The Sun.
London, England, 1812-07-03 00:00:00

CRIMINAL LAW IN IRELAND,

After a few prefatbry observations, Sir S. Ro-
IVILLY moved for a Return of the Number of
Persons, male or female, confined in the several
Gaols of Ireland prior to the Assizes, from t►►e
year 1605 to the year 1811—distinguishing the
crimes cf which they were accused, and distill-
gui,,hing those who wete acquitted, those who
were convicted, those against whom no bills had
been found,. those discharged by Proclama-
tion,. &c.

Mr. M. FITZGER2ILD expressed the great sa-
tisfaction which pervaded Ireland, on hearing
that the lion. and Learned Gentleman intended
to take up the subject of the Criminal Law of
that country.
Mr. GOLBOVRNE made a few obserVations, af-
which the motion was agreed to.

by the Committee from whence it proeeec!ed ;
this would give the Committee an 'opportunity of
obtaining greater knowledge on the subject, and
of seeing whether in any one similar case the,
.power of the House 'of Commons to §end- for
whatever persons' they thought proper had been
resisted.

Lord A. HAMILTON concurred in the sentiments
of the Chair, but doubted whether, in- point of
order, the, Report could be rercommitted.
The SPEAKER replied, that the re-commitment
of the Report of a Committee was a matter of
daily oatuirence.
Sir E*BURRETT entertained very strong doubts
with respect to the power of the 'House of Com-
mons on this subject:. if he were a Sheriit •he
would not dire expose himself to the legal con-
sequences of obeying the warrant of the,Ficthe
under such circumstances. Of. course, this ob-
servation referred to those cases only in nrhich-
debtors were concerned there was, no doubt,
with respect to:other persons.. But in the case of,
debtors, lie did not think that the Sheriffs was
intitled to plead the warrant of the House of
Commons, as a banto an action for escape. There
was no Act of Parliament which so declared, and
as to what Was called the Law of Parliament, he,
for his part,\knew of no law but Acts of Parlia-
ment. As the question, at present stood, the
Sheriff was placed in an awkward predicament ;
he was between the hammer\ and the anvil. He
humbly conceived that it would be the fairest way
to investigate the whole subject by way of Com 7

mission,
Mr. 13ANKEs moved that the report should Ipe
re-committed.

Sir S. RomILLY quoted the case of Bainbridge
and others, from the Journals of the House, tc,
shew that the House, had always exercised such a
poWer, and argued that without it their power of
inquiry ,would be useless.' , •

The' SPEAKER gave it as his opinion that the
uniform practice of the House had recognised tne
existence of such an authority.
After a few words: from Mr. Courtney, Mr.
Chaplin; and Mr. Lockhart, the report was re-
committed. •

The Committee on the East India Loan Bill,
was postponed till to-morrow.
The Highway Bill was read a third time and
passed. -

The report of the Ceiranittee of;Supply, was
postponed to to-morrow.
On the question forgoing into a Committee on
the Frame Work. Knitters .Bill,
Mr. Hulvm was proceeding to state -some objec-
tions- to the principle of the Bill; when General
Tarleton observed, that: the attendance was at
that moment too thin to enter into the discussion,
and moved that the Honse"inight be counted.
The SPEAKER having counted;tl►e House, and
there not being 40 Members present, the• House
was of course adj-ourned.

MAILS.'
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THE SUN.

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L 0 ND 0 N,
FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1812.