The Sun.
London, England, 1818-01-29 00:00:00

PARMA NIENTARY REFORM.

Sir FRANCIS BURDETT S'aid, that the subject of
Parliamentary'Reform, whiels occupied so woe')
of the public attention at the commencement of
last Session, had been attempted to be set aside
by the coercive measures resorted Co by Ministers.
The petitions for Refurin had been subscribed by
'not less than a million of nelsons. All the MI-
COnStitUtiOMAI steps taken by Minis•ers resulted
from this strung and explicit declaration of po-
pular sentiment. They 'Hirst not however ima-
gine that the' people of England would be fright-
ened either into-a belief of the excellence, or into
an acquiescence in the integrity, of that House.
—The petition he held in his hand was subscribed
by 20 persons, the number allowed to assemble
under the severest 'legislative acts on the subject.
The-suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act was,
indeed, to he repealed, lint that could afford nei-
ther touch exultation as to the present, nor great
confidence respecting the future. The 'Habeas
Corpus was intended to prevent the tyrannical
exertion of arbitrary power. But, being set aSide
on the lutist frivolous pretences, it only presented
a fallacious and dangerous ground of confidence.
Indeed, it might as well be obliterated from the
statute-book, not only because-it proved useless
in the .only times when .it was intended to opc.-'
rate, but because, under the cover of the suspeo-
'sion of this Act, powers Were conferred on-Mi-
nisters which had been unknown before the reign
of Charles 11., when the Habeas
,Corpus passed.
But, in small nombers,.such as subscribed this
petition, the people could always meet-, without
affording a pretext for the infamous measures
which ..I‘finisit'l'S always adopted to counteract the
wishes and the intereats of the people. Was it to
be imagined that this was the tine when the peo-
rsle.could he silent cm the'subject of. Reform? Was
it when sedition was excited for the put pose of
re!zisting- Reform—was it- when spies and infor-
mers 'were hired to instigate men to crimes, for
-which they were led to the scaffold and cx,..
.ecnted as traitors—was-it at such a time that the
people could remain silent on the great subject of
Reform in that. House i A representation of, the
,people in that House was the only security for the
enjoyment of liberty and the administratiob of
Front the want of' that representation
proceeded all thn inferior and minor grievances
which tormed subjects ,of complaint throughout
'the 'country. took the,opportunity of making
these observations now, when presenting the•pe-
tittop he held SO his' hand, from 20 inhabitants
o'fAlatb;.but be would- Aiit' front
bringing the Subject fully and disuinctly before
the House on a future clay.
The petition Was then brought up, :read, laid
on the table, and ordered to be piloted.
Auother 'petitioH from the same place, and sub-
seribed by the same number, was then presented,
And seven similar petitions from the same place,
were afterwards Laid on the table at once.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the Ex-1
CHEQUER the House adjourned at 10 minutes be- 1,
fore 6.

LAW IN'T'ELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, JAN. 28.

The Court %VHS occupied the whole of the day
in hearing Appeals from the Quarter Sessions, re-
lating to the Poor Rates, none of which were of
general public interest.