presented a petition from Walter J. Baldwin, esq. which, he said, contained the account of a case of great oppression under the present system of imprisonment for debt. The petitioner had been arrested under a charge of debt, and had taken every legal means to obtain his discharge, yet he had been detained more than eleven months, although, on his liberation, the judge said that there had been no ground whatever for his arrest. It was too late to take any measures on the subject in the present session; but early in the next, he should make some motion on the subject of the grievance complained of in the petion.—The petition was read, and ordered to lie on the table.—The hon. baronet presented also another petition, of a similar nature, from John Abraham Von Lengerke, formerly of Bremen, complaining, that he had been arrested in this country for a debt contracted at Bremen, for which he would not have been liable in that place, as he had made a surrender of his goods as a bankrupt, and obtained a certificate after the manner of that country.—Ordered to lie on the table.

said, he had read in a morning paper, an account of three Spaniards of rank having been seized by the governor of Gibraltar, in which they had taken refuge, and delivered up to the Spanish government. He wished to know from the noble lord opposite, whether any orders on the subject had been issued to the governor? He also wished to know, whether any applications had been made to the Spanish government in favour of those persons who had acted, perhaps, imprudently on their ideas of liberty?

said, he was totally ignorant of any such transaction as had been alluded to. The correspondence with Gibraltar did not come exactly within his department; but he had not heard of it, and his hon. friend (Mr. Goulburn) near him, connected with the other department, knew also nothing of it. There had also arrived dispatches from the court of Spain within the last three days, which alluded to nothing of the kind. He should, however, make further enquiries on the subject and communicate the result to the noble lord. He could state, that all the legitimate influence this country could use with the court of Spain had been employed in a manner which the noble lord would highly approve of.

wished to know whether it was the intention of the hon. gentleman opposite to make the motion, of which he had given notice, respecting governor Gore? He was anxious to bring the question to a discussion in order perfectly to clear the character of that officer.

said he was in expectation of a petition which was to be presented on the subject of Mr. Gore's government.

was anxious that a refutation of the charges against col. Gore should go forth in the same session in which the accusation had been brought.

thought the question ought speedily to be brought on.

said, that the postponement of the motion had not arisen from any neglect of his, but from the quantity of information which had poured in on him from all quarters respecting Upper Canada, which caused the private injuries which he had at first intended to redress, to merge in the general question.

thought it unfair that a charge should be so long kept hanging over colonel Gore.

said, he had received a letter from Mr. Walsh, inspector of aliens, denying that he had been offered or accepted, any recompense for holding the office at a public-house. His only motive for having the office there, was, as he stated in his letter, that it was most convenient, and was besides a saving to the public.

did not see any reason why the inn-keeper should have the office held at his house, unless he gave some consideration for it. It must be a source also of some profit to the inn-keeper. Every person, alien or not, upon his arrival, was swept into this public-house. He held a letter in his hand, which informed him, that a Mr. Woodford offered 150l. a year for having the office at his house. To this application he received no answer from Mr. Walsh, who, it appeared, if his information was correct, did the business by deputy, and did not appear himself at Gravesend more than once a week. Even admitting that the office, as stated, was kept at a public-house for 15 years, that was no reason why an abuse of this kind should continue. The letter to which he alluded was written by the solicitor of Mr. Woodford. He would not vouch for its truth; but the matter deserved enquiry.

did not think that the testimony of so respectable a man as Mr. Walsh should be disregarded or outweighed by mere assertions, of which there appeared no sort of proof.

said, this was always the mode of defence, when any charge was insinuated against a person in office. He was highly respectable; he was a most worthy and conscientious person! All men in office were, of course "highly respectable and worthy;" how, then, did it come to pass, that defaulters were sometimes found among them?

The Bill was ordered to be read the third time to-morrow.