§ Captain Pechell moved for leave to bring in a Bill to give to Sheriffs' Courts jurisdiction over all debts under fifty pounds.
§ The Attorney-Generalsaid, that extensive measures of Law Reform were now in preparation, under the direction of the Lord Chancellor and the Judges; and he trusted that, under such circumstances, the gallant Captain would consent to postpone his motion.
§ Captain Pechellcould not consent to postpone his motion, except the Attorney-General would himself give notice of a Bill for the object of his motion.
§ Mr. Goulburnwould suggest to the gallant captain whether it would not be better to leave law reform to the gen- 117 tlemen whose proper province it was, especially after the declaration that the matter was under the consideration of the Lord Chancellor.
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequertrusted that the hon. Member having been assured that Government was engaged in the most solemn manner with the subject of his motion, would consent to postpone it. The hon. and Gallant Member would not be concluded by whatever measure might be brought forward by the Government; undoubtedly not, but he would ask the hon. and Gallant Member to wait until the Government measure was brought forward, and if it should require amendment it would be quite competent in the hon. Member to propose it. If the Gallant Captain were inclined to blame the Attorney-General for not bringing forward a motion on the subject, he ought to recollect that the Attorney-General had sat in that House, night after night, to obtain an opportunity for the discussion of a Bill in which the entire public was interested. And was he to be held responsible for the delay, for which he was not at all to blame? Under all the circumstances, he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) trusted that the Gallant Captain would postpone his motion.
§ Captain Pechellconsented to follow the advice of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and postpone his motion, but he would not relinquish it. He knew the value of perseverance. He should never have carried his Bill for the abolition of tithe on turnips—were it not for the manner in which he persevered.
§ Motion postponed.