The National Register.
London, England, 1819-03-29 00:00:00

MARCII as.

CAPITAL'PGJNISHMEATS.

On Wednesday, Edward Dent, John Adams, John
Willett, and Win. Lynch, were executed opposite
the Debtor's door in the Old Bailey. We do not
blame the Executive for this additional outrage on
humanity ; but, while we execrate the sanguinary
nature of our Criminal Code, while we feel con-
vinced that an extensive and serious injury is done
to the murals of the loner classes by such frequent,
and horrid exhibitions, we feel inexpressibly in-
debted to the exertions of Sir Imes Macintosh to
produce an amelioration of those laws that consign
to the same punishment a man who steals a single
shilling, without violence, r.s he who commits the
most aggravated murder. During the above execu-
tlon,the breeches pockets of a gentleman of the name
Johnstone were wined inside out, and emptied of
their contents, .at tile very moment the unfortunate
tualetlictori were launched into eternity. This is
another consincin; proof how little public execu-
tions prevent the commission of crimes. We repeat
that we do not blame the Executive, but we wi,h
the Courtly Laureat ‘veuld now write as strenuously
in the cause of suirering humanity, us lie did in his
youth. the following beautiful lines arc from the
pen of Southey !!

Justice cast never link with cruelty—
Is there among the catalogue of crimes
A sin so black, that only death can expiate ?
Will reason never rouse her front her slumbers
And darting through the veil her eagle eye
See in the sable garment of the law
Revenge etinceirti—a culprit has been wicked--
Does his death remedy the ills he e.aused?
\Were it not better to repress his power
Of doing among, that so his future life
Might expiate the evils of the past,
And benefit mankind ?
At.d shall we then in the calm hour of season
Condemn an erring brother to be slain—
Cut him at once from nil the joys of life,
All hopes of reformation ! to revenge
The deeds, his punishment cannot recall ?

The Jury who convicted Willett, made every el-
f ,rt to save his life. They petitioned the Prince
Regent, and waited twice on Lord Sidwouth, with
t!.c view of procuring a respite for one week. Se-
veral Magistrates of the county of Essex also peti-
tioned in his tlivour. He admitted, on going to die,
that he had stolen two heifers before he committed
the rohbery for which he was sentenced to sufliir
tkath, and he .declared that when he stole the sheep
be was in a state of inebriation. He sold the heifers
for nine guineas at Ougar, in Essex, and paid seven
out of that sum to the parish, where his six children
are, fur 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 Muster 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
boor+, the Persian insisted that he must sit beside
his Majesty : afterwards,. at least in front of him ;
maintaining that otherwise he 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, DATED.
I‘l A RCII 4.—" We are now on the eve of a change
of ministry, Tulare to see the famous Cevallos, who
may be justly called the Talleyrand of Spain, again
in office. Ile is expected here to undertake the
department of foreign affairs, and will, 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, muse produce
important consequences : but can it be expected, 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 f r our
King, but the princess who is to be his bride is not
fixed upon."
saving Yanks.—Let the public remember, that if the
owls gallicred in these Hanks be vested in the Public
Funds, it will raise an additional number of clamorous
creditors. to the State, silt, whelp from the extravagance
of MittitOrts, OOP 'estrum- ceases to meet the demand will
rry out for a Propeity Tax to make the interest good.
Old George Rose, who was the Father of the scheme,
probably fill PAiIW this and how the army of core option
could lir rt crititeil—Cet Ministers have the Property Tax,
and oiliest, for ever, to every thing.llke liberty—we re.
commend the cause of the Saving Banks (though we
"^"1.1 • • .1,..^ •••• ••••• 0.- •eheme under prudent regain-