The Sun.
London, England, 1829-03-31 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(LAST NIGHT.)

The SPEAKER took the Chair a few minutes before
Four o'clock, at which time there was an unusually full
attendance of Members. The gallery was very much

crowded.

The Independent Gas Company's Bill was read a
second time, and ordered to be committed.
The Bill for Building a Bridge over the River Thaws,
at Stanies, was read a third time and passed.
Petitions were presented from the following places
against the Catholic claims :

By Sir Edward Knatchbidl, from a congregation of
Wesleyan Methodists at Wellingborough, Northampton-
shire, and another from an individual named Thomas
Jones, Vestry Clerk of St. Stephen's, Coleman-street—
(Laughter) ;—and another from a place, the name of
which we did not hear ; by Mr. Fontayne Wilson, from
nine parishes in the county of York; by Admiral
Harvey from three different places in the county of Essex ;
by Lord Belfast, from the town of Belfast ; and by Mr.
Egerton, from three places in the county cal Chester.
Mr. E. DAVENPORT said one of the petitions pre-
sented by his Hon. Friend (Mr. Egerton) was signed by
the whipper-in and huntsman of a pack of fox-bounds,
who were decidedly against any further concessions to the
Catholics.—(Great laughter.)

Sir THOMAS LETHBRIDGE presented a petition
from the city of Bath in favour of concessions; Lord Ox-
mantown presented two petitions from the King's County.
Sir HENRY SYMTH presented a petition from the
Eastern Half Hundred of Essex on the subject of Anatomy.
Mr. D. W. HARVEY gave notice that on Wednesday
next he should move for an account of the manner in
which the sum of 542,0001. voted for the Charing-cross
improvements, had been expended ; and also for a Report
of proeeedings instituted by the Attorney-Gcnend in re-
fe-ence to Public Charities.

Sir R. INGLIS presented a petition from the Mini-
sters, &c. of the Pi esbytery of Forfar, praying that the
Catholics might be excluded from . certain offices therein
named. Also similar petitions from the AFsociate Presby-
tery of Edinburgh, and other places in Scotland.
After a few words from Mr. Moberly, Sir R. Ferguson,
Captain Wemyss, and Mr. Hume, the petitions were tit,
dered to be printed.
The SPEAKER said that the petition of the Sy-
nod of Forfar was signed by only one individual,
and the question therefore arose, whether the peti-
tion could be received under these circumstances as
the petition of the Synod, or as the petition of the
individual whose signature it bore. The general
rule of the House was that all petitions should be
received as the petitions of those by whom they were
signed, and the exceptions to this rule were towns and
bodies corporate. There was not one single excep-
tion, for there was a precedent where the House had
reel VVU a petiLaun Mt, ..,c uc..Ct ui 11b3r11115.y Ot Scot-
land as the petition of that body, though it was only
signed by one individual. He wished to draw the atten-
tion of the House to the subject, as it appeared to him to
be one of some importance.

The LORD ADVOCATE said that the same rule as
bad been applied to the General Assembly might be
also applied to the Synods and Presbyterians, all of them
being of the same nature, and regulated by the same Art
of Parliament.

Mr. Secretary PEEL regretted that he could not take
the same view of the subject as the Learned Lord. As
far as precedents went, the whole stream was in favour of
receiving it as the petition of the individual who had
signed it. That was the general rule, and he feared that
great abuses would result from departing from it. An
individual was entitled to represent a corporate body byits
Charter; but these Synods and Presbyteries were not in-
dependent bodies which could be so entitled. He appr,-_
hended that if the practice were changed, it could tr:ver ho
ascertained what portion of opinion the petit;',,ns repre-
sented. For example, if the Presbytery were divided 17
to 16, it would enable the Moderator to sign, it, and srnd
it to that House as the petition of the whole bod-;. It
would be much better that means should be left to.aseer-
tain what was the actual sense of the Synod Or .pre,byters%
Besides, it would detract from the priviler. Ch of the General
Assembly, if they were shared by otb," and inferior
as-
semblies. It would he far more iv:lvisah?, he thought, to
adhere to the established rule.

After a few Words from Si.-; 11. INcats, Mr. W. WyNN,
Mr. KEITII DOUGLAS/ :le SPEAKER, and Mr. Hum*,
the subject dropped.

Lord TULL ''t-MORE presented a petition from the Pro-
prietor, F:ritors, Printers, Publishers, and others connected
with the Monthly Magazine, against the claims.

BRITISH MUSEUM.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER having
moved the Order of the Day for a Committee of Supply,
The House went into a Committee, Mr. PLANTA in the
Chair.

A Vote of 19,8991. to I,e paid without my fee or de-
duction, was agreed to, and the ur.ittee having oh-
tained leave to Bit again, the House resumed, and the Report,
was ordered to be brought up ou Wer3nesday next.