§ Mr. Blamirepresented a Petition from Workington; against the Duty on Insurances.
§ Sir Edward Sugdentook that occasion to advert to the fires in the country, and especially to some in the county of Cambridge, which could only be attributed to the worst motives. He hoped, that before the nights became long, some measure would be devised for the detection of offenders, and for the prevention of the crime. He did not at all mean to charge Ministers with any supineness; but their attention ought to be strongly called to the subject.
§ Lord Althorpsaid, that Government had devoted much attention to the question, and that a measure was under consideration for the more effectual protection of property.
§ Mr. Crokerfelt it his duty to state, that, in his opinion, no stronger protection could be given than that it should be known, that Government would be unanimously and strenuously supported by Parliament in all measures which it might think necessary to adopt on this subject, and that men of all parties would lose their shades of political difference in their determination to put an end to a diabolical and unnational practice, which had already disgraced and 1065 afflicted the country, and even endangered the whole frame of society.
§ Petition to be printed.