IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.--The main authorities for the history
of imprisonment for debt are the reports of the three
commissions.
1840. Report of Commission on the Present State of the Laws
respecting Bankrupts and Insolvent Debtors.
1893. Report from the Select Committee on the Debtors Act
with Minutes of Evidence.
1909. Report on Select Committee on Debtors (Imprisonment)
with Minutes of Evidence.
The Hansard Reports of the debates over the Bills of 1837,
1844, and 1869, contain many clear statements of the
argument for, and against, abolition.
37 17 "The Law of Executions, to which are added the History and
Practice of the Court of King's Bench." By the late Lord
Chief Baron Gilbert.
42 7 Smollett. "Roderick Random." Chap. LXI.
43 1 For the story of the Clerkenwell Spinster and the Debtor,
see Sir Walter Besant's "London in the Eighteenth Century,"
Chap. V., "Debtors' Prisons," at p. 562. This volume
contains excellent accounts of the law and the poor in the
eighteenth century.
45 8 December 5th, 1837. Lord Cottenham introduced Bill to
abolish arrest on mesne process. 1 & 2 Vict. c. 110.
45 30 Thackeray. "The Virginians." Vol. I. Chap. XLV.
46 18 Duke de Cadaval's case. Hansard. 1837. Vol. 39, p. 593.
48 2 J. B. Atlay. "The Victorian Chancellors." I., 406.
48 18 Lord Brougham's speech. Hansard. 1837. Vol. 39, p. 574.
49 15 Lord Brougham's speech. Hansard. 1844. Vol. 75, p. 1174.
51 6 See Judgment of Sir George Jessel, M.R., in _Marris_ v.
_Ingram_, (1879) Law Reports, 13 Chancery Division, p. 341.
55 6 Sir Robert Collier's speech. Hansard. 1869. Vol. 197, p.
421.