§ Mr. Huntpresented a Petition from the parties who had been imprisoned at Nottingham, complaining of having been subjected to great cruelty and severity in the gaol at Nottingham, where they had been confined from October until January. He mentioned this, as the hon. and learned Attorney General had observed, on a former occasion, that the parties actually imprisoned had made no complaint. The petitioners complained that the inquiry promised by the Secretary of Slate was intrusted to the Magistrates, and as the Magistrates were interested parties, this would be a mock inquiry. The circumstances of this case he had stated before, and, horrid as they were, he was prepared to repeat them. The Government had promised inquiry both into this case and into the case of Somerville, but he was afraid that as the one inquiry was to be intrusted to Magistrates, so the other would be left to majors and captains.
§ Mr. Cresset Pelhamcould not believe that the inquiry instituted by the Magistrates would be, as the hon. Member said, a mock inquiry.
The Attorney Generalregretted that the Under Secretary of State was absent, from indisposition. The proper persons, he conceived, to inquire into any charges against their inferior agents or gaolers, were the Magistrates, and it was not to be supposed that they could tolerate the cruelties complained of. The only wish of the Secretary of State was, to come at 991 the truth, and the mode adopted by him appeared simple and efficient.
Petition to be printed.