The National Register.
London, England, 1822-03-31 00:00:00

99

The SOLICTTOR7GENER A L said, that the teamed

gentleman could not have read the libel, for env that was
tante *P41010114 and blaapliemons he had sliver rend. lie
then obl{Pl'veil out the colidnet of Mr. Cathie, the Mail -
tier ii, winch he hail defied the laws, employed pony
shopmen at low wage*, and hail at last *old the publica-
tions through apertures made in the shop. 'lire coital!),
had called out fur ai, end to be put to those publications
and proceedings, and the prosecutions had eventually
accomplished that effect. As to the libel, there could he
no doubt about it ; it proclaimed all religion to he a vice,
and no better than the mythology of old. With respect to
the jury, the judge had no power to change them ; the
rounsel felt that they had not sulileirat ground to question
the jury. The sentences were bialilar to many that had
taken place in the times of Lords Nlausliehl and Kenyon

inr blasphemy.
Dr. LUSDINGTON replied, olbierving that his senti-
ments soot remained the same; he initihmiiied that the pea.
Cosner had lint had a fair trial. The petitioner could not

apply fora new n i :I.
Petition rend and ordered to he printed.
I sir?lt Asst Eq..—Sir E. HARVEY presented a petition
floni the grand jury of E.seit, pra)iii:: fur the adoption of
oneabut ev that wouhl secure some means of trial for LMl•ez
between the Summer nod Lent absiz.s. The long tecess

frequently produced peat hardship. The hon. member
ltneiv that the sultject hail been tinder the attention of go-
vernment, and he hoped that much time would nut be allowed
to elapse before something was dime.
Mr. W ESTER N seconded the motion for bringing up the
petition; lie hoped that it would receive the serious often.
tion of the House and the Government. There was a new
jail building for Essex, and it wits found, by the enquiries
that those interested in such subject had promoted, that one
half of those committed to prison for trial at the Lent
Assizes had been committed before the Ist Jan flow con.
siderably were the number of prisoners increased, and how
greatly had the prisoners' punishment been added to. The
accumnlation of business was similar in n neighbouring
county, fur at the assizes now going on Sergeant Leos had
acted as a third judge, and had tried prisoners in the no:l-
-b:twists' chapel.—( I lear.)—lint to say nothing of this accu.
mutation of business, how exquisite must he that m)))) pain
of mind, bbo, after so match punishment, by imprisonment,
should be eventually acquitted. (Gear.) Ile thought the
!louse could not hesitate to admit that Itomethin_ ought to
be done to insure it Inure constant administrati tttt of the laws.
—lle felt persuaded that there ought to be, and might he, a
a more frequent jail delivery ; namely, betweeu the Lent
and Summer Assiges. What objection bout(' there be to a
judge attending the quarter session, to try such cases as
would otherwise be postponed to the succeeding nssizes.--•
And let it be recollected that sic judges would be sufficient
for the jail delivery circuit. Par this additional circuit
hii-iness, at least three ;Odd iiiital judges might be necessary,
hut he Loped that the expense would not be deemed an un-
necessary ex pence.

Mr. PEEL snid that the representation of such nn lin.
patrol and enlightened body its the magistracy Biwa) s
merited the ;mention of in government. This subject had
experienced the most fictions attention Of the ministers. It
was mai of great delicacy. and the remedy proposed showed
that it was surrenn& d with dillicultiy. But the greolest
difficulty is as that of milling to the judges. All those who
were best aequaiided with this subject held that such was a
ii ry great diliculty. if the plait of the new jail delivery
were delivered, there trust he tot change of the forms of coo.
ducting the regular assizes. As to the new jail delivery
being 111 the (polite, sessions, it must he recollected that they
omit take place within our week. Same alteration of that
it, would be required ; besides, how could counsel anima
those sessions, nod be prepared to attend their ditties in
Westminster Hall in November twirl 3anuore. Thew were
*time of the circumstances that showed the different &thetas
ties. The goverihnent, however had attended to the sutijecr,
mid what he was hbOIII to commutations At.til.l shetv it : it
was inteu-led, in cite coarse of the Hest winter, I, tiy the
experittion of a ihitd,j dl &livery, with One ju ,;:e, for the
home citron and COUUlie3, with grand and petty juries, as at
the crucial assizes.
'l'hc petition was ordered to lie on the rabic.
Dr. Pill LI,IIIORE brought forward his motion for leave
to Iola.: in a bill to amend the marriage act. Ile 'mil sever..l
times mentioned this subject to the Douse. It appeared
that the lion nnbet'. first :uncoil:n.)o was, that in till l':1•Vt,
where consent was required by the existing 11w. it would he
competent to Oct parents rind guatdiross of the PeVCral
pieties to impeach the marriage during the minority al those
parties. Where the parties retdded not of the kingiimn,
a suit might be instituted by the unrents Sr guardhatis, rot
uflidavit that the parties bad been int mince. Also
that mart :axes might he set aside t it had town .11101110 4,1
ill parishes u here the parties lend not resided a fort login.—
Ile concluded with movitig for leave to amend the uoir•
Huge nee.
Mr. BROUGHANI spoke of the imperfections of the
existing law.
Aster some farther conversation leave was risen.
Co•UnTEE OF St;PFLY.—TiI • lii•use went win a (oat-
!Mince of seuitiv, iota
Mr. It. W AIM brought forward the reinitinher of the
ordnance est incites.
On the res ilutitm for voting 218,0091. for the oidnatire
exit aoroinitries for the year,
Mr. fIUME. as sin altienitmeet, promised to reditre the
stun I.y 13 Otall. that was 10,Cbt) fur Demerara, and 30001.
fur the lonian Islands.
Mr. W11.510T said he was iii daily expectation of re.
Cei%Olg 1111 V ice Isom Demerara Of betug pi (Tarot' to repay
that *um ha to the I,l's lilt y were out bound to pay
the military estoblishmeid. After some (onvena tio n, Mr.
home co&enteil to withdraw lan mutnm.
Mr. CltitEVT.l then adverted to the vote of 49001. rot.
the repair of the fortdica lions of him badoes. 'lll-re woo a
fend frogs which this atoll he taken, the 44 per
cent. fund, but that aas all given by mintier. IN pew
and it Om by this method that ministers cot.ltpled the
II .me. Wh•ksuc I. votes .is pow prow,. ei uerenllupled,
lit could only eitas.der this 10/ II degraded assembly. kt)rdei.
order! Choir, cloth !) might be culled Si order. hot if
he were Judie for it he would call it • cli•giodrd tei.entisly tot
lung Ili ii steteed to sutra propositions. (Choir, chair 1) litt
rsowlialed by'rmovitig Si, reduce the suite by this sum p.ll.
pose) so he Pilpropt lated to the c•puirinz the fortili atrial
of Mulhalloe,
Air. %%Haim, 91 r. Bright, and others oplo sed the &newt.
melt. Mr. Bernal yet &lons Bopp.ot ell
meat, however, *at uegolived oo a diva.iuu It) 39 to Si
hliij•irit!, 41.
Several resolutio ts were adopted, toil the liou-e ad-
jou' tied al tacit% o'clock.

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