The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-13 00:00:00

it could place in such a petition.—(Hear, hear.)
It was clear, for all that had been stated, that the
petition, of which so much had been said, was not
worth the paper on which it was written.—(Hear.)
He thought those who had so grossly exaggerated
their statements with respect to the petition were the
greatest enemies of the right of petitioning.—(Hear.)
He should not move any resolution on the subject,
but he would submit whether, as a means ensuring
the value of petitions some plan should not be adopted
similar to that which existed some years ago, of
adding to the names the residence and occupation
of thole signing the petition.—(Cries of " Hear.")
He trusted that the Government would state, either
to-night on to morrow, what course they intended to
adopt, in order to put a stop to such demonstration
as they were threatened with on Monday last—(Hear,
hear)—in order that they might not oci.ur again.
and he hoped also that Ministers would do something
for those who had so spontaneously come forward in
support of the Government and the peace of the

country.
Mr. CR IPPS said, after what had fallen from the
Hon. Gentleman the Member for Nottingham, and
the reflections he had cast on the Committee, he felt
it to be his duty to get up and confirm what had
already been stated by his Hon. Friend opposite.—
(Hear, hear.) When the Hon. Gentleman made
the audacious statement that this petition was
signed by 6,706,000 persons—(Derisive cheers)—he
weat from his place to examine the petition and com-
pare it with the population returns.—(Hear, hear.) lie
was not aware then that it was signed by women, but
he had since ascertained that oat of every 10,000 sig-
natures that were attached to the petition 8,200
were those of women.—(Cheers and laughter.) lie
did not wish to throw obloquy and ridicule upon the
petition itself, lout he did wish to ridicule, and cast
obloquy and derision, upon the Hon. Gentleman who
had made these monster statements.—(Cheers.)
Mr. O'CONNOR rasa to order.
The SPEAKER said if the Hon. Gentleman
wished to make any explanation upon his personal
conduct, he must wait till the Hon. Gentleman in
possession of the chair had resumed his seat.—(Hear.)
Mr. CBIPPS proceeded to remark that the state-
ments of the lion. Member were unworthy of cre-
dence, and he hoped the poor people whom he had so
shamefully deluded would now see, in its proper
light, the character of the man they had dealt with.—
(Hear, hear.) Were these things to be tolerated
while parties who he could not say were immediately
connected with the Hon. Gentlemen—(Cheers)—but
who availed themselves of the opportunities he placed
in their way to ruin honest tradesmen at
such places as Camberwell. (Loud cheers)
This petition teemed with wickedness and obscenity,
and there were words affixed to it that the lowest
strumpet in the streets would be ashamed of.—(Hear.)
Upon one of the slit e.s were written the words " we
could get paid for no more," and had he been aware
of the nature of the signatures that were attached to
it, he would have objected to the petition
being received at the time it was presented.
What is it to get 5,000,000 petitioners' names ? They
could get any number, definite or indefinite, if they
chose to adopt such a course. He hoped the House
would not cast such a censure upon the Committee of
Petitions as to appoint another Committee to inquire
into the subject.
Mr. F. O'CONNOR said that he was not in the
least degree responsible for the contents and signa-
tures of the petition. The Hon. Member then left
the House.
Mr. ABEL SMITH said that he was present upon
Kennington common on Monday from first to lust.
and he could state most positively that never
was there at any time within the commou
more than 15,000 persons. The whole area of the
common could not possibly contain more than 90,000
persons ; yet the Hon. Member for Nottingham had
himself stated in the House that there were not less
than half a million persons present.
Colonel SIBTHORP said that as it had been said
that his name was attached to the monstrous petition,
he begged most emphatically to deny that he had
ever signed the petition, or consented to have his
name placed there. lie would not so far have dis-
graced his family by acting in such a manner.
Mr. HUME thought that the Hon. Member for
Cirencester had taken a very improper course in the
remarks he had made upon the subect of the petition.
He thought that the dignity of the House would
have been much better preserved if notice bad been
given of bringing the subject properly before the House.
He expressed his deep regret that any Hon. Member
should have made use of anything like irritating
language. He believed that it was the rule of the
House that every lion. Member should be respon-
sible for the petitions which he might present, and
that every party who attempted to impose in such a
manner upon the House ought to be punished.
Mr. R. YORKE differed from the Hon. Member
for Montrose. He thought the cause of truth was
under great obligation to the Member for Ciren-
cester.—(Hear, hear.) It was true he had
used strong language, but he thought he
was justified in doing so.—(Hear, hear.) He
had made statements with respect to the Honourable
Member for Nottingham which he had of course
denied.
Lord CA STLEREAGIrrose to order; he thought
that assertion ought not to be made with respect to
the statements of Hon. Members, when they were
not present. There might be many persons who
had a different notion of honour to himself in that
House, but he should think himself unworthy of a
seat in it if be brought charges and made statements
against an Hon. Member when he was not present.
Mr. R. YORKE said that the Hon Member for
Nottingham's absence was his own fault.—(Hear,
hear.) Ile had asserted, and he would assert again,
that the statement made by the lion. Member for
Cirencester was correct.—(Hear.)
Mr. B. COCHRANE wished to know from the
Noble Lord at the head of the Government whether
he thought, after the discussion that had taken place
that evening, it would be right or just to waste the
whole of the evening to-morrow in discussing the
question of the Charter.—(Hear).
Lord J. RUSSELL observed, that having stated
some says ago that it would be impossible to give
Monday up for the consideration of the Chartist
petition, and having proposed that its con-
sideration should be proceeded with on Friday,
he certainly could not consider himself at liberty to
depart from that arrangement.—(Hear.)
Mr. C. LUSHINGTON observed that the Hon.
Member for Nottingham had stated that he
had two points to explain, one of which he
had explained these, and the other he said he should
explain in another place.----(Hear.) Now, his doubt
was, whether the Hon. Member, in his explanation in
another place, would not put a wrong constuction
upon what had taken place in that House that night.
Mr. DISRAELI thought it would be exceedingly
ridiculous if they had, as appeared likely to be the
case, a more serious meeting in that House than had
taken place on Kennington-common. (Hear,
hear.) He thought that if the Honourable
Gentleman made a statement grossly incorrect,
and calculated to do mischief, it was the duty of
Hon. Gentlemen to bring it under the condsidera-
tion of the House calmly and deliberately.—(Hear.)
The Hon. Member for Cirencester was entitled to
praise for the zeal he had displayed in
affording the House information upon the
subject of this petition, but still he had
indulged in exceeding warm and unusual language,
and he therefore trusted the Speaker would interpose
his authority to prevent the occurrence of unpleasant
events.—(llear, hear.)
Sir G. GREY. would be sorry, because it would
be ridiculous if this debate led to a personal conflict
between the two Hon. Members, but really he had
heard nothing to lead him to that conclusion, except
it was that the lion. Member for Cirencester
had spoken with a good deal of warmth.—)Hear.)
Mr. R. PALMER distinctly heard the Hon. Mem-
ber for Nottingham state these that tthese three
things for him to explain two of which he should take
notice of there, and the other he should leave for
another place.—(Hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL said under these circum-
stances he should move that the Hon. Member for
Nottingham be taken into custody forthwith.
The SPEAKER in calling upon the Hon. Member
for Cirencester to give him an assurance that he would
ththe absolute
not resort to ulterior measures e n Housesth matter, took
occasion to point out to
necessity of Honourable Members being guarded
in the statements they made to the House, particularly
so far as related to their accuracy.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. CRIPPS would readily give the required as-
surance, but at the same time he begged to be under-
stood that he was sincere in what he had stated.
After a few words from Lord CASTLEREAGH,
Sir DE LACY EVAN'S said that he did not
in the least degree feel surprised at the feelings of
the Hon. Member, who was a Member of the Committee.
But he trusted that the lion. Member would at once
get up in his place, and regret that he had used lan-
guage which had given offence to any. Hon. Member.
Mr. CRIPPS said that he certainly deeply re-
gretted having made use of any language which
might be considered unparliarnentary.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
suggested that some restraint should be put upon
the Honourable Member for Cirencester, in order to
prevent his leaving the House in his present excited
state.
The motion was then agreed to that Mr. F.
O'Conner be requested to attend in his place
forthwith.