The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-29 00:00:00

AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS.

Viscount laficHANl rose to move for a select commit-
tee to inquire into the operation of the act 16 and 17 Vic.,
c. 21, for the punishment of persons convicted of aggravated
assaults on women and children. These offences had in-
creased to such an alarming extent as to be a disgrace to
the country. He believed no arguments would be required
to induce the house to consider the means of preventing
them. Their attention had lately been drawn to social
evils, and there were none greater than this. He be.
lieved, and his opinion was shared by many, that the
act now i❑ force did not prevent this crime nor effect
the object for which it was passed. He would not detain
the house by an enumeration of the cases that had lately
ben reported, but only mention one or two of peculiar
enormity. One lately occurred at Horncastle, where a
young female servant in a farm was beaten with the most
horrible cruelty by a man and a boy by the directio❑ of
her mistress. The magistrates before whom the case was
brought expressed the greatest horror at its atrocity, and
only fined the mistress Si., the man 3/. 15s. 6d., and the
boy 1/. ss. There were two ways of looking at this ques-
tion ; and the principal one regarded the punishment, and
whether something could not be devised which would have
a deterring effect Corporal punishment, he thought, was
the best for such a crime ; but that point would be for the
decision of the committee, if it was granted.
Sir G. GREY said he should be happy to concur in any
measure which would put an end to the crime with which
it was now proposed to deal, and it was with that object
tkat the act now in operation was passed. He did not see
how an inquiry by a select committee would have a prac-
tical effect. If the noble lord wished for any information
which could be obtained by a return of the number of
offences and convictions under the act, he should be happy
to grant it. But it was impossible to have a return of
those crimes which were committed with impunity before
the passing of the act. If there were any cases such as
that alluded to by the noble lord at Horncastle they could
only have occurred from want of due exercise of their dis-
cretion by the magistrates, in whose hands the punishment
was placed. As to the other case at Dawlish, which ended
in the death of a girl, he thought that this was a case of
manslaughter, which could •be dealt with by the ordivary
, law. He urged that in the present pressure on select com-
mittees that house would not consent to appoint any more

committees, unless some strong necessity Was shown.
Mr. Bentinck, Mr. P. O'Brien, and Lord C. Hamilton
supported the motion, which was opposed by Mr. Clay.
Lord RA.YNHAM expressed his regret that the Home
Se,ret,q7 declined to aid him in this matter.
The house then divided—
For the motion B4
Against it
SCIENTIFIC AND LITERARY SOCIETIES.

Mr. HUTT moved for, and obtained leave to bring in a
bill to amend the act of 6 and 7 Vict., c. 36, to exempt
from county, borough, parochial, and other local rates,
land and buildings occupied by scientific and literary
societies.

MINISTERS' MONEY (IRELAND).
On the motion of Mr. G. A. HAMILTON, a return was
ordered of the number of houses liable to the payment of
ministers' money, and of their rated value.
HOP DUTIES.

Mr. DODSON moved fora select committee to inquire
into the operation of the excise and customs duties on
hops.
The motion was agreed.to.
JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES, &c., BILL.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second read-
ing of this bill.
After a few words from Mr. WYLD, the motion was
agreed to, and the bill was ordered to be committed on
Thursday.