§ The Speakerbegged to re call to hon. Members what had passed yesterday, and he put it to them, whether those petitions only which related to the Irish Disturb ances Bill should be presented. If, when all those had been presented, there was an opportunity, of course petitions upon other subjects could be presented; but, he confessed, that he was not very sanguine in supposing, that there would be such an opportunity.
Mr. Curteiswished to know whether the names should be taken as they appeared in the books of the House?
§ The Speakersaid, of course; it would be unfair to strike off the name of any Member who had other petitions to present. Gentlemen would have the kind- 392 ness, when they presented their petitions to say, whether they had others upon any other subject; if they had, their names would of course remain, but if they had not, their names would be struck off.
Lord George. Lennoxsaid, the hon. Member (Mr. Curteis) had his name down three times, and some Members had theirs down four or five times. If, therefore, the hon. Member presented a petition to day, and had petitions upon other subjects, he would have his name still low on the list. No name should be down more than once. He had been every day in the House at each sitting, and yet he had been unable to present one of his petitions, which made his constituents imagine he was negligent of his duty.
§ Mr. Humesaid, that all names beyond their first entry should be struck out. He had now about forty petitions lying in the Vote-office ready to present, exclusive of eight or ten upon the subject of the Irish Bill, and if Members chose to take three or four chances, he thought he would be justified in taking twenty chances. He had, in fact, refused to accept petitions, because they came so thick upon him, and he had sent them to the Members of the places from which they came. He should move, that all names down more than once be struck off.
§ The Speakerhoped the House would permit him to say a few words. The object of the arrangement made yesterday was to save time, but the result of this discussion would be to lose time. It was impossible at the morning meeting, that the Motion of the hon. Member could be made; but in calling the attention of the House to the petitions relative to the bill, that was to be discussed to-night, every Gentleman must know, that when his name was called, except under the pressure of circumstances like the present, he could dispose of all his petitions.