§ Earl Greypresented a petition from the tradesmen, manufactures, and others, of the town of Newcastle upon-Tyne, against the measure supposed to be pending in parliament, for an alteration of the Corn Laws. This petition, it 653 appeared, was signed by 11,000 respectable tradesmen and others, in the town of Newcastle; and if longer time could have been permitted, it would1 have been signed, he understood, not only by a still greater number of persons in that town, but also by a considerable portion of the inhabitants of the villages and places adjacent. It was not his intention, at this time, to enter into any declaration of his own sentiments upon this important subject, which he should defer to the period when the merits of this question would come under the consideration of the House, and when, probably, his opinion might be at variance with, that of the petitioners. At the same time he felt it his duty to present this petition to their lordships, it was also incumbent upon him to direct their attention to one passage, which he wished the petitioners had not inserted. His lordship here read that part to which he adverted, and which, in substance, stated, that the petitioners beheld with regret "the unhallowed efforts of those who would, in pressing this Bill, deprive the country of the blessings of Divine Providence, by raising the price of corn, and scattering distress and devastation among the manufacturers and mechanics". Of this clause he could not approve, because it appeared defective in due deference and decorum; and if he thought it was meant to convey any imputation upon the motives of those gentlemen of the other House with whom the Bill originated, he should not feel himself justified in presenting it. But conceiving this clause to be the mere result of inadvertency, he hoped the House would allow the petition to lie on the table, which he moved accordingly.—Agreed to.