The Duke of Buckinghamsaid, on the presentation of some Petitions from Buckinghamshire, that it would be material to know whether the petitions presented on this subject prayed for Reform generally, or for a specific measure? or whether they prayed for the Ballot, for a reduction of taxes, and other matters. As it would be inconvenient to read at length all these petitions to their Lordships, he would suggest that a Committee should be appointed, as had been done in the other House, for the purpose of j making a classification of them.
The Marquis of Clevelandsaid, that all the petitions which he had presented that evening were in favour of the specific measure which had been brought forward in the other House.
The Marquis of Lansdownwas understood to say, that several of the petitions which he had presented were in favour of the Ministerial plan of Reform, while some of them prayed for Reform generally.
The Duke of Buckinghamsupposed that the noble Earl opposite would have no objection to the course of proceeding which he had suggested, with a view to ascertain how many of the petitions prayed for the plan of Reform which had been brought forward by Government, and how many of them prayed for other objects. He had read over some of the petitions which had been presented, and while many of them were in favour of the Bill now before the other House, many of them also prayed for a reduction of tithes and. taxes, and for other objects.
§ Earl Greysaid, he should not have the slightest objection to the course of pro- 979 ceeding which the noble Duke had recommended, but he believed that sufficient means had been already provided to make their Lordships acquainted with the prayers of the petitions presented on this subject. He held in his hand a paper which had been prepared by the Clerk, and which would be laid upon their Lordships' Table, stating the number of petitions which had been presented on this subject, and likewise stating their objects; and it appeared from that paper, that 479 petitions, praying for Reform, had been presented to their Lordships prior to the introduction of the Bill now before the other House of Parliament, and that since that time 448 petitions in favour of the Ministerial plan of Reform had been presented to their Lordships. Having stated that fact, he begged to repeat that he should have no objection to the appointment of the Committee recommended by the noble Duke, but he did not see the necessity for such a Committee; for it appeared to him, that if they left the arrangement he had mentioned as it had commenced, in the hands of the Clerk, all the information which their Lordships might require as to the specific objects for which the petitions prayed, would be furnished to them.
The Duke of Buckinghamsaid, that having been in the country, he was not aware of the paper, the preparation of which had been mentioned by the noble Earl.