The National Register.
London, England, 1818-02-22 00:00:00

out the alteration for theirexertioo,, and lie trusted that they

'would finally have their effect.
Mr. W. WYNN objected to the motion, so short a period
before the Spring Assizes, on which account many would
not be aware of it, whom it no doubt interested to be infortued
of such apm acceding. The Motion was then withdrawn.
Sir F. Ruarover presenter' a Petition front a person called
James Leach ; and another from Rochdale in the comity or
Lancaster. The Petition stated, that James Leaelt had
been apprehended, and carried from the place a !erre lie
resided to various parts of the reentry: that when he had
complained of his treatment, the person to whom lie spoke
had "d--d his prond limbs," and told him if he would not
bear what he had, lie should have an iron collet rotted his
neck. The petition, after stating various hat dships which
ae atiasaid, to have been endured by the petitioner:, couclutied
tary,prayltug for redress of their grievances. Read and laid
on the table.
ittsonntrew had to beg the attention of the House to a
,ppttaioa from Itenfamin Scholes, of Wakefield, in Yorkshire.
He was a victualler and ale-house-keeper, by which business
Hear* stated he had supported himself and his family with
-.castanet. In the month of July, however, hr had been al_
prehended by a warraut from Lord Sidonotith, thrown into
aaritiost; aqd netwithataittling the prison of Wakefield was well
.seeetrad and . %sell aegulated, he had been conveyed to the
-,easlle of psiahridge. There he had been detained till Jan.
ill watch month he had been set at liberty without anymore
'cense tar his liberation than had been stated fur his detention.
Tha.gentiou was then brought up, read, laid on the table,
and oadlseed ;is Ise printed.
PERSONS CONFINED ON SUSPICION OF TREASON.
Lased Fofiasaotes' moved that the petitions of Francis
Joseph Mitchell, Thomas Evans, gen. and the several
other persona who bad been imprisoned tinder the act be'
it-tit/ending the H %bras Corpus act, and who had petitioned
the House to investigate the treatment which they hail reeciv.
ea, should be entered and read. Enus being dotie, the Noble
Lout( toceetletlaW.hen the -House considered all the eiream-
Etanees detailed in those petitions, he was persuaded shat
they would think, it their duty to pause, before they were I
financed to entertain. as a matter of com se, a bill °tandem-
nity. They scented to think that it was really due to the ali•
natters alike Crown, as the Noble Lord had stated, without
aurprevions investigation ; but it he knew any thing of the
principles of our coustiention, he would be bold to say, that it
was the duty of the House on this occasion not to take care so
meat of the Ministers of the Gruver as of the liberties of the
people. When ministers thought proper to apply to the le-
gislature for a bill to suspend the Habeas Corpus, they assert-
ed that sedition and treason prevailed in seseral counties, and
that the ordivary powers of the law were not sufficient to
repiess them. But what had been the result ? The only in-
stante a inch we kuow of an) outrage iatelng arisen taunt the
eellapirit *bleb was said to prevail, was that which occurred
lieTlerh3•slfital which was fuliowed by a trial for high treason,
And farce iedivitheris sutleted the punishment of the lass. It
was evidefia, tlttfefuie, that the dangers of the cment), had
aaeit xagatrated !Savona their proper dimensions, aim that
• IS -
they might-have seen removed, •had goverument taken a die
*teat ctsurseleura that which they had pursued. With res.
pest to .the meatier in which Ministers had exercised the
pewees Oven them try the act for the snspeifding of the Ha.
hear Cotpds,the w&. -fataaof asking for a bill of 'indemnify
was at etral4satett Mid tleela Odd filmset' the laws. It Wag ad.;
hated en 01 labels, 'that ate saaaeniimaor the- Habeas Corpus
Act gave no new powers of deteiciag or diamissing persons.
(Hear, Ltate,aaram Sit S. Ittnullly.) As %king up persona
in a tlifferataafortia and 'executing Svaatints in a different
Maitheiafratit ilre 'ordinary* cote se of pradeediaig, 'they 'MOH
tra,k fur 'Ain't() the anapension Yet for any sort of satisfaction.
I trilial been told that Francis Ward, whose petition he had
nettle the grown' of . 'elation, was a bad eltaraeter, and
taerefore. naivorihy otlio attention of the House: but he
eaonM ask no what craned the eltarge wets ads armed ? Had
beaten* tiny thing wlillat aid been- proved against him—had
Lc been ronvieted•Uf airy offence? tin tic old maxim of the
tree wheat- he was sonar to see discountenance.' by sonic
members of the-Honor, earl-Yemen ottabt to he ;'u aimdot
hull watt found to be ; anti this person ought
therefore to be eutisidered as hottest and et edible tittle was,
convicted of halttg the contrary. Whether he was it good or a•
bad matt, his case 'otighato be inquired alto, and he ought to
be placed our anaatpral footing with any other subject till Ohs
guilt %wipeout. 'ills had receised a itstimonial of Ward':
char aster, which be 'wank' read to the House V it was neces-
sarr ; but he ditratit ground his amnion .on the petitioner's
character, but ml theatireach of the law which had lteen made
in parson. lie should therefore comae& by morale," that
a committee. 2be"ilfbi)Oilitell to 111(1161'e into de: tenth of the
all. gef his thapentive of ramie's Ward, and eepurt thereon
to the House." ' •
Lord a:bauxite:act/ had imileratoed tic Noltie Lord lot-
nieray to allude to the tatse of Francis Ward, anti to move for
a specific intiairyanto the allegations of leis Petition. lit:
had, however, unfitly departed from that declared intention,
and introduced into his /Teach the discussion of more com-
prehensive topies,comietted with the general measure of the
snspenailat Art, and the cases of all those who had been ita-
pawned mete' the ;misers which it conferred. Hut though
the Noble Lord (Lord Pinkstone) had altered his cmarstr, lie
(Lout Castlereaglu) would not all his. lie would partienlarly
advert to the case of Ward, which the Noble I. i.I therm ill
the bat:a ground, and for inquiring aim %Ouch, ii...i the Neale
Lied confined lambed!' to it, he withal nit have' oirjerted to
otataittee. lit cleated that his Naha! Friend the secretary
are the Houle Department had been guilt) either of t ruelty or
injustice ; he denied that he had ;teen his %%arrant fur com-
uatment withaut the a rid: nee at eredihle witile%M.P, taken on
oath (Ileac, lie.ar), Ipadettled that he had committed one ie.
that'll:al on the testimony of the person (Other) so much el-
le/lea to be}' the other stile of the House; lie :reeled that Za
stitee'e urruat took place without out only having the deposi-
tame of credible wtthesses, but the authority of the Lew (A-

THENATIONAL REGISTER.

cers of the Crown.—(Hear hear.) It was altogether a false
view of the Bill for the protection of the :11inkters of the
rwn it was for the protection of individuals who had come
ward to give information of the utmost importance to the
security of the country but which could not be elicited
otherwise titan by thefprospeet of :tacit protection as the inea-
sme alluded to held out, With respect to the Imidships of
which tho-e Petitions complain,
.much delusion had been
practi.eil, r, hieb had been the CIIIISC of much intimation with-

•
out, and ini.tepre,entat ion within that House. Some of those
Petitions were found even not to have been signed by those

whose names ogre subscribed to them.
The statements of nfr. Wird were a pregnant instance of misre-
presentation. The manner in which he stated his original imprison-
nient was quite incorrect. The first arrest of Mr. Ward was by the I
Magistrates of Nottingliasmupon suspicion of being concerned in those
horrible acts which disgraced that part of the country. When lie was
within a few days of being dismissed from confinement upon this
charge, he was committed afresh upon a warrant from the Secretary
of State upon charges of a treastatable nature. The complaint of
being confined with common felons was applicable to the first period
of imprisonment when lw was confined as a felon. With respect to
to the place of his confinement. it appeared from the affidavit of the
gaoler (which his Lordship read) that the walls were perfectly dry
and free from damp, that there was no offensive smell but what arose
from fumigation, that he never made any complaint to the gaoler,
nor was he ever loaded with iron. or fetters.—When afterwards m•
moved to the gaol of Oxfoni, it could be proved that his complaints
were equally ill-founded, and that when he wished for any change
it was attended to as soon as selieited. for which he himself expressed
his giatittade. This man affected the character of an extremely
moral and reheeions person, and complained much that he had net
the privilege a attending public worshM. He had Swim confined
there from the 21:4 day of June. and from that day to the Ist of
August, he never once expressed a wish to that purpose; and the
first notice they had of such a wish was by a letter to his wife.—
This letter, whit+ the garter ne..er saw, was noticed by the Secre-
tary of State. Inquiry was imrsecliately made why the prisoner was
not allowed to attend public worship. The gaoler wrote in re-
ply, that there were no ekeetions whatever made, had he expressed
any wish to that purpose, and that he could sit in his own s.at
on Wednesday and Friday mornings and Sunday afternoon.—
With regard to env oilier complaints, he never made any remon-
stranesw to the officers of the gaol; an 4 it appeared that another
prisoner (Haynes) who had beeteereate4 as the same way, expressed
his gratitude for the kindnes4se had,experienced. When lie com-
plained of solitary continesor t, he was allowed to join another
prisoner, and they were sentined the use of a yard. It likewise
appeared,that his confinetent was not attended with anyprejudiee
to his health, hut that he had left the gaol as wen as he came to it
When afterwards, the gaol berme crowded by the number of other
prisoners, lord Sidmouth ordered that he should be retooled. It was
excessively painful to allude 10 the moral character of an individual,
but it sr necessary to prevent the hote:e from being carried okay by
their fc togs. He must protest against the attempt to mislead the
House export,- statements. The House, he trusted, would not
suffer ir feelings to he trifled with, nor cull in question the conduct
of Ministers in the exercise of an arduous duty, ott such ground, as
the Petition on the table contained. As to the of the petitioner,
lie Uvula prove them to be very diffirent from what the Petition
might lead Gentlemen to expect. He must however, ietiaiu trout
enterine into all the evidence he could produce m the subject, for the
same rea-ons for which lie could not bring forward the evidence
against those committed under the suspension :wt. 'I he danger of
disclosure to those who pee evidence was the cause of concealment.
But he could, notwithstanding, satisfy the House as to the petitioner's
moral character. Front the tennis of his Petition, lie night be
supposed to be more than ordinary religious; when complaining
of the officers, he says,—" Having always conformed to the
laws of no less a personage than Jesus Christ, ' Do unto others
as you would have others do tmto you,' I believedll had nothing
to fear." Then. to give an idea of his distress, he says :-.." Fi-
gure to
.your imagination. a man who had a severe part allotted
to him in life, who bad worked hard for 12, 14, and ler hours
a day mid often longer, and on whom a numerous family de-'
pentied for sitstenance, soddenly dragged from his home and
lahmir, to he' ininiorreelelti a dungeon. .tiltl to this, " lie
proceeds," that I am possessed of all the-liner feelings that
can. adorn human mature (a general litingitrand That those
feelings were put on a ruck," &e. Now, in complete contra.
diction to all this, he was prepared to show that this petition-
er hail been engaged in the most' atrotiens critnes.—(Hear,
hear.) In 11416, two persons were convicted and eat:calm'
at Leicester and Nottingham, who made a full confession of
their.crimes a shoat time isreViens to their excention. Their
coute.sions were taken by the Magistrate, and forwarded by
Mr. Mandy to his Majesty's Ministers: The confessions lie
would now read, suppressing all the entities alluded to iii them,
except the name of Francis Ward. The first was +he con-
fession of Josiah Mitthell, who was executed at Lricrstcr
tOr a felony committed at Loughborough. In this confession
lie stated : .--" 13. shot A.--C. It. told inc that Frasseis Ward
had mentioned 11. e thing to him on Saturday evening, and
said there would be a diet of money in it, the werknien hail
on recd to gist one Mandrel pounds for the inachinei e. Seve-
ral of us met at the Navigation Inn, and fornied mar plans.- -
I received films 3 to 11. front Wand for acts I performed.
Ward gave me 101. for the part I took in dean ciyiiig the
wot ksat Woodpeck-lane, ill Notfineliani. Francis Wind was
the treasurer. Yard Achim:ea also to the Looghhormigh I
Committee. M and employed me to shoot a alatT 'Alta had ce-
nsor al to turn ont,;nid offered 11. as 111%, reword." The Noble
Lord requested that the House would not r 'fishier this as
incredible ; assassination was a crime bargained for, and set
at a regular price, like a piece of stockings or any other
work. More than one jury had convicted on evidence seine!'
showed that 41. was Ike price for shooting a Man. The Con-
fession went on. " 41 and offered lo!. for shooting some of
Kendal's men. Ile odium(' put, f,,r shooting another master
manufacturer ; and A. for slnwitine ooe of kis men for work.
Mg. He off ci eil a la rue 16111 too 111111.tit.1 ilg the judge at the
last assize. We met at d0...1011y renecleis, and wbed none
agreed to do this, Francis %I aril took out a gulden g ' go
anc said lie was (tete-maim it it must be dune." The second
confession was ,host of Thomas Savage, who woe execute,' a
few weeks Race Mites,-;1. It eon obated the foi mer confes-
sion. 'I he Noble Letd frosted the Ilona', would now see till,
CUIII'AC of prUCeCtling thee were called upon to adopt ; he
trusted they niust now he aware of the true charamerni this
Petition. 1% nether this Mail could be pot 1111011 his trial for
the foul crimes with which be war charged, it war not for him
to say, that lie had Ms ii committed .10 the evidence of Iwo
credible witnesses, and that he waseharged with having. heels
engaged in those dreadfill and infernal actions, by the con-
fession of two of his associates, given in the Most 11‘114514.
IlatifiltallS,Ap the last numeats of lase He could assure the
Gentleinen opi'nisite, that there were eiretinefiances which.
li would appal tcir convictions as to the prori ediugs of -Mi.
nisters.as much as in this case. In this ease Were was netbiug
ie lusting to n mut al consietion but the judgment of a jury ;
tint witnent that, evety mural Millet must be sai,..tied a, I. the
Petitionet's character. Be hoped be had Sala eanagil to
.preveut the feelines of hue 'House from being Iron rsiormy
wit lm. if then the Motion was out rat.ouril in tiniaListe of My.
al ;lid, he would contend that it was nut rusionst ie day other
east. .C.t: house would nut, gut clot tr, on rouse e:.. matte state-
.. .

meets, think it necesvai y to institute a Connuittee of enquiry
into the allegations of those whose crimes threatens(' the
country. This he trusted, not from distrust of the prinei.
pies on vvhich Ilinistersacted. lint in justice to those whose
%%hose wane gitakpanthrheatul to keep secret : the the came.
quence of i h an eiiiiniry would be. either that Ministers
niustAti tto :111 the charges brought against thew, or
ab ilo andon o,e %s had given evidence, on the frith of coo-
t,:
cealmente.to the vindictive attacks of those whom they bud
detected: • _
__ _

Nir. Jogs Smtist of Notlinzhani, confirmed the slatemt nt
of the Noble Lord, as it respected the lam) of Ward's dia-
meter.

Mr. Goutrassa exculpated the gan!er of Heading from the
charge; of cruelty which had been made against him in the
cases of Sellers, Holton, and Knight.
Mr. Goamix, ou information which he had received, con-
tradicted the whole of the statements which had bran made

Ly Rap+ley, one of the prisoners, confined in Gioce.ter

Gaol.
Sir F. Bunnv.rr alluded to the ease of Aris, of Cold Balk-
fields Prition,who had so often been represented ass humane
man! atid warned the House against believing in do stale
meets which were made of the humanity of gaolers. He
contended that investigation was rocest,try as well in
justice to the Petitioner, as to the persons to whom cruelty
was imputed. In the course of his speech, the Honourable
Baronet repeated the story alimit Aris killing .1 Robin,
which visited a prisoner's cell, which he has so often intro.
dneed into his speeches on this subject.
Mr.W11.111:11FOUES: requested the flan. Baronet would state
his authority for the story.
Six F. lit Knave said that 4r. Wilberforce Bird, chairman
to the Committer siren the House of Correction, bad relatutl
the story of the Robin and Mr. Aris to the House.
Mr. WitaFtlFOlit ;asked if Mr. Bird had spoken from his
own knowledge : but no answer was given.
Sir S. ROM ILLY observed that these were 11 Petitions ft ont
ditistrent persons in different parts of the kingdom. and it was
not because two or three of these contained False charges,
that all jhe rest was to be discredited.
Mr. Hoists SCNINER thought the House hail reason to COlll.
plain of the utode adopted by the Noble Mover.—(a laugh.
—As far us regarded hintsilf, he was able to gleesome infor-
mation of one use; that of Ogden was falsehood from the
beginning to the end of his Petition. As to has disease, it
hail 4(11 ascertained that he had die disease upon Imo when
lie fiat entered the prison. Ogden had es en said that lie
thought it a blessing that lie bad conic to that prison, for lie
could never have been cured elsewhere. He had also
pressed the utmost gtatitude to the gaoler fur his kind treat-
( went.

The ATTORN EY-GENERAL said, no gaolcr could he justified
or indemnified by the BiU of Indemnity. but would be liable
for any excess of the powers entrusted to him, and be sub-
ject to a civil action. _ _ _

LAMIIE said, the principal Allegations in the Petition
were for illegal Arre;ts and unjust iletentioa,aud it would
not be proper to investigate such charges in an open Com-
mittee, and therefore he could tot vote ful the motion of the
Noble lord.
Lord FotKSTUSE replied ; after which the House divided,
when there Appealed—lor the motion liti--Agaiust it Itl
—Majority 101 i.
Adjourned at Half past Twelve o'Clock.
M EON ES D&T.
CITY BUSINESS.

Mr. Alderman Wenn roses to move for tke appointment of
a e ttttt unites. to inquire into, and to report their evidence, ob-
sewations, and opinion as to the state of prisons in Londun
acd.tiouthwork.
The Hon. Mir. BEN NET thought that there was muck defect
is Newgate from the want of room, and that the way in whitir
prisoners were confined was a source of crime. He had ob-
served instances of a want of proper accommodation. He
saw a child destitute of any convenient and fit clothing, wt.°
must have beau seen by the Sheriffs and visiting Magistrates,
but had sot been properly provided for. .l Oh respect ter
provisiuns' it was probable that the supply of food had beim
scanty. Some who were not supplied by their own retails efk
eLe placed in neatly a starving situation. It was but quite
rteuutly that tl.e system concerning baking had been changed;
• and be believed it had at isen from proceedingsan that house.
lit hoped that Newgatc and the New Prison would be ex-
amined into properly anti attended tn, and that they would
be made schools of reform, and ant of vice.
Sir W. Ctrris believed that much of what bad been sand
was an exaggeration. some things might be tine ; but not
so in the manner itt which they were put. Prisoner, were
allnQwd dlb. of meat per week, and sib. of bread at Nevrgate.
The bread appeared to be 25 good as any gentleman might
find at home. In the New Gaol some interference had been
relnired front the breaking of windows. As to the regulation
of prisons, it might be observed, that they were not places to
be furnished with Turku carpets : they were places of pu-
nishment.
Mr. WARR'S node some observations respecting the state
of the Borough, Conquer. He adverted then to the case of
(filmier, we believe,) on whose burly all inquest sat some
iittle time hack in Westmiaster. But he under:loud that
more space was now afforded in Tuthill- fields prison than
'rile Motion of Mr. Alderman At. CO I), for *tarsal; into the
prisons of London and Soutliwat k, was egret il to, and the
Cointoittee named.
the remainder of the Parliamentary, see the Sixth !'reef

INMPOEN'S Swoan.—Among the interesting ob.
jects of curiosity in Charlton-house is the armoury, .
v.-hich contains a magnificent collection of ancient arms,
disposed with much taste. Among other valuable
Weapons i 3: the identical sword of the celebrated patriot,
Julia Hampden, in the highest preservation ; the hat
and scabbard are ornamented with small bronze figures
in relief, representing the history 01 David Alla ;
arid, from the admirable spirit and skill diviayed in
their execution, they are supposed by the most
connoisseurs to be the work of the celebrated 1 ta-
is t artist, Celini.— .
The extracting of. l'ot-ash flow l'otatne sta:ks has
commenced in
and promises to become a most
valu4ble article of trade to that part of the Coned ,
Kixloia.. It is,calculined that 350,thu1 acres of 1.111(
zire annually cultivated with potatoes there. Toe•e
wauld produce 0,87.5 tons of pot-ash, which, at. „W.
pa to; would atr4otint to 937,5001. lex aurauz. ,

4.

6s • •

e

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Codling., front the Third page.
ANIE.

Mr. II SNICE4, pm. rose to make his motion re.peoting tlw
&your/gement of the ule of 44141 P the pre4ervat ion of which
fi lam desirn /lion /night he worth rotoOderati..e. It might hr
n•il too nvieli io s/v, ler all the rilett11111:1111*PA, that 1I pre.
vent ion of the might he of benefit. It was not bought
11'44 as a necessasy provi.ims for the siistettauee of life.
Ito ohjertetl to qoalitied persons purchasing gime, though
t!ley could not sell. Ile wished that all person, should be.i
rend-red liable to the penalticA for int: game, soil moved
tip le we to bring in a Bill to regulate thy law respecting the
sate of game. . .

Mr. Ci.,rtss ros said, the matter required consideration.—
Lait year 1,1001 per A had been apprehended ler the
game laws. The penalties ought to be regulated as tolapp ly
equally to the higher anti lower classes.
Mr. W tone Mild in the present stilton( society. and wt ilh
the manorial rights, was it possible to prevent the sale of
game ? Blackstone, in treating on the fined laws, hail observ-
ed. that they is ere, in a weal measure, grown onsolete ; yet
from this rout bad sprung up a hartard slip known by the
game laws. now aro ivrd 111 and wactoning in OA Ingliekt rigour,
both founded on the saute oisireastrotahle notions of permabent
property in wild creatotrett, and Iwth pr (glue iv e of the !Claw
tyranny to the cam moos; but with this difference—that the
forest laws established only una onizOdy hooter ilormogl t
the land ; the game laws had raised a little Nimrod in every
manor.

On Motion fur leave in brine in a Bill being put, throe
were opposing cries of Avr and Nd.
Or is division the numbers Pere —Aym 61—Nots 2t4 - Ma.
j•rity Z.

• IP