§ Mr. Holford moved the committal of this Bill.
Sir S. Romillywished the commitment to be postponed. The subject was of very great importance; and he knew that several members, not present in the House, 'but professionally engaged in a distant part of the country, were very desirous of being present at the discussion. At any rate, he thought a Bill of such importance should not be discussed in a committee at that late hour.
§ Mr. Holfordsaid, he only meant to move the commitment for the purpose of having the blanks filled up; and he intended afterwards to move the recommitment on Friday next.
Mr. Abercrombywondered that this time should be chosen for the commitment of the Bill, when so many persons, anxious to be present at the discussion, were necessarily absent. He was not aware that any such importance could be attached to the filling up the blanks as to require the House now to go into a committee; he therefore could not help concurring in opinion with his hon. and learned friend.
§ Mr. Holme Sumnerthought the Bill should not be hurried through the House, without any documents of the probable expence which the erection of these houses might cost. He wished that a plan and estimates might be laid before them on this subject.
Mr. Calvertentertained great doubts of the propriety of establishing penitentiary houses. He thought that bringing together 5 or 600 of the worst characters of the country, was not the likeliest way of amending them.
§ Mr. Longthought it perfectly right that the plan of his hon. friend should be seen and understood, and saw no method more likely to have that effect than the suffering it to go to a committee, when the blanks might be filled up.
Mr. Whubreadsaid, there did not appear any objection to the filling up the blanks, but hoped that a longer time would be allowed to elapse before the Bill was carried through the remaining stages. It had been in their hands now for three weeks, but so many new clauses had been since added, that it was quite necessary that more time should be allowed for the purpose of perfectly understanding it.
Mr. Secretary Rydersaid, that there certainly could be no objection to give sufficient opportunity to examine the provisions of the Bill; but he doubted whether the clauses which had been added were of a nature to require much consideration. The Bill had been already delayed too long, and if any obstacles were thrown in the way of its progress, nothing could be done in the course of the summer towards fulfilling its provisions.
The Bill was then committed, and the blanks filled up, after which the Report was brought up and ordered to be taken into further consideration on Friday.