§ Mr. H. Davis,presented a Petition from Bristol, against what the petitioners feared were the projected measures of Reform. He concurred with the petitioners, and he could not but express his deep regret, that at such a time, the Ministers should have determined on agitating the country with measures of Parliamentary Reform. He feared that the result would be any thing but beneficial. He could not but think, that the Reform sought out of doors meant neither more nor less than revolution.
§ Mr. Hunt,strongly condemned the language of the hon. Member. He had no right to call the reformers revolutionists. He knew the history of the petition well. It was not the petition of the merchants, bankers, &c. of Bristol; it was neither more nor less than "a hole and corner" petition. Having been got up thus clandestinely in Bristol, it was sent to the several parish authorities within fourteen miles of Bristol, and thus were obtained signatures. Many of them he described as being only those of mere paupers—of 997 persons who could not resist what they were commanded to do.
§ Mr. H. Davis,said, there were about 5,000 signatures to it, and there were not above 700 signatures obtained out of Bristol. It did not warrant the description given of it by the hon. member for Preston. The persons were most respectable.
§ Petition to be printed.