HC Deb 23 December 1830 vol 2 cc63-4

On the Petition being brought up,

Mr. Ruthven

wished to take that opportunity, to put a question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, relative to Mastership in the Court of Chancery. It appeared that, in consequence of the death of a relative, one of the Masters of Chancery had succeeded to a peerage, and he wished to know from the noble Lord whether he was aware of the fact; and whether the Government intended to take any steps on the subject, and if it did, what course of proceedings it meant to adopt?

Lord Althorp

said, the fact had been properly stated by the hon. Member; but it was not the intention of the Government to take any step in consequence. He was not aware that there was any law to prevent a Peer holding such a situation. At all events, if there was anything improper in a Peer being a Master of Chancery, if that was derogatory to the privileges of the other House, it was not the House of Commons, but the House of Lords that ought to take cognizance of the subject.

Mr. Ruthven

considered the subject of great importance, and he should, therefore, give notice—[Order].

The Speaker

said, the hon. Member had already spoken on the petition being brought up, and he was out of order to address the House a second time on the same petition. He could not introduce his notice as a parenthesis, into the motion of another hon. Member.