The Sun.
London, England, 1838-01-24 00:00:00

WEST INDIAN SLAVERY.

Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition agreed to at a meeting of
upwards of 5,000 persons at the Town Hall of Birmingham on the
28th of December last. The petition was only signed by the High Bailiff
Mr. Scholefield, M.P., and therefore Gould only be received as his petition
although it had met with the universal approbation of the meeting. The
petitioners complained of the conduct of the persons who had received
the 18 millions and a half of money for emancipating their slaves, and
payed their Lordships to take means to compel them to complete
their arrangements. The Noble and Learned Lord entirely agreed in
the terms and prayer of the petition. He would also take this opportu-
nity of correcting a mistake which seemed to have been fallen into in
reference to what he had stated on a former occasion upon this subject.
What the Noble and Learned Lord bad stated was, that it was an exag-
geration to say the Act of 1833, instead of bettering bad worsened the
condition of the West Indian slaves ; and he gave as an instance in sup-
port of that, that there was a very considerable increase at this moment
of the supplies sent to the West Indies by the mother country, both
in regard to the amount and the quality of such supplies,
and which proved that the Negro comforts had increased.—(Hear.)
The Noble Lord also presented a similar petition from the inhabitants of
Great and Little Broughton. The Noble Lord also presented a petition
frcm Mr. R. Cotterell, a merchant of the City of London, complaining of
the defects of the Law of Debtor and Creditor.
CANADA.

Lord ELLENBOROUGH moved for certain Returns with respect to
Canada of which he gave notice last night.—Ordered.
Lord DENMAN presented a petition from Nottingham against the
peseta system of Negro apprenticeship.
Lord GLENELO, in answer to a question from Lord Brongham,
stated that the returns relative to Antigua were in the course of print-
ing, and would be laid on the table in a few days.
Die House then adjourned to Thursday.

HOUSE OP COMMONS, JAN. 23.

The SPEA um took the Chair at Four o'Clock.

Mr. DUGDALE brought in the Birmingham Small Debts Bill,
which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-
mot row.
New. HUTTON presented a petition from the President and Members
of the Chamber of Commerce of Dublin against the Fishg,uard Haibour
Bill.

Mr. CHALMERS presented a petition from Montrose, praying that
t',e House would not suspend the Constitution of Canada.
S_r W. SOMERVILLE presented a petition to the same effect from
Drogheda.
Mr. KISNAIRD presented two petitions from Perth in favour of
the Bal'ot

Mr. GORDON presented a petition from several Magistrates and
olders of the county of Aberdeen, praying I'or an alteration in the
.staadlng Orders of the House relative to private Bills and the taking
evidence thereon. The subject appeared to him (Mr. Gordon) of the
highest importance, and if there was no Committee to which the peti-
tion could be referrcd, he begged to give notice that at an early oppor.
tunity he would draw the attention of the House to it.
'ilie petition was ordered t• lie on the table.
An Hos. ME.MSER presented a petition from Dudley in favour of the
lallot.