§ The Bankruptcy Court Bill was brought down from the Lords.
§ The Attorney General moved the first reading, and proposed to fix the second reading for Friday, as he did not think it likely that a measure already so fully debated elsewhere, would undergo any protracted discussion in the House of Commons.
§ Sir Charles Wetherellwas of a different opinion. There was hardly a clause in the Bill to which he did not entertain the strongest objections. It was of the utmost importance that the mercantile body should be fully acquainted with the measure, and this could not be effected in so short a time. He was also desirous that every lawyer and Member of Parliament should be fully acquainted with its details, and the principles on which it was pretended to be founded. He should therefore move, as an amendment, that the Bill be read a second time on Tuesday.
The Attorney Generalsaid, he had no possible objection to the measure being fully discussed, but the state of business in the House rendered it necessary that he should persevere in his Motion.
Mr. O'Connellwas in hopes that this Bill would have included Ireland, for the bankrupt laws in that part of the empire were in a much worse state than in this country.
Mr. Goulburnsaid, he was not acquainted, to any extent, with the bankrupt laws, but he felt much interested in this Bill, and he, therefore, required a longer time than a few hours after it was printed, to make himself acquainted with its contents.
§ The House divided on the original Motion:—Ayes 65; Noes 33—Majority 32.
711§ The Bill to be read a second time on Friday, and to be printed.