The Sun.
London, England, 1824-06-12 00:00:00

CARLILE.

Mr. HUME rose to present a petition from Richard Carlile,
not alluding to the offences for which he was originally con-
fined in prison, but stating that he was now imprisoned for the
non-payment of his fine, but that he was not treated as Crown
debtors usually were.
Mr. PORTMAN made a few observations which were in-
audible in the gallery.
Mr. Secretary PEEL said that Carlile was in one respect a
Crown debtor. But he was suffering from the sentence of the
Court to be imprisoned for a certain time, and to pay a fine to
the King, and to. be further imprisoned until such tine be paid.
Therefore he apprehended that the further imprisonment upon
the non-payment of the fine, must be the same in every re-
spect as the first imprisonment, and rendered him liable to all
the regulations of the prison. In consequence of complaints
from Mr. Carlile, he had thought it his duty to inquire into the
treatment which he experienced in the jail; and he must say that
under all the circumstances, the conduct of Magistrates had been
marked by extraordinary forbearance, discretion, and firmness.
Mr. Carlile complained of personal restrictions; but the House
would not think any personal restraint too great when they
heard that he endeavoured to contaminate every person in the
prison with the doctrines and principles for which he had suf-
fered the sentence of the law. Amongst other acts of violence
he had put up a written notice, stating .that after a particular
day he should consider himself illegally confined, and should
therefore feel justified in murdering the first person who ob-
structed his liberty. After this, who would say that the Ma-
gistrates were not justified in taking measures for protecting
the lives of those intrusted with the custody of his person, and
even for Mr. Crank's own personal safety.
The petition having been brought up and read,
Mr. Secretary PEEL wished to add, that Mary Ann Carlile
had received a free pardon.
Mr. HUME said, that he thought the principles of Carlile
had nothing to do with the present question., and that Mr. Car-
lile ought to be treated as a pecuniary debtor.
Mr. W. SMITH thought the question as to excessive fines
was one of considerable importance.
Mr. Secretary PEEL said ,the Crowp
fine after ,the lapse of sufficient time, to shew that the non-pay-
ment arose from inability.
Mr. HUME said, that if the fine was beyond the ability of
tinted
mpr
the person to pay, it certainly was in law a fine which amounted
to a sentence of iisonment for life. always remitted the
Mr. PORT.MAN objected to the printing of the
with improper
as it charged individuals not before the House
conduct.
1 ordered to lie on the table.
The petition was then merely
Tall All
ON AIR BR— A
ASSAULT AI •
k that opportunity, the House.
The SPEAKER said he
them
petitkm,
ths
of
the House. Shortly after his
of a circumstance which nia-
teriallY 'affected the pri:iloetzerm
ed that a gross assault had been
taking the Chair he wa
b on the person of one of their Members.
being full, of acquainting
committed in the Lob
ordered the offender to, be• immediately
He had in 11 He was so taken, and he was still in the
taken into custoi
iers of the House. !The name of the offe
custody of the (
be Gourlay, and .he understood ti n-
lerstont to 'tat the
der he um
lted was the Hon. Member for WinchelSea (Air
Member as
sau •
Brougham) •
UOHAM said, that as ha was staalin
Mr. BRO g in the
be thought he heard some one -inquiring lobby fo him by
me, and immediately afterwards felt himself struck by a
Una of switch. He turned round, and recognised the person
who had struck him to be Mr. Gourlay. Mr. G. was held by
the bystanderS just as he (Mr. B.) inquired, ".What was the
ma,;.er ?—The only answer made by Gourlay was, " You.haye
betrayed me; you have betrayed me l" lie (Mr. B.) could
not understand the- meaning of the expression. He
remem-
bered that about three years ago Mr. Gourlay, had entrusted' to
him (Mr. B.) a petition to present to the House, which he had
accordingly presenteff. On that occasion he saw Mr. Gourlay;
but had since bad no further communication with He
then stated that he had been a little deranged some time .be-
fore. He believed the fact to be so ; and that the unfoquoa,se
person was at this moment labouring under that dreadful cam-