HC Deb 17 July 1861 vol 164 cc1039-40

Order read, for resuming Adjourned Debate on Amendment proposed to Question [3rd July]. 'That the Bill be now read a second time;' and which Amendment was, to leave out the word 'now', and at the end of the Question to add the words ' upon this day three months.'

Question again proposed.

Debate resumed.

MR. BRISTOW

said, he objected to the Bill, on the ground that it would abolish Grand Juries within the metropolitan district. It seemed to him that, although the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Cambridge University (Mr. Walpole) had moved the second reading of the Bill on a former day, no one really cared about it—not even the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the University of Cambridge, who was not in his place to take charge of it.

SIR GEORGE LEWIS

said, that any- one was at liberty to move an order that stood upon the paper. He was favourable to the Bill, and he, therefore, in the absence of the right hon. Gentleman, opposite thought himself at liberty to move the second reading.

MR. AYRTON

said, he should move the adjournment of the debate. It would be extremely inconvenient if, in the absence of hon. Members who had charge of Bills, other hon. Members, without being authorized by them, were to move the Order of the Day. An hon. Member might for some good reason determine not to proceed with a Bill, and then next day he might find that some one behind his back had forwarded it a stage.

SIR GEORGE LEWIS

said, that the course he had taken was by no means unusual, for at the end of the Session scarcely a night passed over without some instance of the practice. He had, however, just heard that the right hon. Gentleman in charge of the Bill wished the Order of the Day to be postponed.

Debate further adjourned till Wednesday next.