HL Deb 07 July 1834 vol 24 cc1221-2
Lord Suffield

, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said, that its object was to abolish the practice of hanging criminals in chains —a practice unsuited to the present state of public feeling. Indeed, he was at a loss to find any reason for continuing such a practice, the only effect of which was, that of scaring children, and brutalizing the minds of the people. It could produce no good moral effect whatever. The object of the Bill was to repeal so much of the law as gave the option to Judges in England and Ireland to hang the bodies of certain criminals in chains, and to direct, instead, that they should be buried within the precincts of the prison. If there must be vengeance on the judgments of the law, surely burying the bodies within the precincts of the prison was carrying that vengeance as far as it ought to be pursued. The noble Lord concluded by moving the second reading of the Bill, which was agreed to.