THIRD READING. (Hansard, 3 June 1858)

§ MR. BENTINCK

said, he felt that, as he had on a recent occasion taken the initiative in opposing this Bill, he might fairly, in accordance with the usages of the House, late as was the hour (One o'clock), oppose the further progress of the Bill, but he would at once say that he did not mean to take that course. They had a full and fair discussion upon the subject yesterday. Those who were opposed to the Bill stated their reasons to the best of their ability. They were beaten and well beaten by a large majority, and therefore he felt that if he were to persevere in his opposition to the Bill, he should only be wasting unnecessarily the time of the House. So far as he was concerned, be should offer no further opposition to it. Before he resumed his seat, he begged to express his extreme regret that they had been unable, owing to one of those very curious accidents which had happened so frequently of late, to hear an explanation from the noble Lord the Member for Tiverton (Viscount Palmerston)—who had only left the House two minutes before the Motion was made, that the Bill be read a third time—of the reasons that had induced him to follow a course on this question when in opposition so diametrically opposed to that which he followed when in office. As it seemed impossible to catch the noble Lord, though he regretted very much having failed to do so, he should now offer no further opposition to the Bill.

§ MR. DRUMMOND

said, he had observed on the previous day, that this was the first time in the history of the country when property was dissociated from representation. On that occasion the noble Lord (Lord John Russell) had taken him to task and had quoted the statute of Anne. That statute, however, had no more to do with the question than the Man in the Moon. Originally, none could be elected for counties but knights of the shire, while borough representatives were members of the corporation. The House had now adopted one of the five points of the charter, which had been supported by a Conservative Administration. After this he hoped they would hear no more about the pride of having a great Conservative party, and that they would arrive at the honest conviction that there was no such thing left. He begged to congratulate the hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. L. King) on his deserved success.