§ Mr. Watsonmoved for leave to bring in a Bill for the further repeal of enactments imposing pains and penalties upon Her Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects on account of their religion. He was not sure whether the Government intended to offer any opposition to this Bill; but he thought that at all events the discussion had better be taken on the second reading. The same Bill was brought into the House of Lords last Session by Lord Beaumont, but did not pass entire, inasmuch as the Lord Chancellor and other legal Lords considered it better to pass a Bill which could not be open to any objections, or excite debate, and such a Bill, being introduced into the House of Commons by the right hon. Baronet opposite, passed without discussion. The object of the Bill he now desired to bring in, was to carry into effect that which had received the sanction of a large portion of the House of Lords, including the Lord Chancellor. Some parts of the Bill might give rise to discussion; but that discussion could be taken on the second reading, or in Committee.
§ Sir R. Inglisexpected to hear some statement of the objects of the Bill. If it was inconsistent with the convenience of the House that that statement should be made now, the debate had better be adjourned. He did not mean to express any opinion on the subject at present; but he was unwilling to sanction the introduction of a Bill with such a title without any further statement than that which the hon. Member had made.
§ Sir J. Grahamsaid, that there had been issued a new Commission to inquire into the Criminal Law, consisting, besides Mr. Starkie and Mr. B. Ker, of three other distinguished lawyers, viz., Sir E. Ryan, Mr. Richards, and Mr. Amos; and to these five Commissioners the subject with which the hon. Member's Bill proposed to deal had been referred. After this information, it was for the hon. Member to say whether it was necessary to introduce his Bill.
Lord J. Russellthought that the course taken by the Government would be the most useful both to the House, for the purpose of legislation, and to the country; but at the same time he should be glad to see the provisions of his hon. Friend's Bill. He should be glad that there should be a report on the important question, whether the Statute Law and the unwritten law, as far as regarded our criminal code, could be consolidated into one statutory code.
§ Lord J. Mannershoped that, as the hon. Gentleman the proposer of this Bill did not intend to carry it through another stage before Easter, the hon. Member for the University of Oxford would not obstruct the introduction of the Bill.
§ Leave given. Bill brought in and read a first time.