The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-03-03 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Accounts werepreototed reverting the East India Docks.
A number of Petitions were received from Tamer., Cur.
dere, mad Islonsencturem of Leather, in different pinee.
Aye wits presenicd Is, Sir F. FLOOD. from the fanners of
Foss Korth>. who, at the Lion. Bait. observed, stated their dib-
ifeffes ip angetving oastiocr.
Lord AL OR P ressuted two, from Towcester nod an-
other place its Sart hapopion.hirc.
FS Dlr. BEN NETT presented one from the Tanners of Elles-
mere. in Salop.
Others weir ingsected tints the Tanners of Newcastle-nano-
T4stte, Rridps.ri. Fdinbureb, the connotes of Sofillit anal Corn-
wall, Darlington, h..th shselds, nle- Moors, Ivneaster,
tke., all praying for the orpeal of the additional Danes on
Loather.
They were all ordered to lie on the table.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.

Mr. HART DAVIS presented a Petition from
certain Inhabitants of Bristol, signed by /0 persons,
preying for a Reform in the Representation of the
People in the Commons Horse of Parliament. He
had received a letter by which be was requested to
present it. The postscript to the letter mentioned,
that several hundred similar Petitions were in pre-
paration, and that it was expected them would be a
theusanti of them, each signed by 20 persona.
these thousand Petitions should arrive, he could
only say that he did not think they would eapreu
the sense of his tonstituents; those of whom he beat
knew had confidence in the wisdom of Parliament,
and were enemies to Radial Reform.—Ordered to
lie on the table.
Mr. PROTHEROE presented another Petition
from Bristol, signed by 20 persons, praying that all
males of age (ant being insaue or paupers) shoold
have the right of voting for Members of Parliament.
Ile could not nodert.rke to say bow many of the
people of Bristol were of this opinion; but he
thought the Petition was short, clear, arid peropi-
,cnous sod expressed the Ideas of the Pelltioners.—
lie bad Wilma always been • friend toe moderate
Parliamentary Reform, but could not be the Oita•
mated so great au alteration ea resprayed for.--
Yet be thought it right that the Petitioutts should

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lute a fair opportunity of expressing their opinions
Ito the Rosie.—Ordered to lie ou the table, sotto he
printed.
Gt4•LIGHTS.
'Mr. JOHN SMITH brosegPit •p the Report en.
She Nottingham Gas=lights.—Ordered to lie ea
7ITHE LAWS' AMENDMENT.
Mr. CURWEN proposed the second reading et
the Bill en Mondey next.
Mr. BROUGHAM observed that this Bill was of
great itaportanoo• to the country. He hoped there
would be no improper delay, end that the 14 reading
would be understood dearly as axed fur Marsisf, if
that day was appointed. Yet be would ask Ms .lisoti'.
'Friend whether Friday might not suit as ADO?
Mr..CURWEN heduo objection to Friday. H
wished to meatiest that it was not his ieteution to
press the fist part of the Bill. The second reading
was then ordered for Friday west.

WATER-WORKS.
Mr. M. A. TAYLOR. said he most notice a mat-
ter fairy important to the Public. Unless a remedy
was speedily put in prac,tice, he shoeld soon miike a
question with respect to the Water-works' Companies,
which bed pat themselves into a situation that called
for consideratiao in Parliament. The nbjest of his
motion would relate to a proper %apply of water in
cases of fire. Ha only, at present meant to gi►e a
roam! notice.
Mr. PHILIPS said, be should make the motiog
belied given notice of, eta more general nature.
PLNITENTIARV.
Accounts of Rules and Regulations of the Mill-
bank Penitentiary were presented.

POLIOE-OPFICERS' REWARDS. Ike.
The lion. Mr. BENNETT rose, porsusut to his
notice, to bring before the House the subject of the
Rewards given to Police:officers. He could have
wished that ibis question had been taken up and in-
trodoced by some legal Gentleman, who by profes-
sioual knowledge and experience would have been
better qualified than himself. However, he had at-
tended the Committee regularly and attentively, and
be knew the general opinion, lie should, therefore,
presume to trouble the House by moving for leave to
introduce a Bill, by which he hoped theeaisting
evils might in • degree be remedied. Reports WI this
subject had been a sufficient time in the hands of
Members. In moving for leave to bring its a Bill, it
was not his intention to take up the time of the
House. He should, however, notice a few particu-
lars. He considered that there could be no greater
objection to en existing state of the laws than this--
that they tended to encourage the tealaiwg up of per•
toes is the ovontaisaion of crimes by a send, till the
offenden arrived at a certain point and degree of
guilt. The practice ,prevailed of letting offenders
(juvenile ones for instance) roam at large arid com-
mit iniquities, till their crimes gave a certain Tallesto
the seizing of them; indeed till, as it was techtlicalty
called, they weighed 401.—(Ileac!]-occurrent.eiff
this sort were common. The evidence given to ire
Committee was fall of interest and information on this
.subject. The law was frequently strained in order to
carry convictions. Ile adverted to the evidence of a
most respectable Gentleman. M r. Shelton, the Clerk of
Arraigns on this point. There wet a practice exer-
cised in toe Police to employ Counsel to bring the
cases against the ,parties as close as possible. The
practice at present tended to the discrediting of wit.
nesses by Juries, and thereby, perhaps, criminals
esca.ped. The idea of receiving what was called
blood.,mooey hung like a stone around the necks of
such witnesses as received rewards. - A system of
conspiracy which now existed was of no new date.
It stimulated persons to the commission of offences.
lie adverted to trials which took place in 1780, which
would threw some light on the question. .1t had
been stated, (hit at least 70 persons bad been tried
through such means. There was a case in which a
man had been robbed voluntarily ; but the Judge
thought, to prove a robWy, force should be proved.
Two men engaged in these practices were very speedy
handled by the populace; one, he believed, was
killed, arid the other diiql afterwards. There were
cases ori this subject as tar hack as 1772. He then
mentioned the case of Pelham, Bruck, and Power,
&E., as proof of a pert of the system. Within a
flew days the case of two pedal*, had occurred,
which, from representations, had properly led to a
suspension of the operation of the criminal laws,
atom 1. well-founded sospicion (though not quite so
Vein as in the case of Brock, &c.) . But the case of
Spicer and Kelly was nearly Winder in the circum-
stances. From all the information he had been able
to collect, it was not too much for him to say, that
the system had long been going on. and that it con.
filmed from day to day, and that its object was to
put money into the pockets of the Qffice,s. Ile
wished to propose a Bill to repeal this system of re-
wards. with certain exceptions. He did. not. ftle4ll
to abolish Tyburn Tickets, but be did not approve
.of the sale of them. lie did not wish to take away
the 401. given to the emersion; of persons. killed in
the pursuit or apprehension of highwaymen, or other
offenders. He mentioned certain Acts, parts ofl
. which it was hieehjectte do away. Ile was desirous
.ref a clause le authorize Courts of Jestice to assign
payments of wooer for the ea peaces of witnestiesti
.4c. iw cases of felony, &c. He wished. to *heel
.the Present practice% by giving the Courts a better
.power of apportioeing money for eepeects. Be
would not, in that sage, troeble the House further ;
,but be most say that this' question of blood-money
was repugnant to the feelings of thweouotr7.- It'
.was not possible for him. to say whether tit, House
,would agree with his opinions, Or not. if leave was
iven to bring in the Bill, then coker opporut Mae.%
Frould arise.for.discussiret its principles and troteits,...
Therefore he sheik! *content himself with rioting
for leati to intrados.. Bill to repeal. end. amend

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