Star.
London, England, 1819-03-19 00:00:00

• •

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDING&

HOUSE OF LORDS, MARCH Is.

The Earl of Kasarrox (one of the Irish Representative Peers)
and the Earl of Einiuxu.can (as Lord Grinstead) took the oaths
And their seats.
• Cettroe! (Mr. wAsugg) and evidence were heard at consider-
able length respecting Dunn's Divorce Bill. It appeared the
parties, T. W. Dunn, Esq. Lieutenant in one of the regiments
of Life Guards, was married to his Lady, at Barnes Church, in
1813 ; that, in some time after, she quitted their then residence,
in Dean-street, one evening, and did not return; that the next
time she was found by her friends was at Calais, where she was
in the same house with Clay, Esq. between whom and'
Mrs. Dunn evidence was brought to establish an adulterous con-
nection ; that, in consequence, Mr. Dunn brought his action for
damages against Mr. Clay, who suffered judgment to go by de-
fault. These were assessed at £4OO, which was afterwards re-
ceived by Mr. Dunn's Solicitor.
"l'he Titnesses who were brought forward respecting the
Lady's misconduct, underwent much close examination, and es.
-preialy on the part of the House. The farther investigation of
the case was adjourned till that day se'nnight.
• The Mutiny Bill passed through a Committee of the whole
House, and was reported without any amendment.
The Marine Mutiny Bill was read the second time.

CRIMINAL LAWS.
Lord HOLLAND presented a Petition from Tower Ward,
la the City of London, praying for some considerable modifica-
tions in the Insolvent Debtors' Bill.
Viscount SIDMOUTH begged leave to state a few important
facts which he thought necessary in consequence of certain mis-
statements in one of the Petitions presented yesterday to the
House by the Noble Baron who had just sat down. The Peri.
tion was, one from the Town of Bedford, referring to the eye-
ttm. of the Penal Laws. That Petition went to allege that in a
c interval, ending with the year 1818, that the number of
committals was 19,178, and that the number of convictions was
9cl'. hi the same period. These he considered to have meant
cipttal convictions. However, the real fact of the ease was, that in
ti, • •Iree years ending with 1818, the number of indictments did
r.). exceed six thousand, and the number of capital convictions
sr r. t three thousand four hundred and forty-six only. Ile thought
it right to make this statement from the authentic documents,
as he knew that the mistatements in such matters were runne-
r rat and gross. There were instances where the number of con.
• .ctions were misstated, as well as that of the executions. In
utker instances the number of the transportations were grossly
exaggerated, and so with respect to capital convictions. Some
sr.tements, it would appear, tallied with documents upon their
lordships' table; but certainly great misstatements were to be
fomi in rations publications of extensive circulation.
Lord HOLLAND said he had not sufficiently examined the
o'cial documents on these heads; but he should make some lo-
g aries as to the particular instance referred to by the Noble
s,ltretary of State, and perhaps in a few days he would be able to
to their Lordship.; some more particular explanation thereon.