§ Mr. H. Thorntonpresented a petition front the Siena Leona Company, praying for pecuniary assistance from Parliament.
§ The Speakerobserved, that he thought it his duty to inquire, before such a petition was entertained as the present, whether it had received the approbation of his Majesty, as it would, if the prayer should be finally agreed to, be voting away the public money to the use of individuals, which requited that fact to be first ascertained.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerstated, that he thought there could be very little difference of opinion as to (he probability, or even the certainty, of his Majesty's giving t a most gracious reception, as a petition for a grant of 10,000. had at a former period received that sanction.
§ Mr. H. Thorntonthen moved, that the petition be referred to a committee, to examine the matter therein contained.
§ Mr. Dentstated, that the report of the state of the company's funds had been to very favourable, that in his opinion, that was in itself, the very best reason that that possibly could be against granting the prayer of a petition for parliamentary aid.—The question was then put, and the petition referred to a committee.