Lords Sitting of 10 March 1831

MINUTES.
Bills. The Irish Population (Census) Bill, the Bankrupt Laws' Amendment Bill, and the Calico Duties Repeal Bill, brought up from the Commons, and read a first time. Settlement of the Poor Bill read a second time. The Army Mutiny Bill read a second time. The Marine Mutiny Bill committed. Frauds on Creditors' Bill, and Richmond Lunatic Asylum Bill, read a third time and passed. Grosvenor's Indemnity Bill passed through all its stages, the Standing Orders suspended.
Petitions presented. By the Earl of LIMERICK, from the Soapboilers of Limerick, complaining of Distress, of being Undersold in their own Market by Smugglers, and praying for Relief. By the Duke of RUTLAND, from the Shipowners of Scarborough, in Yorkshire, complaining of Distress, and praying for Relief. In favour of Reform, by Earl GRET, from the Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Leonard's, Shoreditch; from a place in Northumberland; from, the Royal Borough of Perth; from Dartmouth; from St. Mary's, Stratford-le-Bow; from Cambridge; and from the Parish of St. Helen's, Bromley:—By Lord DURHAM, from Houghton-le-Spring, Durham:—By Lord CAWDOR, from Rutherglen. By the Earl of PEMBROKS, from Owners and Occupiers of Land in Pembrokeshire, for a Repeal of the Malt Duties. By Earl GREY, from Dartmouth, for a Repeal of the Coal Duties; and from Cookstown, for the Abolition of Slavery. By the Marquis of CLANRICARDE, for the Repeal of the Union.

REFORM.
The Earl of Hardwickepresented a Petition from Cambridge, in favour of Parliamentary Reform. He took the opportunity to state, that he approved of that part of the Reform plan of Ministers, which went to give additional Representatives to counties; and he hoped there were other parts of it which he might be able to approve.
Earl Greystated, that he held in his hand a Petition from Birmingham, in favour of the measure of Reform proprosed by Ministers. It was agreed to at a Meeting, where 15,000 persons attended; and he might mention, that although there was no place where the Ballot was more eagerly contended for than Birmingham, yet the measure in question had united the suffrages of all, and quieted all divisions among the people.
Lord Calthorpepresented a Petition from the Magistrates, Clergy, Merchants, and Manufacturers of Birmingham, in favour of Reform generally. The petition was put into his hands before the

327
measure proposed by Ministers was introduced, and he believed that some of them, although they were favourable to some Reform, were not prepared to go to the extent of the Ministerial measure, but he was bound to state, that the mass of the petitioners were decidedly favourable to the plan. As for himself, he was not prepared to accede to so extensive a change. It was the most extensive change that had taken place since the Revolution of 1688, and he thought it was too much to pass such a sweeping measure in the course of a single Session. He thought that more time ought to be allowed for consideration, and he did not think that any alteration could reconcile the plan to his mind, while its present principles were retained.

TITHES.—HASTE IN PASSING BILLS.
Lord Tenterdengave notice, that on Tuesday next he would present a Bill, for limiting the time within which proceedings could be instituted to set aside Moduses in lieu of Tithes. He would on that occasion explain the principle and object of the Bill.
The Earl of Fifecomplained of the mode in which important Bills were carried through the House, without sufficient notice and publicity. Two most important Bills—the Fraudulent Debtors' and Law Expenses' Bills—had passed in that manner, and yet they were most important, as connected with the liberty of the subject. The most grievous oppressions were often practised by lawyers under the forms of law, and when they themselves brought in bills to remedy grievances, they often only made matters worse.
Lord Wynfordremarked, that he had brought in the Bills before Christmas— that they had been repeatedly postponed for the accommodation of those who felt an interest in them, and had stood for committal twice or thrice. He did not know how he could have given them more complete publicity; and as to oppression, he could not understand what oppression there was in compelling men to pay their debts, when perfectly able to do so.
Lord Tenterdencalled the attention of the noble Earl to his statement, that he meant on Tuesday to explain the nature and object of his Bill, when he hoped that he would be present, and not afterwards complain.