HL Deb 11 March 1831 vol 3 cc344-5
Lord Auckland

moved, that the Calico Duties' Bill be read a second time. He was not aware that there would be any opposition to his Motion, but he wished, if there were, that the discussion might take place on Monday next, when he meant to move the third reading of the Bill. The object he had in view was, not to avoid any discussion which the Bill might deserve, but to carry it forward with as much expedition as possible, in order to relieve the trade of the state of suspense in which it was at present; and he assured their Lordships, that no less than 200,000 persons were out of employment, and would continue so until this Bill had passed into a law, —Bill read a second time, and ordered to be read a third time without being committed.