The Sun.
London, England, 1836-06-20 00:00:00

VEXATIOUS PROSECUTIONS.

Mr. BETHEL presented a petition from a magistrate of
the county of York, of the name of General Wharton, com.:
plaining of the expense and annoyance he had been put to, by
reason of a vexatious and frivolous charge brought against him
for something he had done in his capacity of magistrate.
When the prosecution was commenced, he applied, upon affi-
davits, stating that the prosecutor was a man of straw, and
unable to pay any costs that might be awarded against him ;
but the Judge had refused to compel the prosecutor to enter
into recognizance to pay expenses, stating that he had no power
to do so. The action had since been tried, and a verdict given in
Eivour of the petitioner, but he had been put to great expense
and inconvenience, and was unable to recover anything from
the plaintiff, he being, as was alleged in the affidavits, a mere
man of straw. He complained that if the magistracy were
not protected in the discharge of their magisterial duties against
such harassing, vexatious prosecutions, the laws of the country
could never be fairly or duly administered; and he therefore
prayed that that House would adopt some measures to indem-
nify parties in such situations against the expense of actions of
this nature.
Colonel PEEL objected to the reception of the petition,
on account of the length of time that had elapsed since the oc-
currence had taken place to which it referred.
Mr. WYNN concurred with the Hon. and Gallant Mem-
ber that the petition ought not to be received.
Mr. D. W. HARVEY said that the petition was sent to
him to present last session, but not thinking it a proper sub-
ject for that House, he wrote to General Wharton to that
effect; but unfortunately he mislaid the petition, or he would
have handed it to the Hon. Member for Yorkshire. The
abuse however which he received from the Gallant General
was a sufficient penalty for his neglect.—( A laugh.)
Mr. BETHEL said he was not answerable for the allega-
tions contained in the petition.
Mr. BAINES said no blame could attach to General
Wharton for his conduct in the transaction. ,

Si;:IiOBERT PEEL thought it would be an extremely
bad precedent if petitions of this nature were to be received.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL expressed himself to the
same effect.
After a few words from the SPEAKER, the petition was
withdrawn.
MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS (IRELAND.)
Mr. H. BULWER presented a petition from the parish of
Marylebonne in favour of the Irish Municipal Bill, as it ori-
ginally passed that House.
Mr. HUME supported the prayer of the petition.
Mr. JACKSON presented a petition from Cork in favour
of the Lords' Amendments to the Irish Municipal Bill.
Sir W. B RABA ZON presented a petition from the county
of Mayo, signed by the High Sheriff, the two Members for
the county, and many of the wealthy and respectable inhabitants
against the Irish Municipal Bill as amended by the Lords.
Also two petitions from the same county, praying for a re-
form in the House of Lords.
Mr. R. D. BROWNE had been requested to support the
prayer of the petition from the County of Mayo, and as he
perfectly concurred in it he did so with much pleasure.
Mr. POWER presented a petition from Balliane, in the
County of Wexford, in favour of Corporate Reform, and against
the Lords' amendments. The petition was most numerously
signed.
Sir E. WILMOT presented a petition from two manufac-
turers of paper in Manchester, praying that they might be
allowed a drawback upon the stock in hand when the duty was
taken off.
Mr. HUME presented four petitions to the same effect.
The first was from the manufacturers of paper in London, and
the other three were from workmen in their employ.
They said their labour had been uncertain in consequence of
the unsettled state in which the matter had been for some time,
and praying that the House would allow the duty to be taken
off immediately.
Lord J. STUART presented a petition numerously signed,
praying for the total and immediate repeal of the Stamp Duty
on Newspapers.
The LORD-ADVOCATE presented petitions in favour
of the Commons' Bill for reforming the Corporations in Ire-
land, from the Magistrates and Council of Leith, Glasgow,
and other places.
Mr. DUND AS presented a petition from the Glass Mer-
chants of the Shetland Isles, complaining of the heavy duty on
Glass, and praying that it may be removed.
Lord FRANCIS EGERTON presented a petition from