The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH )5, 1848.

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OF TUESDAY.
WHITEHALL, MARCH 11, 1848.

COFFEE.—This afternoon native Ceylon was dealt in
with caution in the private market, and the rates taken
were 32a to 32s 6d for good ordinary. The market is
quiet for Plantation, and 535 bags at auction went 3a
per cwt. cheaper. Of Foreign none was offered at
public sale, and the purchases made were trifling, whilst
easier rates were taken.
Tza.—There are further arrivals, and the quantity
advertised for auction is large, reaching to 35,000 pkgs.
The market has become more inactive for Congou of
all descriptions, and there are sellers rather under
previous rates, as the market is well supplied, and
other arrivals near at hand—low and common can
be procured at 7d, to lid, good ordinary sound
8d to Bid, but middling and middling 82d to 10d, strong
blackish leaf lOid to is 2d, fine is 3d to is sd, and
Pekoe flavour is 6d to is 9d. Souchong has been dealt
in cautiously—common and middling at 9d to is 2d, and
good to fine is 3d to 2s 2d. Pouchong finds a dull sale
at 6d to 9d. The supply is increasing of all kinds of
Green, and holders are inclined to accept rather lower
rates, yet the town and country trade purchase re-
luctantly.
RieE.—To-day East India Rise was not in better
request, and of 2,132 bags of Bengal at auction, not
above half sold at rather lower rates—good bold white
good colour went at 12s, and damaged 7s to lis 6d,
good bold sound dingy white was taken in at I Is per cwt.
SPIRITS.--Today East India Rum met with less at-
tention, still proof of good quality could not be obtained
under is 9d. The market for Leeward Island is quiet,
but holders insist upon Is 10i to is 100 for proof. Ja-
maica was operated in with caution for all purposes, and
4s is the value of good fair quality 30 per cent. over proof.
INDIGO.—Today there were sellers of East India
Indigo at a reduction on last sales rates of 2d per lb,
still there was scarcely any business concluded, and the
market closes with much flatness. _

Cocos.—Holders of West India manifest firmness, and
supply the market sparingly with all sorts, but buyers
are less inclined to operate. By private treaty the sales
made have been trifling, and of 157 bags of Trinidad
offered at public sale, only one lot sold at 50s.
COCIIINEAL.—The demand has further fallen off for
all kinds of this article, and the supply having been
upon a large scale, prices have suffered a depression of
2d to 3d per lb. Of the parcels offered at public sale a
very small part only sold.
SPICES.—For Cassia Lignea the market is in a quiet
state. Arrivals are near at hand, and lower rates are
expected to prevail. Black Pepper cannot be purchased
on lower terms as the supply is small, but the demand
has become limited by private treaty for all sorts. White
is wanted, and realised full rates. Of Pod Pepper
448 bags were only partly, sold at 70a to 90s, and
inferior at 40s to 60s, which are lower rates. Pimento
is less required, and former prices cannot be obtained ;
none has been offered at auction, and privately only
small parcels have been sold at 4ed to 4jd
per lb. Maee met with little attention, and
prices are on the decline, although there is only a
limited supply at market. Cloves have been dealt in with
caution, and there is a desire to sell. The purchases
made in Nutmegs have been limited by private treaty,
and rather lower rates are accepted. Jamaica Ginger is
wanted, and holders will not make a concession in the
value. East India is little required, and must be called
rather cheaper. Of African 240 bags at auction were
sold. Cinnamon is offered at easier prices.
MOLASSES.—The Market for West India has been in
a very dull state, and prices are on the decline. We
quote low to fine quality 15s to 19s per cwt, and the
stock is large.
TALLOW. To-day for fine P. Y. C. holders asked
50s 6d on the spot; buyers, however, were cautious in
their proceedings. The market is rm at 46s for de-
livery in the last three months of the year.
OlLS.—There has been no public sale of Fish Oil
since our last report, but 10 tuns of Sperm, 80 tuna of
Southern, and 30 tuns of Seal are announced for Fri-
day. Of all sorts arrivals continue small, yet there is
no improvement in the position of the market, and the
consumption is not so good as of late. There are sellers
of Seal upon rather lower terms, yet buyers operate
with caution in all sorts. The market for southern has a
dull appearance, and holders are willing to accept 261 to
281 for low and middling, and 281 103 to 301 for good and
fine, which aro again lower rates. Cod is held for 251 to
25l 10s, but the purchases made are of little moment,
and the market is well supplied. The dealings in Sperm
have been to a limited extent only, yet holders do not
appear inclined to press sales. In the worth of Linseed
Oil there is little improvement to make known, but the
home trade made many purchases, and the ex-
port orders concluded are upon a more extended
scale. For Rape-seed prices are still declining, as the
demand is limited, and the supply yet on the increase.
Cocoa Nut is little wanted, and must be quoted cheaper.
In Palm the sales made are to a small extent only, and
prices are on the decline. Olive is held with firmness,
as the deliveries yet exceed the arrivals, but only a
limited business has been concluded since our last re-
port. Lard Oil finds a dull sale at 471 to 50/, and
around Nut Oil at 28s to 32s per cwt.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE

The Queen has been pleased to order a conge
d'elire to pass the Great Seal, empowering the Dean
and Chapter of the cathedral church of Chester to elect
a Bishop of that see, the same being void by the trans-
tation of the Most Reverend Father in God John Bird
Sumner, late Bishop thereof, to the see of Canterbury ;
and her Majesty has. also been pleased to recommend to
the said Dean and Chapter John Graham, Doetor in
Divinity, to be by them elected Bishop of the said see of
Chester.

18, at eleven, at the Liverpool. District Court. Bird,
official assignee, Liverpool ; Gregory and Co., Bedford-
row; Payne, Liverpool.
John Neaves, plumber, Coles-terrace, Islington, March
23, at half-past one, and May 6, at one, at the Court of
Bankruptcy. Green, official assignee, Aldermanbury ;
Conquest, Moorgate-street.
John Parker, brewer, Oxford, March 28, at twelve,
and April 25, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane; Nicholson nad
Parker, Lime-street, City.
William Penny, brewer, Newport, Monmouthshire,
March 30, at eleven, and May 2, at one, at the Bristol
District Court. Acraman, official assignee, Bristol;
Phippen and Craven, Bristol.
Weetman Dickinson, miller, Clayton West, Yorkshire,
March 27, and April 17, at eleven, at the Leeds District
Court. Hope, official assignee, Bristol; Bower, Token-
house-yard, London; Sykes, Wakefield.
John Hartley, machine maker, Bury, Lancashire,
March 30, and April 15, at eleven, at the Manchester
District Court. Hobson, official assignee, Manchester;
Johnson, Son, and Weatherall, Temple, London; Blair,
Manchester.

Frederick Francis, ironmonger, Folkstone, March 20,
at two, and May 1, at eleven, at the Court, Basinghall.
street. Turquand, official assignee, Guildhall-chambers;
Young, Warwick-square.
Jacob Ordoyno, broom maker, Swan-place, Old Kent-
road, March 22, at two, and April 27, at twelve, at the
Court, Basinghall-street. Johnson, official assignee,
Basinghall-street; &argil!, Hatton-court, Threadneedle-
street. _ _

William Fuller, carman, Hoxton Old-town, March 25,
at two, and April 28, at half-past eleven, at the Court,
Basinghall- street. Cannan, official assignee, Birchin-lane ;
Baddeleys, Leman-street, Goodman's-fields.
William Dyne, corn-dealer, High-street, Stoke New-
ington, March 22, at twelve, and April 28, at one, at the
Court, Basingball-street. Stansfeld, official assignee;
Thrupp, Winchester-buildings, Great Winchester-street.
Benjamin Barber, dealer in lace, Nottingham, March
24 and April 28, at eleven, at the Nottingham District
Court. Bittleston, official assignee, Nottingham; Jones,
Sine-lane, London; Brewster, Nottingham.
Jonathan Beckett, ironmonger, Liverpool, March 24
and April 19, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court.
Morgan, official assignee, Liverpool; Hall and Co., Veru-
lam-buildings, London; Neal, Liverpool.
Thomas Tattersall, corn merchant, Liverpool, March
27 and April 18, at eleven, at the Liverpool District
Court. Bird, official assignee, Liverpool; Gregory and
Co., Bedford-row, London; Frodsham, Liverpool.
(Dividends. &c.. in our next.)

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, March 14.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the
Woolsack shortly after Five o'clock.
Earl FITZWILLIAM presented a petition from
certain clergymen complaining that the funds of many
foundations which had been left for parochial eccle-
siastical purposes had been diverted from them, and
pray ing for an inquiry into the conduct of the Ecclesias-
tical Commissioners.

Lord STANLEY presented a petition from cer-
tain of the clergy in Ireland, complaining of the manner
in which ecclesiastical property was assessed for poor-
rates in Ireland.
RAILWAY AUDIT ACCOUNTS BILL.

Lord MONTEAGLE, in moving the Committee on
the Railway Audit Accounts Bill. said he proposed intro-
ducing some amendments into the Bill. One of these
was that persons seeking for an audit should deposit a
sum of 2001. with the Commissioners, out of which sum
the expenses of the audit should be defrayed if the Com-
missioners should be of opinion that such application
for an audit was frivolous, but if not the expenses
were to be defrayed by the company, and the
deposit returned to the applicants. He also
proposed to introduce clauses imposing penalties on the
officers of the company who should wilfully withhold any
information from the creditors which they might require.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved that, in the
absence of the Earl of Shaftesbury, the chair should be
taken by the Earl of Devon.
The motion was agreed to, and their Lordships re-
solved themsel►es into Committee, the Earl of Devon in
the chair.

After a short conversation, in which Lord Ashburton,
the Earl of Fitzwilliam, and Lord Redesdale took part,
Lord BEAUMONT suggested that it would be
advisable that the report of the auditors should be made
public, inasmuch as if the knowledge of it were confined
to the shareholders, they would, if it were unfavourable,
not make the report public, bat get rid of their shares as
speedily as possible. The public had an interest in the
subject, and for their protection they ought to have an
opportunity of obtaining access to these reports.
Lord MONTEAGLE said the report of the auditors
would be made in duplicate, one report to be laid before
the shareholders, and the other to be transmitted to the
Railway Commissioners. The latter was a public
document, and there would be no objection
to having it printed and laid before Parliament.
He should like to see a general audit instituted every
year of the accounts of all companies, in order to guard
against falsifications of accounts, and the declaration of
dividends out of capital, instead of out of profits, as was
too frequently the case at present. He was convinced
the same system of independent audit of railway
accounts was necessary for the protection of the share-
holders and of the public.
The amendments proposed were agreed to; the Bill
passed through Committee, and the House resumed.
PASSENGERS' BILL.

Earl GREY moved the second reading of the Passen-
gers' Bill, and explained the leading provisions of the
measure, which have been already debated in the other
Houso.

Lord STANLEY expressed approval of the Bill being
advanced the proposed stage, concurring as be did in its
general character, but he reserved to himself the right of
opposing some of the clauses of minor importance when
the Bill went into Committee.

Earl FITZ WILLIAM, while he would give his gene-
ral support to the measure, recommended to the Govern-
ment not to increase the emigration tax so far as the
colonies were concerned.

Lord MONTEAGLE highly approved of the Bill.
He would be the last to support any such measure if he
thought it would operate as a discouragement to emigra-
tion, but in his opinion it would have a quite contrary
effect. Ile rejoiced also that the Bill was only to be
passed for a limited period, because the provisions abso-
lutely required in the existing state of things might not
be required under ordinary circumstances. Nothing, ha
conceived, could be more necessary and useful than for
Government to find out the places from whence emi-
grants were to proceed, and carry them safely to their
ports of destination; but, on the other hand, they ought
to take care that such emigration should not become
over-burdensome to the colonists. He was sure the Bill
would operate for the protection of emigrants, and he
believed that the charge on emigration imposed by it
was much inferior to that imposed by the United States.
Earl GREY remarked that the charge on emigration
would be exceedingly moderate, and would be imposed
with a duo regard to the interests of the colonists.
The Bill was then read a second time, and the House
adjourned.

ROUSE OF COMMONS, Mtvels 14.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
RAILWAYS COMMITTEE REPORT.
Mr. STRUTT moved the further consideration of the
report of the Railways Committee.
Lord H. VANE was of opinion that the Committees
of the House would have considerable difficulty in car-
rying out the recommendations of the report.
After a few words in reply from Mr. W. PATTEN and
Mr. STRIITT, the report was agreed to.
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ROME.
Petitions against the Bill for establishing diplomatic
relations' with the Court of Rome were presented by
Sir H. Verney, and by Mr. Tollemache, from the diocese
of Chester.
ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL.
The Earl of ARUNDEL and SURREY presented
petitions from Melton Mowbrey, and other places,
in favour of the Roman Catholic Relief Bill.

PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.
Petitions, praying for the abolition of the punishment
of death, were presented by Mr. Heald, from Stockport,
by Mr. Macgregor, from] the city of London, signed by
upwards of 1,000 persons, and from the city of West-
minster; by Mr. Fagan from Maidstone and Ports-
mouth; by Colonel Thompson from the city of London,
Westminster, and various other places, and by Mr.
Williams from Finsbury.
NAVIGATION-LAWS.
Lord G. BENTINCK presented a petition from
Cardigan, praying the House not to abolish the navi-
gation-laws.
__ SOLICITORS' CERTIFICATE DUTY.

Mr. HEALD presented a petition from solicitors prac-
tising in the town of Stockport, praying the House to
repeal the duty upon the annual certificates of solicitors.

INTERFERENCE IN ELECTIONS.
Mr. WOOD presented a petition from Stamford, com-
plaining of the exercise of undue influence by the
Marquis of Exeter in the recent election for a Member
to serve in Parliament for the borough of Stamford.
The petitioners prayed the House either to adopt some
measure to repress this system of interference, or to
relieve them from the burden of the elective fran-
chise. The Honourable and Learned Member gavo
notice, that ho would to-morrow move that the petition
should be printed with the votes, in order that he might
found a motion thereon.
ULSTER TENANT RIGHT.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from Down,
from Ballymena, and other places, against the Landlord
and Tenant Bill introduced by the Government, and
prayed the House to pass the tenant right, similar in
its provisions, to the
prevailing system in the province
of Ulster.
THE CASE OF JOHN SHELLEY.
Mr. F. O'CONNOR presented a petition from Mr.
Shelley, setting forth that he had served fbr a number
of years in the 88th Regiment of Foot, and had been
engaged in eleven different actions; that he had made
unsuccessful applieations to the Commander-in-Chief for
some gratuity or reward for his services, and he prayed
the House to take his case into its consideration.
BANK ACT.
Captain FORDYCE presented a petition from Aber-
deen, praying the House to repeal the injurious restric
tions of the Bank Act of 1845.
Mr. BROTHERTON presented several petitions
praying for the abolition of capital punishment.
Mr. CARDWELL presented a petition from the
Health of Towns Association, in favour of the Health of
Towns Bill before the House.
Mr. AGLIONBY presented a petition from Cocker-
mouth, praying for the abolition of the punishment of
death.
Si: 17. CLAY presented pct,:tiias in favour of the
Jewish Disabilities Bill.
Mr. LUSHINGTON presented a petition from the

inhabitants of Westminster, praying for the abolition of
the punishment of death.
Mr. MACKINNON rresented a petition from the
inhabitants of St. Ann's, Soho, against intramural
burials.

the land.-(Hear, hear.) Lord Denman, when applied to,
declined to give any opinion ; but he (Mr. Ee art) be-
lieved he was justified in asserting that that Noble and
Learned Lord was favourable to the abolition of the
punishment, while Justice Erie supported its infliction,
on the ground that the people were reluctant to inflict
it, and that it would never be carried out except in
the most extreme cases. Mr. Justice Menlo gave no
opinion, whilst Sir Thomas Wilde, the Chief Justice of
the Common Pleas, admitted the objections against the
punishment were very great. Mr. Justice Coltman
entertained the opinion that imprisonment for life, without
any hope of its remission, might be substituted without
inconvenience for capital punishment, stating, at the
same time, that he did not think the punishment
operated much on the minds of the people. Mr. Justice
Wightman was of opinion that secondary punishment
might be rendered so severe as to be made
equivalent to the punishment of death, provided it a as
inflexibly carried out, according to certain fixed rules,
leaving no discretion to the judge but to pass the
sentence.-(Hear, hear.) Looking to Ireland, he
found that Mr. Justice Perrin was in favour of
its abolition, and the substitution of se' onder7 punish-
ment ; whilst the Chief Baron of Ireland was against
public executions, thinking that transportation of
the severest kind might be safely substituted. He
said hanging was a most cruel death, and ought. in con .
si quence, to be abolished. Such were the opinions of
the Judges of the hind; and it could not be denied that
they offered strong testimonials against toe
continuance of the shedding of blood by the
executioner. On previous occasions he had referred to
former times and to other countries. In the 454th
year of Rome capital punishment was abolished,
and they had the evidence of eminent historians that the
laws were never better obeyed, or administered with
greater profit to the people. In Russia it had been vir-
tually abolished almost for a century. In Delhi, Tuscany,
the Grand Duchy of Baden, and several other places,
the abolition of capital punishment had been successfully
carried out; and in France the Provisional Government
had abolished capital punishment in all cases of poli-
tical offences; and he had no doubt that the Legislature
of that country, when it met, would put an end to it in
all cases. Why, therefore, he would ask, was it con-
tinued in moral England?-(Hear, hear.) He believed
that putting an end to capital punishment would tend to
moralise the lower orders of the people of England, and
would be productive of the best results. No man a ho
had ever witnessed the scene that took place at an
execution in this country could be led to believe that
such exhibitions deterred offenders from the com-
mission of the most awful crimes. Looking at
the subject in a .theological point of view, lie
would ask his Honourable Friend the Member for
Oxford if it was necessary to take life for life, whether
the same holy Word did not enforce the exercise of the
prerogative of mercy. Could any one doubt that the
issues of life and death should be left to that almighty
and all-wise Power that gave it?-(Hear, hear.) Under
these impressions, and being convinced that the abolition
of capital punishment would be attended with the best
effects upon society, he trusted the House would give him
leave to bring in his Bill.
Sir G. GREY said he he felt it to be his duty to take
the same course which he took last year on a similar mo-
tion of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, and oppose
the introduction of the Bill. If the lion. and Learned
Gentleman had proposed a Bill to improve the law in a
number of offences to a hich the punishment of death
still remained, he (Sir George Grey) could have con-
sented to its introduction, but the Bill now proposed by
the Hon. and Learned Gentleman invited the House to
sanction the principle of the total abolition of the
punishment of death for all offences whatever ;
arid he (Sir G. Grey) felt that no advantage would be
gained by allowing the Bill to be introduced, because it
was as competent for the House to pass an opinion on its
merits at once as on the second reading. He felt bound
to object to the principle advocated by the Hon. and
Learned Gentleman, because he believed that the punish-
ment of death for crimes of the gravest kind-and he
meant by those crimes of wilful and deliberate and pre-
meditated murder-was indispensably required for the
protection of society, and the preservation of human
life.-(Hear, hear.) The Hon. and Learned Gentle-
man had spoken of the sacredness of human life, and
said it was out of consideration for that that he en-
treated the house to abolish capital punishment ; but
could the Hon. and Learned Gentleman guarantee at
the same time the sacredness of human life by the
abolition of the crime of murder itself-(Hear, hear)-
or that it would not become much more frequent of
perpetration-(Hear, hear)-and that the sacredness of
human life would not be violated to a far greater degree
than it was now? There was a great sympathy in the
present day for criminals who were condemned to capi-
tal punishment-not that he complained of it, for it was
one of the gratifying features of the age that the atten-
tion of the public had been directed to the subject of
punishment in criminal cases, which was one of those
that required the gravest consideration of statesmen
and legislators. But it might be carried to a morbid
extent. It might be a sympathy for criminals utterly
inconsistent with a due regard to the preservation of
the lives of those who were pursuing their daily
occupations peaceably, honestly, and industriously-
(Hear, hear)-and who required protection from the
hands of robbers and assassins. He believed that during
the last tea years not a single person had been executed
except for murder or offences which, as far as the
persons committing them were concerned, were equiva-
lent to murder; and therefore the argument of the lion:
and Learned Gentleman fell entirely to the ground when
lie spoke of the indisposition of juries and prosecutors to
convict or prosecute, and of witnesses to give evidence.
in consequence of the punishment of death bring the
penalty attached to conviction. It was also well known
that many persons were put on their trials for certain
offences for which the punishment of death was applicable,
but that it was the ordinary practice that that punish-
ment should only be recorded against them, and not
carried into effect. He did not say that au improvement
of the law, so as to make the practice more consistent
with the law, might not be a subject well worthy of the
consideration of the House ; and indeed that question
had engaged his attention, and he had a Bill prepared
upon it, but he had doubted whether it was wise to
bring it before the public at the present time.
In former times there were many cases in which justice
was defeated by the unwillingness of juries to convict,
the moral feelings of the country being shocked by the
punishment of death being inflicted for offences of com-
paratively a trivial character; but by the alteration in
the criminal law introduced by the father of his lion.
and Learned Friend behind him (Mr. Romilly) whom
he rejoiced to see occupying a place in that House-
(Hear)-that law had been remedied, and his (Sir G.
Grey's) experience led him to the conclusion that in cases
of wilful and deliberate murder juries did not hesitate to
convict, and that acquittals did not take place contrary
to the evidence. It was true that there had been cases
in which juries had acquitted on very slight evidence of
insanity; but he was glad to say that he had seen opin-
ions recently given by some must eminent medical gen-
tlemen that the day was gone by for that defence, and
that they were unwilling to give evidence that would
lead juries to acquit on the ground of insanity. That,
too, it must be observed, was not confined to capital
cases, but had occurred in others as well. The Hon. and
Learned Gentleman had said that witnessing the exe-
cution of capital punishment had not the deterring
effect upon the spectators which was urged in its
favour ; but the persons who went to gratify a taste
which he (Sir George Grey) would not designate of
witnessing the dying struggles of a malefactor, were not
likely to be deterred by such a scene from the com-
mission of crime, and were in all probability most fa-
miliar with crime. But surely the knowledge that the
punishment of death would follow with tolerable cer
tainty in the case of conviction for certain offences must
have some effect, quite irrespective of anything that could
be produced by witnessing an execution on the great
mass of the people, who knew that they were rendering
themselves liable to by the commission of crime. Now,
with respect to the statistics referred to by the Hon. and
Learned Gentleman, he found that in England and
Wales the total number of persons committed for trial in
the following years was,-in 1840,
.27,187; in 1841,
27,760; in 1842, 31,309; in 1843, 29,591; in 1844,
26,542; in 1845, 24,303; in 1846; 25,107. The
number of commitments for murder in the five years
ending 1831 was ,317; in the years ending 1836, 355;
in the five years ending 1841, 284; in the five years
ending 1846, 360; or, fur the 10 years ending
1836, 672 ; for the ten years ending 1846, 644. In cases
of attempts to murder, capital punishment having been
abolished in 1831 in all cases except where bodily in-
juries dangerous to life were inflicted, the number for the
five years ending 1831 was 453; for the five years ending
1836, 668; for the five years ending 1841, 937; for the
five years ending 1846, 1,099. Of rapes, as to which
capital punishment was abolished in 1841, the number in
the five years ending 1831 was 252; in the five years
ending 1836, 278; in the five years ending 1841, 319; in
the five years ending 1846, 597. Of arson, as to which
capital punishment was abolished in 1837, except of
dwelling-houses or ships when life was endangered, the
number in the five years ending 1831 was 212; in the
five years ending 1856, 336; in the five years ending
1841, 183; in the five years ending 1846, 581. Of
forgery, the capital punishment in all cases remaining
capital having been abolished in 1837, the number for
the five years ending 1831 was 312; for the five years
ending 1836, 350 ; for the five years ending 1841,
564; for the five years ending 1846, 731. And of
burglary, the capital punishment having been abolished
in 1837, except in cases where persons in the dwelling
were wounded or assaulted, in the five years ending 1831
the number was, 1,299; in the five years ending 1836,
1,060; in the five years ending 1841, 2,154; and in the
five years ending 1846 it was 2,701. He did not quote
these figures with any other view than to caution the
House against the supposition that if they abolished
capital punishment in all cases of murder there would be
no increase of the crime. The Hon. Gentleman had al-
verted to the report of the Committee of the House of
lords last session, moved for by Lord Brougham, and
stated that that report and the evidence contained strong
arguments in favour of the abolition of capital punish-
ment; but it happened that he (Sir G. Grey) had
prepared himself to cite the opinion of that Committee,
but as an authority in the precisely opposite direc-
tion. The Honourable Gentleman had selected cer-
tain passages which helped his argument, but had
not referred to the opinion of the Committee
itself, which he (Sir G. Grey) Weuld presently quote.
With respect to public executions, no doubt many evils
might arise from them, but that point did not affect the
question of abolishing capital punishment. Then the j
lion. Gentleman had drawn the attention of the House
to various modes of putting the sentence of the law into
execution, but he did not think that the English people
would adept the French model, and, upon the
perhaps there was no mode less repugnant to their
feelings than that which was now in force. The lion.
Gentleman had quoted the qualified opinions of two or
,•(-1 to :clatp thgt ti:,.
great majority of the English judges, the whole of the i
Scotch, and eight or ten of the Irish judges, had ex-

pressed the unqualified opinion that it was not consistent
with the present state of society that the punish-
ment of death .should be wholly abolished. Anti
here he would quote the unanimous opinion of
the Committee of the House of Lords to which
reference had already been made. It was as fol-
lows : " Respecting the expediency of abolish-
ing capital punishments, they found scarcely
any difierence of opinion. Almost all witnesses and all
authorities agree in opinion that, for offences of the
gravest kind, the punishmentlof death ought tb be re-
tained."—(Hear, hear.) That was the opinion of the
Committee of the House of Lords, which the Honourable
Member had cited in favour of his views. Upon the
theological part of the question he would not now cuter,
further than to remark that he felt convinced there was
nothing in the Scriptures to fetter the judgment in this
matter and to cripple the means of maintaining the
security of society. The Hon. Member had referred to
the punishments which were in vogue in Russia and
other countries, but the English people would not be
likely to tolerate the introduction into their criminal
code of those terrific punishments, the infliction of which
the criminal seldom, if ever, survived.—(Hear, hear•)
lie was aware that one of the first acts of the Provi-
sional Government of France had been to abolish capita
punishments with respect to political offences, but the
Hon. Gentleman had said they had done so in regard tc
all offeee,. whatsoever. If so, it was new to him (Sir
George Grey); but, on the contrary, he had observed
that the punishment of death had been put in force, end
justly too, op lo a person who had been found guilty of
' stealing a silver spoon. Upon the grounds be had stated
he trusted the Rouse would not consent to the introduc-
tion of the Bill.

Sir C. BURRELL, who was nearly inaudible, W
understood to express his hope that the day would never
core that English jurisprudence would be so altered 119
not to afford security to life and property. He should
cordially support his Right Hon. Friend in his opposi-
tion to the introduction of the Bill.

Mr. B. OSBORNE said, that the speech of the Hon.
Member who had just sat down reminded him of the
anecdote of the man who was thrown ashore in a strange
country, and seeing a gallows there exclaimed, " Thank
God, I'm in a civilised land." He was not prepared fully
to agree with all the views of the Hon. Member for
Dumfries; but that Hon. Member was, nevertheless, en-
titled to the greatest praise and honour for the course he
had taken in regard to this subject, and there was so
reason why his Bill should not be introduced, in the
hope that out of it some measure might be framed which
would render our criminal law more humane. MG
Osborne then stated his objections to public executions,
and referred to the disgraceful and disgusting scene
which had taken place recently at an execution in Ire-
land, when, guilty as the criminals were, the sympathy
of the spectators was with them. The mob which col-
lected at these executions consisted for the most part of
women, children, and thieves, and it was well known
that the best harvest for pickpockets was under the gal-
lows. If these executions were necessary, he-could not
understand why they did not take place within the pre'
cincts of the gaol, and he suggested that the Goverment
should take the subject into consideration.
Mr. LENNARD said that the result of the abolition
of capital punishments had, so far as it had gone, bees
satisfactory, but the House was now called upon to
legislate upon different principles, and it was question-
able whether the same arguments that applied to offences
against property would apply to those against life. There
was too much reason to believe that innocent persons
had suffered from incorrect, but honest verdicts, and, if
that occurred, be it ever so seldom, it was an argument
in favour of a substitute for the punishment of death, if an
efficient one could be found. His Hon. Friend had one
argument which ought to carry with it great weight, is
favour of his motion. In the case of a man unjustly
convicted of murder, and afterwards executed, they
placed it out of their power to remedy the wrong on his in-
nocence being eventually proved; but if capital punish-
ment were done away with, they would retain in their
hands the opportunity of reversing the mistaken sentence
and of restoring him to his position in life. He referred to
the dreadful assassinations which disgraced Ireland, es
furnishing them with the most palpable evidence of the
inutility of capital punishment as deterring from the
commission of crime, and he thought that if by their
legislation they evidenced that reverence for human
life that they would not execute the most hardened of
offenders, they would be taking the most direct means
to educate the people up
,to the same standard of mo-
rality. It was well known that among juries called upon,
to decide in murder cases there existed a nervous dis-
position to avoid the verdict of " guilty," by finding the
prisoner " insane," and when this feeling was prevalent
among the class from which juries were taken, the
Legislature was called upon to interfere. He considered
that, at any rate, the experiment ought to be tried for s
time; it could not du much evil, and it might be pro.,
ductive of much good by satisfying the whole commu-
nity' as to what would be the effect of a permanent
departure from the existing code. He had great plea-
sure in seconding the motion of his Hon. Friend.
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY regretted that the Right
Honourable Baronet had met this motion with so direct
a negative. Tho time, it was quite evident, had arrived
when this question must be fairly tested. The consi-
deration, atter all, was one of expediency, and while all
the argument showed that the crime of murder would
not increase by abolishing the punishment by deaths
he, himself, had every reason to be convinced that the
effect "of the spectacle of a public execution was to
strengthen the criminal tendency to a very great extent.
—(Cheers.) They saw, when the sentence of death
was passed in a court, the Judge and jury in tears, and
in the crowd at Neivgate, when the law was being
carried into effect, they witnessed all sorts of demoral-
izing and licentious riot. The criminal, himself, when
he appeared on the drop, was cheered like a candidate
at a county election. If Parliament, then, was satisfied
that nothing less than the life of the offender could
expiate the crime of murder, at least let the endeavour
be made to administer the law with more regard to
public morality, and in a way more in unison with the
spirit of Christiaoity. He did not see what objection
could be made to a trial for a season, of the principle
advocated by his Hon. Friend, and the Right Hon.
Baronet might rest assured that, even though he per-
sisted in his opposition this year, 'the time would come
when he would see the necessity of taking a different
course.

Mr. ROMILLY thought that the evident object with
all parties was to protect human life, and they had,
therefore, only to consider in what manner and by what
system that protection could best be secured. He
would impress upon the House the expediency of putting
an end to capital punishments for every crime whatso-
ever, except the one crime of wilful and deliberate
murder. This crime of wilful and deliberate murder
stood on special grounds. It was the crime most difficult
to prevent. If they proclaimed it to the world that such
was their solemn regard for the lives of their fellow-
creatures they would t..ke life only on the absolute com-
mission of murder, they would establish the same general
standard among the people, and,. for these reasons be
was not prepared to go the whole length
with the Honourable 'Member for Dumfries. He
would suggest, however, to that Hcn. Gentleman
that, if he withdrew his present motion, and waited until
the Bill of the Right Hon. Baronet was introduced, he
might find an opportunity, by bringing forward some
amendment, partly to accomplish his views. One or two
observations upon a subject not strictly before the
House, namely, the very disgraceful scenes which
occurred at the public exhibition of the punishment of
death. He could not but think it would be wise if no
execution took place in public.—(Hear, hear.) He was
convinced that the knowledge of the fact that the offence
of murder would be followed by the punishment of
death would have 'a. much greater effect in deterring
from the commission of the crime than anything else.
He believed that public executions produced very in-
jurious and very demoralising effects. If, as soon as
sentence was pronounced, the convict were takes back
to prison, and it was known that that was the last
moment he would appear to the world, it would hare a
more striking.effect than
,a public execution. He was $
little apprehensive that, as the feelings of many who
advocated the abolition of capital punishment for the
crime of murder had been acted upon by a horror arising
from the number.of criminals who had been executed for
trifling offences, should the crime of murder inergae•
after the, abolition of that punishment, be feared that
there would be an opposite reaction, and that the punish-
ment of death might be again enacted not only for mur-
der, but for other crimes.

Sir G. GREY wished to explain, in order to prevent
misapprehension, that in the crime of wilful murder he
meant to include the crime of intended assassination, se
in the case of Mr. Uniacke Bailey.
Lord NUGENT said, agreeing in much of what had
fallen from the Hon. and Learned Gentleman ,(Mr.
Roinilly), he could not agree with him, in reccommend-
ing the Hon. Member for Dumfries to take the offer of
his Right Hon. Friend (Sir G. Grey), and to withdraw
his motion for the sake of takieg the chance of prevailing
upon the Committee on the Right Hon. Baronet's Bill to
adopt the principle of the great measure he had brought
before the House that night. In the first place, he
doubted whether he could make up his mind, or arrive
at a conviction, to vote the affirmative with his Right
lion. Friend, that it was desirable to read a Bill the
second time, the object of which was to retain the punish-
ment of death; and in the next place it would be an ad-
vantageous mode of recommending the great principle to
the House, and it would be difficult to induce the
Committee to take into consideration the introduction
into such a Bill of a clause excluding the punishment of
death. The Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Ewart) had brought
before the House the statistics of the effect which the
punishment of death had had in reducing crimes of vio-
lence. From the laws of Rome to those of the present
day he had shown in an unanswerable manner that, ge-
nerally, crimes of violence had increased in proportion
to the violence of punishment and decreased in the ratio
of its moderation. He knew it had been said that within
the last five years some crimes, in respect to which the
punishment of death had been abolished, had increased.
Cases of violence against the other sex had been men-
tioned, but he held this fact to be a most valuable ad-
mission in their (the abolitionists') favour. What did it
show? That prosecutions and convictions, whilst the
punishment of death was affixed to the offence, were
rare, and as soon as capital punishment was repealed
prosecutions and convictions became more frequent, be•
cause all reluctance on the part of the injured party was
removed, and attorneys ceased to recommend, as they
generally did before, a prosecution for the lesser offence,
knowing th:, disinclination of juries to convict for the
capital ufft:nce. Then, as to the offence of shooting
with intent to kill, in which there had been an increase.
that was the only other crime practically open to the
punishment of death. He put this offence in the same
category as successful attempts to murder; and if there
had been an increase in attempts to murder, notwith-
standing the punishment of death, it was another proof
that capital punishment did not deter from the crime of
nvird,... !I- i• r t,, ,:I!til,rities —Sir Sarnuel
.14ntliy, Sir W. Grant, Sir James Mackintosh—all of
whom said that the punishment of death was ineffinael•