The BISHOP of LONDON, referring to the Report of the Commission on the Law of Marriage which had been laid upon the table of the other House, begged to ask the noble Lord the President of the Council, whether Her Majesty's Government were prepared to sanction the introduction of a Bill into either House of Parliament on that subject during the present Session; or whether they would not rather deem it expedient at once to delay the consideration of the question till next Session? If delayed till next Session, the Bill ought then to be brought in as early as possible, because it would necessarily give occasion to a deal of discussion, there being much difference of opinion on it among the clergy and laity. At all events, it was a question of the gravest importance, and ought not be discussed at this late period 898 of the Session, when Parliament had more business on hand than they could well dispose of.
§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEsaid, that this question had not been taken up by Her Majesty's Government at all, but by a learned individual, a Member of the other House of Parliament (Mr. S. Wortley), entirely unconnected with the Government, but who was well qualified by his learning and talents for dealing with this difficult subject. That right hon. Gentleman had, he understood, given notice of his intention to introduce a measure on the subject; and he (the Marquess of Lansdowne) was not prepared to say that Her Majesty's Government would refuse their assent to the introduction of such a Bill even in the present Session of Parliament, although he agreed with his right rev. Friend that in the present state of public business, and with the multitude of Bills now before Parliament, it was very undesirable that it should be passed, or even discussed, in the present Session.