Lord Folkestonepresented a Petition from certain Debtors, in the Fleet Prison, praying relief. An idea, he observed, had gone abroad, that having made an alteration in the Lords' Act, it was his intention to afford relief to those unfortunate persons, by introducing another Bill; and in consequence of that idea, he had received a vast number of letters, full of suggestions for their benefit. He had no intention of pursuing the subject any further, but he wished that some gentleman would examine the various acts lately passed for their relief, and see if some alteration of the provisions could not be made so as to include those persons now soliciting relief. Though an Act had passed within the last twelve months upon the subject, he understood the different gaols in the kingdom were fuller than before it passed. It was necessary, therefore, he thought, that something should be done to remedy the evil. A Petition, he understood, had been put into the hands of a noble member of the other House (lord Redesdale), who was fully competent to frame a Bill for the 1170 desired purpose, and he trusted it would be done, and be carried into effect.
§ The Petition was then brought up, and laid on the table.