§ Mr. Kennedy,said, he held in his hand the Petition from Edinburgh, agreed to at a public meeting in that metropolis, in favour of Reform, containing 21,700 signatures, and he felt no common honour in having it intrusted to his care. The population of that city was 160,000, and when it was considered that the representation was virtually vested in three individuals, he apprehended the House would agree with the petitioners, that a Reform in Parliament was necessary. He felt the utmost confidence in the present Administration, and trusted, that the great measure about to be submitted would prove satisfactory to the country. On the present occasion he abstained from entering upon that question, and, as many hon. Members had petitions to present, he would not detain the House.
Mr. Dundas,bore his testimony to the high character of the requisitionists convening: the meeting at Edinburgh, among whom were the Lord Advocate and his Deputy. Notwithstanding the respectability of the requisitionists, he should be wanting in his public duty, if he did not declare, that improper methods had been employed to obtain signatures to the petitions.
The Lord Advocate,remarked, that there was a misapprehension in the hon. Member's mind, as to the circumstances under which the petition from Edinburgh was signed by him, and the Solicitor General for Scotland. The fact was, that the requisition for the meeting was made before he had the honour of holding the office in which he was now placed, nor was the present Solicitor General for Scotland in his office either; but these circumstances did not alter his views with respect to the petition, which was signed by nearly the whole of that portion of the inhabitants of Edinburgh who were considered as the leading persons in society there.
§ Petition to be printed.