The National Register.
London, England, 1818-12-28 00:00:00

Ivl iGk e
- On

MONDAY, DECEMBER ISIS.

elety only, huve inflicted on them the ext! me penalty
of the law.

Several evil consequences arise from this distinction
of the guilt of offenders. In the first place, from so
great a degree of uncertainty as to the probability of
punishment after convictiou, the, severity of
.the law
ceases to operate RS a terror. Where the favourable
chances are so great, there will always be numerous
adventurers found to engage in the lottery, for so it
may be termed. Setaindly, a very kuunane principle,
which is observed on the trial of every individual, is
departed from in the present plan of selection for pu-
nishment. The law permits no former am—no cir-
cumstances unconnected witn the subject matter of the
indictment—no previous bad character of the prissner
—to be brought against him. The evidence is strictly
confined to the facts of the presmt charge ; and oil
such evidence alone can an Englishman be found guilty.
Another ill consequence of taking remote cirenin-
stances into the consideration of the case of a person
capitally convicted (particularly in the case of uttering
forged notes) is, that those circumstances are, in a man-
ner, unknown to the public in general. The criminal
is doomed by the law to suffer for the commission of a
particular offence, and the selection of one individual to
die fit,. the (apparently) same degree of guilt fur which
another receives a milder punishment, has the appear-
mice of harshness, and tends to make the unthinking
dissatisfied with the administration of justice. If the
reasons that caused the sentence of death to be carried
into execution were in every instance to be made pub-
lic, we are convinced it would he found that humanity,
jest iec, and the well being of society, are alone regarded in
the awful decision ; but' such an explanation is imprac-
ticable and would frequently be injurious to the attain-
ment of the ends of justice.
In cases of conviction for minor offences, we admit
that a limited discretion should be vested in the Judge,
(a discretion which ought to be exercised as seldom as
possible,) and ..hat flintier character might be taken
into the consideration of the guilty criminals ; and
even on capital conviction, we consider that the stream
of mercy ought not to be entirely frozen ; yet when
the arbiter or arbiters rf his earthly tide are weighing
the existence of the criminal against the consideration of
his guilt, and the welfare of his fellow men, surely no
general bud elfocts could result fro:a pursuing the same
humane cause as adopter in every case towards a
prisoner' on his trial. We would have his fate deci-
ded upon the view of his culpability in the commission
of the very offence of which he has been con-
victed. We are aware that ions may be
made to such a practice ; but we do not consider that
they are valid agaiast that wltich is iimutled on :tn 441
willingness to shell human blood. The advocates fir
capital punishment should ever be reminded, that the
punishment of death cuts tea earthly atonement puts
a very naarow limit to repentance, and risks the soul
1 of the criminal by the premature destruction of his
body.

The accounts from Ceylon brought by thew papers
arc of rather ia more favourable description, it- true,
,lien we had been induced to ant►cipate from the state •
:nents of former des;x►tches. The efforts of the natives
a4►tinst the British government appear to have been
re axed. and tranquillity to have prevailed throughout
a considerable extent of country before in a state of
disturbance.

Ott Sunday morning last, at eight n'eloek, aceertlitig
to annual custom, n quantity of bread and cheese was
thrown from the ht,lf..y of Podingion Cliure!!, among
the 00111 ice. The asschblage was
(US tan, wine!) has hat In ithserved c» t t'ca: Sunday
preeee?ing Christmas :lay. had its origin. we are to;t1,
in the will or two sis:Lts wlio travelog to
eiai:a an estate, in Wok!' they were:led, I Ling
•.trrc first relieved at Pa.l.lingtt,n.