The  first  impulse  of  men  whose  property  is
attacked,  is  to  destroy  those  by  whom  the
attack  is  made :  but  tne  enlightened  trade'rs
of  London  perceive,  that  the  weapon  of
destruction  which  our  penal  code  afrords,  is
ineffective  for  its  purpose;  they  therefore,
disabusing  themselves  of  vulgar  prejudice,
call  for  the  revision  of  that  code.
Another  Petition  has  been  presented  to  the
House  which  I  canoot  pass  over  without  no-
tice :  I  allude  to  one  from  that  highly  merito-
rious and  exemplary  body  of  men — the  Qua-
kers. It  hsLs,  I  tmnk,  been  rathe^  hardly
dealt  by;  and  has  been  described  as  con-
taining very  extravagant  recommendations;
although  the  prayer  with  which  it  concludes
is  Qierely  for  such  a  change  in  the  Criminal
Law  as  may  be  consistent  with  the  ends  of
justice.  The  body  of  the  Petition  cei-tainly
deviates  into  a  speculation  as  to  the  future
existence  of  some  happier  condition  of  so«
ciety,*in  which  mutual  goodwill  may  render
severe  punishments  unnecessary.    But  this


is  a  speculation  in  which,  however  unsanc-
tioned by  experience,  virtuous  and  philoso-
phical men  have  in  all  aees  indulged  them-
selves, and  by  it  have  felt  consoled  for  the
evils  by  which  they  have  been  surrounded.
