§ Mr. Andrew Johnston presented a Petition from Kildare, praying for an Amelioration of the Criminal Code.
Mr. Lennardsupported the prayer of the petition. As an instance of the per- 951 nicious effects of the present law, he would mention the case of a banker upon whom a forgery had been recently committed, and who, rather than prosecute the guilty person, on account of the severity of the punishment, had suffered him to escape on paying 500l. to the Suffolk Hospital. It was absolutely necessary that some alteration should be made in the law, and he much regretted the accident which had prevented his hon. and learned friend from bringing forward his Bill yesterday. He hoped, however, that the Session would not pass without some amendment being made in the law.