§ Lord Hathertonpresented a petition from Penn, Staffordshire, against the prevailing system of traffic on canals on Sundays. This was a subject to which the attention of their Lordships had been called during the last Session, and it was then universally admitted, that a great evil existed, and that a remedy should be applied. The present system was totally unnecessary, and unproductive of good to any class, either to the merchant, the labourer, or the public. With regard to one class, and one especially, deserving the kindest consideration of the House. He should, in a few days, present a petition universally signed by those boatmen who justly complained that they alone of all the labourers in her Majesty's kingdom, were restrained to work on a Sunday. They thought, and he agreed with them, that all considerations, moral, religious, and political—combined to render an abolition of this system in every way expedient. The petitioners, whose petitions he now presented, entertained the same views and made the same prayer, and with that prayer he begged to express his entire concurrence.