HC Deb 17 June 1852 vol 122 cc897-9

Order for Third Reading read. Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the Thin Time."

MR. ALDERMAN THOMPSON

said, as he considered that the Bill would disfranchise a very considerable number of the electors for counties, he should move that it be read a third time that day three months.

Amendment proposed, "To leave out the word 'now,' and at the end of the Question to add the words 'upon this clay three months.'"

Question proposed, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question."

LORD ROBERT GROSVENOR

said, the Bill had been fully discussed, its principle had been affirmed by the House upon divisions, and he could not consent to postpone the third reading. He had introduced an Amendment which he thought would make the Bill more palatable to the House. It was not his fault that the Bill was brought under consideration so late in the Session, for he had introduced it at a very early period.

MR. WALPOLE

said, the Government had assented to the second reading only on. the understanding that Amendments would be made to meet the objection which had been urged to the Bill. As it now stood, he thought it would be very inconvenient in regard to county elections.

MR. JOHN STUART

said, it might be a very good Bill for the county of Middlesex, but in other counties it would operate as a total disfranchisement.

MR. ELLIOT

thought some Amendments might be introduced to meet the objections of the Government.

MR. ROBERT PALMER

said, he was favourable to the principle of the measure, but thought it could not be applied with advantage at the ensuing general election, which was too near at hand to permit time for making the necessary arrangements. The Bill should either be postponed to next Parliament, or a provision inserted to make it applicable only to elections subsequent to the next general election, in terms of the Amendment which had been suggested by the hon. Member for East Somersetshire (Mr. Miles).

LORD ROBERT GROSVENOR

said, he was quite willing to accept the proposed compromise, and agree to the Amendment of the hon. Member for East Somersetshire, provided the House would now agree to read the Bill a third time.

MR. PACKE

said, he must complain of the great haste with which the noble Lord (Lord R. Grosvenor) attempted to press this Bill through the House at such an advanced period of the Session. It ought to he called the Non-resident Freeholders Disfranchisement Bill, for such was its real object. It would have the effect of disfranchising one-fourth of the freeholders of this country. It ought to be opposed in every way that the forms of the House would allow.

MR. FORBES

said, he would beg to move the adjournment of the House.

SIR GEORGE PECHELL

said, he must appeal to the right hon. Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the purpose of requesting hon. Gentlemen to allow the House to decide upon the main question at once.

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said, that as morning sittings were now so frequent, he did not think it was right to detain Mr. Speaker in the chair at that hour of the morning—almost two o'clock. If the noble Lord (Lord R. Gros-venor) had made up his mind that the Bill should not apply to the ensuing election, he might as well put it off till the next Parliament; but he thought the House ought now to come to a resolution not to sit later than two o'clock.

LORD ROBERT GROSVENOR

said, he entirely disagreed with the remarks of the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer; but certainly he did not want to occupy the time of the House, nor to detain Mr. Speaker in the chair, and he was perfectly willing to divide.

Question put, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question."

The House divided:—Ayes 39; Noes 49: Majority 10.

Words added: Main Question, as amended, put, and agreed to.

Bill put off for three months.