The Sun.
London, England, 1826-04-18 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMIVIONS,

NEW CORN. EXCHANGE BILL.
Sir E., KNATCHBULL moved that the Report of the New
Corn Exchange Bill should be bkought up.
Sir T. BARING opposed the motion. He would move that
the Report should be brought up that day six ineriths;
Mr. HUME seconded the Hon. Baronet's motion. Rethought
it very hard that a Joint Stock Company should deprive the 'ori-
ginal proprietors of the premises, without building them another
-Corn Exchange. If the present Corn Exchange were too small,
he could have no objection to the erection of another, but tin-t
pubtedly the original should be allowed to remain.
Sir. J. BItYDGES opposed the amendment, and hoped the
Report would, be brought up immediately:
Mr. T. WILSON said the present Exchange was built by mere
chants of corn under com Mission, and they therefore ought to be
allowed to enjoy the privileges tithe Exchange, which they Would
not be able to do if it were enlarged as the Bill intended) because
it would be then frequented by millers, jobbers, and cornschand-
lerm: It had been stated that during the last 10 or lS yours, the
sale of eorahnel decreased, and he therefore contended that there
.was no tiecasion for an enlarged Corn Market The whole tenor
of the,Bill was a speculation ; if it were carried; they would charge
any Nom they liked for the stands, and thereby gain tbeir.endS.
Mr. IL SUMNER said the original Exchange had been in the
possession of a Joint,Stoek Company fur 75. years, during wbkh
the, population of Londan had 'increased, and with it the dernand
for corn. He therefore contended that it was requisite to en-
, crease the. size ,of the market, The Bill had been called an
invaaien of private property. It was, private property in as
mush as, the Exchange had been recognised by the legislature.
All the present company wanted, wits to establish a market next
door to the present one, and merely to knock down as iota of
the partition' wall as was occupied by four stalls. He thought
the. more parties their were in the competing with one another,
the greater benefit the public was likely to receive.
Cuatem supported the amendment.
Sir It. WILSON did not understand why a leidY of core
factors were to form themselves into n body to the perfect ex.,
elusion of individuals who happened not to belong to their cent-7
pany. The original cost of the premixes was 12,0001., and the
originators of the Bill had offered them 60,0004 in addition to
the original cost, by way of goodwill. They had Offered very
reasonable propositions to the proprietors of the Corn Excbaige,
all of which had been refused, and, in fact, such a systerntof
refusal bad never been heard of. This bad been done Air the
purpose of keeping up a system of monopoly. ;The public
terest 'demanded that the House should interfere, and compel the
'proprietors of the Corn Exchange to accede to the advance made
by the new Company.
Mr. CALCRAFT said, that the object of the Bill was to
take away the property of individuals .against their" will. The
present Company had no objection to allow . the .4'4; cetnps*Y
to compete With them, but they insisted upon retaining , theft
establishment which had been of so long standing. ,
Sir E. KNATCHBULL mid assure. the Hon. Mtuntier for
Southwark, that if the individuals who hail proketedt.t4ll4ll;
had intended to carry on their market upon at system of ..,,ItiQlkt)‘.
poly, he never would have advocated their maw.
Mr. Alderman WOOD thought it would;be bettet ~to have
large market, but was averse to the system of interfeeing with.
private property, as the report of this Bill certainly indicated,
intention of doing.
Mr. Alderman Butermes aupported thktunesktinientm
"The House then divided. '
For the motion
For the amendment ,e 27,. .
Majority -
CORN LAWS.

The Sheriffs of London presented a Petition from the Lotd
Mayor and Corporation of that City, in favour of Free Trade, and
'praying for an alteration in the Corn Laws.

Mr. Alderman WOOD moved the reading of the petition, and
supported its prayer. The petitioners had stated that the expen,
diturc of the country, and particularly the army, ought to he
re.
ducat ; in this he perfectly agreed. The Hon: Member anode()
to the returns of the quantity of Corn inverted into, London due-
~
ing the last three months, comparatiiely, to the import* of fOriner
year!, and contended that the admission of foreign grain oughit not
to be delayed.
Mr. W. WHITMOIIt said that a mistake. had gone abroad, by,
which he was represented to have postponed his motion relative o
the Corn Laws until the 23d of May. , The misuaderstniling
arose from his having given notice of another motion for that Ality ;
and he now assured the House, that it was his intention, to bring
the subject before them to-morrow night:
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON expreseed his satisfaction at
ing that the lion. Member would bring forward this important
question without delay. It had been said that the, experiment in
free trade ought to have been begun with corn,,_ rixtd yet, with IT':
ticks of manufacture, - He preferred the coarse, whio , bad
adopted, because it took the same argument ouc e
the agriculturist which the nentifaemrer, bad used "i"
was convinced that the heat resource of the country Nub li'm 1.4
put in action trail the present laws were altered.
Lord ALTHORPF, presented a petition from tier 4,tai d accts
.0;1 tie
alrapstoo, praying few the Aholition',Of 81,"."'Y'rn
table.

Mr. W. DUNDAS presented a pstitlut faro one of, the Ulcer.
porated Trades of Edinburgh, sgvica4 ant• 04,-rojol uE t,be scateh.
currency.—lteferred to the Committee.
Also a petite' yo from the College of Physicians, m favour Of tha
consolidation of the Prison Laws in Ircland.--Laid, on the tabu,

NAVIGATION.

Mr. P.A.WLETT prooteti t< petition from certain Shipp.

the port of Sunderland' complaining of the Reciprocity Duties I
Act, and praying for a protecting duty on foreign shipping. I
Sir M. W. RIDLEY said that all matters connected with
the navigation of the country deserved the utmost attention of
the Howe. He stated that since the passing of the Recipro-
city Act the number of foreign shipping entering our porta hid
been increased in a pro Portion much greater than the increase of
our own.
•'Mre 'HEATHCOTE said that all the other .States of Europe
Were outstripping this country in the amount of shipping en-
gaged in the carrying trade. He found that the very countries
with whom we hadionned reciprocity treaties were those which
bail exceeded us in the -number of ships so employed. This de-
served the attention of the President and Vice-President of the
Board of Trade, end he hoped the House would have sonic expla-
nation from these Right Hon. Gentlemen, who he was sorry to
see wereetot in the House.
Mr.- SYKES concurred in the necessity of immediate attention
being given to such an important subject.- •
Mr. BARING ',said, it wee to be regretted that no Member
of his Majesty's Government wee in the House to explain their
view's upon this eubject. He had given his support to these
meusures, but certainly the experiment had been, as tar as it
event, unfavourable. He wished to hear front the Right Hon.
President 4,f the Board of Trade, whether any other circumstauces
had eaused this apparent elieedvantege to our shipping under the
new regulations reit was et question not only of national wealth,
but of nationalpower and independence.
Mr. ROBERTSON was glad to see that Gentlemen opposite
were beginning ter see the • evil effects of the course they had pur-
sued, and hoped they would retrace their, steps.
Mr. HUME was not fur retracing the steps which the Reese
had taken, but for following them up, by taking off the taxes upon
shipping. Unless they did this, the trade of the country must be
destroyed.
Mr. IRVING said that the foreigner hail an advantage over the.
ship-owner of this country in the cheapness of his meterials, and
in the manning and fitting out his vessels. The carrying trade
would necessarily pass cant of our hands under Ode eireurnetaecee,
if we were placed upon an equal footing with regard to duties.—
The petition was ordered to be printed. .
Mr. PA IV LETT preeented petitions from Darlington and Barnard
Castle, praying for the Abolition of Slavery. on the table.
A similar Petition was presented by Sir ,W. Rowwor from
(ireenhaut, in .Suffulk.--eLsill on the table. .
Sir W. Rowans: presented a Petition from a Hundred in the •
county of Suffolk against any alteration in the Corn Uwe.— •
Laid on the table.
Sir J. AsTr.rs 'presented A Petition from , the, Coroners
,of
Wiltshire, praying for an encreabe of their ellowence,t.—taid on
the table.
- Petitions were presented Om various places, praying for the
Abolition of Slavery. .-
Mr. Hume presented a 'Petition' from the Shipowners and
Shipmasters 6f the Port -of Montrose, complaining of the Light
Dues.—Laid on the table.
Also a Petition from certaiu individuals, whose names we did
not bear, Prayiug the House to pass an Act for releasing all per,
sons confined upon charges of blasphemy; and to make it thelai
of England, in future, that no man should be punished for hold,
ing, maintaining, or propagating any religious opinion whatever.
The Hon. Member held it to be disgraceful to the country that
sto many persons should now be otitis/id upon charges of this nri.'
Sure. He theught the Right Hon. Secretary for the Home De-
partment had acted most properly and liberally in releasing Mr.
Carlile ; and he could trot under tualtow others Gould be kept in
confinement atler lie had been released.
Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that there was a difference in the
case of Carlile from that of the other persons, inasmuch as he had
suffered the imprisonment awarded by the law for his crime,' and '
had then been continued in prison for -the ran-payment of a fine.;
He had considered the further imprisonment equal to the fine, and
lasd ordered his release upon that Otte&
Mr. Sergeant ONSLOW said, that hit was as much the friend
of religious freedom es any man; btt.t lie would not tolerate im-
piety and blasphemy under filename of 'religion, and he hoped the
law would continue to punish and repress those crimes.
• •••.•;4. 't."e' ,1,4
, The Petition was ordered to be printede .
Mr. INNES presented a Petition from the farming Spcieey of
Inverness, against any alteration in the system of Scotch Cueriet.
—Referred to the Committee., '
Mr. Alderman T IiOrtIPSON -moved far a return of tite
number of Gallons `of SPirits manufactUred in Englere‘.4piti,
which exciee duties line: been paid in the three years previinee'tei
the sth of October, 1ti215,• end theisame foe Scotland anti Jreleiid.
—Ordered. 'e'
Several Petitions were presented,--praying for a revision of the
Corn Laws.
. •
Mr. SYKES presented .a Petition from a• place in Lincolnshire,
in favour of the abolition of Slavery .f 4 ,
Mr. LYNDSAY presented a Petition from the. Ship-owners
of Dundee, complaining of the charges for the Northeen Lights.
—Laid oo the table. .• e • ,
Aldo a Petition front refer, preying the Abelition'Of Slavery.
—Laid on the table. • „
THE' NEW • COURTS : •
Mr. A*RCROMUY , presented a ;Pe/titian front 6.qiieC:
Farquharattni ,compleinieg that the Petitioner having lair; Wit
is the itebrt,ef eeportieg . peoceedings in the. Centres of Egeity;
tar pareursirefore the f.',ourt, end fora Morning Newepaper,,hed
been ex.chiffeellittn the' new Court just opened at Westipitener,
The Hon. and Learned Member said he knew nothing Of. die
Pets of this case beyond what watietated in the Petitien.'` Tie
supposed'-that tieneoffietr, who had excluded the Petitioner from
the Court had misunderstood .hisearders, for it would be 'eie
treluely singular. that Reporters should be admitted to ill the
other Courts and exeluded from this.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL Sethi that the conveniences of
the new Court did not • certainly attain to the max ;Mien of per-
fection. Ha understood their was a difficulty of finding a place
where the Repartee could sit.
Mr. SCARLETT complained of mismanagement in time struc-
ture of the Courts. Iry the Court-of Exchequer, which wait the
• largest of them, every defect of. the ancient Oourt of Exchequer
was copied with is degree of exactitude which was truly astonish-
ing, The public money was squandered away in useless passages,
unnecessary galleries,, frivolous end oonteniptible ornaments, to uti
amount -that would *We ~,baen,:ptifficiott to complete an adequate
building. He paetiquipelyelfacted to the passage built nerallel to
iCreatminster Hell„ es useless and inconvenient In the extreme.
The.CHANCELLOR of the EXCIII,,QUER felt called upon
to say a few words in reply to the lion, and Learned Gentleman's
charge upon the eo tutu ett'efth &architect. Aboneitix pewit ago, when.
Cita' phut for the new building was first made out, it was generally
understood as most desirable that there should be a direct emit-
utenicition betweint theCoorte and Westminster Hall; and the
pvieagr'tif .which the !lone cientleinan, so much complained was
eeleeoefeet a matter of the Oreissi onvenienCe, 'and almost of necee-
site. pr rrioni allotted fns Was Consequently much cir-
cumscriber& and the gentletrian who undertook it .was placed in cir-
co metrinier of extreme ditßnity as not haviug sufficient space allowed
fir the, Mrpecteel work, and also as having to direct his attention to
ouch a diversity of opinions when so nanny were to be consulted. It was
impossible for hint to be aware of the ,feelings of each individual.
Ile could not eall'upon them to appoint a Committee for the pur-
pose of instructing him t but-he asked thespinione of the .Judges,
he eeceived their directionseand Made alterations in his plan ace
voiding to the suggestions given him. (the Chancellor of the
Exehequer) had the honour to acCoPpany the Hon. Gentleman
(Or. Seerlett) himself through the works, and took his opinion
upon them. As to the passage parallel to Westminster Hall, he
sewer understood it to be & convenience ; but though its eree-
tion should be wrong, the architect was yet not responsible
tea. the error; for how could Mr. Soane act but according to the
• teetructione which lie received? He would venture to say that
tattier was scarcely a matt in England who could do so much in the
same space, and he therefore regretted the strong language con-
tained in the speeds of the Hon. Gentleman.
Mr. SCARLov explained. ,
' Sir M. lUDLEY said, that the words of the Chancellor' of
the F.xcheque completely stiatifled Some. It was, however,
to' be laMeteredJhat all were. prechnhel from competition' in
works of this kind, except the architecta of the Board of Trade.
lh matters .nugb,t rather -to be conducted according to
the impartial mode of proceeding' in the Universities when
thnre;was a, eteeeebe for prise, anti that all competitors ought
ti hr 'allowed to• semi in, their plans, with a particular seal !if.
i:/ed to each. Ile instanced eeveral architect,', wham names and
vieirks would have hen for ever lint to the world but for etecidentel
,etTeetoseeeret, which brought their merit into public notice—as in
gists of she builder of the Church of Little- Chelsea-.-of Mr.
Harrieon, of Chester, and many others.
WIC' COLUMN' said a few words.
SIMM
thEe R thought
whicht' had been expended upon
rroseoxitsidering moileY .
'tfe dill thought it not inileheible that other Courts might be built
,and that the healing might be advantag y take oeouslceae. empiloyeto
d
ter eemmittee rooms of the bowie. He would on
lisireefeeelle eeeeed of the Committee Which before at to colluder
teeeetieedionteee ouch Ark aerangement•
Mr. ABERGROMBY expressed his setisfaction at the security
vehicle they had, that the excluaion of Reporters wee not directed
by authority.
The Petition was then ordered to be printed.
Mr. CALCRAFT presented a Petition from the Protestant
Dissenters of Wareham, praying for the enjoyment of shailar

privileges with the Protestant Dissenters of Ireland,s-eOrdered
to be printed.
\ Mr: BERNAL presented a Petition frem the inhabitants of
one of the West India Islands, praying for relief in their dis-
tressed circumstances, and stating that while pecuniary grants
had been made to the inhabitants of other islands, none had been
made to them. That they were willing to adopt an arrange-
ment for ameliorating the condition of the slaves ; and that they
would gladly resign their agricultural' property to this country,
on receiving compensation. He was aware that this Petition
• could not be received without the concurrence of the Chancellor
of the. Exchequer, which he hopes! would not be withheld.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that in a
late conversation with the Hon. Gentleman he stated that he did
not think himself authorised to advise the Crown to accede to
the prayers of the Petitioners. To receive their Petition would
be only a delusion to them, as giving hopes of ulterior measures,
which, however much he regretted their condition, he did not
think it right to recommend.
USURY LAWS.
Mr. Sergeant ONSLOW rose to propose the second reading
of this bill. •
Mr. CALCRAFT, as we understood, wished to know if it
was the intention of his Majesty's Government to allow this bill
to go to a second reading.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought that an
impOrtant measure like the present had better be postponed until
r.oxt session. He put it entirely on the ground of time, as he
thought the present period was not favourable to enter into a dis-
cussion on the bill.
Mr. PHILIPS said that this measure had been so frequently
poitponed by his Majesty's Governments that he almost despaired
of its ever becoming a law. The 'result-had seen that the .Learned
Sergeant had never had a fair Opportunity of discussing the merits
of this Bill, which had cost much labour and great personal in-
convenience.
Mr. Sergeant ONSLOW observed', RAO he 110 not complain
so much of the, wrsellal itleerrettimea to which the frequent
postponement of this measure had' deetiliVoned him; as that it pre-
cluded him from havine•the etiestien fairly brought for-
ward. He hat? first introduced the measure to the notice of
the House in' the year 1816, and he. had laboured ever since to
forward it.—(Heur, hear !)—With regard to .a further post-
panement, he should abide the pleasure of the House. Thia
was a Bill which should have emanated in the first instance
from Government, and not from in. individual. It had been
its fate to meet with nmch opposition, although many. gentle-
Alen who at first opposed it were now its warmest supporters.
The measure had made many converts, and he could not :but help
regretting that it had 'not been long sincenarried.. •If lids Majes-
ty's Minister had given it their support, lie could not but feel that-
much of the misery which the country' was doomed to witness last
November and December would have been spared.---(Hear
!)_lf
his Majesty's Ministers would themselvesbring forward the motion,
or propose a similar measure, its expediency being generally ad-
mitted, he would at once decline proposing the present Bill, and
would support such a measure. •
'''Mri'PEA:L thought it better to postpone the measure for the
preaent: He aid 'not think that the inquiries which were at•pre-
pot pn foot' respecting promissory-notes would be at all assisted by
the agitation of the questitin. "Promissory-notes would be affected
,by this bill, and he therefore thought it prudent to defer it until,a
future period: lie thouglir iywould be 'highly inexpedient, to
mew thelneasure at present, cud as his Right Hon. Friend had
suggested to Ptisipoiiit luntil nOtt-Session, his Majesty's limiters
would, 'luring the Teem, consider how far the measure might be
sid, MO) •' • '

considered e: iienr;4...eat-
Mr.' 'Sergeant ONSLOW begged to inform • the:right !Hon.
Secretary that great inconvenience was daily experienced in the
thy '-and :elsewhere, in cousequenee of the 4ixistenee of the
ww ry lawn.
The bill was then withdrawn until next session.
• FUNDING OF EXCHEQUER BILLS.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved that the
House resolve itself into n Committee of Ways and Means.
The Speaker having left the Chair,
The, CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER paid, that
,
he roils to propose certain resolutions respecting tne funding of
Exchequer-bills, a measure which ,has„ been adopted by His
MNesty's ministers for the purpose of relieving the Bank from
is
portion of tiwadvances which hall been made to Government, and
• Ali*lnlshisig- the amount of Exchequer bills already in the
aniarke4, pnrsuance of that plan, Government had, in the
course of lest week, sent a proposal to the Bank, stating the
atattire of the measure, awl explaining that It was intehded• to
fund Exchequer Bills, by creating a new stock, which 0401
four per cent.% tiXiK the ammtnt of stock at 1071. for each sub,
scriptibu of 100/. Exchequer 13111, or 10s. cash ; and it was further
proposed, iniurder444,o,ake k proposition more acceptable to the
parties who mighfpnt.elvet,that the four per cents. should not be
redeemable in,iajessathOil then seven years. In consequence of
this measure, books were opened at the Bank on Wednesday last,
and it was fixed that OnOtkterest shotiia'commenee on the sth of
April current, and that the fitst payment should be made on the 10th •
of October next. Theresult would yield 'bonus of two per cent.:
'the total amount proposed to he subscribed for was 8,000,0001. 1
He was happy to state that the measure had been most
successful; 8,000,0001. or nearer 9,000,0001., had been purchased,
and he had no doubt, that if the transaction had not been dosed, j
at atilt greater amount would have been subscribed for. All that
remained now was, to state the charges which would be created by
this funding of Exchequer 'Bills, and to propose the resolutions
which be meant to submit to the House. The addition thus made
to the funded debt would be 8,560,0001., the interest on which
would amount to the annual anal of :142•100/., ,the addition of
the oinking fund would be 5,6001., not upon the stock creat-
ed, as the only sinking fund necessary would be one per mut.
upon the funding and capital created, making a total of 850,368/.
including 2,868/. for the management of the concern. The two
sums of 5,6001. and the 2,868/. he did not mean to meet by the
levying of a new tax, but he proposed to place it to the account of
the consolidated fund, accordin,,- to his fernier proposal, when he
brought forward the Budget. It was not necessary for him to go
further into explanation, as it wag not probable that the House
would, be disinclined to confirm a bargain which was so fair for
the Government and the country. The Right Hon. Gentleman
concluded by moving several resolutions approving • the details of
the contract offered to the Kily:l-Rws for the .ew stock. These
readations merely repeated the condition of the subscription,
which have been ulready given in this paper. ,
On the first part of the resolution being put,
Mr. IRVING. asked (as,we understood) whether any arrange-
ment hail been made for including iu the payment# to he made to
the Bank the sums they bad disburel in the purchase of Excite-
mieta.bills in the early part of the year ? • •
The CHANCELLOR of the I',XCIIEQ,UEII replied,
,that
undoubtedly tho Bank wookt be ,paaoli at the limit emiiiinient
time, and the, present arrangement -,avoubl enabl;! the 'o6Vern-
ment to do an, but the.payMpts would ''te 'lna& at such!times
and moder,sitelt eireuinitme4o4 the eurretnet and
the deMands of the liank'wiitadt rew4er l'edesitible to the;: Go-
vernment and:useful to the country; ,
Mr. IllWaiiimvidp aOw thaurvatiOlp) I)ut theYt •e olly'
• • they wh.
inaudible in4148(41",Y.• ,t,
- Major 411ApEals • asked 'qa‘iiiihtu AkitetAiliat inionnt. of
sinking rdir tAilinfted Otair'stiacWla
The CHANCELLOit•oLthe! EXOHEQUgIt Said that it
would .not be race:Nit tti,preate a sinking AS for 8,000;000/.
The only, sinking,,,fpotatich it would be accessary to provide,
would be for the attmerice between 8,000,006/. ''Of Exchequer.:
ems, as unfunded debt, and the new stock to be created in lieu
of them. The principle of the sinking fund was, that it should
go on to accumulate !at compound interest until it made one
per cant. upon the whole debt, funded and unfunded; but these
Exchequer Bills bad been already provided for in that way,
as unfunded debt ; so that the only thing to be now provided
would be for the difference between the 'amount of those bills as
Unfunded debt and the stock which they !mule when funded.
Sir J. WROTTESLEY (we believe) wished to know whether
any precise time Was fixed for their payment to the Bank?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that no
precise time was fixed, nor was the Government under any obli-
gation to pay at a fixed time. He could not therefore state any
particular period at which the repayments would be made. If
circumstance rendered it necessary for the Bank to demand the
money .at an early period, it would of course he ready
for them; hat it was intended that the paymente should he
made us the state of the currency and other circumstances should
require.
Sir J. WROTTESLEY asked what was to become of the
surplus which would thus remain in the bands of Gavernment,
provided it were 'not found nectielary to make .the repayment of
the greater part to the Bank?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied, that the
drat of that would be, to render a smaller issue of Exchequer
Bills by the Government ueeessuty than might otherwise be re-
quired.

. .
Sir V. 0511 TANEY wished to know whether a preference
in the subscription for the new stock was not given to those
who offered money rather than to those who went with Ezehe-
tiner-bille?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER,
in answer,
said, he was not aware that he luul, said any thing about iv
preference to he given to any party. The conditions on which
the new stock was to h! issued were known to the public on
Wednesday last. But he had no objection to lay before the

house an account of the nature of the subscriptions for the
stock, distinguishing the amount of Exchequer-bills from that
in cash.
The other parts of the resolutions were now put and agreed
to. The house resumed, and the report was ordered to be re-
ceived to-morrow.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL.
On the motion of Mr. Secretary Pm the Criminal Justice
Bill was re-committed.
The first clause of the Bill (purporting to ascertain who were
to be admitted to bail on a charge of felony, and who were not)
having been read,
Mr. Secretary PEEL said, it was most important that it
should be understood what were the powers of Committing
Magistrates ; and to ascertain those powers was the object of
the first clause of the Bill. It contemplated several cases.—
The first was when a party was brought before two Justices,
and charged with felony upon evidence conclusive as to the
fact, and the truth of which they had no reason to doubt, in
such case their duty was to commit the party charged.—
The second case supposed a criminal under the same circum-
stances brought before a single Justice, and such Justice had
power to order further detention of the prisoner, until he was
committiil by twO. In the third case, if a prisoner were brought
before two Justices, charged with felony upon evidence which,
though not sufficiently full to induce a conviction of the party's
guilt in the minds of the Justices, might yet be such as rendered
it proper that the accused should undergo a trial in Court, the
bill gave power to admit the prisoner to hail. It was verfmate-
rial, under sufficient safeguards for the detention of offenders, to
increase the powers of committing Magistrates ; and this not mere-
ly from a due regard to personal liberty, but also because it was
much to be feared that no individual came out from the walls of
it prison a better or more virtuous man than he entered them.—
One word was added to the clause, which he considered of extreme
importance—namely, the word "credible," by which he left it to
the discretion of tae Magistrates to judge of the credit to he attach-
ed to the tesOmoey of a witness, and indirectly gave Magistrates
an indication'of their, duty. To two Magistrates he gave power to
bail for alleged crime, where they did not give full credit to the evi-
dence laid before them ; while a single Magistrate under the same
circumstances had power to remand the prisoner for a re-hearing,
upon which in conjunction with 'a second Justice he was autho-
rized to take bail for his appearance. Every one, indeed, was
aware that the Justices of the Court of King's Bench possessed a
discretionary power to admit to bail persons charged with felony ;
but the application for that purpose was attended with expense
and inconvenience, which made the speedier remedy of the Bill a
preferable measure of relief.
Mr. SCARLETT said, that, in point of fact, Magistrates had
already, on many occasions, exercised the power of admitting per-
sons to bail in doubtful cases.
Mr. DENMAN agreed • with his Honourable and Learned
Friend, that the discretion must in all cases rest with the Ma-
gistrate. As to the word " credible" in the Bill, it was liable
to some ambignity--differitig in technical meaning from its
ordinary acceptation. In the popular sense, a witness might
be perfectly " credible," and yet not so according to the legal
import of the word. To instance in one case the evidence of
an accused man would be inadmissible, even though the Judges
believed every word that he uttered. Here was a variance between
the popular and technical meaning of " credibility." Again it
would be well if in another part of the clause, the magistrates'
power were not to remand, but to discharge the prisoner.
Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that the most' materiul.alteration'in
the 13111 was already stated, and he proposed' to ' reprint it. The
word " credible" was restricted to its ordinerY, sense by. being
coupled with the word " positive." The language of the Bill
was " credible and positive testimony."
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, thiglwbisteveropipion the
Magistrate might entertain, he was yet bound to commit the pri-
soner, if the facts alleged were stenrn to. Hiii=Hokr:atill SAatiamt
Friend must be aware that " credible" in its, technical', sebsimwsss,
contra-distinguished from " competent." •:, n ;
Mr. H. 'MISS suggested, that no trial for felony should
take place until the examinations for 'the trial were actually in
Court.

Mr. Secretary FEEL objected to the suggestion as opening
a door to collusion, If the Judge had not Ja discretionary
power of proceeding to trial, the messengers bringing: the de-
positions into Court might be tampered with so as to defeat the
mule of justice.
The elatisilWas agreed to. '
,On the Chinos not to ,commit for misdemeanour Indent the
depositions should be takiai as in cases of felony.—
Mr. Secretary 'PEEViaid he hoped the Committee wonW
have no objtOottio' this provision as a safeguard,to the
liberty of the` 'subject; he admitted the ~clause.. Was
altogether a new one;-41.0nd cheers.)—These deposition*,shotdd
be transferred to 'the Court where the offence was tried, :40
though it gave perhaps a little' more trouble to the Magistrate",
be had not the least doubt the Magistrates would accede to 'this
,point.
Upon the next clause, Mr. PEEL hoped he should shortly
be able to present a Bill for abolishing the distincticm between
clergyable and not clergyable felony ; which clause was also
agreed to.
On the clause for punishing accesories before the fact in cases
of felony as principals,
Mr. SCARLETT observed Reit it was not an exact conic-
quence, that when principals were punishable by a certain mode
of punishment, every accessory before the fact was in strictness
liable to the same punishment.
Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that in many ceases the accessory
before the fact was more culpable than the principal, as in the
ease of offenders who employed boys in the act of burglary, in
order to enter houses and open the door and admit felons.. This
at least was not a case deserving exemption from the ordinary
operation of law. He, did not in this CM attempt to introduce
any new capital felony. The object put forth iu many felonies
was often much less culpable than the felon who stood behind
the curtain. However,' if necessary, he should have no objection
to the temporary recommitment of the Bill, but still retaining
this clause in it.
The Clause was agreed to.
The next Clause enacted that any felony committed within five
hundred yards of the boundary of any two counties was triable in
either county.
Mr. SCARLETT opposed the Clause as pregnant with many
inconveniences.
Mr. Secretary PEEL supported it, on the ground that hitherto
many impediments to justice turd been occasioned by doubts as to
the right to try the offender in that particular county in which he
had been arraigned.
The Clause was agreed to.
The next Clause entered that felonies committed in any stage
coach might be indicted in any county through which such
stage coach passed.
This, after a few words, was agreed to. '
/Several other clauses were then read and agreed to.
On the, clause being read which provides thit omissions or
inaccuracies merely formal in indictments, 'shall not avail to set
aside judgmune.., • , •
Mr. SCARLETT objected that the preamble of the clause
which stated, that undue attention had been heretofore paid to
Such formal,ohjections, seemed to convey an unmerited censure
upon the Judges: lie added a variety of other arguments
against tile clatiee;': the whole of which were of a legal or tech-
nical nature.
A very long conversation upon the Clause ensued, which was
altogether of a technical nature.
The Clause was then agreed to.
The Clauses having been agreed to, the Bill passed through the
Committee. The House then resumed. The report was received
and ordered to be taken into consideration on Friday next.