§ Mr. Shawpresented a Petition from the Roman Catholic Freemen of Galway, against a Clause in the Irish Reform Bill. He must consider the whole measure to be a reckless violation of vested rights, but he was greatly at a loss to know why any distinction should be made between English and Irish freemen; the former were to preserve their rights, the latter to be deprived of their's.
Mr. O'Connellsaid, the hon. Member did not appear to know, that the Irish Bill was all enfranchisement; it did not disfranchise a single borough. It was a little curious to see persons who had hitherto been the advocates of exclusive measures, now suddenly turn round and admit the existence of rights which they had formerly contested.
§ Petition to be printed.