§ Lord Durhamsaid, that the electors of Southwark had done him the honour to request that he would present to their Lordships a Petition from them, praying their Lordships to give their support to the great measure of Reform recently introduced into Parliament by his Majesty's Ministers. He had much pleasure in complying with their request, as also in presenting a Petition with a similar prayer from the inhabitants of Sunderland, Bishop Wearmouth, and Monk Wearmouth. It had been signed by 468 persons in a few hours; and it would have been signed still more numerously had not the petitioners been desirous of communicating their wishes on this subject to the Legislature with as little delay as possible. The noble Lord also presented a similar Petition from the Town Council, &c, of the Royal Burgh of Forfar.
§ The Duke of Devonshiresaid, that he had a similar Petition to present from the inhabitants of the parish of Clerkenwell. He would take that opportunity of stating, that on the subject of Parliamentary Reform, his opinion was, that his Majesty's Ministers deserved the gratitude of every man in the country for the measure which they had just introduced into the other House of Parliament. He thought that in that measure they had consulted the true interests of men of all classes in this free country, and that they had relieved the hereditary proprietors of boroughs from the reproach of employing objectionable means in securing the election of their friends and dependents as Members of the House of Commons. He said objection-able means—and he spoke advisedly; for the means were objectionable, although they might sometimes receive a sanction from the merits of the individuals returned by them. At the same time, he felt that his Majesty's Ministers had secured the rights which property ought to have, in a most proper and efficacious manner. He was not going to occupy the time of their Lordships with any further observations on the subject of Parliamentary Reform; but as he was on his legs, he could, 383 not refrain from expressing his approbation of the plan of Reform then before the other House, and his resolution to support it to the utmost of his power. The noble Duke then presented another Petition on the same subject, and with the same prayer, from the Mayor, Corporation, and Inhabitants of Poole,—a petition which he considered very creditable to them, as they were in possession of exclusive privileges.
The Marquis of Clevelandhad a Petition to present on the same subject from the inhabitants of Totness. There were parts of that petition to which he could by no means give his assent. As he had already explained to their Lordships his sentiments on the subject of Parliamentary Reform, he deemed it needless to say more of his opinions or his wishes on that subject on the present occasion, than this—that no personal considerations, no personal interests, no personal wishes, should prevent him from endeavouring to put an end to the continuance of a system which was not only impolitic in itself, but also highly detrimental to the country. As he could not agree with the petition in several points and as he did not wish to discuss those points at present, he would merely beg the favour of their Lordships that the petition be read.
§ The petition was read accordingly. It objected to several of the details of the Reform Bill ordered to be brought into the House of Commons. The petitioners contended, that their borough, though an ancient borough, had not lost its rank and station in the country, but that of late years it had increased considerably. They made no objection to having the elective franchise extended to the resident householders of the borough, but they objected to extending it to the householders of the neighbouring parishes.
The Marquis of Lansdownsaid, that consistently with the rules of the House, it was impossible to receive this petition, inasmuch as it related to the provisions of a Bill which was not yet before Parliament.
The Marquis of Clevelandhad read and discovered the objectionable parts of this petition, but as it was respectfully worded, he did not see how he could refuse to present it. With the leave of their Lordships he would withdraw it for the present.—Petition withdrawn.
§ Earl Greypresented a Petition from the Freeholders of Northumberland, voted at 384 a public meeting convened by the High Sheriff, and held on the 9th of February last, in favour of Reform. The petition prayed for a Reform by means of an extension of the elective suffrage to all householders; it prayed also for the shortening of the duration of Parliaments, and it also prayed for the taking of votes by Ballot. On this latter subject his sentiments were too well known to require explanation. The petition was signed by 5,000 persons, and spoke the approbation of the county which he had so long had the honour of representing, in favour of the principles of Reform.