The Sun.
London, England, 1801-12-12 00:00:00

that the Petitions on the Table spoke the sense of
the People of the Country. The Petitions were
undoubtedly numerous, but he did nor thick the
opinions which they contained, were the opinions of
a majority of the People of this Country. But,.
however much he might be inclined to pay every
degree of respect to the opinions of the Public,
he must at the same time recollea.. that Fe had a
duty to perform, which was, when the interests of the
People, and their wishes were iii opposition to one_
another, always to support the former, though in so
doing he might offer great violence to his own feel-
ings. To the wishes of the People of this Country, he
would sacrifice every thing, but that which be would
sacrifice to no earthly consideration, viz. the obli-
gations of his duty, and theinjtmaions of his con-
science. He had considered this subje& as fully
and maturely as he was able, and he was perfealy
satisfied that the true interests of the Public would
not be promoted by complying with the Prayer of
these Petitions. Many opportunities had occurred
of discussing this subjea, and he had so frequently
delivered his sentiments, that he should not now
trespass upon the attention of the House any-longer,
except merely to observe, that now neatly five
weeks had elapsed since his Hon. Friend (Mr, VAN-
SMART) had given notice, that it was not the in-
tention of His Majesty's Ministers to propose to
renew the Bill for prohibiting the Distilleries.—lt •
was then open to all Persons to have petitioned the
House,. or for any Gentleman to have made a Motion •
upon' that subject ; but even at this advanced period
of the Session, if any Gentleman thought proper'
to move to take these Petitions into consideration
on .Monday, he should not oppose it, though he
meant on that day to propose an Adjournment for
a considerable period. If such a Motion was made,
he would at length state his reasons for the opinion
which he had formed, and which he should firmly,
but he hoped not obstinately, - adhere to.
Mr'. PETERS said, the Right Hon. Gentleman
had aced with his usual Candour,' but he thought
that a day ought to be appointed for taking the
Petitions into consideration, because whatever the
result' might be, it would satisfy the People that
thesubied had been fairly considered.

After a short conversation between the CHAN-
CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER and Mr. BURTON, the
latter Gentleman moved, that this Petition should
lie on the Table, and,at.the same time gave notice,
that he should mole.,to take the, Petition into con-
sideration on Monaii-Y.:
Mr. BRAGGE presented. a,. Petition from the
City of Bristol, against the opening of the Distil-
leries. With regard to the lateness of the period
at which the Petition was presented, he observed,
that those from whom it came had waited to see
what the efreas of the report of opening the Distil-
leries would be upon the price of Grain, and had
found that it had very considerably increased,
_

The Petition was ordered to lie on the Table.

Colonel STANLEY presented a Petition from cer-
tain persons residing in Liverpool, against the open-
ing of the Distilleries.
The SPEAKER said, the Petition was informal,
as it was only signed by the Chairman of the Meet-
ing, and the House could only take it as the Peti-
tion of the person who signed it.
After a few words from Mr. DENT, the Petition
was withdrawn.

Colonel CLIME presented a Petition from the
town of Ludlow, against the opening of the Dis-
tilleries. Ordered to lie on the Table.

Colonel WOOD said, as this important question
was to be taken into consideration on Monday, it
would be necessary that the House should have
every possible information. He wished to know
whether there would be any difficulty in laying on
the Table, by Monday, an Account of the quantity
of Grain used in ' the Distilleries in the course of
•
a year.
Mr. PANSITT ART replied, that the Account
could not be prepared by Monday, but the Hon.
Gentleman would find it stated in the Report of the
Committee on the High Price of Provisions.
Colonel 'WOOD said, he was perfectly satisfied.
At five o'clock the House adjourned till Monday.