2 APRIL 1870, Page 3

Mr. C. Forster's Bill abolishing forfeiture for felony was read

:a•seeond time on Wednesday, and Mr. Bruce announced that the Government wished to see it passed. Forfeiture is a relic of the -old time, and is radically unjust, as it amounts to a fine inflicted not in proportion. to the offence, but to the wealth of the party -offending, who, as in a-case quoted by Mr. Forster, might be only -constructively guilty. A merchant in that case was found guilty .of manslaughter because his superintendent had been careless, and had the verdict been sustained he would have lost his entire ,property. A murderer with nothing is not fined, while a great mine-owner might be fined a million or two for neglecting some precaution in a mine he had never seen.