§ The Attorney-general moved for leave to bring in a bill to facilitate the administration of criminal justice in certain boroughs in England. He did not apprehend any opposition from the other side of the House, for there was not a single Member on the Conservative benches, though there were upwards of twenty on the Ministerial side. The bill was intended to remedy evils that had arisen under the recent charters of incorporation to Manchester and Bolton. It had been supposed, that the, corporation had the power either of building a gaol or of contracting with the, county magistrates for the maintenance of prisoners in the county prison; but it was objected that they could not do this, there having been previously no gaols in the towns. He had not urged the matter until the disputed legality of the matter was settled by the Court of Queen's Bench. But the question was now decided in favour of the charters, and he now applied for leave to bring in the bill. The object of it was, to allow the corporations to borrow money to build gaols in their own boroughs, and to enable them to contract for the maintenance of the criminals in county prisons. During the difficulty that had prevailed, much obstruction had been offered to the administration of justice, which would now be removed.
§ Leave given.
§ Adjourned.