The Sun.
London, England, 1837-12-07 00:00:00

POOR LAWS.

An HON. MEMBER, whose name we could not learn, gave
notice that he nould, on Monday next, move that
an lumblc address be presented to her Majesty, that there be
laid before the House a return of the population of the several
Unions formed under the Poor Laws Amendment Act in the
tovms of Nottingham, Stockport, Manchester, Oldham, Bland-
ford, and other places, of which we could not collect the
names ; the returns to distinguish the number of workhouses
and paupers in each Parish Union, and those paupers receiving
respectively out-th.or relief, or relief in the workhouses.
Mr. DUNDAS presented a petition from an individual
against the Poor Law Amendment Act.
THE BALLOT.

M. GILL ON presented a petition from Leith, praying
f,)l- Household Suffrage and Vote by Ballot. The petition was
agraed to at a stinting originally called for the purpose of pc.
titior,ing for vote by Ballot alone. At that meeting, however,
an amendment was moved that Household Suffrage should
also be added to the prayer of tin; petition. The Chairman,
not agreeing with that proposition, left the chair, and the
greatest confusion prevailed, during which the lights wet e
put out. Order having been restored, and new
lights obtained, another gentleman was voted into the
chair, and the meeting passed a unanimous resolution
that the petition should pray for Household Suffrage as well
as the Vote by Ballot.
The petition was ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. MILES presented a petition from the Guardians of the
Poor of the Union of Warminster, deprecating the effects of
the law as it at present stood with regard to Beer-houses, and
praying that it might be amended, or repealed altogether.
CASE OF COLONEL FRITH.

Mr. O'CONNELL said that he held in his hand a peti-
tion from Lieutenant Colonel Frith of the East India Com-
pany's Service. It was not his intention, however, to present
it until after the recess, when he would move that the matter
stated therein be referred to a Special Committee.
CASE OF COLONEL BRADLEY.

Mr. G IiATT A N presented a petition from Lieutenant-
Colonel Bradley, a gentleman whose case, he said, had been
often before the House. It was not Lis intention to move
for a Committee to consider the statements contained
in this petition until after the recess ; but he begged
to give notice that he would, to-morrow, move that it be
printed with the votes, in order that all the Members of
that House, both young and old, might have an opportunity of
making themselves acquainted with them, and of ascertaining
whether this Gentlaman's case demanded further investigation,

did not think that being a Member of that House should de-
prive him of his right of complaining upon such a subject.
Sir E. SUGDEN thought the precedent would be ex-
tremely inconvenient, because, instead of a Member getting
up in his place, he would write out his arguments and deliver
them in the form of petition to be read by the Clerk at the
table. He was most anxious to have the benefit of the opinion
of the Speaker on that subject.
Mr. O'CONNELL—The question before the House was
that the petition do lie on the table.
Mr. LA M BTON thought after the Speaker had expressed
an opinion that the petition ought to be read, it waa an act
of great presumption on the part of any Hon. Member to op-
pose it.
Sir E. KNATCHBUL L was not aware that any such
opinion had been expressed by the Speaker. His Right lion.
Friend had objected to the reception of the petition, inasmuch
as it proceeded from an individual Member of the House,
and complained of a public grievance. The Hon. Member
now stated that he complained of it as a private grievance,
and he therefore apprehended that no opposition would be of-
fered to the reading of it.
Mr. H. GR ATTAN said the petition complained of a
breach of privilege on the part of an Hon. Member of that
House, and as such it ought to be read.—(Fear, hear.)
Mr. WAKLEY said he should like to learn from the
Speaker the course which ought to be adopted on an occa-
sion such as the present. The Hon. Member (Mr. O'Brien)
had risen to present a petition, and was about to introduce it
by some remarks. lie was interrupted by the Hon. Baronet
opposite. The Speaker then informed him that he was to
state the substance of the petition. Not being content with
stating the substance of it, he desired that it might be read at
the table. The Speaker intimated that he might pursue that
course. In accordance with that suggestion, he moved that
the petition be read ; the motion was put from the Chair, and
carried in the affirmative: no opposition indeed was made
to it ; but after the Clerk had commenced reading the
petition, was it competent for any Honourable Member to
rise and interrupt the reading of it ? He ( Mr. W.) thought
that all observations should be reserved till the petition had
been read.—( Hear, and " Chair.")
The SPEAKER (who was almost entirely inaudible in the
gallery,) was understood to say the Honourable Member (Mr.
O'Brien) had a perfect right to present the petition, and that
it ought to be now read at the table.
The petition was then read to the following effect
To the Honourable the House of Commons,—The humble
Petition of William Smith O'Brien, one of the sitting Mem-
bers for the County of Limerick,
" Humbly sheweth, _