HC Deb 08 July 1831 vol 4 c976
Mr. Goulburn

took the opportunity of asking, if the right hon. Gentleman meant to bring on the Registration of Arms' Bill that night?

Mr. Stanley, in reply, stated that he did not. He was glad that the opportunity had been afforded him to state what course he meant to pursue. He entertained an impression that it was not safe to relax those precautions which the policy of this country had long carried into effect, in relation to the importation of Arms into Ireland. At the same time such strong sentiments had been expressed respecting the penalties of the Bill, which had been described as disproportionate to the offence, that in deference to the opinion of Gentlemen connected with Ireland, for whose judgment he had a great respect, he should state at once, that he should not think it right to preserve that clause in the Bill which rendered the possession of unlawful Arms a transportable offence. He wished then merely to announce, that he would, at a later period of the evening, move the further adjournment of the debate on this Bill till Friday next.