§ Lord Stanleysaid, he held in his 348 hand a petition from Compton, in Lancashire, in which the petitioners used strong language in deploring their miseries; but they only prayed to be relieved from the pressure of their burthens, in such way as the House in its wisdom might think fit, yet adding their opinion that parliamentary reform would be the only effectual remedy. He had several others from the same quarter, and begged to state the general tendency of them all. The petitioners were of opinion that they were not duly represented, and that they could not be so without annual parliaments and universal sufferage as far as related to every male having a vote. The noble lord said he should take that opportunity of declaring that he never would give his approbation to any such wild and absurd theories, which were totally incompatible with any just system of representation. All he begged leave to do was, therefore, to present the petitions.—Leave was given, and they were accordingly presented and read. They were from Compton, Failsworth, Hollinwood, and Great and Little Bolton.