§ Mr. Roebuckhoped the noble Lord would slate how he intended for the future to carry on the Government business. Would it not be much the better way to take one bill and go through with it.
§ Lord J. Russellapprehended that the course proposed by the hon. Member would be a very inconvenient one for the House to adopt. He thought it most desirable for the House, both as a deliberative assembly, and more especially as an assembly representing the people, that when a bill was once introduced, particularly if a bill of any importance, time should be allowed for its becoming generally known to the country before it was carried through its later stages. Important modifications and changes were made in almost every Bill from the information derived from bodies of the people, or from individuals, after the circulation of the bill. It might be very desirable for the House, immediately after deciding on the principle of a bill, to go into Committee upon it, but it would be highly objectionable for the House, after the bill had gone through a Committee, to proceed at once to the third reading. It was essential that some time should elapse after a committee on a bill and the receiving of the report, in order that the country might be aware of the alterations made in it in committee.
Mr. O'Connellsaid, that the House should adopt the natural hours of doing business. They were the only legislative body which turned the night into day. Although the practice might give the younger orators an opportunity for display, it killed those who exceeded the age of sixty. He had heard it argued that such hours were necessary for the sake of Members connected with commerce. That could only be true of such among them as resided in London, for others were enabled to leave the towns in which they lived and their business too. With regard to members of the bar, he would say that the practice might be beneficial to a few gentlemen in extensive practice, such as the Attorney-General; but the Irish barristers left their business and their country to attend their duties.
§ Conversation dropped.