The Sun.
London, England, 1837-07-11 00:00:00

BILLS 'OF EXCHANGE BILL.

Tho Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved that the House
should resolve itself into a Committee on this Bill, and stated
that, in consequence of an objection which had been raised,
that this Bill was inconsistent with the provisions of the Bank
Charter Bill, he had thought it right to ascertain the feeling
and opinion of the Bank upon the subject, and was enabled to
inform the Noble Delve opposite and the House that there was
no opposition to the Bill on the part of the Bank of England ;
but that, on the contrary, the individuals connected with that
establishment, as well as all connected with the moneyed in-
terests, highly approved of it.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said undoteitedly this Bill
was inconsistent with the Act for the settlement of the Bank
Charter ; and on that ground he had thought that the House
ought to pause before they entertained the measure ; but as
the Noble Marquis stated that there was no objection on the
part of the Bank of England, he should not press that subject,
although, in point of form at least, he considered it objec-
tionable. He confessed that he was not opposed to the prin-
ciple of the Bill. It might be necessary under the peculiar
circumstances of the present time, but, as a permanent mea-
sure, it was highly desirable that this Bill should not become
the law of the land. He would not, therefore, offer any op-
position to the present motion • but on the third reading he
should propose that a clause be introduced limiting the ope-
ration of the Bill within a fixed period, viz., from the present
time to the Ist of January, 1839.
After a few words from the Marquis of LANSDOWNE,
the Bill passed through Committee, and was reported with-
out amendments.

The third reading was fixed for Thursday.
On the motion of Lord B ROUGH A NI, the Attorneys and
Solicitors Bill was read a third time.
FORGERY BILL.

On the motion of Lord DENMAN the House went into
Committee on this Bill.
After a few words from Lord WYNFORD, clauses I and
2 were agreed to.
On clause 3, Lord LYNDIIURST wished to introduce an
amendment, with a view to limit the extent of solitary con-
finement, by which certain offerces were made punishable.
He proposed that no person should suffer the punishment of
solitary confinement for more than one month at one time, or
for more than three months in one year.
Lord DENM AN entirely concurred in the propriety of
that amendment, which was accordingly arced to.
The other clauses were agreed to and the Bill was reported.
The Report ordered to be received to-morrow.
The Robbery and Stealing from the Petsln Bill passed
throng-1i Committee, and was reported to the ibuse, with a
few merely verbal amendments. Report to be received to-
morrow.

The House then went into CJnunitte2 on th.; Off,:nees
against the Person Bill.

—The remaining clauses, with amendments, were agreed to,
the House resumed, and the report was ordered to be re-
sumed to-morrow.

BURGLARY AND STEALING FROM A DWEL-
LING.HOUSE BILL.

This Bill, on the motion of Lord DENMAN, went through
Committee, the House ,resumed, and the report was ordered
to be recei♦. d to-morrow.

BURNING AND DESTROYING BUILDINGS AND

SHIPS BILL.

Lord WYNFO RD desired to suggest to their Lordships
the propriety of adjourning the consideration of these Bills to
a future period. The S_•ssion was now so late that he really
considered it more decent to wait until next Session. It was
very generally allowed that the punishment of death ought to
be abolished in every case except where murder had been
committed. He would put it to their Lordships if the Bills
now before the House were not drawn up strongly in opposi-
tion to that opinion ? He thought that it would be better
not to proceed with the consideration of them at present, hut
to introduce fresh Bills in an amended form next Session. The
Bills could originate with their Lordships, and he had no
doubt the other House would agree to the proposed changes.
He should move, as an amendment, that the House do resume.
Lord LYNDHURST said that the general opinion was
certainly in favour of abolishing the punishment of death,
except in cases of murder, and, for his part, he desired to see
it abolished altogether.
The Duke of RICHMOND thought that it would he ex-
ceedingly unwise to postpone the consideration of these Bills.
It was true that they would again, in all probability, meet in
October, and fresh Bills might be introduced ; but he did not
sec why they should not, in the meantime, make those now
under consideration as perfect as they could. The Session
was, as the Noble and Learned Lord had remarked, far gone,
but they had only to sit somewhat later than usual—to 12
o'clock, if necessary—to complete them. He hoped their
Lordships would agree with him that it was better to proceed
with the Bills at present.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH thought that it would bo de-
cidedly better to go on at present.
Lord BROUGHAM thought that they had better proceed,
and make the Bills perfect as soon as posiible. Further im-
provements could be made in them hereafter.
Lord DEN AN could not see that more attention could
be paid to the Bills at any other period than at present. As
many Noble Lords acquainted with such subjects were now
present as could be expectel at any other ',cried he thought it
better to proceed.
Lord LYNDHURST said that at several reriods the pu-
nishment of death had been done away with tor several of-
fences. It was found that crime decreased in proportion as
the punishment of death became I.ls frequent. He was for
going much farther, and he thought they ought not to delay
making improvements in the present state of the law. He
was averse, therefore, to delving the consideration of the
Bill even to the next session.

Lord WYNFORD said that, as the sense of the House
;vas aglinst him, he would withdraw his amendment.
The several clauses were the a agreed to, with some ;light
amendments, and the report was ordered to be conaiderad to-
morrow.