The National Register.
London, England, 1816-02-25 00:00:00

THr. NATIONAL REGISTER.

woolsack. Some persons wished the continuance of the
hay for the punishment of fraud and perjury; but he should
offer his bill in the sante state as he had done before. This
punishment was left wholly to the caprice of the multitude.
and ought not to remain on the statute-books. Certain horrible
crimes were punished by the pillory, ym public decency shrunk
from such exhibitions. Men who. in the Taut of part), and
with a desire to pull down a minister, were foetid guilty of a
libel,.sv ere punished in the same manner as a m retelt whose
perjury might hose affected the life of his fellow-creature.
Could any man approve Ot. this? The Malt who committed a
violent outrage on morality might be hailed by a molt? and
the political libeller, owing to party tidings, might be almost
pelted to death. We had never heard any body say that the
law ought not to be revised, ;11111 in most I:34('S the punishment
abolished. The difference of opinion was generally as to the
extent of Vac alterations that were desirable. Some would
confine it to perjrtry ; others high in the law, would go fur-
titer ; but yet they bad not stated their arguments in a tangi-
ble shape. In proposing the total abolition, he should wish to
substitute, in small cases, tine and imprisonnient ; and in higher
cases transportatiomparticularly for certain detestable offences.
He then moved for leave to bring in his bill.
Sir R. Htmov imant to offer an amendment to the hill, but
rhoulti not mess it,if it appeareil against the sense of the house.
Certain otiences hail of We much increased, nod, he feared,
011$11g too much to the vrevailing mildness and indulgence.
All who attended the nssizes lutist know bow difficult it is to
convict capitally offenders of this nature. Es idenee could ge-
nerally be got only by the suspicious testimony of an accom-
p ice. Convictions were chiefly for assaults with an intent.
As to transporting these persons, it might subject others trans-
ported to punishments worse than what the law inflicted. If
such crimes were effectually checked in upper life it wonld
have a great elfect. The disordered wretch, who stood In lit-
tle fear of imprisonment, pillory, ur death, might perhaps be
affected by the terror of perpetual disgrace and scorn.
Leave was given to bring in the bill.
COURT OF SESSION. .

Sir Jolts NEwenterealled the attention of the House to a
nun-compliance with two orders made in the last Session of
Parliament, for a return of fees taken in the Court of Session
in Scotland. An Address had been voted to the Prince Regent
on the Moth of April, for the production of these accounts, and
another on the 21th of May; and yet, although the House con-
tinued sitting till July, the return was never made. In order
therefore, to assert the authority of the House, and convince
every court in the kingdom of the necessity of obeying its
orders, he should move an address to the throne, representing
that the papers in question bad not yet been laid before the
House conformably to the Prince Regent's directions, and
praying that the proper officer be directed ffirthw ith to produce
them, with a statement of the reasons, if any, of the delay which
had taken place.
Mr. WA-tel.:ll4s would not attempt to justify the court, if
he conceived that the delay proceeded front any disrespect to
the House. A return might certainly to have been made as to
the alleged augmentation of fees, even though that return should
have been ^ nil." There was a commission now in existence
for inquiring into the fees taken in courts of justice, and the
herds of sessiou had fallen into the misapprehension that it was
to these commissioners the return might to be made. Ile
hoped, thei cline, the I fon. Raronet would agree to leave out
the words expressive of censure, which could only Terse to les-
sen the dignity of the court, and by these means to lessen
its public importance and utility. He might add, as a fact,
that the second order had missed its way front the Secretary of
State's Office, and had never reached the court of session.
Mr. HORN Ell 01011Zilt the last mentioned circumstance, if
true, sufficiently exculpated the court from the charge of eon-
tinacy. lle apprehended, however, that the lords of session
had, by what was called an act of solemn', exceeded their
powers, in assuming a legislative authority to raise the fees of
the court, which was in fact taxing the subject.
Mr. Bunt nuAM expressed his hope that the non-compliance
of the court would be timid to have originated in misconcep-
tion, not in obstinacy or the insolence of office.
After some further conversation, upon the suggestion of Mr.
p0,,,w0g, it was :agreed, that the words implying censure
should be 'tied, as the cause of the delay was at prescut un-
known. The question was then put and carried.
INCOME TAX.

Mr. Ifinnutinxm presvnted a petition against the property
tax, Firm d by 172 M persons, inhabitants of Clerkenwell.
I Inn. Metulit r observed, that the petitioners humbly bitt warm-
ly represented that they bad cheerfolly borne the tiecessary
burthens of e ar, anti had exulted in the glorious success by
which it was brought to a termination, but that a tax on income
in a time of peace would not only he oppressive, but altogether
intolerable. They concluded with an observation which he
conceived would he te-echoed through the country, that if the
imposition of this tax was to be the result of all our exertions,
they would be led to question the utility of those splendid
victories with which the anus of the country had been crowned.

The petition was then read, and ordereilin lie on the table.
Mr. It .uric observed, that the country was at present very
generally preparing to petition against the renewal of this tax.
Under these circumstances, he conceived the house ought nut
to be called on at so early a day as Monday to a vote which
would commit them to the peace establishment. (I/car, &dr.)
'The public might he expected to express its sentiments within
a very few days, and he could see no necessity for pressing the
discussion. A delay of ten days or a Stir toighut would produce
no inconvenience; and he should titer, fore, if the
were brought torn and on Monday, object in limint to the no-
ble lord rut,i inc upon it.
Mr. H. Matu'ltll rose to muse for an nce,ynnt of all pro.
cesses issued flom the embryo r for the recovery of taxes mil
arrears °luxes since the Ist January 1413, distinguishing those
issued for debts under 51. This process was by writ of kturi
facia-, and was attended With great expense 10 the defendant.
Fit t: cases had come to Isis Lliersledgt., in which this process
had been taken out, where the debt was in one instance fifteen
and in the other seven shillings. (Mar, hear.) He was sure,
that when this return should be bailee the house, it would
speak volume, as to the extent of individual distress prevail-
ing in the count' y.
A fuer somc con% ersation between the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, Al. W. Smith, and Mr. Thompson, the motion was
agreed to and the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that
an enquiry would be made, whether a more summary and less
expensive process could not be employ, ed for the recovery ut
small rums. _ . - -

Sir SA NU El. Rot4tLl.v brought in a bill to amend the 10th and
1111 i of R illiam 111. so faros relates to taking away the benefit
of elei gy from persons convicted of stealing in shops to the va.
lue of .7.... Itc act a filst time, and ordered to be react a c,,econd
time nu Nioncia:c next, and to 1w printed.
Lord Cot !MAKE gave notice, that oo Wednesday nest, he
should call the attention of hmise to the charge gic en I.) the
Chief ,ju•tiee of the Court of King's Bench to the jury, m the
me of Dr Berenger mad others.