§ MR. HOWELLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received a Memorial from certain persons in the borough of Salford, praying for a remission or mitigation of the sentence passed on one Samuel Hunter for forgery and perjury; whether he will state the number of signatures to such Memorial, and what number of them were members of the Gas Committee, in connection with which frauds were discovered; whether he has given any reply to such Memorial; and, if so, what reply has been given; and, whether, before giving any reply, he will consent to lay upon the Table of this House a copy of the said Memorial, together with the names and descriptions of the persons who signed the Memorial?
§ MR. STUART WORTLEYYes, Sir. Such a Memorial was received on the 13th inst. It is signed by 26 persons, among them being the Chairman of the Gas Committee, the Mayor of Salford, and several Aldermen and Councillors. No reply has yet been sent to the Memorial. It would be contrary to all precedent to lay a Memorial on a criminal case on the Table of the House.
§ MR. HOWELLWill the request of the memorialists be acceded to before a copy of the Memorial has been laid upon the Table?
§ MR. STUART WORTLEYIt would be contrary to precedent to lay a copy of the Memorial upon the Table of the House.
§ MR. HOWELLI beg to give notice that if the Home Secretary accedes to the prayer of the Memorial I will call attention to the whole question, and ask for the appointment of a Select Committee to consider it.