The Sun.
London, England, 1819-01-05 00:00:00

FOR THE `UN.

ACT FOR RELIEF OF INSOLVENT DEBTORS.
MR. EDITOR.—The columns of your Journal
having been of late moth occupied with the dis-
cussion of this Act of Parliament and its adminis-
tration, I may venture to express a hope that you
will not be reluctant to admit the future detail of
results arising from its principle and practice, as
they are avowedly of much importance to the cum►-

mutiny.
The Act will necessarily expire at the close of
the ensuing Sessions of Parliament, noless, in the
deliberate exercise of Legislative Authority, it
shall be found wise and expedient to continue its
provisions and enactments. And as it is probable
that the question will shortly he considered awl dis-
cussed, it may be acceptable to your Readers to
be made acquainted with the spirit and intention
of the Law as it 110 W stands, as %veil as the gene-
ral effect resulting front it. For this purpose, I
have arranged materials of communication to the
Public, by way of ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY;
and should you be disposed to admit the result of
my inquiry, yoo will have the goodness to inti-
mate your consent, either by public notice, or by
the favour of personal acquiescence. And in that
event 1 shall forthwith commence the
The very admirable REPORT 4,1 a Committee in
the House of Lords, in which the Act originated,
has impressed me with a thorough cOnvietiou that
unlimited and indiscriminate imprisonment for
civil debt is highly impolitic and injutious; and
that the system which prevailed antecedent to the
Act of Parliament vow in force, was a system
most fatal to the interests and to the happiness of
the community. If such a system should ever be
again resorted to, it would be alike injurious to
society, and destructive of family peace; tor, as
the Report justly states," A system affecting with
" exaggerated harshness, in their several twos,
" so many individuals of the community, cannot
" he a convenient one for the whole."
" The most important consideration of all is
" the cutting. off such a source of vitiation of
" morals as imprisonment unquestionably appears
"to be. There is little hope that he who has
" for any time been the companion of the aban-
" Toned, shall come forth untainted by their in-
" stritetions. And the number of children ae-
" wally receiving their education in the prison.,
" furnishes a swarm of missionaries of vice,
" which must have a dreadful sect in contatni-
" fiat* society."
Having said thus much declaratory of the evils
of imprisonment, it may be justly expected that
elucidation should he offered, demonstrative of the
effects produced front the existing low, which li-
mits the period of confinement on express terms
and conditions ; so that a proper judgment may
be formed as to the propriety of its continuance.—
Waiting your reply, I ant, Sir,
Your's, &c.
Temple, Dec. 31.

W. W-N.

4,* NITe consider the subject noticed by this
Correspondent as so important, not only to the
trading part of the Public, but to the Con►tnunity
at latge, that we readily assent to I►is proposkl
and we have the pleasure to state 'hit as the dis-
cussion of this suliject has considerably increased,
our intereomse with the legal circles in Town and
Country, his arguments ate likely to meet with
due attention, and to lead to the adoption of
whatever may be deemed most beneficial.

A IRISH TeLErcopE.—Sir FaEpg, tuctt hoot)
was one Airy rbserving to a Friend that he hut
most excellent telescope. " Do you see you
church," said he, " about half a mile us*----it's
scarcely discernable, but when I look at it through
my telescope, it brings it ao CIO3C th4it 1 CUI
hear the organ playing.".