§ The Earl of Devonpresented a petition from the Gloucester Canal Company, complaining of the practice of railway companies charging very low for the carriage of goods, and compensating themselves by imposing very high charges on passengers. The noble Earl also presented a petition from Exeter, complaining of the law which prevents the arrest for debts below 20l.
§ Lord Cottenhamdisclaimed the honour of being the author of the Bill which had received the sanction of Parliament. His proposition was of a different character. He had proposed the abolition of imprisonment for debt; but he had proposed also that means should be provided for getting at the property of debtors. His object was to frame a machinery by which the creditor should have a right to call his debtor before the proper tribunal, to ascertain what property he possessed.