The noble Marquis said, the inhabitants of the district from which he presented these Petitions were suffering great and unexampled distress, and not being able to find any other employment than mining, they had no means of obtaining the least relief. They had been gradually sinking into ruin since 1825, when the import duties on Lead were lowered to 2l. and 1l. 10s. per ton, which permitted Lead to be imported at so cheap a rate from Spain that the petitioners found no market for their ore, and no demand for their labour. The peculiar distress of these people called on their Lordships to inquire into it, and, if possible, devise some means of relief.