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

THE RIGIIT 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 Wason," which for its deep imperial import should he circulated through every vein of 01 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 conceptinn, i!s consummation, and its consequences, to the estimate of every human heart, wherever that heart may beet 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, hut imperative. As it is possible that these suggesaions may lead to a Parliamentary narrowing of the nieses 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 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 w""e engrossed, and in this 1: -ng state sent up to thy-grand jury, who, having doubtless well digested both, return them 'to the court, whose efficer opens them before the petty jury, who from practice will interpret the " rider ;" but lest they should not, he tells them, nt on arraigeint, that the crime they have to try was committed after a former offence. country too deeply to offer a single I respect your judgment, Sir, and that of myh coraequences, for nafure instinctisely and intuitively recoils frorn its contemplation. Legislatures are often condemned when the error is in the legal construction. Here, Sir. can he no doubt, though the law be disregarded by the ; there it stands, a monument of legislative justice and flume. nits, in section 111 of the 6 and 7 Win. IV., which offence shell he deferred until after enacts " that the reading ( f the etattment of a former petty jury." Why ? To prevent if from being prejudicial tei the prisoner.. To this aw I last week respec call the attention I was, by his Lorddully ende evoured to root! I,l‘)he ec et :I sh lie ro; ontue.l itr'eLambvon)lerel'.'dnhdpCsivtreo. ietie i°fliasioTtreeliftcootttunihivoisEett. Quarter Seseione Courttnay was Sessions, When ship, rather peremptorily pilt down]. lcomparisonshre . e will eos living, even in this' underuuns(:°rm%which thosebcl.°e. of a mad for bad as things are, I prefer a misguided and i legal Beetle, under the laws o re sand murderous." Dre.co." honour to he, , chiortctizi,nfistrednc.t . _ guiding " Drake," rather rtahteher than Your obedient servant, CHARLES BIRD:  ANDSrp:::::::exel3reuit: impulse by a wondrous during develoo that