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138
which has been and is still taking place in your
petitioners' Parish. The population of the said
Parish according to the census returns was in 1851,
54,667; in 1861, 71,488; in 1871, 111,302; and
in 1881, 186,593. It appears from the Annual
Report of Doctor J. S. Bristowe, F.R.S., the
Medical Officer of Health for your petitioners'
Parish, that the estimated population at June 1882,
was 199,116; and at June 1883, 209,674; and the
said Medical Officer states that the estimated
population at June 1884, was 220,793, and that in
his opinion the rate of increase shown by the
figures aforesaid will probably be maintained for
many years to come, and that in 1891 the population
will in all probability amount to fully 312,815.
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that the
words " and the Hamlet of Penge" may not be
inserted in Schedule 4, line 11, of the said Parliamentary
Elections (Redistribution) Bill, and that
the Borough of Camberwell as constituted thereby
may not include the said Hamlet of Penge and that
the amendment so agreed to as aforesaid by the
Committee of this Honorable House may be reconsidered
accordingly, or in the alternative that
the Borough of Camberwell may return four members
of Parliament instead of three as provided by the
said Bill, or that such steps may be taken in respect
of the premises as to this Honorable House shall
seem meet.
and your petitioners will ever pray, &c.
The amendment of Mr. Grantham was accepted,
but, on the report being brought up in the House of
Commons, Mr. Edward Clarke, Q.C., M.P., moved