The Sun.
London, England, 1836-01-19 00:00:00

sures: --

" Ist. The carrying into full and complete effect of the
great measures of Corporation Reform, as originally brought
forward by your Majesty's Government, and sanctioned by the
House of Commons.

2d. A substantial, but judicious and safe, Reform of the
House of Lords.

" 3d. A correction of the acknowledged abuses in the Irish
Church, as judiciously proposed to Parliament by your Majesty's
Government, and sanctioned by the House of Commons.
" 4th. The establishment of such a prudent and judicious,
but effective, system of Poor Laws for Ireland as shall rescue
our unhappy Irish countrymen from cruel and prolonged
death by starvation, and secure to all of them the unde-
niable right of obtaining a maintenance out of the produce
of the soil on which they live--a right acknowledged by all
civilized nations, and alike sanctioned by our holy religion, and
by every principle of reason, justice, policy, and humanity.
" Sire,—With every sentiment of duty, and gratitude, and
loyalty, we remain, Sire,
" Your Majesty's faithful and loyal subjects,
" THE UNDERSIGNED INHABITANTS OF

THE TOWN OF BIRMINGHAM.
.‘ Birmingham, sth January, 1836."
" PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

" To the Hon. the Commons of the United Kingdom o:

Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled.

" The humble petition of the Inhabitants of the borough of
Birmingham,
" Showeth,—That your petitioners are of opinion that it is
necessary to the peace and well-being of the country, and to
the efficient discharge of the legislative functions, that the
House of Lords should undergo some organic change, which
may *liking it forward into a conformity of views and inte-
rests with your Hon. House, and into a state of harmony
and mutual advance and co-operation with the spirit of the
age and interests of the people.
" That, in the present state of the House of Lords, your
petitioners can see no security for national liberty or public
peace. The interests, the passions, and the prejudices of a
majority of that Right Hon. House obstruct, in every way,
every advance in social improvement, and every measure of
political reform. The social machinery is arrested in every
movement, or compelled to work backwards, at the will of an
arbitrary and irresponsible power. The House of Lords is
thus brought into opposition with your Hon. House, and
with the intellect and the irresistible will of this mighty
nation. The great questions are placed at issue :—Shall
the reform in your Hon. House be abolished ? Shall the
whole business of the nation be obstructed ? Or shall the
House of Lords be brought forwards into a conformity with
the spirit of the age and the will of the people ? It is for
your Hon. House to guard the great interests committed to
your hands in this awful contingency, and to take care that
some peaceful and legitimate remedy shall be applied, without
involving the dire necessity of interfering from without.
" That your petitioners think it their duty to remind your
Hon. House that, in England, the days of aristocratical do-
mination are past, never to return. The House of Lords has
long exercised a secret but overruling influence in the legisla-
tive functions of the nation. That secret influence is now
gone. The people cannot, and they will not, suffer it to re-
turn ; nor will they ever submit to have an open despotism
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constitution which their illustrious ancestors cemented with
their blood ; but never again can either open violence or secret
fraud recover to that Right Hon. House a domineering in-
fluence in the councils of the nation. Exasperated by long suf-
ferings, and by the hoarded injuries of many years, originating,
almost entirely, in the errors and misconduct of the House of
Lords, the people of the United Kingdom have, at last, by
unparalleled efforts of virtue, moderation, and patriotism,
placed the supreme legislative power in the hands of your
Hon. House, and they confidently expect, from the wisdom
and justice of your Hon. House, such a firm and patriotic exer-
cise of that sacred trust, as shall secure for ever the rights,
liberties, and interests of the people, without compromising
the prerogatives of the Crown, or any just and beneficial pri-
vileges of the House of Lords.
" That your petitioners have witnessed, with great satisfac-
tion, the wisdom and virtue exhibited in the passing of the
great Bill of Corporation Reform, through all its stages, in
your Hon. House.
" That your petitioners deeply regret that a measure calcu-
lated to confer so much, solid and substantial benefit on the
people of the United Kingdom, and to give 4o much satisfac-
tion and contentment to the public mind, should have been
mutilated in its great provisions, during its passage through
the House of Lords ; and that your petitioners are of opinion
that the Bill of Corporation Reform, as originally passed by
your Hon. House, ought to be carried into full and complete
effect.

" That your petitioners are also of opinion that the just, safe,
and judicious measures of reform in the Irish Church, as
passed by your Honourable House, ought to be carried into
full and complete effect.
" That your petitioners are of opinion, that a judicious and
effective system of poor laws for Ireland is alike called for by
the dictates of our holy religion, and by every principle of
reason, justice, policy, and humanity; and your petitioners trust
that your Honourable House will not suffer the ensuing Session
of Parliament to pass over without establishing in that un-
happy country a system of poor laws, which shall protect the
Irish people from starvation, and secure to all of them the
undeniable right of obtaining a maintenance out of the produce
of the soil on which they live.
" Your petitioners do therefore humbly pray that your
Honourable House will be pleased to take these great subjects
into immediate consideration, and to adopt such measures as
in your wisdom may seem just, legitimate, and expedient,
never doubting that in whatever measures you may adopt
your Honourable House will be cordially supported by a
generous, fearless, and determined people.
" And your petitioners shall ever pray, &c.
" Birmingham, Jan. 5, 1836."