§ LORD BEAUMONTbrought up the report of the Select Committee appointed to inquire into the fraudulent signatures attached to the petition recently presented from Liverpool. His Lordship read the report at length. It stated that the Committee were of opinion that it was not established that the promoters of the opposition to the Bill had directly aided in increasing the number of signatures to the petition. The Committee, however, were of opinion that due precaution had not 685 been taken by them in the selection of their agents—that the signatures were of such a description as could not have failed to attract their attention—and that their neglect in not inquiring into their genuineness was remarkable. The Committee had, therefore, come to the conclusion that the promoters of the opposition to the Bill had been guilty of neglect in the first place, and of something worse than neglect in the second, in allowing the deception to be so long continued before Parliament. The Committee had directed the minutes of the evidence which they had taken to be laid before their Lordships; and he now moved that the report be printed.
§ Ordered accordingly.