HC Deb 09 February 1831 vol 2 cc342-3
Mr. Hughes Hughes

presented a Petition, praying the Abolition of Slavery, from an Episcopal Chapel in London-street, Fitzroysquare, and moved that it be printed.

General Gascoyne

said, he believed it was now a rule of the House, that petitions of this nature, of which the House had already received a great number, should not be printed.

Mr. Hughes

observed, that he every evening heard an order passed for the printing of the petitions presented to the House, and he did not know why the petitions he was intrusted with should not have the same privilege.

The Speaker

thought it necessary to say, that both the hon. Members laboured under some misapprehension of the course pursued with respect to petitions. There was no rule of the House which forbade the printing of petitions of this description; but there was a general understanding, that the Members were not to require the printing of petitions which contained nothing in statement or in prayer different from the many which had been already presented, and a number of which, having been printed, were in the knowledge of the House. The understanding was, that petitions on subjects of this kind were not to be printed when there were so many others, on matters of great importance, which it was necessary should be printed.

Mr. Hughes Hughes

said, he had a great number of these petitions to present. He had been asked that day how many of 2,000 he could take charge of; and if they were not to be printed, he must read them to the House.

The Speaker

said, he was sure the hon. Member would not persist in that course, when he was told it would be very irregular. The hon. Member might read extracts of the petitions if they contained new matter, but he could not, without leave of the House, read the petition itself.

Mr. Hughes Hughes

thought, the petition he had now presented contained sentiments which should be made known, and he therefore moved that it be printed.

General Gascoyne

said, he must oppose that Motion.

The Speaker

asked, who seconded the Motion.

No Member answered, and the Motion was not put.