The BISHOP of SALISBURYpresented petitions against this Bill, and after expressing a strong opinion against the policy of the measure, asked the Government if it was their intention to proceed further with it in the course of the present Session? Many noble Lords who intended to oppose the Bill were now absent, and among others the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench.
§ The EARL of ST. GERMANSsaid, that he saw no reason for not proceeding with it in the present Session.
LORD BROUGHAMthought that this was rather too short a notice for the second reading of such a Bill; at the same time, he intimated it to be his opinion that it would not he expedient to postpone the decision on the Bill till next Session. He trusted that the noble Earl would consider 73 the propriety of fixing a later day than I Thursday next for the second reading.
§ The EARL of ELLENBOROUGH, though he thought that this Bill was a bad one, was nevertheless favourable to the object of it. He therefore hoped that his noble Friend would not bring it forward during the present Session, but would let it be remodelled during the recess. Thursday was too early a day for the second reading. As a sincere friend to the object of the Bill, he recommended the noble Earl to take no further step with regard to it during the present year.
LORD STANLEYdeclared himself to he an opponent, not only of the Bill itself, hut also of its object. Still he thought that every great measure should have the advantage of a full, free, and impartial discussion. He had previously entered his protest, on many occasions, against the mode in which their Lordships (perhaps inevitably) were compelled to deal with important Bills towards the close of a Session, and he repeated his protest upon this occasion. He reminded his noble Friend (the Earl of St. Germans) that there was at the present moment a decreasing feeling in favour of this Bill, and an increasing; feeling in opposition to it. It had now lain upon the table for a week or ten days, without a single step being made in its progress. It was a Bill which might originate in that House at the commencement of the next Session. If it were then negatived it would be disposed of for the next Session; and if it were carried, it would go down to the House of Commons with the recommendation of their Lordships in its favour, and might then undergo a fair discussion in the other House of Parliament. If he recollected rightly, it had only been carried this year in the House of Commons by a hare majority of ten voices.
§ The EARL of ST. GERMANSsaid, he would take till to-morrow to consider of the course he ought to pursue with regard to the measure.