§ Mr. Lawley"Sheweth;—That your Petitioners have observed with grateful satisfaction the introduction into your Honourable House of a Bill for enabling the town of Birmingham to return Representatives to Parliament.
"That your Petitioners conceive such extension of Representation in Parliament will be of great advantage to the populous and increasing town of Birmingham, and cannot fail to be beneficial to the extensive manufacturing interests with which it is connected.
"That it appears to your Petitioners that such Representation is especially desirable, not only on account of the great 1439 and increasing population of the town, and of its important manufacturing and commercial interests, but also on account of the various and complex character of its manufactures, all worked up by human labour from the native products of this country, and rendering it peculiarly important, that Representatives, possessing local knowledge, should make known the interests of the town to the Legislature of the country.
"That your Petitioners rely on the wisdom of Parliament for a due regulation of the Elective Franchise for the town of Birmingham, with adequate securities against the tumult, delay, and expense occasionally attendant upon protracted elections in populous towns.
"Your Petitioners do therefore humbly pray that the said Bill may pass into a law, with such modifications and regulations as to the wisdom of your Honourable House may seem expedient. And your Petitioners will ever pray."
§ Mr. Littletonsaid, it was not Birmingham only that was interested, but the neighbouring towns which engaged in manufacture. The population in that neighbourhood was exceedingly numerous, and possessed strong claims to have the elective franchise conferred on them.
§ Mr. Tennysonsaid, that those great manufacturing towns were by no means indifferent to the right of returning representatives. In order to show this feeling in a strong light, he wished to have the petition read at length. It was his intention, at the commencement of next session, to move the renewal of that bill which had been read a second time in that House.
Ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Tennyson afterwards moved, "That this House will not order any warrant to be issued for a new writ for electing Burgesses to serve in parliament for the Borough of East Retford, until the expiration of the next session of parliament." The motion was agreed to.