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

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Isto. 530.—VuL.

SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 1818.

rouTICAL DISQUISITION.

notes retained their pristine semblance, presenting to
Europe an engraved libel on the state of the Arts in
this country, and continuing the means of leading many
a miserable. wretch to the F ettf To id . As arc have already
said, any change must ha for the better ; and at this
period, when the frequent occurrence of the crime,
and its dreadful consequences, have ex,-It,d lu all .re-
fleeting minds the utmost horror, it becomes the impe-
rious duty of the Directors to redouble (or it might be
more proper to say, to cow/nonce) their enertions , let
them offer lane rewaids—there can he no rant of
money ; let them assemble a Committee of scientific
men, who shall use every endeavour to effect the ob-
ject, and submit their discoveiles to a candid and im-
partial investigation, and we are convinced that the
purpose, which has occupied the grave Committee for
fifteen years, would be accomplished in SS many weeks.
We will tell them this—es long as- they suffer their
notes to remain in their present form, they will have
much to answer for ; a new•apecies of crime is crdated,
and until the temptation to comcait that crime he re-
moved, the heaviest punishments will fail of effect.

Tfll: BANK (W ENGLAND.-FORGERIIIS.

AVz took occasion. a shoat time since, to make some
o'.tervations upon the frtieeney .and the insufficiency of
Opital Punishments, and we arc now induced to recur
to the subject (though in a more limite,lview) from the
afaieting circumstatices that have taken place at the
I.ent Assizes. On nearly evcry circuit, there have.
been numerous prosecni ions and convictions t'or coun-
terfeiting the notes of the Bank of England, and it is
aimed that on the Midland Circuit alone, the Bank
Solicitor lins.instidttted Vet.e- Tx° prosecutions for this
()Tone; nine of which were carried to conviction in the
county of Leicester !" Is not this horrible? Is it not
disgraceful ? Can we • reflect-on these facts, lvithout
emiing to the conclusions diet the crime may be com-
mitted with the greatest facility, and that- the punish-
ment prosided by the law is wholly insufficient to re-
m" the evil? To prove the former of these positions,
ute argument or illustration is needed. ; the lamentable
cir4.-nmitances stilted above, and the daily repetition in-
the public journals, of committals and convictions with-
out end,, form the clearest evidence that Bank Notes
ratty be counterfeited without difficulty ; and, as a fir-
ther cenfirmatiiin, we way refer to the statensent that
they are fabricated in all parts of the country, and is-
at:nd by thousands at a time. No one can wonder at
the distrust which is generally felt at remit jag Bank of
England paper—it is falling into disrepute—its circu-
lation must diminish ; and yet, with all these facts.be-
fht:e their eyes—with all the executions staring them in
the carc—and with the murinute of the whole nation
resounding in their cars, the Directors arc sitting us
quietly in Bartholontew-lane, as if nothing were the
reamer But this is not all. On being interrupted at
a meeting of the Proprietors, as to their exertions on
this subject, the Chairman very gravely replied, that
therehad been a Committee sitting fOr Fj/.en years,
tbr the purpose of making discoveries! For fifteen
yaws has this; Committee, consisting of some of tile
most opulent and intelligent intlividteds in the metro.'
uolis—with all the science of this wonder-wanking ago
heibre them—with all the opportunities that wealth,
iiilluence, end cerrespondence euuld atlbril, with every
motive :that humanity and uecessity etiuld, suggest.--
Wen employed on this sehjeet; and up to this time
they have discovered nothing—altered nothing--donte
nofliing t I' • This is heyeul the reach of bur:an
empprehenalen ; it is their duty, their interest,
their inslination to remedy the eNil, and yet it is
not dame. They cannot blend that it is impnwticable,
iviien (Akre huve been made to theta of improvieg their
these suggestion:: 'Lave received the sanction

kris found that Death is inflioted in vain; that instead•
of diminishing, the instances of fbrgery sire increasing,
to nn incalculable extent ; that the crime is chosen as
one which may be practised with impunity; and if
these are not suffit•ient to induce nn immediate altera-
tion in the cause and instrument`Ot fraud, we shall lie
almost inclined to believe thnt there is no humaniry,
no science, no;petriotism in the cnuntry.

MIT SDAY,. APRIL 2.

Having considered the temptiliens to commit, let
ns it the punishment for eh clime. • We have
already expressed our opinion apt capital plinisluncnts
generally, and we can only albloOst the eirevinnitain.
ces which are daily occurring, It* ampect to forged
Bank Notes, more strongly. configli-oia belief in their
inefficacy. With regard to this estme;. we may argue
thus a delinquent is exectstod or he is not—if
he be—it Juggcsts tilt enquiry, Nititelier it be not too
scvere.a pnnishmeutmor, wheiliavis really operates to
diminish the evil; and, on the eltlier hand, if he be
not executed, may Wu. not say, that the law is enacted
in vain—is it not iinplied that Josticeitvoils at her own
severities, and tacitly encourages ,hut she labours to
prevent, by continually bolding out the hope of pardon
or mitigation of punishment ? W are persuaded that
all these questions mu.:t be miasmal-in the affirmative
—the law is harsh in principle, *haa it is feeble in
execution—like a crtic•Llmt impotent old man, whose
fruitless menaces excite at* the sainvalowient, honor and
contempt. If the punishment of death were inflicted
on the great numbers who are. foutid guilty of this
crime, we should shudder at the mnssacrc, mid when
v..e sec paratiu so widely extendod, the ioutility of the
law heenines apparent.

tn.n of the lira e:ui►►ence tisangravera; and still they
1!.:vt: adopted nothing. Grimt that an altenition iu tlx
c.ipear.::t:e. of their notes requir:s.scrious consideration

In one way or the other, tl.c Legislature must in-
terfere—we t'o'ld wish in b.4h. Professing the sen-
timents (Lot we do, we have the greatest desire to wit-
ness enr criminal code (espetioli/ itt this instance) rem-
ticreti -,anguinary,'but more eCititin ; and we. think,
tillt the people lava a- right to demand of the Bank of
England, that they should athiPt settle measures tnr
ren3ering their antes mote tliillettit to counterfeit. It
is :t duty that the Dirtcturs (me ,to the country, and
we trust that no fortlen• time Will be lost in giving at
ernctical proof of their inclivatikolk and power to us-
silt in wiping away this stain upon our jurisprudence.
1' t•

---4;r4zlt ti.at it might be attoider! t‘milijorary
vt they lx!'altered for the worse

?

t

Lon.% tinged uniter.anyalteratinn that the
i‘nonitAge of the pre.:ent day could make, than they
a.,e rsw ? But let us attend to a filet that bas been
brcog%t forward within thc.ie few tlitys. In t;:o yciir
1797; !4r. A. sub:nit:el a ep.:.inten of an Art

to•prevent t'org:rics, w &telt wits rtn•onstnetnit.i in the
strongest matt:ter, ut:ti prottoottecti i:nposs;!Ae to be
etiitll, 11.1itoit.toti, ttcatlt, Fittler, Slurp,

-tore we conclude,, we cairuot avoid snyin,f; n few
words upon the conduct of the Hunk, v'ith respetq to
ot:ier points. There seems. to be :In attmipt at dicta'
tion, in n certain (porter, which it; nut ottly offensive
to tbinLing men, but contrary to Ow spirit of the Con-
"% Ville thugrent v:rrstrre-emploved in &hat-
ing their own interest, compared;With that of the nation,
'Le .'N'e rows lire netingtlicir pttrts, in a manner tr:-
tren..:ly tacnvive and violent. ,Ws; have had liequent

Le. '.otp Ngents if tlte Bank, lenrcver,
t!c*,;t tho: bad made a pro:fret iviy of t:le Engraving,
1:-.e rejected Mr. 'lir pla:1, :!:‘

't

,Ition.

ti

; ti.c

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l'iticr. 9.,'41.

instances wherein the Agents of the Rank have
trected individuals possesstxl of forged Notes--and it is
not long since that Mr. Wmt woml, the solicitor, refused
permission for a prisoner to see his Counsel, though it
was stated there was a probability of the former being
a victim to as conspiracy. W 6 have sect these and
other examples of the.- increaairg power and ambition
of the ilartizolomew-lane intereq, with much dissatis-
faction, and we regret tl.utt this Ilstabllshment should
have so interwoven itself with the Financial depart.
ment of the State, that there is no immediate probabi-
lity of checking its influence. We should not be sur-
prized to behold the Bank sol:citor assuming the style
cf." Attorney General to the Bank of England," or the
G,wernor setting forth in a memorial, his right,
title andqualification to be first Lord ofthe Treason-.
We repeat, that we wish the Nlinistent could de with•
out them, as ue have a great distrr.l.t upon principle
of any corporate body that degree of power,
which enables it to hold any part of the government
in check.

ntrEitlAL PARLIAMENT.

• HOUSE OF LORDS r •*

'file Earl .)f 5u:471.50w+ v presented a Petition front tho
Tanners of Aberdeen and its neighbourhood, against the ad-
ditional dulte• can It titter.—Laid on the table.
.1 he Longitude Act Amendment Bill was read a second
time and the litishandryliorses' Bill watt committed.
A person from the Secretary of State's office presented ti.a
Report of the Lord President, Lord Justice Clerk, and Lords
CoutinissiOners of the Jury Court of Scotland.
STOCK nr.fiENTuriks.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE moved for various papers rela-.
live to the state of (he coinage autl ceirecncy, from nir com-
mencement of the tit esent rkign to the:it'll of Jahn:try Tact.
pollens, the Noddle Earl stated, were.. 'uteri:Kay for the
Alution of which lie 114 given notice ; but he should take the
opportunity of oskim., die Noble Secretary of State a ipiestion
on a .object int 0111•Ite:y connected with.that which at via-,hit •
intention to bring tinder the considerations of their Lore-
hips. A rumour had for some time prevolltd, of his Majes.
ty's Ministers having in preparation some plan for ISSRIII7, De-
bonnie+ on Stock. if a plan seat as that reported to be
in centemplation were adopted, it would completely niter the
state of the currency of the imitutrv. lie inigiit them foie
find, Shit when the day uo fixed for his .Nitition a; lived, that
the is hole suliieet to which Ili/ notice applied had become a
nonentity. lle vsishrd, therefore, to lie informed by the
Noble Lord whether it was irac that at.) plat) of the nature
of that to winch lei had alltitleit was in contemplation ?
'l4lte Earl of LIVERPOOL had braid vague rumours of
several projects respecting the currency being under einvii.
deratioa. AU he could say on the subject was, that if hii
Majesty's Government should Mita; it ailvi•o:de to stitnitit any,
financial plan.to the ronsideratiou. of paei.intenc, due notice
would be given to their Loodsieips. ill:• mean time, ho
could only express his litipe that the Noble Earl mould no, be
Induced to delay any Nlotiori.which lie might think it to right
to make; and woolti agoin,oti,:r..ite, that there WU no reason
to titripow any IPNI•IIIL• UOllill he ',rosiest(' without pi epee
time being attirdeil for its cons'aleratittis.
Etitl of Lvent,-.0).u.5: did not nacho to call on the
Noble Scer.etary of State to cx laitt the nature alloy project
which :night be iii. coutemplathm, but it sorely was ill lii
power, say, whether or not, it ads hit intention to propose
ant pan 4.elatiye t'/t• COlrtlley• If he ohtaint il no answer
to his question, their Lordships would be in a state of siiig;!„
tar mice' tainty 011 this important subject. They would pin-
Willy hear 1n of the plan until it was hiunght
in another place, In the mean tittle he should be under the
nevi...shy of postponing his motive Hold Ili' saw what wit!. in.
whia, pi:limps, would not he lodine the bids is
his M enkty!s 'Ministers think proper to introduce were
cia the table. When a Aktinher of their Lord.hipso !foam.
gave notice of a' motion on so important a subject as the
eurrency. the county, he certainly was entitled to stk.
whether 3finisleri had it in eonteentilation to propose siis
thing which might render his Motion altogether moo:story.
The Etta of Listairoor. repeated, that Bit should he thong lit
proper to unlink tiny plait on the subject to which the Nohln
Lind had alluded, or oil any branch of that subject, to fhn
altrntituof Parliament. doe notice of such intention would
he given. The Noble Eatl would art according to ilk owe
sen•ii of propriety as to Ilse •of bo tut 3loticit ;
that OR a Melt be could gist: no opinion. •rr
The Lure of I. OUR VALE corned that he et; told ect no
•
hat ipresent I',.r the I lth sitt•
that
if;it tcunld t
111311.41.
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the ►twoo.itivtatonso.
The Abitibi' fur the papers was agreed W.—Adjourned. f" x..
FRIDAY.
Persons from tho• Office, limn the Mild, on 1 from , •
Bank of Eintland, pcclett'••4 41tritoot• reittsivi In 4 •
Petit, Sluktns Fund, Coinage, and Current-I-. ono rci
on Nlotions of the Earl of Ltittlerthilc. These paper. aces
on the Minion of llit. Noble Gas I, milt:Ltd to log pruiti il, \ .
764. j