§ Order of the Day for the Second Beading, read.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a" —(The Earl of Limerick.)
THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDONsaid, he would not oppose the second reading of the Bill, but would reserve to himself the right to oppose it on its further stages, if on further inquiry he thought it necessary to do so. He would call their Lord- 745 ships' attention to the 3rd clause, which practically laid down the principle that any person acting contrary to this Act outside the three-mile zone should be considered as having acted within that limit. That might give rise to serious consequences, and he suggested the omission of the clause in Committee.
§ THE EARL OF REDESDALEsaid, this Bill had come from the Commons, and it did not appear to have occurred to anyone that it was in an improper shape when passed by that House. It was extremely important at this period of the Session, when their Lordships had very little time to deal with Bills sent up to them, that they should be looked to by some one before they were sent to that House.
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, that if the Bill proceeded, he hoped that the noble Lord who had charge of it would strike out the 3rd clause. It had not yet been decided how legislation with regard to the three-mile limit on the high seas ought to proceed.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow; and Standing Orders Nos. XXXVII. and XXXVIII. to be considered in order to their being dispensed with.