Lord Kenyonpresented a Petition, very numer- 253 ously signed, from the inhabitants of the parish of Marylebone. The petitioners prayed for an extension of the period fixed for the payment of the parochial rates, in order to give a qualification under the Reform Bill. In the extensive and populous parish of Marylebone, the parochial taxes were paid every half year. The Act of Parliament required that the taxes due at the 6th of April, should be all paid up before the 30th of July. Now as there would be 10,000 voters in Marylebone, it was scarcely possible that the parish books could be made up so as to show who had or had not been unable or unwilling to pay the taxes in the time specified; and the consequence would be, if the present rule was persisted in, that a number of persons must be disfranchised for the next election.
The Earl of Radnorwas of opinion the result apprehended could hardly be contemplated as likely to arise. If the parties paid the last demand made upon them for taxes, he thought it would be sufficient.
Lord Kenyonsaid, certainly it was next to impossible that the books of such a parish as Marylebone should be made up in time.
§ Petition to lie on the Table.