§ Mr. Bennetsaid, he held in his hand a petition from a Mr. William Berry who had resided several years on the island of Guernsey, which was well deserving of the attention of the House. Mr. Berry stated, that by the laws of Guernsey, a great difference was made between the English born subjects and the native inhabitants, and that in that island every English born person was considered as an alien and a stranger. In consequence of the harsh treatment which the petitioner had experienced under these laws, he had presented a petition to his majesty in council. The result of that petition was, that a commission was issued in 1815, which cost the country nearly 5,000l. A report was made in 1816, and yet, up to the present moment, not one step had been taken to remedy the evil complained of, or to establish any of the regulations suggested by that commission. In the island of Jersey also a commission was issued above thirty years ago, and yet not one of the grievances pointed out by that commission had been redressed. This was really a subject of great importance. The petition set forth, among other grievances the great hardships that English residents suffered in the island, in not being considered in the same light as natives. The natives were privileged from arrest, but an Englishman could be arrested for so small a sum as 2½d.. Among the municipal regulations which more especially required, to be altered, was the system of arrangement which took place in prisons: murderers, felons, maniacs, and debtors, being, all confined together. After the recess, it was his intention to move for a copy pf the report of the commissioners appointed to inquire into the subject, with the view of founding some measure on it.
§ Ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed.