Star.
London, England, 1811-05-25 00:00:00

. .
This day Inn Pub Meal the Malt Ididone in S Yds. rale Irip• fpnit:shments which were held oat he ferrety", the or-
rice II 10s• extra hoards. 'clines eiscreased. So they did, from a great variety
HTEESSAYSoIMICHAELdeMONTAIGNE,I 10f Laitsea. Bat, what could that prove ? To use a
translated into English, with very eonsidttrable Amend- 1 . • • •
meats. from the accurate French Edition of Peter Costa. 'I his , familiar illustration ;if he had an old scare-crow in
new edition has also a more complete and enlarged Index than ;his garden, and yet found that the depredations upon'
any former one. lit, instead of diminishing, encreased, and he consulted
Printed f'r W. muter, Albemarle-street; White and Cochrane, i his gardener about removing the ineffectual ecare-
flee-strert; and Larkingten, Allen, and Co. Finsbury-square.
__• I crow, the gardener would probably tell him that the
This day was published. in royal atm. price ism in boards, scare-crow had been there for many years, and de-
QK.ETCH of the POLITICAL HISTORY of predations had encreased ; and that therefore it would
" IN DlA,from the introduction of Mr. Pitt's Rill, A.D. Mt, Ibe most dangerous to remove it. His Lordship went
fn eve present Date. Hy JOHN MA1.001.14A„ Lieutenant- 1 •
through a variety of illitstrations and arguments, tend-
Colonel in thr Fast India Company's Madras Army; Resident ,
at Mysore ; and late Envoy to the Court of Persia. ins to prove the propriety, wisdom, mercy, and ad-
at
for Will am Miller, Anemarteetreet. vantage, of making the criminal law alike in practice
and theory. He alluded to a pamphlet published in
1787, on the necessity of inflicting the actual.penal-
ties of the law ; and for what reason he could not
attempt to say, but certainly for two years afterwards
more severe punishments were inflicted than at any
other period for the same space of time.. This he
could not much admire. He concluded by moving
the second reading of the Bill.
Lord ELLEN BO ROUGH acquitted the Noble
Lord of any intention of reflecting on the administra-
tion of the laws, but felt convinced that the present
Bill would not operate any beneficial change, but the
reverse. He was willing, however, as far as it rested
with him, to consent to those two Bills relating to
the robberies in bleaching-grounds being tried by waif
of experiment. The Bill passed two years ago re-
specting privately stealing from the person, had not
produced the promised consequences, but had had in-
jurious effects. As to prosecutors, he had never wit-
nessed that extreme slackness in their endeavours; on
the contrary, they seemed, when once engaged in a
prosecution, to take a snit of pride in it, and to feel a
kind of spleen at the means of, resistance. Witnesses
might be variously inffuenced, independent of the con:
sideration of law at present, or as they would be un-
der these Bills, if enacted—they might be actuated
by friendship to the accused party, or other reasons.-
As to the Jury, his Lordship had found in his own
experience, that when be plainly laid before them the
law, and told them the nature of their duty fairly,
they did what became them to do. It was not too
general, but it was an excusable view of human na-
ture, that they inclined to rake the offence in as mer-
ciful a light as possible. As to the case of the steal-
in; ten pounds, should such a case occur before him,
he should coolly desire them to reconsider their ver-
dict. The discretion of the Judge, be could assure
their Lordships, was the mast painful part of the
duty the Judge had to perform ; and he should ad.
mire and applaud any person who could devise any
mode by which the Judge could be freed from such
a difficulty. He saw no alternative between the pre-
sent system of punishments held out in terror to the%
guilty, modified by the Judge's discretion, according
to the varying shades and degrees of offences, and a'
graduated scale of .penalties; as was now proposed.
This last he thought visionary in theory, and impos-
sible in any wholesome practice; absurd, like the sys-
teni they .had lately read in the Chinese Code. He
instanced here a variety of cases and eircumstancet
to prove its impracticability, and the superior advan-
tages off the law and practice ail it stands. The tys-
tern of Criminal Law had stood the test of a century.
1 .
—lt had been hitherto the just boast of this country,
that its laws were wise and humanely Aimed," ands
they ought not to give way to the ingenious and lea r....
ned speculations of modern philosophy. When some
of their laws were framed, there were in Parliament
most wise and able lawyers and legislators. In Pars
liament there were Lord Somers, Lord Cowper, Lord
Hardwicke, and Mr. Lechmere, afterwards -Lord
Lechmere, besides many other able men: and their
deliberations on those subjects bore all the marks of
profound attention. Let not their Lordships le' de-
ceived on this subject by specious and ingenious ob.
set 'rations, but be cautious how they sanctioned alte-
rations, the consequences of -which they could not
foresee. He then took notice of various observations
in pamphlets, some of which he thought foolish, and-
I some slanders on the administration of justice. Ever
11 since, by his Majesty's favour,nt the instance of those
liwho had recommended him to the high situation he
held, and which had also called him to assist in the
deliberations of that Haase, he had endeavoured to
attend there, and give the humble assistance his prac-.
Itical experience had afforded him, on subjects connec-
ted with his profession. He had done so now, and
he must say, from the entire conviction of his mind,
that the proposed alterations would be more likely to
I do injury than benefit to the-practice of our laws.—
, The Noble Lord concluded by moving that the Bill
' be read the second time on that day six months.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE supported the Bill.
The LORD CHANCELLOR observed, that
early in lite he had paid considerable attention to the
practice tit- the Criminal Law, when he had n) preen
tine himself, and he had afterwards the honour of
sitting as a Judge in one of the Courts of Corparon
and Criminal Law. • In his official capacity he had
to submit the cases of criminals to the discretion.of
his Stivereign, and he never approached his Sovereign
with any cases of that sort, .without having paid to
them all the attentiOn'Which it was in his power to
bestow. It was impossible -for him to describe thel
anxiety which he•often felt in performing this part of
his duty. All these circumstances naturally directed
his attention to' the law of crimes and punishments
and he must say; that he entertained great doubts of
the propriety of the present measure, There was a
vast variety of shades in the complexion of offences,
from the man who entered your house in the dead of
night, with crape' over his face, carrying a darkdan-•
thorn, with pistols;, and manacles to bind you if re-
! distance was attempted, to the lad of la., who wander-
ing about the streets of London, was tempted to cut
open a pane of glass and "purloina gold seal that *ems
exhibited at the windows. Whit a. difference was.
there between the two crimes! though the law pros
flounced a capital punishment npon-both, and yet .you
I would not on that account abrogate the capital pu.•
1 nishment which was peonounZsigainst burglary ge.
nerally. The same with, reg to sheep stealing,
i where the shades of distinction were very marked be-
tween the man' Who-stole a sheep to procure subsist-
i ence, a case of which sort he himself had tried, .and
1 him who code them for the ptirp-40 of .setting them,
land absolutely made a.trade of is practices. If was
of the' last importance that theKlittle board.of die in.
dustriotis'cortagotskidold be-prottcrtd, who was often
obliged so lean behailtafte• aid. his .141a.0041 of
-notasnitscistisaprdsubitias. deposlied 614 is boa ice
a Oral 4 hi* tom Id di* them-iligia• ime sir.

This day was pid•li.lied, in foolscap oci aye, price 7s..fiti.
ACHRISTIAN'S SURVEY of all the Primary
Events and Periods of the World; from the Comntemce-
ment-of }Unary, to the Conclusion of Prophecy.
Printed for William Miller, Albemarle-street.—•Where may
be hadrin octavo, !nice 15s. boards,
Observations in Illustration Of VILGIL's celebrated Fourth

• DR. CRAIG'S SERMONS.
This day was published, handsomely minted in 2 vols. Om
- rice iss. in board.,
QERMONS, by WILLIAM CRAIG,'D.D. late
Li Minister of Saint Andrew's Church, Glasgovr. 'rbe third
edition, with additions.—Also in the Press, and speedily will be
published; uniformly with the above
Dr. CRA.IOII Essay on the Life and Character of Christ. The
third edition.
Printed by James Baßanque and Co. for Jelin Baflantyne ani
Co. Edinburgh; Longman, Hurst, Reel. Orme and Brown, and
Murray, London.

This day was poblhbed, price Ls. 6d: sewed,
By J. Cnttow, Medical 1100beellet, No.lo, Crown-court,
Felucca-street, *dm,
EMARKS on the NOMENCLATURE of the
1%- NEW LONDON PHARMACOPEIA, read before the
Liverpool Medical Society.
By JOHN BOSTOCK, M.D.
Where may be had, lately published, price Is. 6d.
Synopsis Pharmacopeia Londinensis, by a Physician.

This day were published, In 2 Vols.l2mo. price Its boards,
KETCHES of the PRESENT MANNERS,
S CUSTOMS, and SCENERY of SCOTLAND; with in•
cidental Remarks gm the Scottish Character.
By. ELIZABEIM ISABELLA SPENCL
Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and limeys, Pater-
noster-row. —Of whom may be had, by the same Author,
1. Summer Excursions, S vols. 12mo. price los. ed
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s. The Wedding Day, Svols. itmo. price 12s. boards.

This day was published In aro. price M. boards,
By J. CALLOW, Medical Bookseller, No. 10, Crown-court,
Pt ince's-dreet, Soho, and may be shad of all Booksellers in the

United Kingdom,
A NATURAL HISTORY of the HUMAN
36 TEETH ; with a Treatise on their Disease from infancy
to Old Age, adapted for general information.
To which are added, Observations oa the Physiognomy of the
Teeth, and Projecting Chin. illustrated with two Engravings.
•
By JOSEPH MURPHY, Surgeon• Dentist.
Where may be had, just published, price fa:
Cursory Remarks on Corpulauce. By a Member of the Royal
College of Surgeons.

ANCIENT WILTSHIRE.
This day was published,
Price Pour Cluineas small, and Sit Guineas large Paper.
THE SECOND PART of the HISTORY of
ANCIENT WILTSHIRE; comprehending the Stations
of WILT and AMESBURY t the former abounds in British Anti-
quities, and the latter includes the celebrated Temple of Stone-
henge. This Part is illustrated by numerous Plates of Antiquities,
and accurate Plans.
By Sir RICHARD COLT HOARE, Bart.
Published by William Miller, Albemarle-strut.
where may he had,
The FIRST PART of the above Wash; comprising the Stations
of Stourton, Warminster, and Heytesbury.

PARLIAMENTARr PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF LORE'S, MAY 24.
Their Lordships met at about half-past one, in a Committee
of Privileges, and sat until half-past six, on the Berkeley Peerage,
when, after the examination of several witnesses and various ob
servations from the Attorney and Solicitor-Generals, the ferther
considerailon was adjourned till Monday.
Several Bills were brought up from the Commons and read the
Sot time and Public Bills; among them were the Canada Rum
Importation, the Isle of Man Customs, the Timber Duties Re-
gulation, the Isle of Man Sheep, and the Irish Wine Prixage
Abolition Bills.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL called the attention of their Lord-
ships to a vote which had passed in another piste, bestowing on I
an individual a portion of the public money, contrary to the opi-
!don of their Lordships, formerly expressed, respecting the just
claims of that individual ; and he int:mated that the subject having
by hi, Majesty's Ministers, been subteh ted to the consideration
of the Prince Regent, his Royal Highness had signified his desire
that it should undergo a further Parliamentary discussion before
he should give his unction to it.
The Earl of RADNOIt expressed his satisfaction at what the
Noble Secretary of State had communicated.
• The Earl of LAUDERDALE complained of a Breach of Pri-
vilege which had been committed by some persons in sending
circular letters to their Lordships, animadverting on the proceed-
ings of a Committie of their Lord itips• House.
(Here Earl MoßroN moved, that Strangers be ordered to
withdraw, which was accordingly done.]
•
•

- .
CWIIIIS AL LAWS.
The order of the day being read on the.subject of
the Criminal Law Amendment 81113 broUght up from
the Commons,
Lord HOLLAND rose to move the second read.
ing of the first of the fide bills, (that respecting the
•stealing in a dwelling-honse.) His Lordship, after
some prefatory observations, and apologisingfor
ing their attention to this subject, after their fatiguit*
attendance that day on the case of the Berkeley Peer.
atte, and in so thin a House, entered into a brief ie- I
view of the origin, object, and history, of the lases
which these Bills, one of which was more immedi
ately before them, sought to repeal. He argued at
some length that they had by no means answered the
object they had in view ; that they were framed and
passed under peculiar circumstances, but that the
stream of experience manifested the necessity of their
abrogation. His Lordship then proceeded to shew
the inefficacy of the laws as they at present stood, for
the prevention of offences, and the striking contradic-i
non between them and the practice. Either the prac-
tice should be assimilated to the law, severe as tlte •
law was, or the law to the practice. He contended,,
that the certainty of punishment was a better nicale
of preventing crime, than the severity of laws which
humanity and justice prevented the execution of.— II
That certainty could only be obtained by a lower
standard of punishment, since r xpct ienco proved that t,
the prosecutor, the witness, the jury, and the judge,!
were all influenced and diverted from the strictness i
of the law by the existing. statutes. The Jury, from
their humanity, had been known, even where a ten-1
pound note had been proved to have been stolen, to.
have returned a verdict of stealing below the amount
of 40s. The dreadful punishment of death was held
out, but the practice shewed 4.14 it was seldom in-,
flicted. It W 4% %Aida that, notwthitalfding the severe

ctonstances of aggravation intending the commission
of the offences specified in the Bills, which might
render it proper that an example should he made,
though undoubtedly there had been but few inst ince'
of the sort. Almost the universal opinima of those
who were engaged in the administration of criminal
justice was against the Bill, and this, adikd to the
doubts which existed in his mind as to its practical
utility, should induce him to vote against it.
Lord ERSKINE confessed, that there were dim-
culties oa both sides. Suppose that out of 100 persons
capitally convicted nadcrany particular class of crimes,
50 or 60 were executed, he should.say, that th:s affor-
ded a sufficient proof of the policy of that law whirl
enacted the capital punishment. But, on the other
hand, suppose that out of 1000 capital convictions,
only one person was executed, this afforded a strong
presumption that the offence ought not to he capi-
tal. This was precisely the case w• WI the en ictment
which the Bill pr posed to repeal, and therefore
thinking that there should be a I.C. le of punishments
in some degree proportioned to the nature of off:acts,
he should support the Bill.
Lord REDESDA LE, and the Earl of LIVER-
POOL, shortly nnnogNi '11.; Bill.
Lord HOLLAND replied; after which a division
took place, and the second reading was negat,ved by
27 against 10.
Three out of the fire Bills . were thus thrown (iv%
and the two remaining Bills with regard to stealing
from bleaching grounds in Ireland, and England.
were read a second time, and ordered to ibe nomina-
-1 ted.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
A new writ was issued for the Borrorgh of Haslemere, !, the
room of Robert Weed, Esq. be having accepted of the aituarioa
of. Clerk of the Ordnance.
Mr. IRVING
_presented an Amount of Sugars imported Lae
Crest Britain.-"--Ordered to Ile on the Table.
The Westminster Homing. Bill was read a second time, rid
ordered' into a Select Commktoe.
• The Loan Bill went throosh a Committee of the whole House.
the Report of which was ordered to be received tomm-row.
Sir 1. NEWPORT presented a Petition from the Macho%
and Tradesmen of the City of Waterford, praying an amendment
in Me Banbeept Laws; the Podolia was read, and ordered to he
ers 'the Table.
Mr. 11:18141NOTON brought up the Report of the &cheque
Dills' Biß for robing the sums of gillatoll,ooll sad .14500,001.—
Ordered to be engrossed and reed add time to-morrow.
Mr. LUSHINGTON brought up the Report' of the Bill far
Abolisleng the Customs Sop renovation Pond. Ordered to be en.
grated, and repd a td time to-morrow.
Mr. LUSHING I ON brought up ;be Report of the Spirit Di.
ties' Rill. Ordered to be sogroued, and reds third time to-
morrow.
Sir G. HILL brought up a Bill for the better Regulation c!
Workhouses and County Infirmaries in Ireland.—Read a first at
ordered to be read aAecond time to-morrow.
- .Tbe Rock Salt Bill was read a wend time, and.ordered to be
committed to-morrow.
• The frisk Election Bill was read a second dene,and erderei to
be committed on Wednesday new.
The Verdlgrease Outlet' Bill went through a Committee of the
whsle Hesse, the Report of which was ordered to be received

iwadiorrwr.
The Nava Scotia Awn DM wow &rough a Committee of tbs
whole House, the Iltepart of whirls was ordered to be received

telmornitir
. •
Sir W. CURTI& pee nodes that on Monday nest, he would
move for lenseto beim in a EA respecting Coal and Cora Meets,
to Indsibnift fteVsOnillildlifillfilkotreotes through ignorance of
at law:. •
SIR. PALMED'S CLAD&
Lord,JOHN THYNNE reported at the Bar that
his Royal- Highness the .PIRINea REGENT hid been
waited on with the Address of.that .tionse, and-was
pleased to answer, that be would make-the Grant
when Parliament should hive provided the necessary
means for the same,
COTTON WOOL DUTY SILL.
- On the order of the day being read for the Haase
to-go into a Committee on this -bill,
Mr. ROSE said, that he wished to yield to the opi-
nion of-the people of Lancashire, who conceived that
this tax would be injurious to the Manufacturers ;
and said, he was ready to abandon the tax. He,
therefore, moved bi put of the Committed', it 3 months.
Sir ft. PEELE.exprassed great satisfaction at the
determination of-the Right Hon, Gentleman.
Mr. WHITBREAD expressed his sentiments to
the same effect.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, he had seen letters from Lancashire, expressiiig
sentiments extremely hostile to this measure ; and,
therefore, though he did not himself agree with them,
he yielded to their remonstrance's, and was ready to
give up the measure. He Wished also to state, that
the supplies for the year were already so abundant,
that he did not think ii necessary to introduce „r.y
new t iz. (Hear, hear.)
The Order was then put off for three months. The
bill, therefore, is lost.
PeN3lt LAWS AMENDMENT DILL.
Mr. LOCKHART moveslthe order of the d ir fo!
the House going into a Committee upon this B.
Kr. MORRIS argued against the priociple of :he
bill, which he thought would be most oppre.s; t.•
poor, without being a relief to the parishes. He 61,), 7h:
the spirit of the law should rather be to exteni ti..n
tolimit the facility of acquiring settlements. NV: .1
it was known that it was necessary to rent rrrro,e,
at the yearly value of RIO from one landlord, " ''•
tain a settlement, there was great danger Ciat t!.e
landlords would not give leases to the piwir of
noises to that amount, for fear they might become
alkensome on the parish.
Mr. LOCKHART said, the object of the law
in -favour of the poor, that they might have m,.t.!
comfortable habitations. He did not conceive tie
landlords would act in the manner the Hon. Geode.
'man supposed. He knew, however, that the Lt.:•
men very generally gave less wages tlit in vias noi-
cessary for the support of the labourers, I•nhec
ciliation that part of their support must come tt. ra
the patish. Tlie object of the Bill was certainly to
provide more for the settled than the casual p
the diferent parishes.
• iA conversation then ensued, in which Mr.lViistiv,
Mi. Hoanaa, and Mr. GIDDY took a part.
Sir. S—ROMILLY objected to the Bill, as perre•
mating the spirit of the Settlement Laws, and t 11.1:
spirit was, to make every parish conceive that it
.1.1.!
an interest distinct from every other, and to go e ail •ic•
%dal liinrirance totheheneficialemployment
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIII.II2I
applauded the system of the Poor Laws. 'ft,.
tcx ha 4 flourished under them. They were tst•t• •
133 the time of Elizabeth; and they gave the ••v
stance of charity being ingrafted urn law. 'I
Wee, benefie4l to the :country,, because Or •
'4,4104 flourished slaw the Feign pf