The Earl of Radnorpresented a Petition, signed by 21,000 persons of the town of Birming- 548 ham, praying for Reform. He said this petition was got up at a most numerous, intelligent, and respectable meeting, where the subject was ably and sufficiently discussed. He could not avoid noticing the great change which had taken place in Birmingham since the Church and King mobs, about the year 1793, which he was old enough to remember. The people were how comparatively enlightened and instructed; they had amongst them reading societies and institutions; and though they had frequently been visited by severe distress, they had been guilty of no outrages. On this account he said, that the sentiments expressed in that petition were well worthy of their Lordships' attention. He agreed with it in every respect, the more particularly in that which recommended the Vote by Ballot, as he was convinced a slight Reform, accompanied by a ballot, would be more acceptable to the people than a more general Reform without it. The people, thought Reform was their right, and, therefore, they called their prayer to the House a petition of rights.
Lord Calthorpebore testimony to the respectability and intelligence of the petitioners, and supported the prayer of their petition. Any reform would be very imperfect, which did not embrace the town of Birmingham, but he believed that his Majesty's Ministers contemplated at least including that in their scheme. The progress of public opinion on the subject of Reform had been such, that it would he longer be safe to withhold it.