§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHsaid, a Petition had been sent to him for presentation to their Lordships, purporting to come from Inhabitants of Bolton, and to be signed by a person named Witherington on behalf of a Committee. The petitioners prayed for an inquiry into the claims of Prince Azeem-Jah, of the Carnatic, with view to the restoration of his rights. The noble Earl remarked that he knew nothing at all about the subject, but he confessed that it was matter of surprise to him that the inhabitants of Bolton should be as well acquainted with it as they would appear to be. He ventured to suggest to the in habitants of Bolton and many other places in whose name similar petitions had been sent to that House that it might be advisable for their Lordships to appoint a Committee to inquire into the manner in which petitions were got up. There certainly 2090 could not be a grosser breach, of privilege than that which was committed, in such cases.
§ The noble Earl presented the Petition, which was ordered to lie on the table.