Star.
London, England, 1822-04-26 00:00:00

NEWFOUNDLAND.

Sir J. MACKINTOSH seeing the Hon. Under Secretary
for the Colonial Department in his place, was desirous of put-
ting a question to him. lie had upon a former occasion men-
tioned that he had received certain co:nmunications from some
of the most respectable inhabitants of the Island of Newfound-
land upon the subject of some defects which existed in their
I louses of Legislature. He wished to know„,whether it was
the intention of Government to bring forward any measures fur
remedying these defects?
Mr. W I !mar could inform the Hon. and Learned Member,'
that it had been the intention *f the Government to have pro-
posed measures for the purpose he had mentioned, during the
present Session. But the Governor of the Island had intimated
a wish to have some personal intercourse with Govirnment be-
fore such a step was taken, and that was the reason of the delay
which had occurred. lie could assure the Hon. and Learned
Member, that the earliest opportunity would be taken fur at-
tending to the subject.
Sir J. MACKINTOSH said, that after the explanation he
had heard, he was content to leave the matter in the hands of
Government,who were better able to manage it than any Mem-
ber could be, and because anything coming from them, stood a
better chance of success with the House.

AuRICuf,TURAL DISTRESS.
Sir W. LE'AION presented a Petition from the County of
Cornwall, complaining of Agricultural Distress.—Referred to
the Committee.

Similar Petitions were presented from the eastern part of
Sussex, and from Oxfordshire.
Mr. HILL presented a • Petition from certain Noblemen,
Gentry, Clergy, and others, of the County of Salop,. praying
generally for relief front existing distress.—Ordersd to be printud.
Mr. RA MSDEN presented Petitions from Rotherham and
three other places lu Yorkshire, complaining of Agricultural
Digress._

Mr. M AIME presented similar Petitions from the County
of Norfolk.

Stouter Petitions were presented front Radnor, and from the
liondled► of Wallington and other parts of Devonshire.
DIA L. KECK presented a Madan from the Cv..rtfy of

• Mr. F. PALMER was present at the Meeting in question,
and denied that constables prevented any one from entering the
door. The reason why the Petition was not more numerously
signed, was, that the Meeting was called at two days notice;
and there was another circumstance which also prevented many
signatures from being added. The Under Sheriff, after the
Meeting, put the Petition in his pocket, a situation in which it
was impossible for any man to sign it—(A laugh)—and kept it
there for the whole of that evening. During this time the Free-
holders were running all over the town, looking for the Petition,
and nobody could find it. With regard to the speech that was
omitted, he was sure that the Gentleman who reported th,• pro-
ceedings suppressed the speech out of pure consideration for the
young man who made it.

•
. -
After a few words from Mr. M'Quxxx, in explanation, the
Peti:iou was mil, ordered to lie on the table, and be printed.
Mr. COKE presented a Petition from the Owners and Occu-
piers of Land in the Hundred of Oarrew, in the County of Nor-
folk, complaining of the distressed state of Agriculture, and pray-
ing Relief and Reform.—Ordered to lie on the table, and to be
printed.
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