The Sun.
London, England, 1821-05-18 00:00:00

CRIMINAL LAWS.

Lord G. A. H. CAYENDISII presented a petition
from some place in Derbyshire, the name of
which could not he learned, praying for a revision
and modification of the criminal code.

Mr. H. G. BENNET presented a petition of a
similar nature from the inhabitants of the city of
Gloucester. Alluding to the three. Bills on this
subject, which were appointed to be read a se-
cond time that night, and which, in his opinion,
were founded on sound and good principles, he
expressed his hope that they would pass. .
•THOMAS FLANNIGAN. .

Mr. SYNGE COOPER observed, that he ton-
ceived himself to have .been grossly libelled by a
petition from an individual, named Thomas Flan-
nijan, which had been presented by the Hon.
Member for Coventry!. In order to clear his clia
sacter from the aspeuions which 'Mr. Flannigan

had altempteil to fix upon it, and at the Statie tlme
to show what sort of credit was due to the 3tate-
ments of that individual, he would move that
there be laid before tb6 House copies of the cor-
respondence that had taken place between the
Government of,lreland and Judge :Mayne, ,rela-
tive to the conviction of Thomas Flannigan, at
the Assizes at Sligo.

Mr. Ewer obseri'ed, that his Hon. Colleague
who had presented the petition referred to by the
Gentleman who spoke last, was not now in the
House. He (Mr. Ellice) was of opinion, how-
ever, that the house had nothing at all to do with
the character of the petitioner, and thought that
the Hon. Gentleman had not shown sufficient
ground for the production of the papers.
Mr. S. RICE said, the present motion referred
to the second petition of Flannigan, which had
been withdrawn. It had no reference whatever
to the first petition from that individual, which
was on a subject of some importance. It called
the attention of the House to the state of the
law in Ireland, and suggested the propriety of
repealing certain statutes. He had, however, no
objection to have the papers laid before the
House ; but the character of Flannigan ought not
to be connected with the object of his original
petition.
Mr. DENNIS BROWNE spoke in support-of the
motion.

Colonel BARRY said, that his Honourable
Friend (Mr. Cooper) had been slandered by
Flannigan ; and the only way in which he could re-
pel the charges made against him was by the produc-
tion of the correspondence moved for. Under
these circumstances, he trusted the House would
consent to the motion.

Mr. ELLICE would not wish it to be supposed that
he intended to countenance the statements of
Flannigan. He, in common with the rest of the
House, was of opinion that they were totally
without foundation.

Mr. CHARGES GRANT thought the character of
the Honourable Member was above any imputa-
tion on the part of such a person as Flannigan.
After a few words in reply from Mr. Cooper,
the motion was agreed to.
Sir THOM is LETHBRIDGE presented two peti-
tions from Wincanton and Wellington, in Somer-
seishire, praying for a mitigation of the severity
of the criminal laws.—Ordered to be printed. •
Mr. BARING presented a petition from the pri-
soners confined in Ilchester jail, complaining of
their treatment, and praying that the house would
take their case into consideration.
PETITIONS FOR •A REVISION OF THE CRIAII-