The Sun.
London, England, 1819-07-07 00:00:00

EXCISE PENALTIES.

' Mr. WILLIA.m Smtern held in his hand. a Peti-
tion,from Jeremiah Abel, a small farmer in the
Comity of NOrfOlk, now a prisoner in the Gaol
of NorWich, for penalties in a case of smuggling
tO the amount of 10001, but which had been of-
ferer{ to be compromised for 3001'. The Hon, '
11r tither said, that be knew nothing of the cha-
racter or-conduct of Jeremiah- Abel, fortherlhan
what was*se't forth, in- the petition now about to
be presented to the House. But this important
fact, lie could .state, that the truth of the allega-
tions against the petitioner had been denied, and
that an alibi !lad been, proved 4y sevepteen affida,
vits; affirming that the petitioner, when charged
with the violation of the law, was at that time
,thirty miles distant frottk.the scene of action. He
thought .that these :affidavits ought to outweigh
the testimony of an individual informer:, The.
petitioner' further stated, that he had given.in-.
structions to the Counsel, not to agree to a
compromise on any account whatever ; but that
the Counsel, in direct opposition to his instruc-
tions, consented to the compromise for the sturdier
penalty,' This was a plan of delusion, as tle
was informed, sanctioned by the Solicitor of
the Board ; for when this unhappy victim gave
his conseut, on the undostanding that all further
Orosecution,wal to cease on agreeing to the coin-
promise, the Solicitor then proceeded for the re-
duced penalty and the expeuces of the prosecu-
tion, But this fact was better known to the Gen-
tlemen on the opposite side (the Treasury Bench.)
Atter this compromise, which the petitioner wa-s
never called upon_to pay, and after the lapse of
more than a twelvemonth„ the petition.er, was seiz-
ed or arrested, and sent to Norwich jal, where
he had remained in close confinement
.tor the lart.t
sixteen months. The HOP. illemhev was em-
powered to prove these facts, if the HOuse
at the Bar. - The petitioner had been charged in
the. year 1816, together with several others, with
the act of smuggling, and he hart contradicti,d the
allegations by an alibi of no less than 17
vv it-
nesses. The lion. MeMber moved for leave to
present the petition, .
• The. CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHFCItnig had no
objection to the receipt of the petition and to its
lying on the table. But the Right Hon..Gentle-
tm!nentertaineid very powertulupprehensions, that
`unless the- Soalior of the Board had very stroog
reasons tigaitit the 4egations of the petitimier,
they %%wild have afitirded relief loog:eie now.
\\ ILLIAM S.MtTIi atirrnied, that it was Well
ftnown that more than a twelvemonth had elapsfed
Oct v!;een the compromiie and the personal setzme
of'tlia. petitioner. So enOrminis a de.grre ul Pri-
,vate•injojtioe Ittihad Scarcely ever heard

if L_-- A

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respeetahie petW, stating that he (the deptiz
vent} hdd conversed accidentally with the in=
former that very night, at the very time when the
.7, of smuggling was smorii-t-?-be committing,
and that the infortnerhiinself, who swore that he
saw the transaction, Was at le-trst 80 miles distant.
Front all these considerations; there was not a
single ground 151". the`ctiiirge: It had ori,trrnated
'in revenge, private malice, or was the oifspriog7of
_ .
g "Fx-rfeTl s
The:petitigri: was received, read, ordered to lie
on the table:, 'and to be printed.
presented a petit tiin- the:
Protestant .Dissenters. of Peiiryn, praying 'for an
Amendment of the Marriage-Act.—Read, and
tordered tolie7-611 the tFihle.:

The lion. Member presented petit ion to the
isan►e, effect Irina the Protestant Disenters of the
'Town of .Kendal.—Read,,and ordered to lie on.