§ Earl Bathurstrose to present a Petition from the Chancellor, 1246 Fellows, Scholars, &c., of the University of Oxford, against the Reform Bill. He had given notice that he would do so in the absence, from indisposition, of his noble friend, the Chancellor of the University, and as he had stated while giving that notice, he would not, on presenting the petition, enter upon any lengthened observations. He would merely call the attention of their Lordships to the general nature of the objections made by the petitioners to the measure of Reform now before the House. In the first place, they objected that the changes proposed by the Bill were hazardous, violent, and unsafe. They objected that the right of voting for two Representatives was extended to twenty-two places, and of voting for one Representative to twenty more, without reference to all those principles which ought to be kept in view when deciding on a question of such vast importance. They objected also that many places were disfranchised which had long enjoyed the right of sending Representatives to Parliament, and that all these changes were not only most hazardous alterations, and contrary to the whole system of the Constitution, but that they were proposed without proper notice in the preamble of the purpose intended. The preamble of the Bill stated, that it was desirable that the elective franchise should be extended to places by which it had not been before enjoyed, but did not say a word about the disfranchisement, of places which before had the right to send Representatives to Parliament. They objected that the precise number of fifty-six places were totally disfranchised, and thirty places partially, without any reason assigned for fixing upon these precise numbers, and that the Bill went to pledge Parliament to the adoption of these numbers, without the information and knowledge requisite to enable it properly to do so. They stated, that they considered the Bill as calculated to create hostility to the Church, that many of the enactments were contrary to the opinions of many Reformers, that it went far beyond the general expectation, and that they were apprehensive that it would create a spirit of anarchy and confusion. They stated, that such an alteration of the whole system of the Constitution was a measure too vast for the grasp of any one man's judgment, however profound and extensive that judgment might be—and, that consequently, the provisions of the Bill pro- 1247 ceeded upon a variety of contradictory principles, and that it contained a variety of incomplete and imperfect clauses; and they added, that for these reasons, the Bill would not settle the minds of men upon this subject, but, on the contrary, would create additional excitement, and a stronger and more general spirit of innovation and confusion. They stated, that they were apprehensive that the effect of this Bill, if carried into a law, would be to disturb and destroy those powers which were necessary for the existence of our mixed form of Government, and for its due administration, and they added, that in presenting this petition to their Lordships, they had no wish to embarrass the measures of Government—that it was contrary to their habits to mix themselves actively up with passing political measures; but that the vast importance of the measure in question, with reference to themselves and the whole community, had induced them on this occasion to break through their habitual seclusion, in order to lay before their Lordships their views as to the measure, which in their opinion, compromised, in a most objectionable manner, the interests of all classes. They therefore concluded by expressing their hope that their Lordships would not consent to pass this Bill into a law.
§ The petition was read.
§ Earl Greydid not mean to make any objection to the petition being laid on the Table, and still less did he mean to impugn the motives of the petitioners, who, as the noble Earl had stated, had broken through their seclusion in order to lay before their Lordships their sentiments and views as to the Bill now depending in their Lordships' House for the amendment of the state of their Representation in England and Wales. Neither did he mean at present to say anything in answer to the statements in the petition, or the observations of the noble Earl. It was only necessary to observe, that these were matters which would come regularly under discussion on the Motion for the second reading of the Bill, and till that time he would reserve whatever he had to lay before their Lordships in the way of answer—stating, however, that the petitioners appeared to admit that some Reform might be conceded, and that it was to the dangerous extent to which the Bill went that they objected. When the proper time came, he hoped to be able to show, that 1248 the measure was fraught with no danger, but that, on the contrary, it might be passed into a law with perfect safety to the institutions of the country, and with the most decided advantage to the whole community. All further remark he would postpone.
§ Petition laid on the Table.