the house. The motion was seconded by Mr. Fielden,
and supported by Mr. Aglionby, who declared the new sliding-scale was a
delusion. Sir Charles Napier and Mr. Gaily Knight conceived that these
debates ought not to be protracted: it was an unfair way of conducting
any opposition to a government. Sir Robert Peel bitterly complained of
the continual interruption to public business, and of the impediments
opposed to a fair trial of the new corn-law. Lord J. Russell, Viscount
Howick, Sir John Hanmer, and Mr. Cobden supported the motion; but, on
a division, it was rejected by two hundred and thirty-one against one
hundred and seventeen.

While these discussions were taking place in the house of commons, the
same class of topics were brought forward in the house of lords by Lord
Brougham, who moved that a select committee be appointed to inquire into
the distress of the country. This motion was supported by Lord Kinnaird
and the Marquis of Clanricarde; and opposed by the Earl of Ripon,
Viscount Melbourne, and Earl Stanhope. On a division it was rejected by
a majority of sixty-one against fourteen.

THE GREAT CHARTIST PETITION.

The most striking shape in which the grievances of the working classes
presented themselves to the notice of the legislature during this
session, was the presentation of a petition, which, for bulk and
signatures, was unparalleled in the annals of parliament. The signatures
attached to it exceeded 3,000,000; and in conveying it to the house of
commons, it required sixteen men to support it. It was, in fact, too
large to be admitted into the door of the house of commons; and, in
order to effect its enhance, it was divided into sections. It was
presented by Mr. T. Dun-combe, who, in calling the attention of the
house to its contents, thanked them for the kind and respectful manner
in which it had been received. The petition, he remarked, had nearly
3,500,000 signatures; and, making allowance for the signatures of youths
and females, he was prepared to prove that there were above 1,500,000
of families of the industrious classes subscribers to that petition. The
prayer of the petition was for the enactment of the great constitutional
changes which form the "six points" in the Chartist creed, to which
was added a demand for the abolition of all kinds of monopolies. Mr.
Duncombe concluded by moving, "that the petitioners of the national
petition be heard at the bar of this house, by themselves, thei