Star.
London, England, 1817-05-21 00:00:00

INJIILTN REFORM PETITION.

General MATHEW said he had a Petition to
present from the inhabitants of Dublin, signed by
many thousand persons, praying for a Reform in the
Representation of the People; but -previously to pre-
senting it he would say a few words. The Petition
was couched in sound, energetic, and Constitutional
language; and it was from the once wealthy and
commercial, but now impoverished and depressed
Capital of Ireland. After the late decision respecting •
the Catholics, it might be considered almost useiess
to approach • but the Petitioners were not without 11
hopes that ;he voice of the people might ultimately
induce that House to attend to their prayers, for a
more perfect representation in Parliament. They
beheld mixed with the representation. a corrupt usur.
pinion of the peepk's rights ; and that ill-fated coun-.
try, part of which be represented in that House; felt
the sad effects of the defective state of Parliament.
The consequences were seen in a ruined agriculture,
a destroyed commerce and trade ; and in a degraded
nobility, an impoverished gentry, a famished people,
an insolvent trade, and a bankrupt nation. The Par-
bament of Ireland had voted for an hereditary union
•—a vote that they had no right to give; but that
vote was obtained by corruption. He was prepared
to prove, if the House afforded him the opportunity,
that the Members, at the time of the Union, sold
themselves. Some sold themselves for Places and
•Pensions; others for Bishoprics and Archbishoprics;
even the Judgment-seat did not escape the influence
of corruption; and others b .rtered their country's
condition for honours and ribbons, which would hang
around the necks of the possessors as long as they
lived, the badges of their degradation—(Hear, hear).
The Petitioners, amongst other things, prayed fur
Annual Parliaments, and they had great authorities
and extensive practice of the. Constitution in support'
.of their claim. The authority of Justice Raymond'
was great and decisive, and the Bill of Rights de.
dared, a declaration that was agreed to, that there
ought to be frequent Parliaments. But the establish.
ment of the Revolution had been disturbed by the '1
• Septennial Act. That Act was avowedly only for
a temporary purpose. The cause of the Act having
teased, was it right to continue it:! They had now
no Rebellion to dread: there was no fear of any re-
bellion but in the imaginations of a weak and pusil-
lanimous Committee, and a corrupt Ministry. The
desire of keeping their places alone induced them to
raise the alarm of Jacobinical conspiracies, to frighten
the Nobility and Gentry, and persons of landed pro-
perty, into the support of the Administration ; and
they succeeded in frightening those who were ready
to believe in every old woman's tale—(a laugh)—or
in gun-powder, pop-gun, or tmarnaanusa plots !—.
(Muds laughter).—All things tended tustiew the ne-
cessity of Reform aad be implored them not to for.
get what had been impressively auo truly stated,
that it would be better for them to promote Reform
within, than to expose themselves to the danger of
Reform being attempted from without.
The Petition was brought up, read, and ordered
to lie on the Table.

coax RUCIRM PiTITIOII.
Sir F. BURDETT presented a Petition from
Cork, for Reform, signed by 10,000 persons. The
disuesi of a vast portion of the inhabitants of that
city' was unequalled by any thing that had ever be-
.
Luxe been known I and they maintained that a Re-
'form •of Parliament would remedy those evils in' the
bistro* which had brought about the present calami.
tons state of affairs. The condition of many of the
inhabitants was deployable; they arm. unable to have