§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ LORD SUDELEY(for the Home Department), in moving that the Bill be read a second time, said, the object of the Bill was to make general a similar Act which had been passed for the Metropolis. It compensated those insured as well as those uninsured. The area of compensation was made the police district, whether for county or borough; but there were two exceptions. Where a county was divided into districts the area would be the district; and where the county and borough were consolidated for police work payment would be made according to certain proportions. There was a right of appeal reserved when people did not consider the compensation offered sufficient. The Bill applied not only to property on shore, but also to cases of plundering ships or boats, stranded or near the shore, by persons riotously assembled ashore or afloat.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Lord Sudeley.)
§ EARL STANHOPEsaid, it was unfair that persons who had carriages wrecked should not be included in the Bill. The matter had been brought home to him personally, because he had had his carriage attacked. He had applied for compensation, which was refused, as carriages were not to be paid for out of the police rate, though all had to contribute to these rates. All persons, whether rich or poor, ought to be treated equally and equitably by a Bill of this kind.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.