§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ EARL CAIRNS, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, the Bill was similar in its provisions to that which he brought in, and which passed their Lordships' House, when he was on the Woolsack. He would not ask their Lordships to go into Committee on the Bill till he saw what prospect there might be of legislation on the same subject from other quarters. He regretted that the Government had not taken an opportunity to introduce the measure promised by them in the Queen's Speech. Although, in the present state of Business in the House of Commons, it would be vain to expect to make progress, yet any measure dealing with this question must be necessarily one which would remain a considerable time before the public, in 1837 order that the various classes interested in such legislation might have an opportunity of considering and examining it. He would therefore suggest that it would be desirable for Her Majesty's Government to introduce their Bankruptcy Bill as soon as possible.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2."—(The Earl Cairns.)
THE LORD CHANCELLORmade no objection to the Motion. He thought his noble and learned Friend was entitled to have his Bill read a second time. At the same time, he was bound to say that the Government Bill would, when introduced, be found to contain much matter which was not in the Bill of the noble and learned Earl. The suggestion as to the importance of introducing the Government Bill as soon as practicable would receive the attention which it deserved.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly.