NOTE NN. fxxv] 



ing from the person ? Answer. The Recorder. The effect of 

 the act of last sessions, in my opinion, has been to increase the 

 number of offenders, and consequently the number of convic 

 tions. The Common Serjeant. I have not observed any bene 

 ficial effect as yet, resulting to the public from the repeal of the 

 8 Eliz. c. 4. which took away the benefit of clergy from the 

 offence of privately stealing from the person. 



Question II. Has it been found by experience that the num 

 ber of pickpockets has increased since or diminished ?---Ansioer. 

 The Common Serjeant. The information which I have collected 

 in the course of my official duty, has satisfied my mind, that the 

 offence of larceny from the person has very much increased 

 since the repeal of the statute above-mentioned, and that the 

 offenders of that description have become more numerous, more 

 united in gangs, and that they carry on their depredations more 

 systematically, and with greater boldness. 



Question III. Is it advisable or safe to take off the capital 

 punishment from shop lifting, stealing from ships, &c. in canals 

 and navigable rivers, &c. and from a dwelling-house, without 

 breaking, and without being a burglary?- Answer. The Re 

 corder. I certainly do not think it advisable to take off the 

 capital punishment in the three cases alluded to, viz. steal 

 ing to the amount of 40s. in a dwelling house ; the stealing 

 goods to the same amount on a navigable river or canal, and the 

 stealing goods of the value of 5s. privately in a shop. But whe 

 ther any and what alteration should be made as to the amount 

 of the value of the goods stolen, might deserve some consi 

 deration. The Common Serjeant. I am most fully convinced 

 that the repeal of the 11 and 10 Will. III. and of 23 and 24 

 George II. c. 45. would be very unadvisable and very unsafe. 

 And, in the present depraved state of the domestic and other 

 servants in the metropolis, I cannot possibly conceive any mea 

 sure, more big with mischief to every private housekeeper, and 

 to every tradesman, than the lessening the severity of the 12 

 Ann. stat. 1. c. 7. 



