§ Mr. John Smithpresented a Petition from three individuals whose names and character need but be named to be known as amongst the highest in the commercial world. The Petition was for the abolition of the punishment of death for the Forgery. The first name to the Petition was that of Mr. Rothschild, the greatest merchant in the world, and one through whose hands more Bills of Exchange passed than through those of any twenty firms in London. The second was that of the firm of Overend, Gurney, and Co., through whose hands bills of Exchange to the amount of 30,000,000l. passed last year; and the third was that of Mr. Sanderson, a Bill-broker, and also a Member of the House. He was himself convinced of the impolicy of punishing this crime with death, and declared that, with respect to himself, many instances had occurred on which he would not prosecute, because of the penalty of death. He, however, was of opinion that transportation to New 709 South Wales was no adequate punishment, because the man who could defraud the public of 8,000l., or 10,000l. might have that transmitted there, and live in luxury. The punishment ought to be one infamous, degrading, and uniformly applied.
§ Petition laid on the Table.