§ Mr. Milner Gibsonwished to ask the Chair whether it were convenient to the House for him to present a petition, or rather an address to that House, which he had just received from his constituents in Manchester? Of course it was not for him (Mr. Gibson) to refuse an address from his constituents, and he wished the refusal, if there were to be one, should proceed from that House. He felt it to be his duty to take the earliest opportunity of asking the advice of the Chair on the subject, as the declaration he held in his hand related to the subject which would shortly be under debate. The address was signed by 25,000 persons, inhabitants of the borough of Manchester, and it was to the effect: "We, the undersigned merchants, tradesmen, and working men of Manchester, declare that in loyalty to our Sovereign"—The hon. Member was about to proceed with the reading of the Address, when he was interrupted with cries of "order."
§ The Speakersaid, that if the address was in the nature of a petition, the proper time for presenting it would be after the Order of the Day was read for going into committee on the Corn-laws.
§ Mr. M. Gibsonsaid, that the address was not in the nature of a petition, but rather a declaration from the people of Manchester, stating what their feelings were respecting the present Corn Bill of her Majesty's Government.
§ The Speakersaid, the House could not receive any declaration that was not in the shape of a petition.