Star.
London, England, 1827-05-22 00:00:00

ev, the poniehmest was specific, without any mention multi
benefit of clergy. When offences against the person, and
Jut of forgery were disposed of, they should then have gone
ttuough the whole lathe Criminal Law. 1k proposed to introduce
ow clause that shook! apply equally to all those Bins. The clause
was drawn up by Sir J. Richardson. and the object of it was to
resent that cumbrous and unnecessary repetition which occurred'
in indictments, with a view to designate more accurately the person,
whether male or female, whether an individual or a body corporate.
This end would be as effectualh/ attained by the clause he proposed I
io cgg.--(The Right Hon. Gentleman read the proposed clause.)-
Itl those bills were introduced in the course of last Session, and
sore then were submitted to the judgment of men most eminent for
their Wats and experience io law, .and they contained no one
o,Accenent or alteration that did not come recommended by themes-
(liar, be..r). lie should not trespass longer on the time of the
h sw, but move for leave to bring in a Bill for further Improving
dowlininistration of justice in criminal caws.
ice. WYNN suggested that however proper it might be to pro-
ceed to trial when a person was mute from obstinacy, some provi-
de should be made for those cases, in which persons, in the interval
between trial and the commission of the alleged crime, might have
bleu visited by frenzy or idiotcy. Under such circumstances, as
the law now stood, the trial could not be proceeded in. He be-
hewed it would be better to introduce no alteration in eases of this

•
kind.
Jr. 4 PEEL said that the Court was left a discretion in such eases.
BRIAUGHA ttl thought that would be leaving rather too
much distortion to the Judge. The Right lion. Gentleman had
censured Blackstone, but it should be recollected that he approved
the law as altered, compared with its former barbarity. As
ti
anciently stood a prisoner ►eing obstinately mute was pressed o
death under a stone; under which he was to be placed without
meat or drink—as if he could enjoy meat or drink in that uncom-
fortable situation—C.4 laugh.)
. Mr. Secretary BOURNE said, the Right Hon. Gentleman op-
posite was entitled to the gratitude of the country, for his improve-
ment of the Criminal Code.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL had not been able to read the
BIN hut would take then. on trust, confiding in the talents of those
tinder whose auspices they had been perfected. He, howeier, must
be allowed to protest againit being thought to support them in detail,
should it be hereafter found that they were defective.
Mr. FERGUSSON though: that, instead of stealing to the
amount of sus. being subject to capital punishment, it ought to be
s'. He objected also to corruption of blood and forfeiture of estates,
hint the consequences of capital conviction.
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.

LA RC.IN T LAW..
•
Mt. PEEL moved the Order of the Day for the House going
into s Committee upon the Larceny Laws. Amendment Bill.
The Bill went through a Committee, when several verbal amead-
Meats were made. The House then resumed, and the Report was
ordered to be taken into consideration on Wednesday next.
Mr. PEEL then brought in a Bill for the better administration
of Criminal Justice, by the removal of Technicalities en the sub•
ret of better administration of Justice, which was read a first
.Ind second time, and ordered to be committed on Wednesday
rest.—The other Otders a< the. Day were then read, and the
Bone adjourned at tut teetinut. •