§ Mr. Huntwished to avail himself of the present occasion to ask a question of the noble Lord, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, relating to a petition from the British residents in America. It would be recollected that last Summer an account had appeared, in the newspapers, stating, that a petition to the King, from certain natives of Great Britain and Ireland, resident in New York, in favour of the Reform Bill, had been transmitted to this country. It had received 600 or 700 signatures, and had been transmitted to Earl Grey, in order that it might be laid before his Majesty; but his Lordship, by his Secretary, had returned for answer, that there was no precedent for such a proceeding. He (Mr. Hunt) had received a letter on the subject from some of the parties in New York; and, as they were anxious upon the subject, he begged to ask the noble Lord, whether there was any probability that the petition to the King would be presented?
§ Lord Althorpreplied, that this was the first time he had heard of the petition. Ministers, certainly, did not wish to set any new precedent on such a subject without a sufficient reason. For his own part, it was not in his power to give any answer to the question of the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. Huntthen said, that he would take another opportunity of calling the attention of the House to the subject.