§ Mr. Walter Campbellpresented a petition from the Magistrates, landowners, and Commissioners of Supply of the county of Argyle, against the Scotch Bill of Reform. The petitioners were favourable in general to Reform, though they disapproved of some of the details of the Scotch Bill.
§ Sir George Murrayadmitted that these petitioners were not Anti-reformers, and indeed he believed that there were very few Anti-Reformers to be found in Scotland. He was himself favourable to moderate Reform, though, like the petitioners, he did not approve of the Scotch Bill. In Argyle it would be particularly pernicious, as it would take away the influence of the great landowners—the county being in general divided into large sheep farms—and throw the power of electing Members into the hands of the inhabitants of small towns on the coast. Much dissatisfaction, he must also observe, had been expressed at that provision of the late Bill, by which the borough of Rothsay, in the county of Bute, was to be done away with, and in the matter of elections, was to form part of the county of Bute. He strongly objected to such a system of dismemberment, and protested against such a wanton violation of ancient feelings, and associations.
§ Mr. Walter Campbelladmitted, that what the right hon. Baronet had stated was correct. He hoped that the Government would take the details of the Scotch Bill into further consideration, and would make an alteration that would adapt the Bill to the county of Argyle.
§ Petition to be printed.