Lord Rancliffe, in presenting a petition from Nottingham, against the Corn Act, took occasion to observe, that he agreed with the petitioners, that notwithstanding the speech from the throne, assuring them that the manufactures, commerce, and trade of the country were in a flourishing state, the greatest distress existed in the manufacturing districts.
§ Sir R. Wilsonobserved, that what he had said on a former occasion, with respect to the subject of petitions for an extension of the Corn laws, had been grossly and maliciously misrepresented. Instead of stating that which he had really said, namely, that he thought it would be advantageous were hon. gentlemen connected with agricultural districts to dissuade their constituents from such petitions, it had been imputed to him, that he had urged them to resist that right of petitioning, which he, in common with all who 608 loved the constitution, was most anxious to maintain. This calumny had proceeded from those who ought, by their conduct, to prove themselves the peculiar champions of the liberty of the press.
§ Ordered to lie on the table.