§ Lord A. Hamiltonpresented petitions from William Robertson of Meikle Govan, and from William Murray and David Smith in Calton of Glasgow, complaining of the Operation of the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act, and praying for redress.
§ Mr. Finlaysaid, that these persons had mistaken the fact. They had not been taken up under the Habeas Corpus Suspension, act, for no person whatever had been so confined. He had seen a gentleman who had lately come from Glasgow, who stated to him, that these persons had been examined before magistrates, after they had been 567 taken, and had been so well treated that they returned thanks for the treatment which they and their families had received. There was, in fact, not one word of truth in the petitions from beginning to end. At any rate, if they had thought proper they might by the usual process have obtained their liberty or their trial within sixty days.
§ Lord A. Hamiltonthought it very natural for the petitioners to imagine that they were detained under the Suspension act, nor could he conceive, why, if they were properly confined, they had been discharged without being brought to trial.
§ Ordered to lie on the table.