§ Mr. S. Rice moved for leave to bring in a bill for the repeal of the capital punishments attached to the commission of certain offences in Ireland. The crimes from which be proposed to remove capital punishments were, stealing privately in a shop; the forcible abduction of women; and the concealment of effects by bankrupts. He also proposed to repeal certain laws against witchcraft. It was right, he observed, that the punishment of crimes should, in every instance, be as conformable as possible to public opinion; and in Ireland: this was particularly necessary, where there existed such a disposition to prosecute for many capital offences, and such a horror of informers.
§ Leave was given to bring in the bill.