§ Sir V. Blakemoved the second reading of the Barristers (Ireland) Bill. He stated that what he particularly desired to attain by it was, that the Irish law students should not be compelled, as they were at present to come to London for the purpose of qualifying themselves to be called to the Irish bar. There was, he believed, a time when such a regulation was necessary, but that time had passed. Irish lawyers were considered of equal authority with English lawyers, and the student had such means of obtaining a knowledge of his profession in Dublin, that it was unnecessary for him to come to London.
§ Mr. Sergeant Jacksonwho disclaimed all personal discourtesy to the hon. Baronet, felt bound to oppose the bill. The benefits derived by Irish students from their attendance in London were incalculable, and so they themselves thought, for he had received from the secretary of their body, Mr. Pigott, the son of the late Attorney-general, a letter expressing, on the part of nearly the whole body, their opposition to the bill. This question was not new. It had been canvassed by the Irish Judges, and decided by them in favour of the present system. Rather than the proposition of the hon. Baronet—by which Irish students were not compelled to come to London, he would compel English students to go to Dublin. Besides there were other clauses in the present bill most objectionable. The first was, that all gentlemen qualified to be called to the English bar should be entitled to a call at the Irish Bar. Now this, was not fair unless they allowed the Irish to practise at the English bar. It was not "justice to Ireland." On the whole, he felt it was not his duty to move that the bill be read a second time that day six months.
§ Motion negatived, Bill put off.
§ Adjourned.