The Solicitor Generalsaid as this was a Bill of the utmost importance to the mercantile classes, it would be necessary to have it passed through the House with the least possible delay. He had had several communications with hon. Members on both sides of the House who were connected with the mercantile interest, and they had expressed their approval of the measure. He proposed, then, with the leave of the House, that the Bill should be read a second time, and that they should afterwards go pro formâ into Committee this evening, for the purpose of making certain alterations and adding some clauses to the Bill which were deemed necessary to render it completely satisfactory. The Bill, with the amendments, could then be printed, and delivered into the hands of Members to-morrow or Monday.
§ Bill read a second time.
§ On the Motion for going into Committee pro formâ,
§ Mr. Wakleysuggested to the hon. and learned Gentleman the propriety of at once stating those amendments he intended to propose. The Bill, as it then stood, he thought was a satisfactory measure to the public generally, and was decidedly an improvement on that of last year. He should, therefore, like to know at once the character of the changes that were to be made in it.
§ Sir J. Grahamthought that the course which his hon. and learned Friend proposed to take was decidedly the most convenient one, and to which no reasonable objection could be well urged.
§ Bill committed pro formâ, and ordered to be recommitted.