The Sun.
London, England, 1829-03-30 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER took the Chair a few minutes before
Four o'clock, at which time there was an universally full
ttendance of Members. The gallery was very much
rowded.
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 Thames,
at Staiees was read a third time and passed.
Petitions were presented front the following plaees
against the Catholic Claims :
By Sir Edward Kuachbull, from a congregation of
Wesleyan Methodists at Wellingborough, Northampton-
shire, and another from an individual named Thomas
Jones, Vestry Clerk of St. Stephens, Coletnan-street--
(Laughter) ;—and another front a place, the name of
which we d►d 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 of 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-hounds,
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 Kings 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 be should move for an account of the manner in
which the sum of 512,000/. voted for the Charing-cross,
improvements had been expended ; and also for a Report
of proceedings instituted by the Attorney-Genaral in re-
fe-ence to Public Charities.
Sir R. INGLIS presented a petition from the Mini-
sters, &c. of the Presbytery of Forfar, praying that the
Catholics might be excluded from certain offices therein
named. Also similar petitions from the Associate Presby-
tery of Edinburgh, and other places in Scotland.
After a few woe's from Mr. Moberly, Sir R. Ferguson,
Captain Weinyss, and Mr. Hume, the petitions were or-
dered to be printed.
The SPEAKER said that the Synod of Forfar was
signed by only one individual, and the question therefore
arose, whether the petition could be received under these
circumstances as the petition of the Synod, or as the pe-
tition of the individual whose signature it bore. The ge-
neral 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 ruie were towns and
bodies corporate. There was not one single excep.
tion, for there was a precedent where the House had
received a petition from the General Assembly of 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 aaid that the same rule as
had been applied to the General Assembly might be
also applied to time Synods and Presbyterians, all of them
being of the same nature, anti regulated by the same Act
of Parliament.

Mr. Secretary PEEL taid, that lie could rot take the
same view of the subject. The Precedents of the House
were in favour of receiving petitions, tnerelyras the pe-
titions of those who signed them, hut there being one
LEFT SPEAKING.]