Lord Rollepresented a Petition from Exeter against the Bill for Parliamentary Reform, and said, that some of the petitions which had been sent to that House in favour of the Bill, particularly one from Exeter were signed by boys of fourteen years of age.
§ The Duke of Richmondwished to ask the noble Lord who informed the House that some of the petitions in favour of the Bill were signed by boys, if he had any doubt that the voice of the whole country was in favour of Reform.
Lord Rollecould not say whether that were the case or not, but he had the 692 strongest possible objections to the Ministerial measure.
The Marquis of Salisburyadmitted, that the general sentiments were in favour of Reform, but he denied that the voice of the whole country demanded it.
The Marquis of Clanricardesaid, he was convinced the voice of the country was of but one accord as to the necessity of some Reform, though many persons wished to qualify the extent to which the measure should be carried. Notwithstanding all that had been said on the subject at public meetings and elsewhere, he had heard of one person only who had the courage to declare that in his opinion no Reform of any kind was necessary. He could only declare, that he believed the desire for the measure was general, and the feeling was participated in most fully by the people of Ireland.