Lord Stanhopepresented a petition from certain inhabitants of London, complaining that the provisions of the Anatomy Act had not been complied with, and praying for inquiry. The noble Earl complained that no report had been yet presented to the House on this subject.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonsaid, it was hardly possible that the allegations in the petition could be true; and the petition, as the noble Earl would see, was not consistent with the act of Parliament. Persons had been appointed to inquire into the execution of the act by the former Government and by his right hon. Friend the present Secretary of State. He was not aware of the reason why a report from the first commissioners had not been made; but the report of the persons recently appointed was not at present in a state fit to present to Parliament; when it was, it should be laid before the House. He assured his noble Friend that it was the determination of the Government to 1170 carry the law into effect. Comparing the words of the petition with others that had been presented by an individual to the other House of Parliament, he could not but consider that they originated in the complaints of Mr. Roberts in reference to an invention of Mr. Roberts, which those who had been appointed to investigate into it thought was not likely to answer the purpose expected from it by that gentleman and the petitioners.
§ Petition laid upon the Table.
§ Adjourned.