§ Mr. Hunthad given notice of another motion, but he understood it could not be entertained by the House in the way he had proposed; he would therefore move that on Friday the House should resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of an Address to his Majesty, for the advance of a sum of money to be appropriated to the discharge of debtors for small sums, confined in his Majesty's 1204 various gaols throughout the United Kingdom. When the House should have gone into Committee, supposing his notice should now receive its sanction, it was his intention to move that the sum of 24,000l. be appropriated to that purpose. This sum was what the Coronation robes of his late Majesty cost. He thought that on a day of public rejoicing, like that of the Coronation, such was a proper period for giving to the poor debtors, who, it was said amounted to about 10,000 persons, and many of whom were now lying in prison for debts under 5l. their discharge. He trusted that his Majesty's Ministers would take the subject into their serious consideration.
§ Sir Charles Forbes,in seconding the Motion, said, he hoped that Ministers would approve of the measure—he was sure it would receive the approbation of the country.
§ Lord Althorpsaid, it did not appear to him that the Motion now made was one to which the House ought to accede. However much their feelings might be moved, they were bound not to indulge them; nor did he think that there were so many persons confined for small debts as the hon. Member seemed to imagine. They might take the benefit of the Insolvent Act if they pleased. He should therefore feel it his duty to oppose the Motion.
Mr. Humeagreed with the noble Lord who had just addressed the House, that the present motion was one which could not be countenanced by the House. With respect to what had been said on persons being imprisoned for debt, he begged to observe, that he hoped some measure would be brought forward by Government to abolish imprisonment for debt, being fully persuaded that such a course was highly injurious to individuals and the public at large. He wished to ask whether any measure was in contemplation, founded upon the report of a Commission which sat two Sessions ago, to inquire into the subject? from the result of whose labours he hoped some means would have emanated to prevent persons from being imprisoned for such small sums.
§ Lord Althorpsaid, he wished the subject to be brought forward, but not in the shape proposed by the hon. Member.
§ Sir Edward Sugdenhoped that it would not be understood, from what had now transpired, that the law of imprisonment for debt was to be abolished.
§ Mr. Huntregretted to understand this was a case in which the House would not interfere, but he begged to remind the, noble Lord that 15l. debt was necessary to enable a man to take the benefit of the Insolvent Act, and many of the unhappy people for whose release he was anxious, were imprisoned for sums not amounting to 15l.
§ Motion negatived.