of Insolvent Debtors; and the third had for its object to provide for the recovery of Small Debts, upon the constitutional principle of legal practice, namely, the intervention of a Jury. The first had passed that House, but had been sent to the other so late that it could not be passed there before the prorogation. The second had not passed that House; and the third had been merely offered to their consideration. In the hopes that this last would be brought forward in another place, where it might be more convenient that it should commence, he would not at present press it upon the attention of their Lordships. With respect to the Bill for the relief of Insolvent Debtors, he would now submit that to the House. He had to a certain extent now modelled it, but not very materially. His object was to establish a single officer to give him a Court-aud entrust him with the administration of the whole law on that subject. Some might differ with him as to the number: but the more be considered the subject, the more he was inclined to prefer a single Judge. But as there might be grounds for appeal, he proposed that there should be a Court of Appeal for this single purpose, consisting of one Judge from each of the Courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas, and. Exchequer, to be appointed by these Courts themselves; which would secure the attention to the convenience of the Courts, and to the due execution of this duty, while it would keep the whole within the principles of the established law. The Bill, he stated, had been framed upon the various bills brought forward for the relief of insolvent debtors, adopting the princi ple of the law of cessio bonorum as it was established in Scotland, Holland, and other places. He moved the first reading of the Bill, to enlarge the sum for which a person could be arrested for debt on mesne process.

Lord Moira could not allow this opportunity to pass without remarking how much the country was indebted to the Noble and Learned Lord, for the attention he had paid to this subject. Certain he was that there was no other subject upon which his talents and industry could be employed more important to the interests of the community, and he was happy that he had called the attention of the House to it in this early period of the Session.

Lord Holland also congratulated the House, that this measure had been so early brought forward-for he was convinced there was nothing so disgraceful to the justice of this country as the state of the law between creditor and debtor. VOL. II.-1811. L

Some circumstances had come to his own knowledge-cirstances which, perhaps, he might at a future period bring before the House; so abominable-so revolting to the common feelings of justice and humanity, that when their Lordships were fully aware of them, it was impossible they could resist the conclusion, that something must be done. The subject was most important, too, as connected with the state of the prisons. Persons being sometimes, in direct opposition to the principle of the Habeas Corpus Act and of Gaol Delivery, confined in the Houses of Correction here, which were not liable to the gaol delivery, and remaining there from month to month, and, for any thing that was known, from year to year, without the benefit of investigation and trial. He was most happy that it had fallen to the lot of the noble and learned Lord to bring forward these bills. If the thing could have been effected by great knowledge, by powerful eloquence, and active humanity, it would have been done long ago by the efforts of his noble friend near him (Earl Moira). But he most cordially agreed with the noble and learned Lord in this, although he differed from him on most subjects, and he rejoiced that the matter had fallen into his hands. That noble and learned Lord had certainly not been subjected to the imputation of a love of innovation, which had often been the answer to the most important improvements, when coming from a different quarter. He hoped that to him, at least, no such objection would be made, and that at last the measure would succeed. The subject was one of the very greatest importance, and there was no way in which their Lordships could raise themselves to such an advantageous height in public opinion, as by a strict attention to measures calculated to promote the welfare and happiness of the community. He hoped the noble and learned Lord would persevere, and not suffer himself to be decoyed by others, to put off this measure, under any pretence, to the close of the Session, when it might possibly be, for the present, entirely defeated.

The Bills relative to Arrests, and to the relief of Insolvent Debtors, were then read a first time, and ordered to be printed.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENTS IN REVENUE CASES.

Lord Grenville could not help congratulating the House on the manner in which public business was now brought forward there. Instead of waiting, as forme rly, in listless

inactivity, till it was brought before them all at once, at the pleasure of the Minister of the Crown towards the close of the Session, when it was utterly impossible that their Lordships could discharge their duty to their own satisfaction. He was happy, however, that now measures of the greatest importance had been brought under their consideration at this early period of the session. It was on the same principle that be thus early called their attention to another subject of much interest, though of less importance, perhaps, than those which had already been submitted to their consideration. It would probably be recollected, that two years ago, he had moved for an order upon the Judges to prepare a bill for consolidating into one Act, all the offences subjected to capital punishment for breach of the Revenue Laws. A custom had been introduced of enacting the infliction of capital punishments in new Bills with reference to old laws, many of them, perhaps, not generally known. It was to put an end to this shocking custom that their Lordships had made the order to which he referred, with the further intention that no future imposition of the penalty of death should be permitted, unless the offence for which it was to be inflicted should be at the same time clearly and distinctly stated. The Judges had prepared the Bill, and discharged their duty. Their Lordships had appointed a Committee to investigate the business, but he was afraid his own illness had prevented the matter from being brought to a conclusion. He now therefore moved, "That a similar Committee should be appointed, to ascertain what provisions were necessary to be continued and enacted, in regard to this subject-that the Bill prepared by the Judges should be referred to them, as well as the proceedings in the former Committee that the same Lords should constitute the Committee-and that it should meet on Wednesday;"-all which were agreed to. Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY, FEB. 18.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENTS.

Sir S. Romilly gave notice, that he should on Thursday submit to the consideration of the House a proposition on the subject of Capital Punishments; also on the subject of Penitentiary Houses. Sir Samuel then moved, that an hum

ble Address be presented to his royal highness the Prince Regent, requesting that he would be pleased to order that there be laid before the House an Account of the number of Prisoners ordered to be transported to New South Wales since the last return.-Ordered.

CRIMINAL INFORMATIONS. EX-OFFICIO.

Lord Folkestone gave notice that he should, on an early day, move that there be laid before the House the number of Informations filed ex-officio by the Attorney-General since the date of the Act authorising that mode of proceeding. He had come down to the House day after day, expecting to have seen the Attorney-General in his place, intending to have put to him a question as to a person who had been lately convicted of buying guineas at more than the usual rate or value; and to this subject also he should take an early, opportunity of calling the attention of the House.

IRELAND. CONVENTION BILL.

Mr. Ponsonby rose to put a question to the right honour. able gentleman opposite, on a subject which he conceived to be at this moment of the most vital import to the British Monarchy. The subject to which he alluded, was the state of Ireland, and the matter to which he wished more immediately to call the attention of the House, was a paper purporting to be a letter from the Chief Secretary of Ireland to the Sheriffs and Chief Magistrates of that part of the kingdom, relative to the meeting or calling together of the people of that country. The question which he wished to put to the right honourable gentleman on this subject, was, if before the step alluded to in that letter had been resorted to, the pleasure of the Prince Regent had been taken on the subject; and if the documents had been communicated to the Prince Regent, which, in the opinion of Ministers, justified them in resorting to such a step? He did not wish to press the business at present, and should not now urge it beyond the explanation he had applied for.

Mr. Perceval said, he could have no difficulty, nor even the slightest objection to give the answer demanded of him by the right honourable gentleman opposite. The letter alluded to by the right honourable gentleman was as new to him (Mr. Perceval) on Thursday last, as it could have been to the right honourable gentleman on Friday. Not only was such a step on the part of the Irish Government perfectly

unknown to him (Mr. Perceval) and his colleagues on this side of the water, but they were, till Thursday last, entirely ignorant that the meeting referred to in the letter had assumed that character or appearance to render it necessary to resort to such a step. Having said so much, it was not necessary for him to go farther, than simply to state, that though the Government of Ireland had thought it necessary to proceed under the authority of the Convention Act, he (Mr. Perceval) and his colleagues in England had no doubt that they had acted with a wise and prudent discretion. Having said this, it would be superfluous to add, that no knowledge or concurrence of the Prince Regent could have been had on the subject; nor had any previous consent been given by him to the issuing of the letter in question.

Mr. W. Ward asked if it was the intention of Ministers to lay before the House any document to satisfy them of the propriety of the conduct adopted by the Irish Government in this emergency? Was it their intention, for instance, to submit to the consideration of the House the letter of Mr. W. Pole on this subject?

Mr. Perceval said he could have no objection to any gentleman's moving for the production of the letter alluded! to, if he thought it material.

Mr. Ward gave notice that he should move for said letter on Thursday next.

Mr. Hutchinson asked, if the Government in this country, after they understood that such orders as those alluded to had been issued by the resident Government of Ireland, had done any thing, or what had they done, to remove any misconception that might have arisen as to its being the intention of Government to prevent meetings of the inhabitants of Ireland to complain of grievances? It had been his intention to move for the repeal of the Convention Laws. He should not now give notice of any motion on the subject; but if the same impression remained on his mind as that which he at present entertained, he should do so on an early day.

Mr. Giles gave notice of a motion, on an early day, relative to the Militia.

IMPEACHMENT OF MINISTERS.

Mr. Whitbread stated that he should, on Monday next, bring forward so much of his motion of which he had