§ Sir Robert Heronpresented a petition from the town of Gainsborough and its vicinity, praying for triennial parliaments, representation co-extensive with direct taxation, and election by ballot. The petition had been agreed to at a numerous meeting, regularly convened, and the proceedings of which were conducted with perfect order. He did not concur with the last part of the prayer—that which referred to election by ballot; but he would support such a plan of reform as should, by extending the elective franchise, make that House more substantially the representative of the people. He wished for the restoration of triennial parliaments, an institution established at the best period of our history, and repealed by a measure of very equivocal policy. He would give his support also to every proposition for the retrenchment of the public expenditure, and the abolition of sinecures and useless places. With regard to plans of more extensive alteration or reform, he should reserve the statement of his opinions for another occasion; but as it was manifestly the wish of the great body of the people that some reform in the representation should take place, he trusted that the House would 506 not so insult their constituents as to refuse, whenever the discussion should be entered upon, to refer the petition to a committee. If it should be said that the reformers were not agreed among themselves as to what they recommended, he should reply, that they were that very day about to proceed to a discussion, in which, perhaps, there were very few gentlemen in tile House who would concur at once in any specific object. He trusted, therefore, that the differences of opinion on the question of reform, would not be made the ground for resisting the proposition to refer the petitions to a committee.
A petition in favour of reform was presented from the borough of Boston. It stated, that it appeared, from the annals of the country, that for more than a thousand years before the Revolution, annual parliaments were the constitution of England— [a laugh].
§ The petitions were ordered to lie on the table.