Sitting of 3 April 1811

PETITON FORM HERTS RESPECTING REFROM PARLIAMENT.
Mr. Brandpresented a Petition, stating "That several Freeholders and inhabitants of the county of Herts, in full county meeting assembled, conscious of the rights they possess of addressing and petitioning the House upon all public affairs, and impelled by a high sense of the duty they owe to themselves and to their country, beg leave to lay before the House their opinions and sentiments on the present defective state of the Representation of the people: to the wisdom and justice of the original design of convening in parliament the representatives of the people to deliberate and co operate with the sovereign and the peers upon every question of national concern, they give their unqualified approbation; but when they take into their consideration the decay of some boroughs, once prosperous and well peopled, the rise and flourishing condition of other places, formerly of little note; when they reflect upon the effects of the heavy and insupportable expence of elections, which closes the doors of the House to many of the best friends of their country, and robs it of their faithful service; and when they recollect the manner in which a large portion of the members obtain and secure their seals in the House, they cannot but be of opinion that time and circumstances have, produced much defect and deterioration in institutions wise and salutary in their first establishment, but which now require revision and amendment; that great and important portions of the community are, in fact, unrepresented in parliament; and that the high and sacred office of a representative of the people is frequently sought for and procured by unconstitutional means, and, having been so procured, is consequently too often perverted from its original design and rendered subservient to private ends and interests: these defects they cannot but consider as a great aggravation of the present dangers and difficulties of the country; to them they ascribe the continuance of a lavish system of expenditure, the many expeditions in which the blood and treasure of our country have been prodigally and fruitlessly wasted, the decision of the House, in direct opposition to the general sentiments of the nation, and, above all, the unwillingness hitherto evinced by the House to enquire into or correct abuses in the representation, an unwillingness which cannot fail to excite the distrust of the petitioners, and to diminish the respect
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they owe to the name and functions of the House; and they deplore particularly one instance of this unwillingness of which they complain in the rejection of a motion made, in the last session of parliament by one of their representatives, as that motion, had it been adopted by the House, must necessarily have brought before the Committee a full enquiry into the present defective state of the representation of the people, and thereby have led to a substantial reform in the Commons House of Parliament, so essential to the salvation of the state, by preserving to us a free constitution, that inestimable inheritance transmitted to us by the wisdom and intrepidity of our ancestors; and that the times demand this open avowal of their sentiments, and in the language employed to convey them they intend no disrespect, though they are persuaded that no words can be too strong to express their feelings upon this occasion; and therefore they most earnestly intreat the House to undertake before it is too late, in a true and cordial spirit, the measure of reform, upon principles which, by conciliating the affections of the people, and restoring to the House its due weight and character, may rescue the country from domestic discord, and secure it from the foreign foe, give stability to the throne, and perpetuate the constitution."
Ordered to lie upon the table.

DWELLING HOUSE ROBBERY BILL.
Mr. Lushingtonbrought up the Report of the Dwelling House Robbery Bill.
Mr. Franklandhad understood that the Bills for ameliorating the laws, of which this was one, were to be so forwarded through the House as to admit of their being discussed in every stage. With this impression on his mind, he was surprised at finding the Report brought up when the House was so thin. He thought the Reports ought to be postponed.
Sir S. Romillyhad no wish to hurry the Bills through the House, in a manner which might preclude their being sufficiently discussed. It was not his intention to move the third reading till after the recess. As there would be a sufficient opportunity thus afforded to consider of, and discuss their merits he thought it unnecessary to postpone the reports.
Mr. Franklandstill thought an opportunity ought to be given of discussing them in every stage, and would therefore

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move that the House should be counted.
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the Speaker proceeded to count the members, when there not being 40 present, the House was of course adjourned.