The Sun.
London, England, 1826-05-05 00:00:00

EMOUNING HERA Ll).]

Nothing shows more dearly the necessity which
exists for a complete revision of the Criminal Laws
than the periodical reports made by the Recorder of
London to the King in Council. The Report made
in the Council on Wednesday contains the names of
forty-two capital convicts, and there 'remain eight
others not yet reported—making altogether the appal-
ling number of 50 individuals, whose lives are de-
clared forfeited to the, laws of their country ; and this
is the harvest of a single Session ! Now, supposing
the laws were to be carried into full effect, what a spec-
tacle of terror would be the sweeping extermination
of so rnanylives at once.. And why are they not carried
into full effect ? BecauSe the feelings of the Sovereign,
and the very Judge who sentences those unhappy
people, revolt, at the idea of so sanguinary a vindica-
tion of our Criminal Code. That code is therefore
impracticable and uncertain—two of the worst defects
that a system of lawa could have: That legislation
cannot be the result of wisdom that excites more
pathy for the offender than horror at his offence.
When laws are iincertain, they cannot be offective,in
repressing crime. A cardinal vice in our English
system is the multiplicity of capital punishments.

It does not aypear by any thing which has: yet
transpired that Mr..Peelintends to.diminish the num-
ber to any great extent. In the instance of stealing in
the dwelling-house, his intention of raising the sum
necessary for a capital conviction from 40s. to 51. is a
specimen of minute legislation, Which cannot produce
much good. At the time when the stun was fixed at
405., that money was of more value than 51. at pre-
sent, and at all events, it was originally far too low.
This has long been felt by Juries, who often com-
mit what are called " pions perjuries" to save,the life
of a human being. They are frequently induced to
bring the prisoner in guilty of stealing to the value
of 395., only to evade • the capital part of the
charge, although well knowing that the goods stolen
were worth more than 101. Ndw, why should the
laws be so framed as to .put a sort of humane com-.
pulsion on Juries to violate their oaths ? This is lay-
ing a snare for the consciences of men, which all wise
legislators ought to avoid. But should Juries per-
form their duty with the most rigid fidelity to the
letter of the law, still the merciful interposition of
the Sovereign disappoints the sanguinary code so
often. of its prey, that the theory of our cri-
Ininal Law is quite at variance with the practice.
Is this reasonable or salutary—would it not be
better that the punishment of crime was so judiciously
apportioned to the offence, that the certainty of. its
application might always be accounted on ? Would
it not then be much better to abolish capital punish-
ment in all but atrocious cases, than to condemn
such numbers to death by laws that are too cruel
to be carried into effect ? The King takes the opi-
nion of the Judges who tried the respective cases
before he selects - those who are to be executed or
spared, and thus the livys of criminals depend not upon'
the certain applicatio of defined laws, but the
discretionary power Qf Judges. This imposes on
them an odious and panful responsibility. fhis also
makes the extreme application' of the law so irregular
and unsettled as to be a sort oflottery of punishments
and pardons, in which every criminal hopes to draw a
prize. Such a system rather operates as'a temptation
to crime than a prevention of it, It is
,equally
guinary in principle, and imbecitp in effect, and re-
quires a far more comprehensive ra?rmation than Mr.
Peel has announced.

A BILL
FOR TIIE REGISTRATION OF ALIENS.

(Sess. 7, deo.''4.) .
This Bill fulfils the promise of Mr. Secretary Peel
to the House of Commons, and consummates the de-
struction of the late Alien Acts. These Acts are con-
tinued down to the 23d of November, 1826, and will be
allowed to expire at that•thne, when this Bill will
come into operation. A great deal of very unneces-
sary clamour has been at various times raised against
the provisions of these laws ; ,but we confess we never
could understand upon what priaiple, or for what
.reason. The power to send Aliens out of the. kingdom,
conferred by them upon the King in Council,
. nothing more than a statute ,declarative of
the common law ; 'for it would be as absurd
to suppose that . the head of a State had not
ti t
authority to exclude foreigners froth'its shores, as that
society:Aould be c-0kup.444 R•admit meiliberS.
all persons who deemed-theinse4Ves competent„ ii.be-
conic such. members. However, public opinion in this
_instance -has prevailed, and the upshot it is the in-
troduction of the present Bill. It will, no doubt, be
considered by all liberal Aliens as a boon, and desig-
nated as part of the liberal policy of the British Ca-
binet. 'Those disposed to view the matter in- this
light shall be perthitted, without our interferenee, to
enjoy their opinions;_ although we cannot help think-
ing that, if the present Bill bad been submitted to.
Parliament instead of the original Alien Act, it would
have been the occasion of quite as much abuse,. quite
as much clamour, and quite as much speechification,
as the luekleSs laws which have' undoubtedly produced
it, and, we may add, with quite as much reason.
In proof of this, let us take •a brief view of the
coutelits.: of this , Bill. • livery ...Alien in the kingdom,
except 'such as have been resident there a given time,
are within its. operation, and are to declare their names,
rink, and Occupation' and transmit the declaration to
the Alien' Office: Masters of- vessels are also to de-
clare,to the custom-house officers the Aliens on board
their ships, except they be seamen navigating the yes-
qail. Aliens arriving on the British Shores are to make
similar declarations, and deliver up their passports,
and will receive in return a duplicate of their declara-
tion, which the Act calls a certificate. This certi-
ficate' is to be transmitted to the Alien Office by' the
Alien, who, at the same ,time, will declare where he
intends to reside,' and wile must must also keep the
Alien 'Office advised of his place of residence half yearly.
A pourer is then given to the 'Secretary 'of
.State,
in case of need, to require more frequent
declarations Of any Alien's place, of abode. These
are the chief, contents of the Act ; the residue is em-
ployed in making provision for the due observance of
the before-mentioned clauses. There certainly is
nothing particularly vexatious in these provisions ; but
beyond the omission of the power to send Aliens
out of the' kingdom, (which omission throws very
strong doubts upon the Kin(s prerogative in this re-
spect) we find them : nearly similar to the provisions
of 'those ill-starred and much-abused Acts, to which
this Bill is intended as a successor. In the midst,
however, of these provisions, we cannot help asking
ourselves " cui bone," for what purpose are these re-
gulations made, if, 'when observed, no further use is
to be derived .from them but the knowledge of the
simple fact, that Monsieur or Bignor Sofand-so re-
sides 41
in such and such a place.
We are. marvellously, puzzled in conjecturing of
what possible utility such information can be .; and,
after all, must remain satisfied with the declaration of
the 'British sorts of liberality, that it is of .wonderful
use, and that there is a vast difference between this
law and the law of the late Alien Acts ! If so it is—
why, be it so ; all we say is, we cannot find it out, and -
envy much the great penetration of Mr. Hobhouse,
•Mr. Hume, and others of the King's Opposition, in
this respect. If they are satisfied, Heaven forfend we
should be otherwise---euch an opportunity for una-
nimity ought not to be lost, for when it may come
again no one can tell.

Major F------, a subscriber at Tattersall's, was
lipstled on Afthulay, nenr the Park Gate, in Oxford-street, his
*het cut open, and a purse containing 1871. taken from it.
A.HARD CA 8 John C. Singleterry, of
Portage County, Ohio, Jars recently been mulcted in six hundred
dollars damages, for a slander uttered by his loving spinisc. 'Poor
fellow he had much better have remained Mr. Single Terry all
his life, than to take ~helpmate who will tolls away his hardearn-
'4o.thus.—New York Commercial Advertiser.
PIAN GuN-BmingLs.--From..the Transactions
otthe Society of Arts, we nod that the4gun-batrels made at
'Bombay, in imitation of those made at Dantasetak so much-va-'
has' by the Orientals for th,( bertuty of their twist,"are 'mann-
facture(' from iron:hoops; obtained from :European casks, mostly
British.

QUARTERLY NIEETING OF EQUITABLE ASSURANCE
COMPANY.—(YEsTIRDAA-.)

A Meeting of the Equitable. Insure/fee Office wag held this
day, for the Election of Directors for ensuing year. Notice
was given of a Motion to be made at thellext General Grdrt,'for,.
paying the Claims for Insurance at the. of three months, aft
the decease of the Insured, and the asliion of the Claims, in-
stead of six months, • ik
The Accounts for the year 1825; Mire laid before the General
Court as follows
a. d.
321 New In- 4.
6.
aims. paid, 277,358 15.6.
surances - 16,081 6 6 Addas.to do. 153,071 1 0
Ann. Premiums 431,616 17 6 Surrendered
Divds. on Stock 286,925 0 0 Policies - 28,699 11 6
Inst. on Mort- Do. Premiums 100,644 PT 0*
gages - 42,360 0 0 145,000 3 per
Extra Premiums Ct. Consols
for Sea Risks bought - 134,600 0 0
and other small 142,000 3 per
Receipts - 4,580 6 0 Ct. Red. bt. 130,342 10 0
Lent on 31ort-

£781,563 10 0
Repaid on Mort-
gages - 68,176 12 0
60,000, sold 8i

per. Cent. 47,425 0 0
150,000, 3 per
Cent. Cons. 128,875 0 0
50,000, 8 per " •
Cent. Red. 39,805 8 4
Balance in hand

SlitDee.lB24 88,482 4 4

gage - 235,000 0 0
Gen.Expences,
Rents, Sala-
ries, Statio-
nery, Law
expences,&c. 10,154 8 3

£1,069,874 4 3
Balance 31st
Dec. 1825 33,953 10 5

£1,103,827 14 8

.C 1,103,927 14
The Capital of the Society was as follows on the Ist Jan. last.
S per Cent. Console, and Reduced - X 9,0011,000
Sr per Cent. Reduced - 380,000
Lent on Mortgage - - 1,157,059

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF COMMISSIONERS OF BANKRUPT, MAT 3.

IN TIM MATTER OF SIXES AND CO. BANKRUPTS.
Mr.' FONDLANQUE having yesterday moved the Court of Chan-
cery for an order to stay the tlmlaration of a dividend in this mat-
ter (which was advertised for this day), on the part of James
Bowes Smithson, who claims to be a creditor of the firm, on the
part of himself and another, to a large amount, being 150,0001. ;
his Lordship was pleased to direct that the declaration of the divi-
dead should stand over until Saturday, to Afford Mr. Smithson an
opportunity to present a petition to the Court relative to his claim.
An application was in consequence made this day to the Court of
Commissioners to that effect ; which was strongly opposed by the
Solicitor of the assignees, on the ground that an application had
not been made before. We understand from undoubted authority,
that the claimant is related .tti. two Dukes, Norfolk and Northum-
berland.
The COURT, however, in compliance with the order of the Lord
Chancellor, postponed the declaration of the dividend until Satur-
day, the 6th instant.