§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE DUKE OF RICHMOND, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, it had already passed through the House of Commons; and its object was to provide that in future all executions of criminals shall take place within the walls of prisons. The subject had been thoroughly considered by a Royal Commission who had recommended that a Bill to this effect should be introduced. A Committee, of which a right rev. Prelate who presides over the diocese of Oxford was Chairman, had come to a similar conclusion. It was believed that, instead of public executions doing good or operating as a deterrent among criminals, the revolting scenes which, on many occasions, took place before the gallows, especially in the metropolis, did considerable harm, and ought to be prevented. The Bill provided that in future all executions of criminals should take place within the walls of the prisons, in the presence of the sheriff and others who were named, that the prison surgeon should certify the death of the criminal, and that a coroner's inquest should be held upon the body.
§ LORD CRANWORTHexpressed his approval of the principle of the Bill, which he hoped would put a stop to the Saturnalia which occurred on the occasion of every execution in the metropolis.
LORD HOUGHTONalso expressed his satisfaction at such a measure being likely to become law, he having had the honour on several occasions of bringing the subject of public executions, with their evil consequences, before the House of Commons.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.