The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-27 00:00:00

Mr. RIDGWAY contended that the existing law
acted very prejudicially on the interests of many who
ought to be able to look to it for protection. A case
had come under his own notice which would illustrate
that point. A tailor in New Bond-street had in his
house a large quantity of goods belonging to other
persons, who were abroad; the second floor in his
house .was let to a milliner ; and the upper portion of
the house to another person. When the tailor died
the rent had accumulated to 3351. On the day the
man was buried the landlord put an execution into
the house, and not content with taking the goods of
the tailor, and the whole of the property of Captain
Grey, of the 17th Dragoons, who happened to be
there, but the whole of the stock of the milliner was
seized, because she had not walked out the day the
man died. It was the landlord's fault that the rent
had been allowed to accumulate, and no blame could
attach to those whose property was forfeited. He
thought the society ought to protect such persons.
Alderman FA,REBROTHER—Suppose a deputation
went up to Lord J. Russell to speak to him on the
point, the very next day a deputation would go up
from the landlords, praying that they might be pro-
tected from persons sending in goods without a proper
consideration. He might say that tradesmen had no
right to send out these things to enable persons to
make a deceptive appearance. He had no hesitation
in saying that if Mr. Collard or another person had
applied to him in his magisterial capacity for a sum-
mons, ordering property to be immediately delivered
up, he should have granted it.
Mr. BARBER (of the firm of Barber, Howes, and
Co., St. Paul's Churchyard) said that during the last
few years he had been actively engaged in bringing
to light swindling transactions, and in handing over
to justice their perpetrators. The number and ex-
tent of these transactions in the city of London
were incredible, and so they would continue to be
until the Legislature directed its attention to the
matter. From information which we had received,
lie found that the most cunning persons might be
taken in by those swindlers. The only way in which
they could put a stop to their malpractices would be
the amendment of the law, making it a transportable
offence, and the appointment of a public prosecutor.
In France and Germany there was a public prose-
cutor, but in England there was nothing of the kind.
—(clear.) If the threat of transportation were held
out to such fellows as those by whom Mr. Gray was
victimised, there would not be so many of them infest-
ing that and other cities.

'Mr. BREWSTER suggested, that as Lord Brougham
had intimated his intention of bringing in a Bill on
the subject of the criminal law, the matter should be
referred to him.

Mr. BARBBR moved the following resolution :
" That on the suggestion of several influential mem-
bers of the Society of Guardians for the Protection
of Trade, a public meeting of traders be called, for
the purpose of considering the necessity for an
amendment of the law respecting the lending of
goods on hire; the appointment of a public prose-
cutor, the lessening of expenses in criminal cases,
and the:more effectual punishment of swindlers and
bill-stealers."
Mr. COLLARD seconded the motion.
After a lengthened discussion, in which several
gentlemen joined, the resolution was carried.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the pro-
ceedings.