§ Mr. Huskissonpresented a Petition from Henry Burgess, of Lombard-street, London, on the subject of the Distress of the Country. The right hon. Gentleman observed, that in the view which the petitioner took of the distressed state of the country he partly concurred, but he did not concur in the propriety of the remedy suggested by the petitioner, an issue of small notes, and extension of the Currency.
§ Mr. Westernconfessed he did not approve, generally speaking, of individuals presenting their opinions to the House upon matters which did not particularly relate to themselves. However, he admitted that in some instances this course might be attended with advantage, and was disposed to consider this as one of those cases. He recommended the statements and arguments contained in the petition to the attention of the House. Last Session Mr. Burgess petitioned the House on the subject of the Currency; the Petition had been since published, and was well deserving of their consideration.
§ Mr. Huskisson, in moving that the petition be printed, concurred with the hon. Member for Essex as to the general inexpediency of individuals presenting what might be called political treatises to the House in the shape of petitions; but he thought that justice should be done to the views of the petitioner; and although he differed from some of them, he considered it desirable to present the petition, without wishing thereby to encourage the practice alluded to.
§ Mr. M. A. Taylorsaid, the petition was neither more nor less than a dissertation on the state of the country. He dared to say the petitioner might be a very respectable gentleman, but he must object to the expense of recording his lucubrations upon the Journals of the House.
§ The Petition was ordered to be printed.