The Sun.
London, England, 1830-04-09 00:00:00

FORGERY.

Mr. LENNARD presented a petition from Wood-
bridge, in Suffolk, praying that the punishment of
death should be no longer inflicted upon the crime
of forgery. The petition, the Hon. Member observed,
was most respectably signed, and had attached to it,
amongst other signatures, those of several bankers.
The petitioners expressed a hope that the legislature
would devise some other punishment for all species of
forgery, that would be less revolting to humanity
and more advantageous to the interests of society.
Ile hoped the country would not be beforehand
with the metropolis in the expression of just and
liberal sentiments on this subject, but that the
bankers in London would follow the example of the
bankers in the country, in calling for an alteration of
the law in regard to forgery.
Mr. TIIANT said that he knew a respectable
banker, who having, several years ago, been obliged
to prosecute an individual for forgery, and having
failed, after a conviction had taken place, in his
efforts to save the life of the prisoner, declared that
henceforward nothing would induce him to institute
a similar prosecution, and that he would rather lose
his entire fortune than be the means of taking away
the life of any man for such an offence. He also
told him (Mr. Trant) that such were the sentiments
of several other bankers, and that it was the general
opinion of that class of persons who were most in-
terested in the question, that the punishment of
death should be removed from the statute book in
all casts of forgery. He (Mr. Trant) was sure that
the measure introduced by the Right Hon. Gentle-
man opposite would not give general satisfaction in
the country unless it went that length.
_

Mr. F. BUXTON said, he should read two let-

tern which he had received upon this subject, and
which were well worthy of the attention of the
House. The first was from a highly respectable
clergyman in Glasgow, transmitting a petition which
had been signed there, praying that the punishment
of death should no longer he inflicted upon the
crime of forgery. The writer wrote as follows :
" The bankers to a man have been, favourable. I
am given to understand that there is hardly a bank
in town (if, indeed, there be even one) that has not
been in circumstances in which they have forborne
to prosecute rather than expose the offender to the
certainty, or even the risk of death ; and this for-
bearance has been exercised sometimes in circum-
stances of an aggravated nature." Ile had also re-
ceived a letter yesterday on this subject from a re-
spectable banker in Newcastle, from which he
begged to read the following extract :—" I now wish
to offer you my testimony on the subject of forgery,
in confirmation of your sentiments expressed in the
House. My mind has long been distressed with
the present law. I gladly embraced the first oppor-
tunity to do what I could for its alteration, and
lately took some pains in forwarding a petition fro►n
hence, praying that in all cases the penalty should
be short of the forfeiture of life. The leading part-
ners of the banks in this town signed it, under the
practical conviction that the severity of the law was
not a protection to us, but tended to increase the
crime. I also called on our principal merchants,
who concurred in the same sentiments, and signed
it. This opinion may be said to be universal in this
district." These letters showed that those classes
far whom, in particular, the existing protection was
considered necessary, were favourable to an altera-
tion i►► the law.

Mr. WARBURTON supported the prayer of
the petition.—lt was read, and ordered to be printed.
Mt MARSHALL presented a petition from a
place in the West Riding of Yorkshire, praying for
a protectingdutyupon the importation of foreign lead.
Mr. F. BUXTON presented a petition from the
inhabitants of the Tower Hamlets, praying for an
alteration of the Forgery Laws.

On the motion of the same HON. MEMBER, a re-
turn was ordered of the number of persons executed
for forgery during each of the last ten years,specify-
ing the nature of the forgery for which such persons
had been severally convicted.
Mr. BURRELL presented a petition from the
inhabitants of Brighton, complaining of the addi•
tional charge of a penny, levied by the post•office
there upon their letters.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said the case stood thus—a charge of a penny was
made upon letters delivered at a certain distance
from the post,office in Brighton. The inhabitants,
it appeared, conceived that wherever a house could
b brought within the name of Brighton, the post-
office should send the letters there free of any addi-
tional charge. The post-office, on the contrary, con,-
sidered the boundary of Brighton as about a mile
distant from the post-office, and beyond that boun-
dary the post-office would not send letters without
making a charge of a penny. The charge was made
for the convenience which was thus afforded, and
the law officers of the Crown, who had been con-
sulted on the point, were of opinion that it was
rfectly legal.
After a few words from Mr. TRENT, the peti-
tion was ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Niv ODEHOUSE postponed his motion re-
lative to the duty on sea-borne coals to the 13th of
May.
On the motion of the same lioN. MmuEn, a copy
of the report made to the Treasury on the sub-
ject of sea-borne coals, was ordered to be laid be-
fore the House.
On the motion of Mr. S. Ittcg, returns were
ordered of the number of gallons of rum in bond
in England in 1826; of the number of gallons im-

ported into England from 1826 to 1830, and the
number of gallons exported during the same period.
The same HON. MEMBER presented a petition from
the foreman and sixteen other members of the
Grand Jury of Galway, in favour of the Galway
Franchise Bill.