The Marquess of Normanbypresented the report of the Select Committee to which the Borough Improvement Bill and the Drainage of Buildings Bill were referred. Their Lordships were aware, that the Drainage of Buildings Bill, had been divided into two bills—the Borough Improvement Bill and the Drainage of Buildings Bill. The amendments made in the latter, were of a very important character, and would, he was convinced, be attended with the most beneficial effects. The subject had been carefully investigated, and every sugges- 769 tion for the improvement of the bill had been most attentively considered. He should propose, that the bill be referred to a Committee of the whole House to-morrow. He was anxious, that it should be passed as soon as possible because, the profits derived from building tenements for the residence of the poor, were so great, that many speculators were at present employed in erecting houses of an indifferent description, which would not come under the provisions of the bill, if they were completed before it became a law.
Lord Ellenboroughthought, that a clause might be introduced to meet the case of all buildings commenced after the introduction of the bill.
§ Lord Ashburtonsaid, there was one great grievance which the noble Marquess had altogether omitted from the bill—the burying of dead bodies in neighbourhoods where there was scarcely room for the living. He thought there ought to be some provision made with respect to that subject.
§ Bills to be committed.