§ Lord J. Russellpresented a petition from Luke James Hansard, and another, the printers to the House, with respect to a notice they had received in consequence of printing certain reports by the direction of this House. His Lordship read a letter, dated front Fish-street-hill, the 29th of July, 1839, which had been received by the petitioners from an attorney, and which was to the following effect:—
That he (the attorney) was instructed to commence an action against them for printing evidence which had been given before the Committee of the House of Lords, relative to the island of New Zealand, and which evidence contained a false, scandalous, and malicious libel on the character of Mr. Polack; and he, therefore, requested to know the name of their attorney, so as to save them trouble in the business. The petitioners stated, that they had printed this evidence in obedience to the orders of this House, and they, therefore, laid before their hon. House a copy of the letter they received, and humbly prayed the instructions of the House on the matter of this petition, and the course they must pursue in defending this action.
§ He, therefore, moved, that the petition be printed with the Votes, and taken into consideration to-morrow.
§ Motion agreed to.