The Sun.
London, England, 1820-05-10 00:00:00

CAI HCLIC QUES I lON.

Sir H. PARNE!,I, <4ld, he' had received a letter from the
Hun. Member fur Dubin (Mr. Grattan), which stated that
his health would, he trusted, enable him to attend to his
Parliamentary duties within the mouth ; in consequence of
this intimation, lie begged to postpon, the notice of a motion
on the Catholic Claims to Ta,,,d„,,, the nth May.
ELECTION PETITIONS.

Two Petitions, complaining of an undue Election, and of
the Returns being altu.ed, for the Rot ongli of St. lees, acre
present, ant oidered to be taken into consideration on the
Bth of June.
A Petition, complaining of the undue Election of Mr. Swan
for the Boron4h of Penryn, was ur.lcp'd to he taken into con
sideration at three o'clock on the 13th ofi.ine.
A Petitiott, complaining of the undue electioq of Alexander
was ordered to be considered at half-
Crickett, for Ipswich,
past three on the same day.
A like Petition, complaining of an undue flee' ion at Ber-
wick on Tweed, was referred to the tsto of 3urar ; and
Flue consideration of a Petition from 'I% Spring Rice, com-
plaining of an undue return for the City of Limerick, was ap-
pointed for the same day.
coNIaIEItCIAL DI PRESS.

Sir GEORGE CLERK presented si Petition from the Mer-
chants and Ship Owners of Leith, similar to the Petition
from the Merchants of London, presented and so ahly dk-
cussed last night. It was laid on the table, and ordered to
be printed.
Mr. COURTENEY and Mr. NEWMAN presented Peti-
tions against the Exeter Market Bill.—Laid on the table.
Mr. BENNETT ❑roved, that an humble Address lie pre-
sented to his Majesty, praying that there should he laid be-
fore the House a Copy or any Act of Assembly at fiarbadoes
since 1663, empowering the Crown or Parliament of England
to apply any part of the 4 pet ceot. duties to abet purposes
than the Colonial Set vice.—Agreed to.
Mr. MANSFIELD presented a Petition from the Manufac-
turers and Dealers in Wool in Leicester, against the Tax on
Foreign Wool.
THE CRIMINAL CODE.

Sir. 3. MACKINTOSH, pursuant to the notice
which he had given, rose up to offer certain pro-
positions respecting the Criminal Laws of the
Country. These propositions were founded on
the Report of the Committee appointed fait year
to examine into tt►e subject, and in coniequeoce
of its view he would divide his Resolution into
two parts• The first would be directed to the
appointment of a Committee with the same powers
and objects as that of last year; thtesecond would
be to bring in six Bills to amend the Criminal
Laws in conformity with the recommendations
which would be found in the Report. As he did
not anticipate any 'objection to what he had to
offer, at least in the present stage of the pro-
ceedings, he would have been satisfied with this
explanation of his intention; but as another Par-
liament had been assembled since the subject was
last discussed, it was only respectful to the new
Members, very shortly to restate something cf
the nature of the former discussions. The maul
object of the Committee which had been appoint-
ed was to ascertain whether capital punishmen s
did not, by their severity, counteract the purpose
they were meant to enforce, by deterting prsesect-
tors, witnesses, and others concerned.in pro,ec:►-
tions, Irons bringing criminals under the
melte of the law. In investigating this subject .►e
would say the Committee had been most diligent
during the whole of the Session. The most 10-
pnlar argument against the existing system Vas
touuded on the counnon fediogs of humanity, Ind