§ Mr. Mansfieldcalled the attention of the House to the Frame-work-knitters petition which he had recently presented; and after pointing out the necessity which existed, for granting some relief to that body, moved, "That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the grievances complained of in the frame-knitters petition, and to report the same, with their observations thereon, to the House."
§ Mr. Paresdescribed the afflicting state in which the frame-work-knitters were plunged, and earnestly entreated the House to devote some means of relieving them.
§ Mr. Humedid not mean to oppose the motion, but looking to the result which had attended the labours of the committee appointed in 1816, to inquire into the grievances of the Nottingham manufacturers which had sat six weeks to very little purpose, he hoped the House would 992 guard against the encouragement of hopes which they would not have it, in their power to realise.
§ Mr. Birchsaid, that as the petitioners had made out a strong case, he hoped they would not, by a refusal to examine their grievances, be led into an opinion, that the House was unwilling to grant them relief. If some measure of relief were not given to those poor people (and if it originated with his majesty's government, he should like it the better), their sufferings were so excessive, that he feared scenes of disorder, which all good, men, deprecated would be the consequence.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, the hon. member seemed to attribute part of the distresses suffered by those individuals to the neglect of government. This was not just. He knew of very few cases where they could interfere to give local relief, without being guilty of partiality. The proper way was to come to parliament, and let the facts of the case be duly investigated.
§ The motion was then agreed to, and a committee appointed.