HC Deb 17 February 1831 vol 2 cc653-4
Lord Ebrington

moved; according to notice, for the printing of a Petition, presented on Friday night last, from G. Flight, complaining of corrupt practices in the borough of Bridport.

O'Gorman Mahon seconded the Motion.

Sir Robert Inglis

was decidedly opposed to the printing of petitions coining from individuals, and he thought that this particular petition should not go forth with the authority of the House.

Sir Charles Wetherell

observed, that the petition, if presented at all, ought to have been laid before the House three months ago. If the statement of the petitioner was well founded, he ought to have brought it forward as an election petition. According to those who were for the printing of the petition, any man might be calumniated in a petition. Any man, to gratify his private spleen and malice, might call upon the House to publish whatsoever he might think proper to indite.

Mr. Spring Rice

said, that if the peti- tion had been a statement of opinions, and not facts, he should be, as much as any hon. Member who had spoken, opposed to the printing of it. He by no means considered that it would be a bad rule to lay down that petitions from individuals should on no occasion be printed; but he could not at all assent to the position, that it heretofore had been the uniform practice of the House to refuse the advantage of printing to the petitions of individuals; on the present occasion, however, he must be allowed to say, that time had been wasted, even it> so short a discussion, about a matter of so little importance.

Mr. Hume

supported the printing of the petition. Though it was a petition from an individual, it related not to any private matters, but to circumstances in which the Members of that House and the public at large were deeply interested.

Mr. Wilks

likewise supported the printing of the petition.

Mr. Curteis

saw no necessity for printing the petition of an individual, when a general petition upon the same subject, and from the same place, had been presented before it.

Lord Ebrington, in reply, observed, that the general petition had not been presented before the petition then under the consideration of the House; but he had no wish to press the matter, and, with the permission of the House, would withdraw his Motion.

O'Gorman Mahon

objected to the withdrawal, and

the House divided — For printing the Petition 38; Against it 55; Majority 17.