The Sun. — 1850-10-24 (London, England)

THE RIGHT HON. SIR GEORGE GREY BART., M.P., &c., &c.  Sir,—ln The Sun paper of the 17th inst., I observed a letter addressed to you, signed "Rigby Watson," which for its deep imperial import should be circulated through every vein of all our empire, because it recommends an awful experiment as an act of preventive justice--" that all persons should be transported for the first offence." I have not the honour of knowing the worthy writer, either personally or by reputation, but, from circumstances, infer that he is a gentleman and a scholar, and entitled to credence when he asserts his intention to be one of kindness to the prisoners. Be he right or wrong, 1 respect his moral courage, and will leave his conception, its consummation, and its consequences, to the estimate of every human heart, wherever that heart may beat and pour out the " Lord's Prayer" to Heaven.  The power which judges now have to transport for life for the second offence, should be, in his opinion, not discretionary, but imperative. As it is possible that these suggestions may lead to a Parliamentary narrowing of the meshes of the legislatorial web, I will respectfully submit to you, Sir, as a legislator and lawyer, the very intelligible and ingenious—some senses are so blunted as to believe it ingenuous—plan to make escape on the second offence hopeless, which has been long practised in Devon, with almost infallible success.  The certificate of former conviction, written on white paper, very frequently more spacious, consequently more attractive to the eye, is affixed to the face of the yellow parchment on which the bill is engrossed, and in this working state sent up to the grand jury, who, having doubtless well digested botb, return them to the court, whose officer opens them before the petty jury, who from practice will interpret the " rider ;" but lest they should notl he tells tbem, on arraignment, that the crime they have to try was committed after a former offence. I respect your judgment, Sir, and that of my country too deeply to offer a single comment on the consequences, for nature instinctively and intuitively recoils from its contemplation. th Legislatures are often colidemdod when the error is in the legal construction. Here, Sir, can be no doubt, though the law be disregarded by the Court ; there it stands, n monumentaseetionnlof of legislative 6 s enacts "that the reading of the statement of a former offence shalt 'be deferred until after the verdict of the petty jury." Why ? To prevent it from being prejudicial to the prisoner. ilaantidve7just lirinice. Is nvd., which lour. n To this aw I last week respectfully endeavoured to call the attention of Devon's Honourable Court of Quarter Sessions, of which the Hon. Lord Viscount Courtenay was Chairman, when I was, by his Lordship, rather peremptorily put down. which There are few circumstances under reflective comparisons will not afford to us some consolations;. for bad as things are, I prefer living, even in this and legal Bcetia, under the laws of a misguided those of a mad misguiding " Drake," rather than under and murderous "Draco." I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant,