§ Viscount Melbournepresented a Petition from Bury, in Lancashire, in favour of the Municipal 669 Corporations' Bill. The noble Viscount stated that he had in his hand a letter from Mr. Wilkinson, one of the Corporation Commissioners, written from Newcastle, of which place the learned Gentleman was Recorder, stating that he had only received on Saturday last the official Report of the evidence taken at the Bar of their Lordships' House, and denying, so far as he was concerned, the statements made in that evidence, and justifying the Report he had made.
§ The Duke of Clevelandsaid, that he took that opportunity of stating that the learned Gentleman had long been known to him, and that a more just and honourable man, and one more able and fitted for the situation he occupied could not anywhere be found.
Lord Teynham, on bringing up the Report of the Committee, would move that the amendment adopted upon the 25th clause, and requiring a property qualification in the Town Councillors should be abrogated, and that the Bill should be restored to its original state. He was sure that this ought to be done. The Corporation Reform Bill was the first fruits of the Reform Act, and the people were entitled to it. As a proof of the Spirit in which the people had received their Lordships' amendments, he might mention that at a public meeting at Birmingham, consisting of 10,000 people, with the High Bailiff in the chair, it had been deliberately resolved not again to address their Lordships' House by way of petition. Petition laid on the table.