Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-30
EOREKGN.

The attention of Mr.. Peel, il is known, has. fer
: long time past, been directed to the present state
of the Penal Code. In furtherance of this 90
Ject, there has been printing at the Government
Press series OF documents, styled g The Crimi
nal Code This Code contains digest of the
Judicial decisions; consolidation and condens,
ton OF the e2actmen's, the opinions of the text
writers; the law of Scotland and of France; sy-
gesons for the mendn,en of each particular liz g
OF the Criminal Law; paper containing the gene
raj principles that should govern in the formation
OF Code OF Criminal Jurisprud ence, and ascer
talning by comparison, In what particulars the En-
glsh system, first in the abstract, and then in re-
ia,ion to existing Gil circumstances, perfect or i'm
perfect; and the last portion, which the Code it
sell, reducing the common or uuwrittsn law 10
writing, and bringing the Criminal Jurisprudence
OF the country, Commos s. Statute, into a single
law. The PLAZA has been drawn up by a. Ham
nond, Esq, under the directions of the House Sc
crctary, snd rs at present privately crculA ting in
the differ ell, circuits.
The principles upon which this Digest has been
framed. are, First, An abstract is given, " hich
consists OF two branches Il. The general rule o.
exception which The case warrants; and, q The
reasons OF the rule or exception. Secondly, the
case is subjoned at length, to afford medium for
verifying Inc fidelity of the abstract; TO afford,
too, an illustration of the rule and to render un-
necessary any reference to the Reports
The distribution OF the contents of each article
is thus IL. A table OF contents. 9. A table of
the names of the ed or referred TO- IS. A
table OF the books and opinions cited. t. A table
OF the Statutes consolidated or referred to- g.
The Code itself, consisting of so many sections
The first section is entitled the Introduction and
is chiefly historical. The remaining sections. cx
cept the last, contain the digest of judicial deci-
SONS, and the consolidation of the enactments
ihe last section contains summary of the law
as contained in the preceding sections 6. The
verbal index OF reference. And, lastly, the A D.
peHdix, containing tue process by which the en-
actments have been consolidated, of which process
general explanation is contained in the Report
OF the Select Committee of the House of Com
mons on the Criminal Law of England, dated A
pril 2, 1924.
Besides this Code, there is a series of papers
called " The Consolidation of the Criminal Laws;
Offences against Property The distribution of
these documents has been the same as of those
printed by the Record Commission, with this diff
terence, that certain number of copies have been
allotted for the OF the profession, in the hope
that IT may occasion suggestions for The improve
ment OF the laws from as many sources posi-
bic. The copies have been placed in the hands of
the following gentlemen TO whom eacf, title as il
Is printed Off will he transmitted Mr. Edward
Gouburn, of the Midland Circuit; Mr. M'hIahon,
OF the Oxford Circuit MIR. Fl. Jaremy, of the
Western Circuit; Mr.. Joy of the Northern Circuit;
Mr. Abraham, of The Home Circuit; and Mr.
Hicks, OF the Norfolk Circuit in all SO copies of
each title.
The printing of the division of the Code, which
relates to offences against property is nearly fin
i.hed, and contains the following titles IL Bur.
SlarJ; 3 HOUSEKEEPING; 8. Church Robbng; A.
Simple Larceny; .. Robbery; 6. Receipt of
Stolen Goods; 7. Advertising foi Stolen Goods;
g. Taking Reward to help to Stolen Goods; 8
Fraud; 10. Coming; II. Forgery; ~. Mischief,
including Arson; 49, Restitution; IA Compensa-
ton; and 10. The Game Laws Another diyi.
sion will be sent to the press, entitled Procedure
understanding that term as generical, and apply
ing II TO the criminal mode of proceeding Tie
law OF procedure is the most important, the most
exsnsive, the most intricate, and, as il now stands
the most defective of the whole criminal law
Accordingly, the greatest pains have been taken
with this part OF the code, and The most sweeping
alterations suggested. 1t embraces as well the
t.Iyil as the criminal mode of business the two be
ing so intimately connected that it is impossible in
satisfactory manner, to treat of or TO reform Ell
ther by itself.
Besides the two divisions, offences against
property" and Procedure" there are two 9th
eFs, namely, I" offences against the person :" and
80 Offences against the State" From the exertions
which the Kings Printers have made, and from
fbe state OF the copy at present, it will not be
long before the whole truth IS in print And after
the completion OF these parts, Mr.. Hammond in
tends TO proceed with the Civil Law. in the sane
way. In the arrangement, primary objec, has
been not only to bring under view every thing that
been enacted by the legislature, decided by the
courts, and laid down by authoritative writers, but
so 10 arrange the matter, as TO suggest Tesdi-
iy, aud distinctly, the question, whether the
law shall remain in its present state, or undergo
alteration. To furnish ready mode Of sscerlain-
ing the doctrine upon any particular poin,, yer.
bal index has been subjoioed referring well TO
he body OF text Of the work as the notes below
ksciher Object in tLis arrangement has been 10