§ Mr. F. Buxtonon presenting Petitions from Darlington, Kirk by Kendall, and Kings-bridge, against the severity of the law against Forgery, even as it was proposed to be amended, said that he did not mean to make any observations on the subject, but he begged leave to read the following extracts of letters from highly respectable bankers:—
Sunderland Bank, April 21st, 1830.The inefficacy of the existing law is most glaring, and bankers, who, perhaps, see more infractions of this law than all others put together, have long and keenly felt upon this subject. Between fifty and sixty years have elapsed since our first establishment, and dining the whole of this period, although numberless forgeries have passed under our observation, yet in no instance, excepting one, have we dared to prosecute, because we should have hazarded the life of a fellow creature; and in that one instance two individuals in all probability would have forfeited their lives, but for our withholding the fatal evidence.Banbury Bank, April 21, 1830.If the Home Secretary were made acquainted with the sentiments of the banking interest generally on this subject, he possibly might be induced to propose a less sanguinary punishment for offences of this description."Wakefield, Yorkshire, April 23, 1830.I am largely interested, as a banker, in the West Riding of this county, in the towns of Wakefield, Done aster, and Pontefract. After a long experience I can declare, that I shall rejoice to see the new law with milder penalties, conceiving myself now placed out of the protection of law, as I feel it impossible to prosecute offences where such a penalty is assigned.