Star.
London, England, 1811-02-22 00:00:00

'Peal se Much of the act ot lbth and Ilth off` Wilitith
1111. as takes away the benefit of clergy frothpersons
privately stealing from ships; warehouses, coach-
I houses, or stable:a. On the question being put,
the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER,
6snsidering the gemmds stated by his Honourable and
.Learned Friend' for bringing forward. these measures
satisfactory, did not mean to oppose the motion.—
However he might differ from his Honourable Friend
on other points, he 'Ave him full credit from his long
tiquaintance with hub, for having brought forward
thew motiOns• on.a conviction. of their propriety. He
thought, ho9rtver, that .his 'Honourable and Learned
Friend-appeared to be'rather prejudiced in favour of
his measures', when he stated the increased number
of convictions for.privately stealing from the person
last year, ai deeisive proof of the beneficial effect of
the bill pasted last session. • To his own mind this
was eqtairocal ; as the number of convictions might
have arisen from the increased hardihood of the cul-
prits, and the greater facility of proof. He had no
objection, however,to the measure, though he might
to the principle, if it developed itself in a more ques-
tionable shape. .
Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY explained, that he felt
n 6 prejudice on the subject. The proofs he had stated
of the beneficial effect of the act of last Session were,
that a greater number of commitments, and a greater
number of convictions for privately stealing from the
person, had taken place since 1808 than before.
Mr. DAVIES GIDDY had opposed the former
Bills, from apprehension, that the principle would be
pushed further ; but should feel disposed now to sup-
port these particular measures. He did not think the
HOU. and Learned Gentleman had any right to claim
more huttanity than any other Honourable Member.
For himself, he felt that he had as much humanity as
any nun, thou in other respects he would enter
'into no competition with the Hon. and Learned Gen-
tleman.

PO . NSONBY thought his Hon. and Learned
Friend had been misunderstood. He did not take
credit to himself for more feeling and more humanity
than were possessed by other Gentlemen, but it hav-
ing been argued that the principle on which his Mo-
tion was grounded was more objectionable than the
individual proposition submitted to the House, from
the extent to which it might be carried, he had now
stated it to be his intention to confine himself to the
measures he had announced, and not to push the prin-
ciple to a dangerous length.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL observed, his Ho-
nourable and Learned Friend had stated there had
been a greater number of prosecutions since the pass-
ing of his Bills than before, and thence inferred, that
witnesses and prosecutors came forward more readily,
from a knowledge that the offence of which individu-
als were accused, was not to be punished by death,'
and that hence much benefit was derived to the corn-
munity. This circumstance, which had been so brought
forward, he thought extremely equivocal. From a sa-
lutaryhteasnre he should have hoped that such offences
would less frequently have occurred, but when it was
found that they were more numerous than formerly, the
trials at least (which was one proof of the number of
[offences committed), he should be inclined to draw
an inference very different from that drawn by his
Honourable and Learned Friend, and fear that instead
of good theinesnure had been productive of evil. But
then the Hon. and Learned Gentleman had said, how
'was his second assertion to be answered, that of those
tried a number had been convicted ? To this
he d reply, that the taking away the distinction
'respecting privately stealiag, and making the effect
the same whether the theft came under that denomi-
Ination or not, might give greater facility to convic-
Ition. It was difficult to get correct information on
the subject as to the causes which had led to the ef-
fect spoken of by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman.
It could only be procured from those who were most
concerned ih trying for that species of offence. Of-
fenders of the description alluded to, pick-pockets,
&c. might well be supposed to be most numerous in
London and its vicinity, and those before whom such
cases were decided, most competent to decide on the
question, whether or not that species of crime had di-
minished. He was sorry to say that on inquiry, he
found those who had most experience, were of opinion,
that the number of such offences was not diminished,
but was become more frequent than before from its
being known they were no longer punished by death.
This he had been told, and this he really believed was
the state of the case, as he feared it would be found
on inquiry by hisfrion and Learned Friend.
Sir S. ROMILLY, in explanation, said, acting as
he -did, he considered himself strictly as doing his
duty. He had no pretensions to more humanity than
others; he had never proposed the measure merely on
the ground of humanity ; and he claimed no merit
but that of doing hit dc(ty.

Leave was given toliringin the
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