MR. GLADSTONEMr. Speaker, I have to present a Petition from a public meeting of the inhabitants of Poonah, on the line of railway from Bombay, and from certain members of a religious society there, called the "Reformed Hindoos," on the subject of the recent law relating to the vernacular Press. The Petition contains an elaborate and able argument against that law, and it closes with a prayer, which runs as follows:—
Your Memorialists pray that your honourable House, as the only authority to whom Her Majesty's subjects can appeal for redress and protection against the arbitrary acts of the authorities in India, will not only condemn the measure which forms the subject of the present appeal, but will also make the further continuance of the present policy impossible, and ensure the progressive freedom of Her Majesty's Indian subjects by enlarging the representative element in the Legislative Council of India, and by the adoption of such other measures as to your honourable House may seem fit. And your Memorialists will ever pray," &c.The House will see, Sir, that in substance this is a real and a regular Petition, concluding with a prayer to the House; but I am desirous to call the attention of the House and your attention to two points in which it is deficient 1682 in regularity. In the first place, it is not called a Petition at all, but a Memorial, and in the words I have just read the Petitioners describe themselves as Memorialists. Over and above that, between the Petition and the first signature occur these words—"We beg to remain, honourable Sir, your most humble Memorialists." It is quite evident to me, Sir, that this is a clerical error, because the substance of the Petition, as the House will see from what I have read, is addressed to the House——[The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER: How is it headed?] It is headed—"Memorial to the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom in Parliament assembled." I propose, therefore, upon my own responsibility, being quite convinced that these words constitute a clerical error, to strike out the intruded words; and if you, Sir, are of opinion that that proceeding is proper, to present the Petition in the usual manner.
§ MR. SPEAKERI have examined the document in the hands of the right hon. Gentleman, and, although termed a Memorial, it is substantially a Petition properly worded, and concluding with a prayer. I apprehend that, under the circumstances, although the document is termed a Memorial, it may be received if the House should think proper.
§ Petition brought up; and ordered to lie upon the Table.