the town,
*even were left f lion, and only three were after all
really executed. The humanity of the Judges was perpe-
tually in conflict with the cruel severity of the laws.
The Petition was ordered to be petaled.
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE presented similar Petitions from
Sherhoup, Dorset—and Wilicantoe, Somerset.
Dr. LUSHINGTON presented similar Petitions from 88
persons who had served as Jurors in the Courts of Luridon—
from Dudley, Worcester—from Baobury, Oxfordshire—from
Wakefield, Yorkshire—from Maidetoue, livot—Gaiusbo-
✓ough—and Lewes, Sarrey.

Mr. PRICE presented sinsilse Petitions from the County
of Hereford sod the loon of Rum

The Petitions were all ordered in bq printed.
Sir J. NEWPORT brought in a Bill to authorize occupy-
ing tenants iu Ireland to tender receipt. for Grand Jury
Assessments in part payment of rent—Read a first time,
and °Merril to be read a second time th a day se aright.
After the Committee be intended to more that it be printed
and circulated, mail then go over till next Session% to give
perfect time to be known to all the wise. interested.
Mr. WYVILL presented a Petition from !tooth Shields,
complaining of the severity of the Criminal Code.
Mr. F. BUXTON presented a similar Petition from
Ralph Wirdxewood, who declared that bin mind had
been at rest since he had been ltd, without being aware of
the consequences, to prosecute one Rivera, fir forging and

ulterior a Batik uf England note, to coliviition ; upon which
execution had followed, contrary to the isteal and•direcl
prayer of the ret limner to the Cowl.
Also another Petitiosi from a respectable Booker, named
Berkely, in Yorkabire„ complaining that he was imprdeil in
the prosecution fur forgeries on bis Bank by the difficulty of
getting witnesses to come forward and prove against the
lives of their felluw-creaturea. On t►e round of commer-
cial inconvenience, be prayed a revision of the Criminal Cud*.
The Petitions were severally ordered to be prioted.
AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.

Mr. COKE presented a Petltiou from Grisiehaw, Nor-
folk, complatoing of Agricultural Distress.
Si, T. LETHBRIDGE observed upon the mire want of

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY was glad the Hon.
Baronet bad brought himself to speak silt, and slate in what
degree he really thought the conduct of Ministers defective.
It seemed then that the House were at last about to learn
in a more specific and intelligible way what the agricultural
interest expected from them. Yague and comm.)* threats
had been made, which, however sincere, could not be deem-
ed of very safe utterance, the present state of the country
considered.—(Hear, hear, from the Oppusition.)— la polite
of fact, the redactions which hail been made in taxes mod ea.
penditure were a direct refutation of the sarertious of the
Hon. B t, which were undoubtedly of rather an inflam-
matory character. The case was before Pailiansent and the
country, and he might leave it to the justice of both to de.
termite if there had bees say thing supine or backward in the
conduct of Government as to relieving aviculture' distress.
Early is the Session two millions of isles had bees remitted.
Since then, 1,300,0001. more had been proposed to be given op
through the operation of • great financial measure, while t►e
sinking fund we, kept at its full operation to the amount of
five millions. It could hardly be said that Government bad
abewn itself insensible to measures of relief. That they had
sot applied protections to many poiats of agricultural late.
rest was true. There was as outcry t►at they had nut pro-
tected better and cheese, and flax perhaps, and the reason
w►y t►ey had not done so was, because they ►ad gone as far
as they thought it prudent to go in conceding protecting duties
to agricultural produce. The view of the Hon. Baronet
seemed to be that of remoneratiag price; • poled with
which it was impossible fur Government to interfere. If the
Hon. Baronet would suggest any effectual plan having that
Intricacy, perhaps the House might not refuse to adopt it;
but if he had eoofoutided the term protection in his vocabu-
lary with price, the House might have some difficulty i■
agreeing with Mal. The &lesion of obtaining a remuoe-
rstiag price by Corn Bills, was happily at an end ; and the
whole system of restrictions was is course of removal by the
Bills of his Right Hun. Friend sear him (Mr. F. Robinson),
by whit b Bills a freer trade would be tiptoed, so as to affect
no less than 273 branches of commerce. In the mesa limo
he was happy that they were soon he have an opportunity of
foomitig to etas, imearters with the Hon. Baronet. He had
so doubt but the Ho•. Boman would pursue the conflict in
a manly and open maser. He was glad that they were to
have eusweibiag specific sod intelligent in place of that door-
nail declamation which had prevailed of late, against which
►e protested, as being to the last degree peraicious and dan-
gerous to the country.
Mr. J. BEN ETT, Mr. G. BENNETT, and Mr. 111. A.
TAYLOR, preseuted themselves at oar..
Mr. J. BEN ETT was first in the Speaker's eye. He was
understood to protest against the Representatives of the
landed interest dutag soy thing with a •iew to inflame the
people.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY had not made any
arch charge upon the County Representatives.
Mr. J. BEN Err said, that if it were to be inflammatory
to use strong language in describing the distress of it.ricul-
tore, he must incur the charge. The Isiodloolders had borne
the last degree of evil with patience. They had guile too
far in submission ; they had suffered their dependant tenants
to be entirely ruined. He did not like to awaken discussion
on Pelitioss, but it was sow impossible to •void it; sad
thee as to strong language, they were likely to have many
more Petitions of the same hind ere lung. He did not friod,
to tee the House insulted, but he thought it tyrannous to
reject • Petition on some slight informality, because they
did sot like the teems of it. . . .

Mr. G. BENNETT protested against the doctrine that
the presenting of Petitions was not the proper tints for dm-
russiou. He knew from experience that there was no time
so proper. The Noble Lord, no doubt, preferred set divi-
sions, when he•eould give proper notice and have all his
troops—dire • discussion which he, autocratically, called •
held-dsy. The Noble Lord might beat then, 3 to 2, or 3 to 1.
He cared not • farthiog abort the Noble Lord's majorities
or minorities ; all besought was discussion in doom iind not.
It was by the course of Petitions, and discussions upon
them, that his Honourable and Learned Friend near him
had been able to beat the Right Honourable Gentlemen
oust of the Income Tax. to giving the country
relief by renttasiu• of taxes he thought the Jetta, who
paid their cuntributio•s to one of the English Kings
of old, on pain of losing their teeth, might as well
have pretended that their contributions were all voluntary.
Not to the good will of Miniature did they owe the remis-
siou of taxes, but to their inability to retain them. They
affected to consider the sinking fund as untouched. They
had one set of Cuminissioners to reduce, another to laciest*
the sinking fund. But with what avidity did they seise the
proposition of his Hon. Friend to enable the Commissioners
to take up the new loan! The Right Hon. Gentleman was
aware all the while that the Commissiours were the only
piny who would have any thing to do with the trausactioii.
Well alight they langh tu the Noble Lord's face when be
pretended that this wu soy other than a no for getting
rid of the sinking rued, filehiogly and cunningly, after
having refused to do it openly and candidly. He was glad
of it any way, whether done secretly or openly, because it
would prevent so much money from being takeu out of the
pockets of the people.
Mr. MONCK thought they were likely to have many Pe-
titions more strongly worded ; nor could it be wondered at
when they considered that the sixty millions of taxes collect-
ed had the effect of 120 mill it the circulation in which
they had been first laid ou. That made she vend's' my rrrr y
of their dialreas plain. He thought the Hui.. Baronet, Men,•
bet for Somerset, in error in supposing that the proper remedy
wew to raise the price of corn. He protested •gaisist any
Cora Bill, which would have the effect of levying a auto and
heavy tax ou the people fur the exclusive bitted. of the laud-
ed interest.
Mr. LESTER said that bin late Majesty, when reviewing
some yeomanry cavalry, said, " I like these gentlemen, nut
foe what they carry in their bands, but for what they have in
their pockets." The pockets were now turned umiak out
(Lamsliter.)—He would leave the application of the apo'orie
Its Ministers, who seer bigots to taxation, and moaned and
groaned over • reduction of 10 per cent. ou their salaries,
without any feeling fbr the reduction of every thing i• agri-
culture.
Sir F. BURDETT wee •nxinns to do justice to the Hon.
Baronet, Member fur Somerreishire. He saw as evil—be
supposed that he knew the proper remedy, and he manfully
came forward to propose it. If the Country Geottemeis
I would uniformly act sputa this priociple, sod not be mu
modest •ud rettrtug, to which their habit, much ischuta

them, t►ey would aeon compel such an operation of se-
trenehment as would go near to rescue the country. He
would not talk of salvation, for that implied something
pf despondency, and he could never desrair of the routerg.
It was hardly proper to talk of the inability of Ministers,
but he did ►eally believe that they had acted in entire igno-
rance of the state of the country, over which they bad sir
long presided. For the measures they bad been driver. to to
remitting lazes, he, being a very ungrateful Region, refessd
them any consideration in the way of thank•. They would
have consulted their duly had they done years ego what
they were now compelled to do. How often had they de-
clared that if they were not supported in their measures of
extravagance they would resign their places Marry s tins:•
had they compelled Members to vole again,* their cosine.
two fur fear of the danger (why it sy feared be knew sole,
that they would quit uflice. The opinions or the country were
in point of fact remarkably changed. There wan a more
general disposition for some kind of reform. Gel
forbid that he should scare the country 'reiterant with say
liaise like Parliamentary Reform, though to that they most
caw at lest, if they hoped to compel Illioistera to a suffi-
cient redaction to relieve the country. As yet there had
been so relief granted. There was no gratitude due in
them for remitting taxes; they would be highly culpable if
they did not do it, if it were in their power. Was the coun-
try as flourishing es in reality it was derayiog, they would
have no right to spend weritusily a single shilling of the hued-
earned moury draws from the people. As to Cora Bills,
they were no relief: a fete trade in corn would be best even
fur the agricolturist. The reductions of mignon were wit
equal to the pressure added by chso4iug the currency.—
Here Ministers had strangely neglected their duly : they
should at lean have examined the effect of altering the eye-
entry, and reduced all the pay and charges, which had been
increased tan account of the depreciation, to what they were
before. They should also base passed a law fur line reel-
I nen of all debts and contracts: they should have made due
preparation for carrying a measure of suck importance rut,
operation. They had acted in the dark, as to present cir-
cumstances and future consequences. They talked of hav-
ing a healthful icy--s very good phrase, but question-
able—as if they had noting, to do but vote it; but they
never considered that what was healthful for one period
might be must unhealthy for another. He would willingly
give them credit for intention, if he saw them drossy thing
towards the relief of the teristrv. But it was sot relieving
the country to get over a &snot' or two. He would pot at
to the Noble Lord to say if he really thought that Gentle-
men of landed estates, who were without reale, would hunt
continue to pay taxes? Had lb. Noble Lord and his col-
league* screwed themselves up is that resokstion? If they
had, they were likely to be assailed by petitions and remon-
strances, compared to which those complained of for their
strong language were weak indeed.
Mr. PEEL expressed his surprise at the lsngnsge of the
Hon. Baronet, though he had frequently inveighed against t to-
measure fur 'Reran the currency. If the remarks of the
How. Baronet were true, they furnished the nsoet ample cue-
demnatioa en his own coodoct. If that measure were wt.
quitous in his opinion, nod he foresaw she roeseqwences,
was in the highest degree guilty, fur not !mein pointed theirs
out to the Heuer at the time. The measure man hove been
iaiquitona in 1619, if it were so sow. Political eircons-
satiates might change—moral ones remained theater,. This
Hen. Baronet was bound to have opposed the joirify of th.•
measure thee, and sot now comedown to makes holiday srerh
upon what were supposed to he the distressing emsorepseeree.
The olgect seemed to he merely to dissatisfy the cosorrev
with a measure which was sot a measure of the Goveronwei,,
but bad been adopted with more unanimity than say whieh
had ever bees proposed in it. All he sought from the Elver
was justice. None of his Majesty's Ministers claimed an•
gratitude for remitting taxes. Their reward, as he well
knew, in any ease, most be the coascieatious conviction .•f
►awing acted right. Deeply regretting as he did whale's'.
aggravation the distresses of the country had received frr•n.
the passing of the Cash Payments Bill, yet upon a review of
all that had passed, and the danger of going bark to the
precipice over which they were stagger ng in consequence of
the state of the currency, were the thing to Ju over egii;os,
he would advise the Howse to take the same coa►se.

Sir F. BURDErT said, that as tar as he was concerned,
though he slid not hold himself responsible for correcting all
t►e blunders of Administration beforehand—yet so tar—ape's
the debate on the bullion qneslion—he had observed that th.
question was sot tf the Batik were ready to pay, but
if the country was able to bear the return to rash pay-
meals. As to insinuating ■ny Odor to the disadvantaye
of the Right Honourable Gentleman foe passing what was
trailed "Peel's Bill," be knew very well that the Bill was
slot his. The papers o■ the table would prove that the
measure was proposed three years before the Right Hunour-
able Gentleman had any thiug to do with it.
Mr. DLNMAN bail uo doubt that the Honourable Biwa.
wet (Member fur Somerset) could produce a plan as likely
to relieve agriculture in terms as clear and iutellii lbk as
the Noble acid Right Honourable Heads of the Government.
As to the cash payments, the Bill origiaated with the
Opposition. Ministers west strongly opposed to It, and
t►e Noble Marquis, in his select phraseology, raid that smelt
a measure was likely to shake civilized ►ociety to its town-
dation,. Rut then Ministers bad sot done their duty when
they accompanied this Bill with three millions of new taxes.
Again, what were tbey about in 1816, when they might hove
made the reductions which they had made new ? If their
financial measures were prudent now, why were they not
adopted tnea ? But the fact was, every step they took is
economy was of ieloctant, compulsory adoption.
Mr. G BENNETT disclainesd all gratitude to Admini-
stration for the remission of tszes.

The Marquis of LONDON DERRY said, t►at he ►ad
terser thought of imputing gratitude to the Honourable
Gruel kacu.

Mr. JAMES contended, that the Cash Payments Bill was
an iniquitous measure, lumnsioch as it compelled thee• in
pay the fundhuldrr the full value of 10s. is a Tinted cur.
rime', for debts contracted in :misty swat worth more than
IM. or Its. the pound vote; so that all who had become
fvadholdera betters 1797 and 1819 were receivieg two or
times as much as they bad leas to the public.
Sir T. LETH BRI DG E etplained. He deni►d any intr._
tint, of sting inflaiiimmory lauguage, our d. 4 he hi h-ee ib::t
any sentence of his could bear that etillslitlClluit. 11"1
he would repeal oftener than he had even done heron., 1.,
stronger language than he had used before, sad that lieu Myr -
wally (for iu that seemed to be the weight of theNrible Lord'•
rhargel. that other measures must be takes for the Mott of
agriculta•r. This he promised to do diurnally, or 0111 P he
must consider himself as diurnally deserting duty. Ai
to the usefulness of it, iii that too he differed from t►e Noble
Lord. He hrliewed that his 'tinfoil &rheumatism, tli,•
Noble Marquis railed it, had some share of the merit in get-
ting rid of the salt let.—(Hear, hear.)—As to Par Isentesiai y
Reform, the measures of Gorrrument west farthest ium•kier.
ciinverts to that persessioo—(Clii era from the Opposition.)--
From um end to the tither the country resounded wit% cries
for Reforms.—(Cheers )—Tliose who were formerly most op-
posed to 'tomer listeurd and approved. Ile himself was IKON
ii convert to 'bat opinitio.--(Cheers.)--He was runvinced that •
Reform in Parliament was necessary. He tlitinght Oral the
House ought to have more of the Widest interest in it. He
was quite ready (sir such • Reform as that in the emaciated's..
ties of the Noble Member fur Huislingilunshise.-.(Cheers.)--4t
was feasible mid sensible, and the next time tt should be
brought forward he would give it hi. support.
Tee Marquis of LONDONDERRY could not consent to
retract any thing be bad mid respecting the language of the
Hou. B.•ruset. • !

'Ube Pelilies, was ord. red to be printed.
Sir F. BURDETT /eve notice, abet be wpolti 10-mnfrow
more fur the prudarUw of @journal errowertieJ bra for-
mer statement respecting Itehester neol,bbieb was Ilea *sub-
title! on the crowed of its Winn private pseprrty.,
Mr. PELL said that be would, wine tbe occosiou r. gate.

I

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•
1.4 •

s♦t, roam tire totter frost Dr. Coln*, to Weir be ladle.
foes Wetted.

Ste F. BURDETT intimated, that there was nothing to
Invalidate any part of the statement which lo bad before
Anode. •
Mr. C. WILSON presented a Petition from ilsekbaro,
',Wog for • revision of the Criminal Cods.
At. DENMAN promoted a similar Petition from Camel-
ipea. Cornwall.
They were severally ordered SO Ilio plated.
The CHANCELLOR of the ZECHEQUER wished to
titre it the Hon. wed Gallas,* Member opposite (Sir R. Fer.
nosein) would be willing to forego Ids motion on the office
of 94 Scotch Postmaster, which, together with many others,
•vr iiiiiir revision by the Coibmimiooern appointed by Per-
u f.
it. FERGUSON was cbeitent to forego his motion,
sod the snore so as hr felt sure that the Commissioners most
Nil id with his view all to the uselessness of the office. He
only wished to know if the Conimosnioaers would imme.
iiMely take it into consideration.
The CHANCELLOR of the ExcnietabEß said that it
would come coder cuosiderrtion soon, bat in what order
depended spun the course clones by the Commissioners.

REVISION OF THE CRIMINAL LAW.
Sir J. MACKINTOSH. in rising once more to be-
speak the attention of the House to the subject of
the motion of which he had given notice, said, he
lona aware that he was now to speak on a question
of mere Resters! interest, touching no particular
limo, the community, awakening no strong emu-
Nis exciting no party feeling. and he could pro.
rase neither amusement nor interest in the obser.
striations he was about to offer. beyond that which
they might derive from the importance of the ques-
tion to the public and general interests of the com-
iltanity, and his own consciousness of acting in the
discharge of a great cud important public duty.
Referring to the nature and number of the Peti•
'owls on this subject. which on the present as well
as on former occasions had been fotwarded from
veople of all cl and of every religion, mid
presented by members of all parties in politic., ex-
pressing, as he contended they did, the deliberate
opinion and permanent feeling of a great majority
of the most reflecting, the moot considerate. and
.he most enlightened portion of the people of this
kingdom; such appeared to be the general impres-
sion of the importance of this question, and so
eirung mid growitig the conviction of the necessity
Of deeply investigating it, that he hoped lie should
be excused for bespeaking that degree of attention
6u the part of the House with which it had been
plebsed to honour him on former occasions.—
Hear, hear.) —lt was not his intention to propose
the iiitreductlen of any Bill on the subject to be
passed in the 'urgent Session, the time itself would
*hew that such could not be his design. But pre-
vented as he bid been by the state of his health in
the early part of the Session, and by a variety of
circumstances that had afterwards occurred from
iretenting the subject to the earlier consideration
of the House, he felt that it would be • dereliction
of duty on his part if he did hot take some step to
forward a question in which so large and enlightened
▪ portion of the community felt so deep an Interest.
He meant, therefore. to propose a Resolution, to
which the House had already in great pert given
ass assent on a forii.er occasion, for the purpose
of securing the future consideration of the subject
sit an early period. The Resolution with which he
should conclude was this—
" That this Horse will at an early period of the seat ftes.
•loa of Parliament take iatu its must serious consideration
the means of giving greater smeary to the Criminal Law or
ti.e country by abating the nndne r guar of its punishment%
Ity atrengtheiting the puller, god reudering the puny-dement
saf transportation more effectual fur the purposes of example
.nod reformation."
He laid very little stress on the technical forms of
his Resolution. as he wished to lay the whole ques-
t.Osi open for discu•siou, with the view of obtotioug
▪ declaration as a general principle of the expe-
diency of II reform of the Criminal Law, and to liaise
mach a declaration recorded on the Journals as a
useful guide to the deliberations of Parliament in
the future consideration of the subject. There
were precedents of very high uulliutily fur such a
ensirse of proceeding. It was tits! which Ind been
followed, and finned the best in almost all cases of
reformations of gradual wpcialluti, which required
time sod laliour and perseverance to effect. A
resulutiou of this kind. relative to the great
question of time abolition of the Slave Tiede,
was proposed, after an Act had punted both Houses
• Parlismeut, and received the saitetion of the
Comm. by Me. Foy, which might almost he said
to be the dieing woe& of that great mass. Follow-
Ines as he did, in the forYstespe of so illustrious its
authority, be dial not think that any further prece.
Unlit could be seceleary. It was a principle gene•
rally admitted by those who at all cousidered the
balrject, that to give due effic..cy to the penal laws,
it was necessary its abate the rigour of their pu-
nishments. That was the principle which he 119111
wished to establish. and it was by DO Means Dew
to the Legislature of this couutre. The principle of
the Act by which the pussishuseot fur robbery of
• Islesseitiog grovals (fueisterty a capital offeecr) was
Commuted, was, that to cruder the law moreelficmci-
lisii fur the prevention of thecritue. it was secemary to
.peseeed by redecing the merrily of the pssoisbwirot.
Apia. the Ist Gorge -IV. took away the punish-
ment of death in the ease of fraudulesit bookrupt-
I sea; no one would say that it was because the crime
was looked upon as light and trivial that the
meat of death was taken away 1 but it was eve-
drolly because the severity of tae punishment ren-
dered lib* law iiirfficattous, to such a degree as
to have made it a dead letter for the list seventy
years. And yet that *alien offence of a more grave
used deeper cows:witty than 19 oat of AU of
she felonies pureisheble by death under still existing
lade. In many cases then it hail been found, and
the avowed that reduction of the severity
of sinnishments was the way to give efficacy to peer!
lans. The Committee of Inquiry into the state
to( our Crisnival Law had framed sea Report upon
that 1., sneiple. which was adopted by the House in
the re-appointment of the Cuninintee, with direc-
tions to report upon the-caves in which that pritiei-
pW had hero applied to the modification of rood
statute.. He wourl rewind the House of the diva-
wool its the last Session in favour of the Bill for mi-
tigettlig the punishment of forgery, the strong
gruurid of those who supported the opposite system,
opal wheu the numbers of those divisions were con-
illlered with reference to the number of petaans
wbo etitered so deeply into the subject as to mitred
site debates *a questions of this nature, he would
on that these divisions proved the deliberate sense
If the House of Commous to be that the punish.
'Mt of death ought to he liken away in that Ma

• .
-Stance at lent. Is
.propositiethe Resolution Which
he Intent to onliniit, he was therefore calling ripen
*heti to acknowledge no new-principle, bet to can
'Arm, by a fresh declaration, one which had before
been distinctly and repeatedly recognised. The se-
fond branch of hie Resolution related to secondary
punishments. It having been objected to him on a
former occasion, that while he was proposing to
redacts the capital peniehnsects, be had omitted to provide
proper secondary punishments as • substitute. To obviate
• similar objection in the present installer, he bad joined
both branches of the subject in one Resolotion. Hie own
option, however, still was, that the first step that was ne.
*rosary, is order to reform the secondary punishments, was
'to reduce the number of capital punishments. The hallo.
lieu of capital punishment could only be juntilied by strong
necessity; the tame species of necessity which justified any
other attack ins human life—which must be resolved into the
priociple of self -defence, that Is, that so other mesas remained
to society of saving Itself against the attempts of the crinsitial,
and they who were desirous of reducing the number of caph
tat paathoests had a right to call upon the upholders of
them for proof of their necessity, and were not required le
dedicate their abolition. In matters of getters' interest,
sod plain sad ordinary practice, it was • sufffcient objection
that they were at variance with the totem°s understanding
sod general sense of inaekind. Every body agreed in the
opiates that the laws ought to be executed, and that their
silly efficacy consisted in the certainty and regularity of their
administration; but we bad no less than 200 laws creating
capital uffences,of which ugly 20 were carried isto execution;
and of the convictions that took place under those 20, out
more than oar in ten was followed by the execution of the sea.
fence. He was desire of the opiaion. of Dr. Paley sod Mr.
Windham on this subject, and be could account for them in
so other way than by ascribing them to the fondness of par.
ticular minds for paradoxes, sad the aptitude of such minds
to be surprised by ingenious argument tied unexpected
illustration into the support of what had perhaps before
appeared to them, as it still did to others, to be untenable.
He had no doubt that on this occasion, as on almost every
other where any choose in existing laws was proposed, he
should be met by as outcry against innovation, and warm
eulogiums on the excellence and perfection of our laws.
He had as true a reverence for the fundamental principles of
our laws as aoy the blindest panegyrists of their toper.
tedious. Hut in any panegyric which he should be disposed
to pronounce upon these law', he should incline to adopt the
luggage of Milton, its his Arcopagetica, is vindication of
the liberty of the press—“ They who freely magnify what
has been nobly done, and fear not to declare freely what
might be dune better, give you the truest covenant that
their highest praise is not flattery, and their honest advice
is your best praise." That was the praise which, if be had
the eloquence of that great poet and highly gifted man, he
should wish to be enabled to apply to the laws of England.
When it was first proposed to alter the ancient law of Iris.
son, the attempt was met by panegyrics on the exeelleacs
of the law, and tudartives against Innovation, and that al a
lime *hes it was sot allowed to swear witnesses on the part
of a prisoeer.--(Hear.)— Hawkins, io his Pleas of the Crowe,
attributed the opinion of latrine severity is the penal laws
to " theme only who knew nothing of the law ;" and that was
at the time when the law against wilds's were in full furce,
and persons were liable to be burnt for sorcery —(Hear.)—
But to come farther down, when • woman might be burned
for petty treason, aid •Ince an accused person, for refusing
to plead, was pressed to death, lawyers were not less loud
in their panegyrics oat the existing state of the laws than is
the present day.—(Hear, bear.)—He knew that in evaders
times editing was among a certain clam of persons more
ridiculed than the idea of a scale of punishments gra.
dusted is proportina go the degree of crime. But those
who treated the subject is that manner, were direly igeoresit
of the authority coo which the *reamed fee midi a seek
was founded. The Barons who ohiaised Magna Charts were
the authors (treads a scale.—(Hear, bear!)—Hs hoped the
wordier(' Magna Charts would not shock thecae/of tire House.
He found there—in that first of statutes—thol law of lows—
that 30 times confirmed charter, the folios/tau article devised
as. security to the people egoism tyrannous pu roamed*
" Ut lifer home now atneretatar, pro parr° delieto aid
eadsaffice mortice della& wee pro move deficits nisi ;crow.
tit matenifactineos deficit. :afro confinement° Iwo;
was Mom eodens modo anutreiater salvo waynagio reo ;"
'. A free ruin shall not be amerced (ur fisted) for • small
fault, but according to the degree of the fault, and for a
Treat crime is proportion to the heinousness of it, lea•isir
to him his confieement; and a villain shall be amerced
after the same wi , saving. to him his wainage."...
Thus did the liberality of those rade and martial Barges
skew itself in guarding the commercial interests of those
brine them, and eves use property of their vassals against
the operation of tyrannous insuisliments. He would ask nay
men who heard hint whether the principle of that clause of
Magna Chortle had not over and over again bees broken by
later enactments? Was it not an invasion of that principle
to punish with death the uttering of • forged Oae pound
note ? Was it agreeably to that law, that it was punishable
with death to steal to the value of 40s. in a dwelling house ?
Was it not is opposition to that principle that the law bad
beets enacted which made it a capital offence to cut down a
tree in as avenue or park ?—(Hear, hear)—The contrast
was must striking between those barbarians of the shit-
teenth century, sod the enlightened Irgislators of the •ino.
heath. Sir Mottle.* Hale, in his Treatise on the Criminal
Lam, said that, in his opinion, theft ought nut tube punished
with death; it was however in •latord all nations punished
with demob when accompanied with aggravating rheum.
stances, but in most pans a greater latitude was given in
that respect to the arbffrlion jadiefs tins in this country. In
that meted, the reign of Charles II , then the administration
of Ihe criminal law of this country was distinguished from at
of other nations by nothing being left to the at &Orion jarfuls.
But sow this country was distinguished from every other
nation oil the face of the faith by almost every punishment
known to the law being left to the arbitrives Paid*.
Such was the vast revolution which had beets effected by the
silent progress of time in our criminal law. At the period
he had just mentioned forgery was not a capital offence,
stealing in a shop was not a capital offence, cutting down
trees was not a capital offence, and yet Sir M. Hale
raid, that the punishment of death ought not to
he inflicted except under extraordinary circumstances.
Is looking at the Returns of Crime on the table of the
House, be found that from the year 180510 the year 1809,
the number cf capital convictions was 381; and that in the
five yeses arms 1809 tbey einoonted to 1,280. So that under
the present system at criminal law the number of capital
etodoctions had trebled is five years. That return contained,
if sot a conclusive argument. at leant • strong pre-
sumption aghast our system of criminal I w. In order
see how far that argument would hold goud, it would
be well to compare the slate of this country with
respect to crime, with that of other countries under
• different system cof law. That would be a soil of expert-
mentos' crawls. There was a moral law in busman nature,
whirls, by its working upon the feeling implanted in the
bosom of all inankiud, limited the effect of severity of pa.
misbrand. They had seen attempts to Weird punishments
called " Wanness," which had bees known often In prove a
amerce of honour and esteem to the sufferer. The virtuous,
in the inkiest severity of punishment, bad found victory and
triumph where the tyrant that doomed them had loped to
ittAtrt agony sad degradation. These, to be sure, were extreme
cases, but they beautifully exemplified the moral cheek
upon the tyranny of pedsliments. Every moral retain of
man's bosom revolts against the inflictions of tyrannical
laws, and the execution of their punishments excited only
execration and abliortence against such laws aid those who
enforced them, while they arrayed the strolled feelings of
tbe human heart on the side of the criminal. Such were the
fer lines excited by the indiction of death, for cutting down
trees, and other offences equally trifling. The punishment
of death, if limited to • few of the most atrocious
crimes, 0011/41 become awful from its association with
deed■ which radii the universal abhorrence of mankind ;
but when viewed in comudtion with such trivial acts as the
denote duce of trees, or steeling to the value of 40s. it was
disarmed of it. effect. is UM, Mr. Serji ant Adair, who
_had the expend** of twenty years es Rewarder of Leedom,
*AWE pert to a debate on the criminal law, said, a The tune
pirate of our critical law is too tegeicary; it le painful
VI relied that the punishment or death to net confined to
murder sad weans." If be should be (taend as a vision-

ally in urging the redaction of raPitilieliinies, he did sot
h.bragba"deyriagost so far In
quoted.a iia
The theory a, the
tristhill"°Pdhpeical lawyer
he
since been subjected to the test of ixperieoce, and was it, he
'would ask made worse or weakened by that experience?
Amount the great changes of opinion that had been bronchi
about, there were two things in- which all nations at this
moment were generally agreed, which were, the amelioration
of Criminal Law, nod ate equalising of all sects of religion in
political end civil rights. Thome priaciples were sow acknow-
ledged in all the nations of Europe and America ; from the
absolute monarchies of the Holy Alliance, to the democratic
governments of America; from the blind despotism of Russia,
and Austria, not perhaps the most oppressive of gore omelets,
but certainly the kreateat enemy to all improvement, to the
enlightened freedom of. the United States; from the untried
and inexperienced legiilation of regenerated Spain and Por-
tugal, to the oldest end bloat practised of political bodies;
all received, all acknowledged, all were governed by thore
most just and sound princlilleo; except one branch of the
British Legislature, which 'he should not name.—(Cheers
and laughter.)—(The Flonouribfe and Leaned Gentkman
then proceeded to pronounce in animated eulogy on the
genius and mental power of'. 'Napoleon Bonaparte, and
the general wisdom and policy of his endeavours to improve
the internal condition of his etltpire by lila patronage of
arts end erriencee, and learning and learned men, but above
all by the introduction of the Code Napoleon, in the forma-
tion of which he himself greatly 'misted.] 14 the favour of
• Noble Friend of hie, • Member of the Chamber of Peers
of F , be was in possession of documents which en-
abled him to form • comparison of the effect*, or the
" working," as the Noble Lord (Londonderry) would call
It, of the criminal codes of the two greatest nations
of Europe. In that comparison the first thing that
struck him was, that the number of capital felonies is
the one was 223, and in the ether only six. The only offences
printahebls with death by the Code Napoleon, were high
treason, murder, anon, forgery of notes of Ore Bank of
Framer, and Government securities, coining, and theft. its
order to render the last-mentioned crime a capital offence, it
must be accompanied by one of the following limitations:
first, it must be perpetrated io the night ; or, secondly,
by two or more persons in company ; or thirdly, with
arms; or, fourthly, by breaking open apartments by farce;
or entering under the pretence of public authority; or lastly,
It must be accomplished by the use, or threatening to use
arms. In France one seventeenth of the convicti were
for capital offence.; in England oriemeventh. In France
there being no punishment of transportation, the number
sentenced to imprisonment and hard labour amounted to
fonnfifthe of the convictions ; in England the number sen-
tenced to transportation was one in four. The main pops-
latiow of England and Wales for the period since the Code
Napoleon had been in operation ass 11,000,000, and that of
France 27,000,000, being • difference in the proportion of 21
le 1. On the average of the first three years of the operation
of the Code in France, the lumber of capital conviction was
294, in the last three years it was 303, a dill so tri
dial as hardly to be called so increase. Its England the
uunober of capital convictions on the average of the first
three years of the same period was 349; and in the last
three years, 1,249; being an increase of more than three-
fold. He did not Morsel to impute the whole, or even the
greater part of this i eee to the contrast afforded by
the state of the penal law of the two
,counines ; nor
would he determine what part of it was silibotable to that
eau,'; but it was certainly impossible not to ascribe to it a
considerable porno's of the result. It might perhaps be
attributed in some degree to the difference of the police of
the two countries, or to a second mote lamentable cause, the
iuc r of distress and suffering in this country. But, be
would ask, was there Nothing its the effect of the two succes-
sive iayssioas of France by immense foreign armies, of
the diabsuding of a vast body of military of her own, and of
thirty years of war end revolution, upon the morel character
of the nation—was throe soothing in all tiro., to be set
against the operation of a superior police its that rotatory,
and the sufferings of the people is this ? Bot by referring
to the period from !SOS to 1809 that period of our greatest
imaginary prosperity—that period not of gulden but of
paper wealth—that period of the fsll aim of paper from the
Bank to the Treasury—it would be found that long antece-
dent to the peace the number of capital convictions went
on rapidly increasine, arid that the increase had not
been accelirsted in proportion since the peace.—
The second branch of the resolution he was about to propose,
related to the improvement of secoodary punishments. The
BM subject of consideration connected with it was the Po.
lice. Ali police regulations had two legitimate objects; to
espies. dim:orders, and to detect crimes. The most efficacious
Incase of promoting the latter of those objects was to mo-
Aerate the penal levie,sud apportion the initishments to the
'store and degree of their crimes, whereby the objections
eiesthe part of pro.ecutors and salines-es would be removed.
if they wished the officsair of informer and prosecutor to
erase to be odious, they must relieve thews of the fear of
Muleshoe the off rider to the gallows. It was the associa-
tion of death with the occupation of one, and the act of the
other, that made the former ham soil the latter odious.—
With respect to irsuiportat ton, he was not one of those who
thought that epic's of punishment ought to be entirely
abolished. He looked up..., transportation for a term of
years as pernicious is its tfri cm, but transportation fur life
he thought was almost the only efficacious and advisable
punishment for an absolutely irreclaimable offender, tar
fur the man who had fallen for the first time into the
commission of • considerable off ,ace, without any pre-
vious stain on his moral character, sod who by that
offence must forfeit his former rank and coosiderstioo
in society, amid could only hope to retrieve his fame
sad his fortune by removal to another laud. %%bat
was greatly wanted was a good penal colony, establish-
ed upon such a rystem as would blend the criminal,
after a term a penitence, with the rest of society, the want of
whit!, was the greatest defect in the estAlishirient of New
South Wales. On the question of Primo, Discipline,
Which was materially connected with the reform of the
Criminal Code, he bad but a few words to nay; the sub-
ject would be far better treated by ,lose hose practical
virtues had eriabli il to sprsk of it from their own experi-
ence sod oh rrrrr nun. One of the first requisites towards
an amelioration of our poison discipline, was as improved
system of classification, which should be regulated by the
consideration of the character wit' previous habits of the
primmer, as well as the nature of his crime. There was •
Bill on the table cont•laiag • clause eelatilig to the clessifi•
cation of prisoners, by which ell those convicted of felonies
were to be classed together; so shit the cutter down of meet,
the utterer of a forged note, or the perhaps needy and mirror-
tuaate man, Ishirfor tiellrat time fa his life had stolen to the
amount of 40u. would be placed with pan kid. a and puisoiMrs,
In order to effect thia object, they must begin with conflate(
the punishment of death to the mum atrocious crimes, then
they could easily separate the less guilty floor the more vi-
cious. Then the profess would be abort to the establish-
ment of a prison rode, calculated to reform the iinharderi-
eil offender; but under the present system, they had
game laws, and revenue lairs, which peopled the pri-
sons, and the phones prepared them fur the gallows.
He disclaimed arty idea of making • prison • desirable mi.
deuce ; or e• bad been tauntingly said in that House, Weide-
ing them with feather beds and Turkey carpets. He would do
mach to relieve the primmer from unnecessary privation and
useless suffering; but be should never forget that he should
be made to feel 'bat he •as Its a priests, and undergoing the
punishment of crime. The use of the word refuratatioa,
in speaking of the effect of a wholesome system of
prison discipline, conveyed an erroneous notion of the
extent of its operation. The example of meridian.t
in a prisoner was much more effectual in preveutiag
the commission of crime than that of puoishment ; the
reformation of a prisoner, therefore, was not con-
lined in Ito effects to the prisoner himself, but ape.
rateri beneficially on those who observed him. (The Hoc
and Learned Member then proceeded is terms of the highest
commendation said warmest panegyric to speak of the
labours of the truly excellent society of ladies, under the
direttiou of the admirable and amiable Mr.. Fry. towards
reforming female prisoners and reclaiming them from vi-
cioos hebita, and teaching them religious duties and obe-
dierice In the laws. Bat, he added, amidst the career of
their laudable 'milieus, the (-rimlessl code met them at every
step, with the must formidable obstacles to the promotion
of their benevolent and pious designs, by the forcible fssi
preesims of its inittatice, which the excessive enactment of
capital runshasetits produced in the minds of pcnemelns4

.4-

He conclod4Ly Moving the Resofidinn mentioned in .the
oommeneentrat of his speech.
The ArTORRET.GINERAL rose, Ise (mid, under feel-
ings of peculiar embarrassment, from the powerful jet
upon the Wimp of hie hearers of the appeal of his Honour-
able and Livened Friend, to follow whom ripen any sub-
ject was not aver) encouraging task. He trusted neither
his Honourable and Learned Friend nor the House would
look upon him Is one of those whose prejudices reel.
dered them averse to any alteration in the laws or the
country. He was no metre an advocate fast capital punish-
ments than bin Honourable and Learned Friend; and be
folly agreed with him in opinion, that they could only be
justified by necessity, and iu those cases where the interests
of society required them. He should therefore he as ready
as any man, when any particular statute was pointed out,
by which • capital punishment war annexed to an offence
which did ant require shut extreme of punishment, to join
in Its repeal. But be could by no means coolestt to the
adoption of • resolution of this general and sweeping
nature, not pledging the House to an iovesligation
only of the Criminal Law, not pointing to any specific
branch of the law which it was desirable to modify ; but
plating that House and the Government in a situation is
which they ought not to be placed, by branding with unjust se.
verity and undue rigour the whole body Of our criamival law.
The course • bich lilt Hon. and Learned Friend had pur-
sued in a former Session was this: he proposed a Com-
mittee should he appointed on the criminal law, which being
granted, he took on active part in it, and a Report followed,
which recommended that capital punishments should be
abolished in particular instances, and secondary mica adopt.
id; and the Hun. and Learned Gentleman brought in some
Bills in eonseq . The House adopted some of those
m es, and the Hon. and Learned Gentleman now •11.-ged
that they adopted the principle in the extensive terms which
he now called upon the Home to agree to by Lis Revolution,
He now called upon the House to go into a general teiriew
of the whole of the criminal law, without pointing out what
particular measures he was prepared to propose in
except as to one or two more instanceit—namely, cUuing
down young trees and stealing in dwelling houses. Bat it
was impossible for the House to examine the whole of the
criminal law, he would not say in use night, bid in a whole
Session of Parlament. He thought therefore that it would
have been mach wiser if the subject had been brought
forward earlier in the Semmes, if it were intended to be
followed op by any practical mea s . There was no proof
that the annexation of capital pueishn3eat to ceriaiii
crimes haul a teudenry to increase offences; the whole
argument was speculative and theoretical. Besides, arse
there not a degree of incoosisieney in that which his
Honourable and Learned Friend now proposed? Hi
(Sir J. Meckiatudi) agreed with the Committee, of width
lie wra an active member, that there were some offences to
which capital punishments ought to remain ; for example,
perjury, and robbery accompanied with violence. Yet in
those crimes here was an infinite number of gradations; so
that in the majosily of cases it wbuld be intimastble to fal-
low up those crimes with the punishment of death. But the
same argument might apply to those offences which be (Sir
J. Mackintosh) tweed ought to retain the capital punishmest,
which be applied to those other crimes, to which
he considered the capital punishment ought not to
be retained. indeed, according to his argument, so ca-
pital punishment ought to remain oa the statute book, eves
for murder, unless the punisliniest of death in the majtwity
of eases followed upon conviction. But the principle of our
criminal law was not to have a regular scale of pienishmenia
for uffeoces, as the provocative of the Crown was applied
to eaten the severity of punishment. It was argued that
where the law airriezed the punishment of death to a crime
for which there was also • secondary punishment, that law
was less effleactima by reason of the capital punishment
being sopentdded. But surely no one could emitted that the
appreliensiou of the capital psmishmeot could diminish the
terror of the secondary punishment. The Hon. and
Learned Gentlenesn then compared the numbers in the year
1818, of persons convicted of burglary and robbery, and
the numbers led fur these crimes, with the numbers
convicted and Ind fur forgery to thew that there was
'rely little difference in the relative proporticeirk and be coo-
tended that it was impossible accurately to distinguish sod
define the different gradations and shades of offence, and
proportion the punistimesis without creating an immense
number of statutes, which after all would be inadequate.—
His Honousable and Learned Friend had referred to
the crustiest law of France, bat was Ise prepared to
adopt the whole law of France, together with its Pre-
ventive Police? If he were out so prepared, thee it was
is vain to thaw an inference from the Freed' criminal
law alone. The Honourable Genilimwo's Resolution em-
braced police, prison discipline, and above all the system
of secondary punishments; yet the whole of his able at-
'mews applied but to one of the points contained in his
Resolutieri, and passed slightly over what be (the Attorney.
General) considered as most material. The time also at
which the proposition was brought forward, lie considered
quite inopportune, when they had • Committee sitting on
the Guided of Police; when a Bill was on their table relative
to transportation, and when • Gentleman bad been sent
out to collect informative on that subject, from whom
they might expect a report; at • time, in short, when
▪ the points were wader the consideration of the House
111 some shape or oilier. If the House adopted the Reso-
lution, it would hold out to the cousitry a g I con.
demnatiusi of the principle and practice of the Criminal
Lew. The only precedent which the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman had cited, was the Resolute:lo moved by Mr. Fox,
relative to the Abolition of the Slave Trade, but that the
House would recollect was an insulated measure. Fur the
remises which he had staled, he should meet the proposition
of his Hun. and Loomed Friend by moving the previous
_question.
Mr. F. BUXTON said, if this had been a motion respect•
ing it,. Criminal Law slime, he would not hare Incurred the
risk of impsiring the effect of the eluqueat and able stale.
ment of the Honourable and Leaned Friend, by treading is
his steps; hut as there were other ant jeets cuuwected nub
it, he mould intrude fur • short space on the time of the
House. He agreed with the Honourable soil Learned
Gridiron's (the Attorney-General) that the addition of the
punishment of death to certain crimes increased the terror,
if the reelminly of punishment remained the same; hut that
was the very point in question. He held in his head a re-
turn for the year ISIS from Ireland. It appeared there were
0.000 persons committed fur offences not capital, of whom
3,000 were convicted. For Vilma' offences there were 2,500
peruses committed, of *horn orie.eeventh only were com-
et/4rd. There were tried 3,700 persons fee the minor offence,
of whom 3,000 were convicted. Fur the capital offence
nine hundred persons were tried, and 'cern hundred were
convicted. The result was, that of the conswonals fur
uffeaces sot capital, the chances were four to tine to fai•
roue of • conviction. On the capital charges, the chasms
were as out to there. These facts were equally true as re.
girded Eugland and America. If he had understand his
Hon. and Learned Friend correctly, there was I r one
criminal in France ten in England. The cause of dim pre-
valence of crime he thought did nut arise from say peculiar
depravity of the people of &Weed, but from the nature of
our institutions. With respect to the subject of traospurta.
lion : in the year 1818 there were 3,300 persons sentenced
to death or transportation, 100 only were executed, and
3,200 of these (all of whom were great offenders) remained.
Last year the Noble Marquis and the Houeerable and
Learned Gentleman (the Attorney General) coutended, that
we had no secondary punishments at all. The same thing
was said by Lord Liverpool in souther place. He stated
that the Secretary of States office was hesisgral with •ppli.
cations fur permission to go to the delightful celerity New
South Wales, and It was absurd therefore to talk of trans-
portation to that place as • punishment. So also said Lind
Sidmouili, Lord Eldon, and so also, 12 years before, said
Lord Ellenhorough. How happeued it then that such a
system bad been persisted in with so much tenacity? We
had thus fur the list 12 years been offering • bounty fur crime.
On this point he had the evidence of a capital convict. The
man'a name was Clarke; he lived in Essex, and was married
to a very respectable woman ; he committed an offence for
which he was traniported—he was New iu Bulaay Bay. He
(Mr. Buxton) sow held it his bead a private andeoulidential
letter of this man to his wife, which, as be had bee person«
'Mon, he would read to the House, from which they would
awe the extent of the man's compuuctios, and remorsefur
having violated the lows of his country. The Hon. Mem-
ber Own read ilat letter, which contained a glowing desert,-

• ion Of Ilte kesitifel climate f o Country, and he efqa.
fortable situation of she convict, cuucluding with declaring
that the offence for which be was imam-tried would be "the
be si day's work he ever dom." He (Mr. Buxtoe) bad "era
a letter Goo' another convict, named (Wok, wise spoke of she
consfertalsle situation he had got as stream to 'Squire Love
been
Hewhome ow .
the
th
east.°cf.( M: filestash:
08iii
iNhtolooftohi )s robusthtescaping,." h
The appened
employer.ribiroiasy of
somethinge
aas propertyifound
gaad ol
060 trsty.:
t
and stmeaced to be transported. He (Mr. Ballot') ap-
plied to the Heise Olin., in order that be might strive
bib trim oe board the hulks, or in the PreticaltarS
at home, bat his application was refried. The mate
seas sent to Botany Bay, and the coiumgreace was,
that he had earned there great part of hie ill-gutt.
u
wettish, and ems turned into 'Squire Love, and had a err.
Lan tirishloorifauer, sited erlowl;teesragsehlitall °Eels nur.rh°e IroteTe isii mEtli
spected, and is • Very clever Grellentae. No doubt he wa.
but whether those who seat haw there were entitled in thee
same appellation. he raterh doubled. There was a snail .r
ease related is of one Gslleo, who for ae uffeoee
against Tiberias", was banished to the island of Letleutt,
but the Senators hearing that he sprat his lime must
happily, recalled him to sit amongst themselves, and in
that respect be thought they acted more wisely Mae we did.
He would nut at that late boor make any observation °tithe
prison disciples, or police, mid would say nothing on the
subject of the criminal law, except only to real to the re-
collection of the House an illustration of his lion. sad
leirtied Peiend's, which 'Week him forcibly last year. The
El• relin. Charles V. after a long life of religion. perseca dos,
as the latter end of it adopted a milder system, on the cum
•ietion of the teethe scy of the former, His favourite study
was the code Caroline, a mole swore severe thin that of
Dace, ender the operate** of which it was complained that
they wanted charges, music stars, witnesses, and even judges.
The prevaleace of crime in Ale country was aa evil of greet
magnitude, the remedy for what. was in the hams of the
House, and as the Resolution of his Hon. mid teamed Fraud
would trod to diadsthh sisal evil, it should have his support.
Mr. W. COURTERAY raid be could not go the length of
the Resolution proposed by she Hon. and Learned Grade.
man, though he might agree with h'm on the necessity of
mete particular alterations. He thought it could nut bat
neceasery to reassert • principle to which the House had
already acceded, and moat pariiculaily if they now agreed to
the R4.'011914,41, it would not at all forward the practical re-
formation of this system,
Mr. PEEL mid, that as the duties of bit Mire were to
not 'tamely connected with each of the topics •hsch had been
submitted to the Horse, he felt it necessary to make a few
observations, lest his silence might be Mistimed tutu so
sets/aims of the proposidoe. Add Ant, be wished to Aide
that he cordially concurred with the Flonuerable aid
Learned Gentleman (Sir James Mackintosh) in the en,o.
glum he prumatierd upon the individuals immersed in
reforming prison discipline; their motives weee above all
praise, sad their intentions seed exertions were pm fertly am.
sistrut with the soundest principles of humanity and pulley.
(Hear, hear )--He was one of show who considered the ay.
tern of prison discipline extremely defertive, find he looked
to ifs amtlioralion as the Main instrument for the par.
lon of crime, and it was the intention of she Govertsnamit to
submit, ust Friday seat, a InP•Slite to she House on slut
'object. Would it then be It that the Hotta should pledge
itself to a vote for so late a period, which would curve
der their consideration in • few days, iesiel which he should
lamest should be postponed one single day!—(Hear. hear )
With respect to she question of traospentatioo, it war ha
opinion that that subject should IA maturely considered dee
etouneat they had introduced • sirtre rigorous system• of pri-
son discipline. Oa the 'object of police, he perfectly con-
curred wish the Hoe mumble and L-arced Cedtlemtao, that
it was of the last importance to hare an active and rigorous
potrigorous, ler When he said God forbid he should mean
that they should estal fish a system of espionage into palate
families, or any curtailment of that Marty sf action which
was superior so all consaimatirms.—(Hear, hear, hear).—
He pledged himself dint in a few days he should lay berms
the Howse a measure for regulating the police, which 'lel--
sated to a Committee over which lee lad had she honour to
preside. The object of the plan would be to make as es.
minima oe a small stale is order so enable thews to formals
*Mom as to she pmeticability of a more general
it would then be hardly wise to adopt the Resolution before
them unlit they saw the plans that would be asbesiiied to
them in • few days. ths the subject of trapaportatiun be
could any nothing deliteite as to any alteration, mill the
Noose were in possession of the Report of Ilse greatcoat,
who had gone out to New South Wales to give so arming
of the condition of die country. It did over I. his that
a sew system of transportation might be effected. Fee
instance, to send out a certain number of convicts to Ber-
muda, and employ them at hard labour in the public
work., taking sufficient security that their mural discipline
should be attended to, and if it succeeded on a limiied male,
iheal
motionbee unit,aperi hetdeperfectly agreed mighter be tried
nmiore viewsgenerally.taken
Ae:tu
She by
his Hoe. Friend (Mr. Courtenay,) and he should abstain from
entering into an argument on the snhject ; fur he creesidavd
it a most dangerous practice to pronounce a condemnation
_.(do;eleeopaliti:ca:lilth::llind'eaulders.rebahniaimmtirip(tedMlhaYaCnr.tri. iPealawßhielunellint)albitealini;e°i nawtutiletrahuisidele:rerocsirm":llfphe:enrei ablijieuweaLadnelieced.:eat:pseasohei.plaPlApliuroh:unouldeun'hi:l44:.
Mr. C. WILSON remarked, that as the subject would
ipee chtplyreettot
Re
naifohltuto beirnorueenteeehe
imiHroyu.oe on Friday, he thought
Mr. W. WYNN rose amidst load Cries of " Question'
to address the House. In comequence of the Noise which
prevailsuet
teiodnwtehaeot uhl only
ose cos
rilarbeite (tanned suitaweiaveda tioFni,miadaraewoly.ima
withdraw his Resolution.

Sir JA NI ES MACKINTOSH observed, in ropey. that he
ithiseld have been happy to concise in the soggestioo of hi.
Right Houourable Friend, but be felt it necessary to retain
the lint part of the Resolution, which asserted the serenity
of souse measure to give greater efficacy to the Criminal
Laws by diminishing their undue rigour. Because be felt
that by adopting that proposition, no injury could he dune;
it embraced nu new principle; it would direct the public
mind to that most important subject; and ii would hate the
eget* of collecting all the information that could he obtained
on a question which required all the wisdom of the nation
The object.o of the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Conrtenay,`.
namely, that it would be better to chief ilia. consideration of
the subject lentil some plan were detailed, inigbt have been
a good one in 1819 when it was first made, but it now lust
all its force, inasmuch as PINOT that time, althutieh 'Fe
same argument had been often repented, nothing lint!
door by Parliament. He therefore wished to take I i.e•
of the House upon lbw Reso!atiusi, with It.. altelaiwsi Le
had stated.—(Cheer..)
The Howie then divided. The Numbers weie--_

Ayes
Noes

Majority for the Resolution .... ld
The division was bailed with timid chemist.
NAVIGATION BILL.
Mr. WALLACE mimed the °tiler of the Day fir the
third reviling of the Navigation Bill.
Mr. DAVENPORT ruse to opposiv the third rending of
the UM, fur be considered it Nighty injurion. to the made
the country, and particularly the silk !rude, •high en• su
present in a flourishing condition. The projectors of Owl
Bill a►uala ►ave attended to the old awl homely proverb.
'• Let well g k aloue." Autougsl the disadrantiers
arising out of this measure, he considi rid it would ■lfurd it
great eueourarnmerit to sinsgellog. lie shillala thirrfore
move, that the Bill be read a third lime ill's dsy six month.
Mr. ROBERTSON seconded the mono'. He eouddrrr•l
the Bill lull of danger. He objected to it nut hersyse
injuriouscould be to say particular brooch of trail,. hs4
detrisaeutal to the commerce and iudostry of the cumin,
gnierally. The Hun. Member then cited some on•tiorr•
Iron the 'eidetic, taken before the Cunindttre to poi.'
t►. America.' and other A:Heir/is ship ousters cuti'd vitro,
at a Rauch cheape► rate than the B h shipping, and shoe•
fore.. could never hope to compete with them. Thai thi.i
beteg the case, it was maramble set to me that that so-

E BRITISH PRESS.

LON DON,

WEDNESDAY. JUNE 5. iste.

Sir JAIIIILS MACIIIIITOSH last night submitted to
the Noose of COMIDOOS his promised motion fur
revising and mitigating the Criminal Law. The ob.
Jet of his Resolution was to pledge the House to
take into consideration, in the course of the next
Session, the prevent state of the Criminal Laws, with
• view to mitigate their undue rigour. A long and
interesting discussion took place. The Resolution
was ably supported by Mr. BUIToN. and opposed
by Mr. PEEL, the ATTORNEY-CIENERAL, cod Mr.
CoIATENAY, on the ground that it would not he
wise to p... a condemnation on the existing laws
(which was implied in the Resolutiou), unless they
were prepared to apply an adequate remedy. Mr.
WYNN suggested the propriety of withdrawing it,
but S,r JAMEIII MAOEI347'OIIII said lie could not
consent to withdraw it unconditionally, for be felt
it necessary to maintain that part of it which as.
Jetted the necessity I,l* mine measure to resider the •
Criatinal Laws men: iflicat..t.us, by reducing their

_~_.

_.

naglue rigotir. The sense of the Rollie was then
taken upon the Resolution iu its amended state, and
carried by a quijority of 16—the numbers being for
the Resolution 117, against it 101. The divi.
aion tab hailed with great applause by the oppo.
sitiOn.

the foreign Paper, present us with a pretended
declaration of war by the Emperor of Ruset♦
against Turkey. Our Parliamentary Report this
day presents a more formidable document : it is
a declaration of war by Sir Taos. Liriliustont
against Ministers, grounded upon the inadequacy
of their promised relief to the agricultural int.
terest of the country. The Honourable Mem-
ber contends, very fairly we think, that all the
measures proposed for that purpose, and we dare
say no more are intended in the present Session, fall
short of the expectation and actual wants of
the agricultural interest. The Marquis of Loa-
DONOltaiT, in his answer, admits that butter
and cheese and flax, trifling articles we sup-
pose of no value, may not have attracted
very particular notice, but as evidence of a
just attention to economy he refers to the reduc-
tion of the taxes. A few words will suffice to settle
the matter between these disputants. Since the
peace Ministers laid on three million. a-year of addi.
tional taxes ; they ha* since remitted in the Malt
Tax and the Agricultural Horse Tax about two
millions; and they now propose to remit 1,900,000/.
by "a scheme," as the Marquis of LONDONDERRY
very properly calla it, which, by counteracting the
Sinking fund to the same extent, is only an exchange
of the burden from the present to the next genera.
Lion. This is all that has been done, or is promised to
be done, for the relief r7f the agricultural interest. As
for the Bill now before the House, every man who
understands the agricultural interests of the country
says, 4, we are better without it, and the present
law, however defective, is preferable to the inno-
vation."

An article will be found in another part of our
Paper, purporting to be a Manifesto, preliminary
to an actual declaration of war by Russia against
Turkey. The Constitutionnel. the Paris Paper
from which it is extracted. is diatioguished by its
advocacy for war between these two Powers.
The Cesestitutionnel pities the depression of the
Greeks under the rule of the Ottoman Porte, and
look• to war for an amelioration in the state of that
interesting people.
Quud ?Gleam facile credium.

The Coosthotionsgel, therefore, gives insertion to
an article congenial with its principles and its
feelings, at the same time candidly confessing
the source (torn which it is derived, leaving to
it. readers to decide upon the credit due to it.
We have seen many fabricated State Papers pub-
lished in the newspapers, bearing upon their face
equal, if not superior, claims to authenticity, to the
present document in the Corssiitotionod. London
being now the centre of financial speculation upon a
more eztended scale than ever was known in the his-
tory of the country, the public cannot be too much
upon their guard against any foreign intelligence that
may,directly or indirectly, a ffect financial operations.
If, however, any doubt could remain upon the pre-
sent subject, it would be removed by the German
Papers, which reiterate the accounts of the eva-
cuation of Moldavia and Wallachia by the Turks,
and the removal of the causes of quarrel between
them and Russia.

Translation of an official communication made
to the Town Council of Port Mahon, by Don Jose
Julian, commandant of the Spanish frigate Paula,
arrived at that I.Ort from Algiers:—
•' The Der of Algiers having rejected, on the 28th of but
month, the friendly propositions of oar Monarch for adjastiog
certain pecuniary differences between she two Govcrurnents,
I scopisiut you with she Mlle, that you may, if you think
proper, give notice to the larrehauts of this island, in order
that sloy may provide against the hostile siteopts that may
be mark oo their shipping by the Algerines, although the
latter Lase at present no great disposable force for such
'waists. Trusting that you will also take the moat effectual
Paeans to wake it know• in the island of Majorca, I re-
&e. " JOSE JULIAO.
" Oa board the Perols, April 6, 1822."

THR FIJI/M.—The market looked very well
yesterday. Consols were 79 79 for Money,
and 801 k for the July Account; Reduced 78k;
4 per Cents. 9411; New 4 per Cents. (late Navy
5 per Cents.) 95f; Long Annuities, 19k 15.16.
Foreign &cantles very fluctuating: Spanish Bonds
OH 6113 ; Danish 84f 85; Prussian 86 ; Neap°.
htau 72 ; Ru.►iau New, 814 83; 82 813 ; Cllll4lO
743 753 743 f; Columbia Bundy, lOuf ; Ditto
New, 81.

The East India Company's outward-bound skip
Berwickshire, was all well mist. 3. 00. north long.
21. 15. west. on the 27th January. The William
Fai►lie proceeded un her voyage Irons the Cape on
the 21.1 March.

We hart► it is decided that Doctors BISSET
and PERCY are to he the two new Irish Bishops.
A report is afloat that the courtesy of the Crown
will be graciously extruded to the consortsol Bishops.
so as to permit tl►em to participate in the temporal
dignities of their spiritual Lords; sod thus will be
removed hum among the anomalies of some of our
institutions, one which gives an aw kwurd irregularity
to an elevated portion of our social order ; for ►t is
*great incongruity not in sutler the spouses of
Spiritual Peers to repose upon the asme proud
pedestal of rank which sustains the Wits of Lay
Nubility.—(Dublin ( orrespondent.)

No. 9,004. drown yentertloy • Prize or 20,0001.
snit No. 4,9d2. • Prise or t,uoor. were both hold
in Shorn by MWIFT mod Co. of tipir Olken, No. 11,
Ponistas; lt,C11.111111111410111; gad 31, ALSOOTS HUM
imam.•

"It 1 . •
tktr: tf;' AL.c •
PT'
oS,1•110.

INSCRIPTION
lirrtlitto /OR 14111 NONUNINT OP MATTIIIII
£l4. MP. or BILANCEPCTR CASTLE, WHO 11111111 •Ir it
1822. _i TTTIII

Let no rude step profane this salmi scene,
The cemetery of deported worth ;
Once the Lord of yooder princely Castle,
Aid which to employ the poor he rebuilt,
New the resident of this dark sepulchre!
But his virtues east a splendour round lan isuitle
Above the hriflitness of the sun!
For Charity ever bimsom'd in bis
Aar, heavenly tontine*, towards his fellow men.
He lied, beloed and brimmed--
He died, Wrested sod reseed.
Made, this awful lesson!
Relent on the vanity of all earthly enjoyaseam,
And practise them widen thou seest here recorded.
STEPHEN GEORGE &EMILE.
Crowe, Durham, May 14, 1824.