"It is more than probable that severe flagellation, such as military codes prescribe, would prove infinitely more formidable in detering villainy: and it is, at least, worth the experiment of a statute, which costs nothing, to try whether the penalty of 500, or 1000 lashes, which would not cost the country one shilling, would not prove a stronger barrier against larcenies, and clergyable felonies, than transportation to Botany Bay, at the enormous expense of £60 or 80 per man, which operates in reality as a heavy penalty on the Republic of honest men, and a bounty on villainy. Besides, have we not copper mines, coal mines, canals, and other such places of employment, at home, for those criminals, which, at present, alienate the husbandmen, and honest labourers of the country, from the business of agriculture. The labour of criminals, in this way, would prove a benefit to the country, and some compensation to the State, their crimes had injured."—(Times, Sept. 9, 1795.)
"The Calamities of War. Amongst the distresses it has occasioned, it is a lamentable fact, that five Attornies have been deprived of an honest livelihood, and have actually entered as foremast men, on board a frigate in the Thames."—(Times, Nov. 2, 1795.)
"The Lord Chancellor was occupied on Friday, and Saturday, with hearing an important cause. Earl Pomfret v. Sir Ch. Turner.
"It respects a very valuable lead mine, in the vale of Arkinghall, Yorkshire. Such is the expedition of our laws, that this cause has lasted only ninety three years, being first instituted in the year 1703!!!"—(Times, Apr. 12, 1796.)
"The King v. Middleton.
"The defendant was convicted of enticing a number of Artificers from this country, to go to Kentucky in America; a rule was afterwards obtained, to shew cause why the judgment should not be arrested, for reasons, which appeared insufficient to the Court. That Rule therefore, was discharged, and the Defendant received judgment according to the Statute, that is, he was ordered to pay a fine of £500, and to be confined in Newgate for the space of one year."—(Times, June 10, 1796.)
"On Saturday John Paviour (one of these persons called Bullock Hunters) was tried at the Old Bailey—for driving a bullock out of Smithfield Market, early on the morning of the 23rd May last and was found guilty—DEATH. It is hoped therefore, that this prosecution will greatly check, if not wholly put an end to that pernicious practice, by which not only the Property, but the lives of the Public are so much endangered, in and about this metropolis."—(Times, June 28, 1796.)
"The trial which was to have come on at the Assizes in York, concerning estates in Cleveland, for which a Special Jury was to be summoned, of four Knights, and their twelve Esquires, girt with swords, is deferred until next Assizes."—(Times, July 27, 1796.)
"Yesterday, a Jew was convicted at the Public Office Bow Street, for selling a hat, in the street, without a stamped lining, contrary to the late Act of Parliament, and was sentenced to be imprisoned for two months, in the House of Correction. Hatters selling Hats, without a stamped lining, are liable to the penalty of £10. In the above case, imprisonment is the only mode of punishment."—(Times, Sept. 3, 1796.)
"Certainly the number of Lawyers, which is only computed to be 20,000 in Great Britain, is not so much their fault, as our own. We can neither marry, nor die, without them: but then there is no living for them."—(Times, Sept. 28, 1796.)