The National Register.
London, England, 1819-03-28 00:00:00

CAPITAL PUNISHMENTS.

On Wednesday. Edward Dent, John Adams, John
Will.-tt, and Wm. Lynch. were executed opposite
the Debtoes door in the Old Bailey. We do not
blame the Executive for this ad. itionul outrage on
humanity ; but, while we execrate the sanguinary
nature of our Criminal Code, while we feel can.
vinced that an extensive and serious injury is done
to the morals of the lower classes by such frequent,
and horrid exhibitions, we feel inexpressibly in-
debted to the exertion; of Sir James Macintosh to
produce an amelioration of those laws that consign
to the same punishment a man who steals a single
shilling without violence, as he wh i commits the
most aggravated murder. During the above execu-
tion,the breeches pockets of a gentleman of the name
of Johnstone were turned inside out, and emptied of
their contents, at the very moment the unfortunate
malefactors were launched into eternity.. This is
another convincing proof how little public execu-
tions prevent the commission of crimes. We repeat
that we do not blame the Executive, but we wish
the Courtly Laureat would now write as strenuously
in the cause of suffering humanity, as he did in his
youth. the following beautiful lines are from the
pen of Southey !!
- -

Justice as never link with cruelty—
Is there among the catalogue of crime
A sin so black, that only death can expiate ?
Will reason never rouse her from her slumbers
And darting through the veil her eagle eye
See in the sable garment of the law
Revenge sonceard—a culprit has been wicked—
Does his death remedy the ills he caused?
Were it not better to repress his power
Of doing wrong, that so his future life
Hight expiate the evils of the past,
And benefit mankind ?
And shall we then in the calm hour of teases
Condemn ad erring brother to be slain—
Cut him at once from all the joyi of life,
All hopes of reformation ! to revenge
The deeds, his punishment cannot recall

The Jury who convicted Willett, made every er-
fort to save his life. They petitioned the Prince
Regent, and waited twice on Lord Sidmouth, with
the view of procuring a respite for one week. Se-
veral Magistrates of the county of Essex also peti-
tioned in his favour. He admitted, on going to die,
that he had stolen two heifers before he committed
,the robbery for which he was sentenced to suffer
.death, Labe declared that when he stole the sheep
he was in a state of inebriation He sold the heArs
fur nine guineas at Ong,ar, in Essex, and paid seven
out of that suiu to the parish, where his six children
are, for their maintenance.

It was stated on Friday that the Persian Ambas-
sador was about to quit Paris without being pre-
sented at the Tuilleries. • He had conceived, says a
private letter, that the King would stand up in his
presence, and in that posture receive the letter which
his Master had commissioned him to give to nis Ma-
jesty. After this difficulty was got rid of, by reason
of the gout under which his Majesty at present la
bouts, the Persian insisted that he must sit beside
his Majesty : afterwards, at least in front of him ;
maintaining that otherwise should certainly have
his head cut off on his return to his own country.
As there was no wish to expose him to a danger of
this sort, it appeared the simplest plan to dispense
with the interview altogether.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM MADRID, DAXMD
MARCH 4.—" We are now on the eve of a chat**
of ministry, ..nd are to see the famous (!evallos, who
may be justly called the Talleyrand of Spain, again.
in office. He is expected here to undertake. the
department of foreign affairs, ana mill; perhaps,
obtain all his former influence in the administration.
The death of the Queen has faciliated the return of
this minister, which. at all. events, must produce
important consequences : but can it be exps..vted, that
his counsel will aid us to recover. our American
colonies, and smooth the way to a settlement of our
differences with Portugal ; No' we do not think
so. There is a great talk .here of a marriage r our
King, but the princess who is to be his bride is not
fixed upon "
Saving ita.oks. —Let tile. public remember, that if the
milts ireloll.ll.lt in these Hanka be venter iu Ihr Public
Funds, it will ragas. ass situs,ber of clititiorout
ere.liturs Its Ilse Si.:lr. wlltl wile', froth IhP eAI u*ttgwelre
of she ice rime re .sen to meet Use Jrman.l will
cry out b.r a P.ttue.l T,ltt to make the Sidereal "I.
Ol:lGeOrge. VI It() a 44 the Father of Die scheme,

probably f re,to II,t• and how she 44 my rOrl 0110ifill
could be reerit:io.l—L;l 'ate the Property 'fox,

. .
and adieu, lut ever, iu et ery thing like liberty—VlC fr.
. toneinesiti the irdll,r of the S.tvitig BAIA% (though we
would not thsetute.tee the ,chart 06der prudeut regukt-
-1411019 to be narrowly snatched.