The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-05-05 00:00:00

OFEENDERS CONVICTION REWARDS

Mr. AontrnstoT, in moving the u•nsl allow&
once for the Afrivast Forts, sioeurrfl the House his
Majesty's Government had patil tlw utmost atten-
tion in the recomrtteudation• of the Commi►tee
of the African Society. Travellers of informs:

L.lr. J. Y. GRANT described the seigitiorage on
coin as being the sante as what wt. paid for fashion
in the general anataufacttire of 1, Ler. The stump
of any government not only cstaboslit.l the quall.y
of the stiut.it. but vet}, i•ften tenth red it unne-
cessary to weigh it 111 the course of ilu.inrra. It
of cutirse gave the bullion a v,lllle, but he
objected to three befog a bigiirr srigue“rage 011
gold than oil tither. The roily way of effectually

Mr. [SENNETT moved the Ottlca !he lor the recom.
mittril of the Offenders Conviction Hew:oils Hill.

Sir Runneu, obj. etc(' to the genet a mature of the
/IA though lie sppi °veil of that part of it oSuch vent to
fat ilitaie the repayment of proseeuho's ear Ilst
Mr. BENNETT pointed not the evils from the prewut
practice of giving rewards on eun•iction.

Afler • few words from Mr. NICII0f.•01 CAT.I'FRT and fir
C 1111:RRYLI., theloptiNe Wt. Id IWO the (."Imittltre—Sit
ET4ItY PARNI t.r, tit thr Chair.—

The ATTORNILY-GENFRAL said, lie felt as notch as any
matt the mat-5511y that existed of comer I MK, by
measures, the evils that have resull.d trios. the system of
granting rewaills for the conviction of ~hinders; but lie
feared that the Hill, as proposed by Isis Hmwur•abl«
Friend, might create an evil no less to he lamented. To
attain both objects, and to stimulate activity witl I enten.
raging •hose, he proposed a clause, giving the Judge vri -
siding on the trial of offenders, a du.rretionary power of
either granting or withholding the reward of 4111, uuw ex.
isting, or suet, parts or portions of it to I itlt•C 41 pill Chen,'
ing nr ;nosing:tog the offender, as to hint may ye. or meet.
The clause also allowed the payment of a sum of five shil-
lings to the Clerk of Assize, for drawing out a ropy of the
Judge's recommendation, and subjected all other lawsuits
requiring fees to a severe penalty.
Sir S. lton ILLY objected to this clnnse altogether, as b 9
wa means calculated to prevent tlo. repetition of those crimes
at which Iminaany slitsdilerid. The pta seal law, he observed,
gave a reward of 4111 In the itiformera on the ronvtrtiutt of
an offender, to be divided among those concerned tit Iha
prosecution accroiling to the discretion of the Jodge presid-
ing at the se ia I. Ilis Hon. Friend r Mr. Bennett) in Id.
proposed to take away this reward altogyt!ter, leaving a don
esetioniiry power iii the Dodge to grant the prostration the
IlipClll.l.ll intending the proceeding; but the clause provost II
by his Honourable and Learned Friend (the Attorney G4.11/.-
1:41) still left the rewind, on!), giving 11w Judge et discretion
to withhold it ot to apply ilk, HP 11 may seem proper. 'There
was, however, this e,rat objection to the clause, namely,
that it it fiaie ell flu: (11i1111. tiuuuf the prisouer before Soy ii -
era tal re ithl be gm 0.
_ _

The SoiletTott•GENEttAt. here interrupted him, saying,
that allhoneb sceli n:ipeared oil the fact of the elan/e, is
given iii l tits Lan rod Leal fled Friend, yet il tißm intend-
cd to give the Judge the power of awarding comprosatiou
in rase of inaiiiittal. tot Well as coasicti.”..
Sic Saaut.c. liasisLLY, in cwrlluuatinn, maid, that this
certaitily altered the case censidersbly. Stall, however, he
had strong objections to the claim., sliich, by suffering
the reward to exist, only required the titbit:mem to make/ out
such a C.l6e as would elective the Judge as wail as the Jut),
and induce him to grant a ceitifirate. He r ~,,, emitted noon
the rapacity of police officers, not only in L o,dou, but also
in other great towns, abet stated, that in Birmingham a en.e
hail lately eiceurre rl, w herein 1101.1, 11111 e. n h..d carsted Frt.
by the conrietiou of pecsons flewitisls hid the nem.-
sary egret of worpMg the evidence, and of inducing
it ~,,, enters to give a colour to dear restitnev.), calculated to
achieve their object in the conviction of-the prisoner. The
system. besides inducing prisons to conspire nisi nett the
lives of Mower', individuals, likewise created ire witnesses
all eagerness fur the conviction of the pi 6010 ra, gone it--
veil:big. The nearest Sedatives were seen not rinfieeptiently
pm-jot-leg Ihrnrselves to obtain the rewired by the death of
their kossfolk, and he had Inn:self known n case wimp
father had evinced the must slim-klieg anxiety for the
conviction of his own miss. —(1/ear, tear. —There was
atintlire 41i•c:i.:fnl evil attetidittz this system, that police
otlieers net the metropolis and other large towns, were
noxiacs 1.1 sopport nurseries of crimes, in Mews algal tilos*
pour eleatuiete entrapped by themselres tv, iitually
become profitable to them. lie would tiles ask, 1.1 what
respect the chose proposed by I. llonuoralile Ind La-atm.,
letend would pierced these evils? If a aita,,l Ire gi yr,
In those who appechesul and prosecute 1-I 11111:11.111, as well
in clew of acquittal as convictioo, all resew-, Si, emoted
worth' exert them-. Ives to obtain dee highest. Athol-
Mg to the pardons lately granted to Block, re tharr, situ
Power, he observed, that those persons had been impro-
perly prosecuted, and were convicted of es Imes of which
they had not been gnilly. Pardons were, therefore, properly
extended towards them. The priblic, however, not being
aware of the circumstances of the rase, were outraged at
the blew that pardons had been granted to those who Wet,
least detrerving of mercy. This arose from the practice of
taking special verdicts in such cases-0 practice which be
thought might be with great propriety terminated.
The SOLICITOR-GFRERAL defended the amendment pro-
posed by his night Hon. Friend (the Aitorney•Gracal) as
fully cab-stated In obtain the object of those whir wished to
Lou-Wilt the I times arising from the system of rewards. It
appointed 110 certain and fixed reward, but only pie die
.lodgea dim 'Tiniest y power of rewarding persons hyproper-
t Io ilwir sees ices.

Sir J. MACKINTOSH contended that the clause now pro-
noun would make no ildrerence in the result from the law
now existing Ihe Hill, as proposed by his Honourable
Friend (M r. Bennet') i Irectually took away every temptation
to crime, while it provided effectually (Or the further rncerrf
justice, by enabling the Judge to remunerate pervons for
'heir expenses. The minds of tbr informers, by trade, OA va
formed upon the expectation of rewards, aiid while timed's.
cretin,' of grouting them still reinained with the Judge, it
would be wain to persuade the informers that the law hurl
been chanzed The alteration only competlid the iwforin,
to make out a brut r Carte to induce the Judge-Wilma hint
his recommendation.

•
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL spoke a few words in iupp•art
of his own einnse.

M r Serj can t COPLICY remarked, that 11e abject irin'hetween
the Gentlemen at each Bide of the House wns in some de-
cree confined to a matter of form, except in one Pond,
namely the limitation of rennin( raltite mrsons etrirezed In
the pro...coition of erimin3k, loch he thought was ob-
ject of very t oiriellerable adenotilim. He entered tie midi it
against the broad assertion made by the lion Memhi r
Bennett), that systetu ut ,zrantitir reward• bid hety pro-
ductive of treat too fusion thronglimit the country: He bad
been engaged for funrtren years iin the Midland Cheitit. and
Mid never, iu his earierience, known of a sinle instance to
justify such a Rl:tient. tit.

Sir S. it 07111113 Y uio I. that a very considerable difference
existed between the hill nod the clause proposed by the At-
torney-G(4,er 0; f., that clnuse perinitttil the statutory re-
wards still It eiditifiue. He did not know e hitt the Hoe.
and Lemur.: Gimile.lamte might thii.k a sufficient rear(
abiss- nuiing out ~1 the system of iewarti. ; but, to his own
illllll,lr the conviction of fiye innocent we'll, which had bap-
.

I ' of the most carefully collected and most valuable and philosophical sentiments, which had rendered Mr. FINLAT recommended a larger sum for the character of the country in the eyes other states, croio„ „i granting them still reinxla•d .eith th- Jittli:ei lt it .
libraries, particularly in the Greek language ; slid them the truest supporters of their country's honour, 1 canal, as the object was not merely for a local and also affect the general property of the kin;;- would lie train to peecoade the informt•rs th:.t the law had
(loin iti the proportion of the artificial price fixed been chanTed The alteration only compellrd t'it. iniorm i
it was extremely valuable from the various amio- andto the boldest supporters of the great cause of advantage, but fiir a general inlprovenn•nt in the
on ihe coin. Tlit. was the oiamoot of Al►. Locke o make oat a brut r case to induce the Judi;e' to ;putt hint
taboos and remarks added to the collection, in the liberty till over the world. Was the literary clot- navigation, which would diffuse its toliantagesthis n•cummendatiuu.
shape of notes in manuscript, by Dr. Burney him-
mrreatteterroofftshteatte•otliontiry nothing? Even/ Menne ac.
...throughout the whole commerce of the empire, by ill his controversy with Mr. Louth on the silver The ATTORNEY-GENERAL spoke a few herds in inp{•ott
self, Bentley, Poison, mid various other eminent quiremerd was, to such a country as Eitglancl, st coustecting the two seas. It would also, by giving, ctirresicy. of his owl) clause.
• Greek scholars. In addition to the usual Greek icv. From all these considers- employment to a hardy race of men, prevent them Mr. 0. GILBERT was against aeigmorage alto- 01r serjeatitCoeteyremarked, that II;e Objertionlwtwect
►lassies, it also contained a rare collection of Greek .“get her oit gold.
ereethe GencwitfilenmeTlninatßeandi aide of the flosise•was'in some &-
lona, he hoped the Noose won't! agree to the pro- emigrating from their o►vmi country.
Mr. 11.1rx it inquired what was the expense of latter of form, except in our poin►,
11 drormis, of undoubted character as genuine Greek tosrd gram.
treoductions. When the House lout made so II• I After some exploit:dim) by Mr. I.OcRH ART. the After a few words from Mr. ARBUTIINOT, Sir M.
W. RIDLEY, and the CHEECIELLDK tit lie Excite.. this lit the Mint ?
Mr. W. Por.e replied, three quarter• per cent. namely the limitation of reniumintitie p.-r.ons entt.`Zed in
the po.eeution of criminal., whu•h he thought was r•n uh-
ral a grant to obtain possession of the Elgin mar- UEU, the resolution was withdrawn'. for the ptir-
Rttinii,wg was dm)
,earri.ed out in the Mutt 15 per jaccestnoisftviehreY btr°:::;;lasers4tbaltti.switii‘onttatilteTv. triee litnotnereMdelm'i,h74:lV
motion was ptit and carried, and the sum to be ap-
bles, a. a mutter of national importance and pride,pose of c(Howiering the propriety of proposing a
' dthis agreed propnate to purpioe to.
he hoped there would he no attention paid to the larger grant after the holidays. grim. chestier than elsewhere. Fit•enetlit that th, system of ....raiatior itwards had been pro-
Oti the motion of Mr. ARBUTHNOT Mr. J. P. GRANT described the seigoiorage on tlue"we or tr 1.21 "3"f""" throughout the cou"til: 1!oe had
The
suggestions of thaw whose economical disposition ARBUTHNOT moved. that a sum not exceed-
The a 0 been engaged for fourteenyears tin the Midland Ciielitt.lmt
prompted them to apply it to subjects by no n►rrna the um of
'ft"
was
1 .
I. vo id' for Lat'raordinaries fur . tin.
in 10,0001. be voted for defraying the expenses of coin as being the amine as what was paid for Natl.:on had never, ii his . . .
s esforience known of a sio;le nisi:nice to
iii the general mataufactore of plaf.i. The stamp
adapted to its exercise. The slim at winch the li- Aloe a Army;loaso or 50,000 r. for Amy Extrootilloaries for Ire. work. in the College of Rdiubur•~ for the yearjustify sails ai stationo sit. '
briery had been valued had been considered egoists- bad. lBlO. lie hoped this vote would satisfy the Iltsti. a any g"ver "went mini "111 Y •
lent by the Doctor's son and executor, and there dlr. A ROOTH NoT, in miming the ^•nap allow- Member that Scotland war nut fingotirts in the of the oli,Lii, hot arty ~kr"itt'altrti:,,ib,t;rititi'7,4inttliniiii:- esSiiiitreiSt.bielt°:eleit.iitTie"hi'lli.i 1111117 it tahevecrlyauc:npitit'ilietroasti'llieblyilirerenthe At_
i remained nothing wanting but the vote of Parini- 'owe for the Africa,. Farms, assured the House his public gratits.—(d laugh). I ces►ary to weigh it In the COM SC ol• iiusinetts. It . lorney.Generit; ft. that atom: perutittsd the statutory ir-
of cones► gave the I►nlliuu it litglie.r v.sitie, but he wards still It. ciiiitii.ue. lie did not know shat the "'"..
ment to render the fibrin) of the Nluseum in this Majesty's Government had pool the utmost often-
respect the drat iti the world. He coucluded by host to the recommendation• of the Commi►tee inti.‘tlitr. ti',lltitlawEswwboollseldslui4mve :oPreberefrrvetill itioirehd"rfora atilitet es; objected to 0,,,,,, beiiii4 a high,i. „10,..,rage 01, ' and Lennie.: Gentleman might think a auflicient rrstif of
moving, that the auto of 13,500/. be granted to the of hit African Society. Traveller* of informs- it:pit/tomtits/ gold than on "tr. •t'he "IY way of effectuallY tit:3l.l:l7i,'ltiht;icilwagotritilettiitwitni.hoPf h"SsetrinnintatriCtil.tnaorifti-ii, whichbutto
hi; ills h:ep-ni
! . ,