HC Deb 17 February 1809 vol 12 cc804-5
Sir Joint Newport

rose pursuant to notice, to move for leave to bring in a Bill to render the Embezzlement of Public Money, by any collector, agent, or other person entrusted to receive the same, felony without benefit of clergy. Not anticipating any objection to the Bill, he felt it unnecessary to trouble the house at any length now. He found, so long since as the 29th of his late majesty, a Bill had passed, to render it felony without benefit of clergy, for any person employed in the collection of public monies in Ireland, to embezzle any sum above 50l. That Bill, however, had become obsolete, and was not sufficient to answer the objects of this Bill, which was to carry the law further, and to reach the principal as well as the deputy officers entrusted with the receipt of the public money. He therefore moved for leave to bring in the Bill.

The Speaker

suggested to the right hon. baronet, that the regular course of proceeding in such cases, was to move for leave to bring in a Bill for the better prevention of frauds and embezzlements in such cases, and leave it for the Committee on the Bill to insert the punishment to be inflicted on offenders.

Sir John Newport

amended his motion.

Mr. Foster

wished to apprize the right hon. baronet that he had a Bill in contemplation, which he intended shortly to introduce, and which, besides embracing all the objects of the Bill now proposed, would extort much further. He therefore wished the right hon. baronet to postpone the introduction of his Bill until the other should come before the house: if, however, he wished to persevere, there would be no negative to his motion.

Sir John Newport

said, it would be time enough to withdraw his Bill, when he should find that his objects were answered by the Bill now announced. It had been already provided by a regulation, that no greater sum should remain in the hands of any collector than 300l., notwithstanding which, it was found that there had been left in the charge of one officer upwards of 30,000l.; and recently, the collector of Cork, Mr. O'Connor, had embezzled 23,000l.

Sir Arthur Wellesley

admited that the collector of Cork had embezzled this sum; but it was the collection of only one week; and he eloped at the moment that a commissioner was sent down to enquire the reason of his delaying his payments.— Leave was given to bring in the Bill.