STATE PAPERS. 



3.57 



that have been submitted to their 

 investigation, indistinct and sepa- 

 rate heads. They have, therefore, 

 thought tit to divide the general 

 question of pohce, and to lay before 

 the House the result of their in- 

 quiries upon two of the most im- 

 portant branches of their investi- 

 gation. 



First, Tlie consideration of the 

 system of parliamentary rewards. 



Secondly, That of the establish- 

 ment of })enitentiary prisons. 



It appears, that early in the 

 reign of William and Mary, an 

 act was passed for encouraging the 

 apprehension of highwaymen ; in 

 which it is enacted, " That all and 

 eveiy person and persons who shall 

 apprehend and take one or more 

 such thieves or robbers, and shall 

 prosecute until he or they shall be 

 convicted of the robbery, such 

 person shall receive from the she- 

 riff of the county where such rob- 

 bery and conviction shall be made 

 and done, without paying any fee 

 for the same, for every such of- 

 fender so convicted, tl»e sum of 

 40/. within one month after such 

 conviction and demand made, by 

 tendering a certificate to the said 

 sheriff, under the hand of the judge 

 or justices before whom such felon 

 or felons shall be convicted, certi- 

 fying the conviction of the same ; 

 and also that such felon or felons 

 were taken by the person or per- 

 sons who claim the reward." This 

 princi})le was further extended by 

 various acts. 



By the (ith and 7th William III. 

 ch. 17, ejitituled, "An act to jue- 

 vent counterfeiting and cli|)ping 

 the coin of this kingdom," 40l. 

 upon con\iction of every person 

 «ho have counterfeited the coin, 

 or clipping, &c. the same; or shall 



bring into the kingdom any dipt 

 or counterfeit coin. 



By the .5th Anne, cap. 31, enti- 

 tuled, "An act for the encourag- 

 ing the discovery and apprehen- 

 sion of housebreakers," 40/. upon 

 the conviction of every burglar or 

 housebreaker. 



By the l-lth Geo. II. cap. 6, in- 

 tituled, "An act to render the laws 

 more effectual for the preventing 

 the stealing and destroying of 

 sheep and other cattle," 10/. upon 

 the conviction of e\'ery sheep- 

 stealer, &c. 



By the 15th Geo. II. cap. 2S, 

 entituled, "An act for the more 

 effectual preventing the counter- 

 feiting the current coin of this 

 kingdom, and the uttering or pay- 

 ing false or counterfeit coin," 40/. 

 upon the conviction of any person 

 of treason or felony relating to the 

 coin, upon this act j and 10/. upon 

 conviction for counterfeiting cop- 

 per money. 



By the' 16th Geo. II. cap. 1.5, 

 entituled, "An act for the more 

 easy and effectual conviction of 

 oftendeis found at large within the 

 kingdom of Great Biitain, after 

 they have been ordered for trans- 

 pojtation, before the expiration of 

 the term for which they were or- 

 dered to be transported." 



These various acts form a part 

 of the law of the land at the pie- 

 sent moment; and the sums of 

 money which are thus paid in the 

 way of encouragement to the ap- 

 prehension and conviction of of- 

 fenders has risen from 7,lT0l., 

 which was the amount in 1798, to 

 that of 1B,000/. which was ])aid 

 for the purpose in 1S15. Your 

 conunittee are of opiiiion that this 

 fiystem of parliamenlary lewurds 

 for the conviction of olienders is 



uf 



