Commons Sitting of 25 April 1837

CUSTODY OF INFANT CHILDREN.
Mr. Sergeant Talfourd Mr. Sergeant Talfourd moved for leave to bring in a Bill to empower the Lord Chancellor and the judges to make orders relating to the custody of infant children of tender age in cases where the parents are living apart, on the application of either of such parents, or on the order of writs of habeas corpus issued at the instance of the father. The learned Gentleman said, that by this Bill he sought to empower the judges to do that which he had often heard them deplore their inability to do. If there were no opposition to the present motion, perhaps his better course would be to reserve what observations he had to make on the subject till the second reading.
The Attorney Generaldid not rise to oppose the Bill or to enter into any dis-
278
cussion of it at its present stage, but he begged to remark that the subject was one of such extreme delicacy and difficulty that he was apprehensive the law could not be improved even by the Bill of his hon. and learned Friend. He was glad, however, that the first step was taken, and that attention was called to the matter.
eave given.
House counted out.