The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-04-07 00:00:00

61, )44.Pyr-Z.OO-1-•

. ,
of the people iu Irelaud bad beisetted by the Ace
iu question. •
PlOpltelf WIT* otdered.
P.A11:16701 /OM It 11113 GREAT SEAL
Mr. F. DoWiLAS. ip risiag to move for leave to
bring inn a Bill to diminish the expense attendiug
perdoiss ,under the Greet Seal, observed, that, as
he understood his motion would not be opposed.
.it did not appal* necessary to trespass long on the
time of the Howie. &slurps, however, those who
had not inquired info Alm subject, would he oar-
primed when he stated% that the expense ottentling
each pardon wee 0.0 WI than 110/. It wee evideut
that the greater number of persona also Were par-
dosed, could not ply such a stain, .and theColll/••
lisesece was, that,. in point of fleet, a pardon of
Jegal rerogoition was very rarely grimier). Poor
criminal" were prevented from obtaining that
pardon. which idene could be pleaded in a Court
of Justice, in consequence of the exurbitosice of the
fees; and, in the lost seven yeses but twelve pardons
had passed the Greet Seal. The way in which he
became acquainted with the fact was this :—Some
of the worst crimes that had hem' committed in that
part of the county of Oxford with which he was
coessecteri, were traced to certain individuals there,
end 110 doubt was entertained of their coosviction, on
evidence of one of their accomplices. But it hap-
;Pried. that this person had himself been convicted
of a felony, and, before lie could give evidence in s
Court ofJ ust ice. it was siecesory that hewhood plead
•Ins psidon under the Great Seal. fle (Mr. Doug.
bas) weseanployed to procure it—and he then. for the
first time, found it would cost 110/. in addition to
other heavy expeniev. This sum was paid by
• iu the hope that the. whole, or part
,of it,
would be restored by the windy, sod the prisoners
were convicted. It was evident that such an ex-
pense as this must prevent, in many caves, evidence
of an imponrot nature being adduced, and it must
also deter prosecutors f cowing forward. ant,
independent of this, fees of so weighty a nature
operated as a very great hardship to iudividuals who
were pardoned—because if pardons were granted,
on the ground of substantial justice. they ought
not to be clogged with such expensive conditions
It was out proper that a noun should be preveuterr
from enjoying the full benefit of a pardons, because
lie happened not to lie rids enough to pay such
fees. It was unjust thist the extent and quality of
the mercy grained by the Crown should depend,
not on the character or conduct of the individual.
but cos his capability of advancing a sum of money.
The Learned Gentleman then moved for leoce to
bring io a Bill for diutinishitog the expense of lees
payable on perilous tinder the Great Seam.
The ATTOIINET-GeltiltaL did not mean to op.
pose the emotion, hot would, notwithstanding, offer
• few weeds min whet had fallen from the Hon. Gen-
tlemen. Pardons must pass under the Greet Seal,
mod, like all other letters potent. were liable to the
payment of certain lees. They went through the
same office, and paid the seine fees, because they
were granted, like other patesibi, front the Crown
to the subject. The expense in some degree,
was ocresiosied by the Legislature—fror the
stamp duty imposed by them was nearly one-
half of the entire charge. lo one office. the
stamp amounted to 6/. and ii 'souther to 30/.
TlllO duty was impossed not particularly au
perdue*. but on all postman under the Great Seel.
With respect to the appropriation of the money. it
view, in the Secretary of State's Office, to the pub-
lic fee-fund, end was mode use of to pay the officers
who acted there. Now, when a person applied for
Ilse rice soul favour of the Crown, end 01.1tiliiied
it, Ile did soot think lie load it right to expect it
without seine aocrifice on Isis part. The Ho-
nourable Gronlesuau said very truly, that a per-
son convicted could not give evidence unless
he produced his pantos. under the Great Sc
But it very often looppeised that Government,
where they found it important to convict • great
offesider, on the evidence of cote not so criminal,
paid the fees thencolves. With resswct to the
L charge in the Privy Seal Office, i.art of it was ap-
propriated to the oayinent of the Attorney-Gene-
nil's clerk, and to the liquidation of other expenses
connected with the drawing up of the pardon. For
Isis own part, he could not are why a spectral law
should be passed to exempt one description of per-
sons whd received the grace and favour of the
Crown from the payment of charges to which all
others were liable to whom the Crown grouted let-
ters patent.
I.eave was then giveo to bring in the Bill.

The LAIRD ADVOCATIS of SCOTL/010 Kate orifice
that he would, on Friday next, introduce a Bill to
control and regulate the expenditure of the funds of
the Royal Burghs in Scotland.
Mr. BADINGTON pfreenteil a Petition GUM
Newcastle-uuder-Lyise, ism former of the (7ottun
Si • ere Labour Regulation Bill.—Laid on the
table.
Sir C. MONCK presented a petition from Shields,
utensil theNhop Wissilow Tax.--Haul rut the table.
The Illouoe then adjourned in IVeduesdity next.

' _
tr::,ai a .00"Elgdwobs, Erssables, Cersoaas, Daises,
asxi seack wgkgry avail themselves of it.
. •
iftuarw, et stow 31.
Tootewity sierahrg bis Excellency Hiroo Van Kwesberg
Von kagp4, Member of dm Sipsostriso Order of Limburg,
sod CloViinor of As Peovioseef East Flanders, was married
to Miss Mary Lodge. no marriage cerement, woe perforat-
ed Ant before the Civil Magistrates, then by the Clergyman
effit. Gilles, aud after that by a Clergyman of the Murcia of
Itegland.

ALL MIST BE DRAWN NEXT THURSDAk.
Teo Prins of !90,000, 'if other Capitals of f 5,01,0,
Cl.OOO, ♦e. sod shove 1000 Prime of f 100, SW,

THE BRIT' S H PRESS..'