THE EARL OF ROSEBERYMy Lords on this day week, the 22nd, I presented a Petition from Mr. Leonard Edmunds, and I gave Notice that to-day I would move that it be referred to the Select Committee on the Office of the Clerk of the Parliaments and the Office of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. Recently, since then, I received an intimation from the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack that the Petition is out of Order, as referring to a debate of last Session, and affects the Privilege of your Lordships' House, as referring to a Member of this House. I need not say for myself, my Lords, that had I been aware of this—and being only a young Member of your Lordships' House, I was not aware of it—I would not have presented the Petition; and Mr. Edmunds authorizes me to say that if he had known it would be out of Order as presented, he 601 would have drawn it in another form. I now beg to ask leave to withdraw the Petition.
The House being informed that the said Petition, presented on Monday last, and ordered to lie on the Table, contains remarks animadverting on statements made in a former debate in this House: Ordered that the said proceeding be vacated.