The Sun.
London, England, 1832-02-24 00:00:00

VESTRY ACT.

Lord KING presented a petition from the Trades' Union
of Dublin for the repeal of the Vestry Act.

ANATOMY.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented a petition
from the University of Glasgow, praying fur facilities to
the study uf anatomy.
The NOBLE MARQUIS presented a petition from some
place in Ireland, praying that any measure-which might be
adopted for this purpose should extend to that country.
The Duke of SUSSEX presented a petition from the
surgeons of Lancaster, praying that the legal impediments
may be removed which obstruct the practice of dissection.

EDUCATION—IRELAND.
Earl GREY begged to ask the Noble Earl who had
given notice of his intention to present some petitions re-
lating to education in Ireland whether, as the subject
might probably occasion some debate, he did not consider
it of importance that the Lord Chancellor of Ireland should
he present': This he regretted to say, was unfortunately
impossible this evening, on account of a domestic affliction.
The Earl of RODEN certainly expected a discussion to
arise on the presentation of the petitions, and it was in-
deed with a view to this object that he had given notice of his
intention to present them to day. In the circuinstances
stated by the Noble Earl he would postpone the pre-
sentation of these petitions until Monday, when he
should call their Lordship's attention to that most important
subject, the scriptural education of the people of Ireland.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.
The Duke of RUTLAND, in pursuance of the notice
he had given, rose to present to their Lordships the im-
portant petition which he held in his hand. This petition
proceeded from the nobility, gentry, magistrates, the
owners and occupiers of land, and other respectable inha-
bitants of the county of Cambridge and the isle of FfY•
It was signed by 1465 persons, each of whom bad affixed
to his signature his place of residence and prefession. The
petitioners offered to their Lordships the expression of
their gratitude for their refusal to pass the Bill of last
session for changing the constitution of Parliament. They
expressed their readiness to concur in favour of a temperate
and moderate Reform, and in this sentiment also he had
the satisfaction to agree with them. With respect to the
new measure of Reform, which was understood to be in
progress to their Lordships' House, the petitioners said they
would have great difficulty unless considerable alterations
were introduced into it, both as to its principles and
its details, in persuading themselves that it would be
either just or expedient for their Lordships to adopt it.
Before he moved that this petition be laid upon the

table he would venture to trouble their Lordships with
one or two observations. It had been said that no re-
action had taken place in the public mind upon the ques-
tion of Refoim. This, at least, could not be said of the dis-
trict from which the petition proceeded, and, if applied to the
country generally, he believed the assertion to be wholly desti-
tute of truth. If the people had been led astray by the chi-
merical pro-pect of advantage to arise from a visionary and
theoretic Reform, nobody could doubt who riA,cted upon
the habitual sobriety and good sense of the people of Eng-
land, upon their respect and attachment to the Constitution
which they had derived from_ their forefathers, and upon
their consciousness of the many blessings it had secured
them; that they would return to the dominion of reason at
last. "Naturam expellas furca,—tamen usque rccurret."
The firm conviction of his mind was that any measure ap-
proaching to the character of that which their Lordships
had so wisely rejected would effect a change in the most
valuable institutions of the country, and would prove
merely a step preparatory to revolution. Entertaining this
opinion he gave his vote against that measure, and be gave
it conscientiously. And with respect to another Bill,
upon which it was probable that ere long they would be
called upon to pronounce an opinion, he had no hesitation
to declare that unless it came before them differing
mate-
rially in character from that which their Lordships had
permitted to lay so short a time upon their table, he should
give it the same determined opposition. And he had the
satisfaction of knowing that in this opposition be shourl
haveappa,ation, and for its success the earnest good
wishes, of the e'reai number of respectable persons who
had signed the petition he was about to present.--(Cheers.
The petition was read by the clerk.
Lord CLONCURRY presented a petition from a parish
in Meath in favour of Reform of Parliament.