HC Deb 02 June 1823 vol 9 cc609-11
Lord Ebrington

rose to present the petition of the freeholders and others of the county of Devon, praying for a reform of parliament, and animadverting upon the foreign and domestic disasters which had grown out of the corrupt state of the representation. After the last decision of the House on the subject of reform, it might be said that this petition was unnecessary; but he must be permitted to reply, that that decision, so far from satisfying the people that reform was unnecessary, had only the more convinced them of its urgency. A requisition had been originally transmitted to the sheriff of Devon to convene this meeting; but upon his refusal, the county was convened by the magistracy, and he (lord E.) had had the honour of presiding. This petition was not only unanimously agreed to at the meeting, but was signed by 5,161 freeholders, leaseholders, and copyholders of the county: 4,000 of the number were actual freeholders, a greater number than had ever polled at any of their county elections. Many more residents of the county would have signed it, had they not thought it useless to press this question upon the attention of the House.

Mr. Newman

said, he was present at the meeting, and could add his testimony to its unanimity and respectability.

Mr. Tremayne

said, he had passed through the town during the meeting, and certainly had not witnessed any of that manifestation of zeal which the petition imported. As the noble lord said that four-fifths of the petitioners were freeholders, he would not dissent from that description of the parties, although it was one which otherwise he should have doubted.

Sir F. Ommanney

thought the petition ought not to be laid on the table. With respect to the alleged sufferings of the petitioners during the war, the House need not be told of the benefits they derived from the maritime expenditure at Torbay, Exeter, and other parts of Devonshire.

Mr. P. Moore

asked, whether either of the hon. members who spoke last could contradict the strong facts asserted in the petition, respecting the necessity of a reform of parliament.

Lord Ebrington

thought it natural for the hon. baronet not to feel any strong relish for popular opinion, and not to be an advocate for parliamentary reform. But, whatever was the hon. baronet's opinion, he was convinced the House would not so far forget its duty as to attend to his extraordinary proposition. It was, however, competent for the hon. baronet to try the fate of his recommendation by pressing his view of the subject to a division. The other hon. member had remarked, that he saw no appearance of bustle as he casually passed through the town on the day of the meeting. The reason was obvious. The people were unanimous, and the absence of any collision of sentiment prevented the appearance of bustle or disturbance. With respect to the signature, it was open to any member to ascertain the correctness of the annexed descriptions and addresses of the subscribers; but he was enabled to say, that 3,370 of the petitioners had actually polled at the last county election.

Ordered to lie on the table.