The Sun.
London, England, 1819-07-01 00:00:00

GUERNSEY.

Mr. BENNET lose to move tor a copy of the Re-
port of the Commission which had been appoint-
er! to iruluire into the state of the jurisprudence
of th-2-Liazidi Guernsey and Jersey. liis ob-
ject, was to olvain from his Majesty's Alibisters
whether it VS' S their intention to
uct:opoo the tecommendatiou of that Commission
the amelioration of the law. Front that Re
-
11“.“, it appeor,ti that the law was there in such a
tltal it was to be wondered if it were not

corrected by custom how any Commercial trans-
actions Could have been carried on. It he ob-
tained a SatiateCialy answer, he should withdraw
his motion. The Report was made so long ago
as May 2, 1816. Ile moved an Address for a
Copy of the. Report.
Mr. BATHURST said, that it was natural that the
attention of those island, should have been turned
to this Report ; but the House would not consi-
der it one which pressed fora speedy decision
from the Government. It was a recommendation
for an alteration of the whole jurisprudence of
the islands as far related to money contracts. A
_Commission was sent to Jersey to inquire into
that jurisprudence in 1815, and a Report was
tuade in 1816. lo February 1817, the Report
was sent from the Privy Council to the Royal
Court at Jersey for their opinion. When their
answer had been obtained, it was deemed advis-
able to submit the whole case to the Law ()Ricers
of the Crown,
.who had not reported till April in
the present year. The Privy Council were not
therefore chargeable with any delay which was
not justified trout the extensive nature of the
change proposed.
Sir W. Cuarts.said he had been in the prisons
of the islands, where he saw the Prisoners in a
com!drtable condi,ion. The 'Hon. Gentleman
(Mr. Bennet) therefore was nor alwitys correct in
his complaints of the state of prisons.
Mr. BENNET observed, that he bad not said a
word on the state of the prisons.
,After a few words from Sir J. OWE N, the mo-
tion Was rtilidratvii.

WN DEBTORS.
Mr. ABaRCRomBY presented a petition from se-
veral prisoners in Lancaster (-idol, who had heen
confined Irotn 4 to 8 years, for
.dchts din to the
Craven, from between 2 and 3,000 to 2001. each.
The llonanrable Gentleman begged to call the
serious attention of the Government to this sub-
ject, as it was far from being favourable to its in-
terests, that it shonld be seen pnnis),ing its debtors
with a severity, which, if practised by an indivi-
dual, would expose him to general hatred.
The petition was brought up and read.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCAIEQUER said, that
it appeared that the. petitiotirts wtre Collectors of
Taxes in default. Without being able to speak as
to their particular cases, he apprehended that the
length of their iuiprisonntcnt was tube attributed,
not to the Ctowit (though they were nomivally
its debtors), but to the Townships which had suf-
fered through their default.

Mr. ABEktcRoMBY said, that he did not lay stress
on the particular cases, of which he knew nothing
but from the petition, but on the general system.
Even when frnud had been committed by Cl own
debtors, this was an unequal sod unjust mode of
punishing it.—The petition was laid on the table.
Mr. GuENFeLL moved for Accounts of the
Average Number of Bank-notes and Post-bills in
circulation in the three years previously to April,
1819, which the Bank of England are directed to
deliver annually to the Commissioners of Stamps.
After a few words from Mr. MANNING, slut
some other Accounts on the same subject were
ordered to be laid before the nose.

Mr. S. WoRTLEy press nted the Report or the
Committee on Shop Windows, which he .moved
should be printed. He said, the Committee had
been of opinion, that Shopkeepers stifle:red no
grievances rimier the Tax ; but that the pos,essors
oti uniubabited houses did labour under a gri,!vance,
on which sobject he should Of it were not taken
op by the Chancellor of the Exchequer) submit a
motion to the House.