§ Mr. Divettmoved for leave to bring in a Bill to disfranchise the borough of Stafford. He did not feel himself called upon to detain the House, as the delinquencies of this borough had occupied so much of their time in previous Sessions. The Bill had originally been introduced at the recommendation of a Select Committee, 234 that had been appointed to inquire into the subject, and it had on three separate occasions passed through the House; but in consequence of the state of business in the other House it had not, on any occasion, been proceeded with.
§ Captain Chetwyndsaid, that after the almost unanimous expression of assent which the House had formerly given to the similar motion of his hon. Friend, ha should not offer any arguments against it, but should avail himself of the practice of the House, in order, on the occasion of the second reading, to offer to the Bill his most strenuous opposition. He should at that time, in recapitulation of what he had offered to the House on a former occasion, renew his inquiry into the facts stated in the evidence, and bring forward arguments for the purpose of proving that there was not such a necessity for this Bill as some hon. Members supposed. But he should certainly take the sense of the House on the Motion for the second reading of the Bill.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ The issue of the writ for the Borough of Stafford to be suspended till the 21st of April.