HC Deb 13 July 1853 vol 129 cc149-50

On the Motion for resuming the adjourned Debate (July 6) on going into Committee on this Bill,

MR. HADFIELD

said, he had received a note from the noble Lord the Member for the City of London, stating that the whole subject with which this Bill was connected was engaging the attention of the Government. He now wished to ask the noble Lord the Home Secretary, whether it was in the contemplation of the Government to bring in a measure next Session by which one probate might be sufficient for the United Kingdom? The present system was one of the most intolerable grievances ever known.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

said, the subject to which the Bill of his hon. Friend (Mr. Hadfield) related, was no doubt one of very great importance, and of great public interest. But his hon. Friend must be aware that it formed but a part of that greater and larger subject which his hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor General had announced his intention of dealing with by a Bill, which he had hoped to be able to bring in—that was, a Bill with respect to Ecclesiastical Courts. He (Lord Palmerston) stated, the other evening, in answer to a question for the reasons why no such measure had been brought in this Session, that it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to be prepared with some measure upon the general question in the early part of the next Session. He, therefore, submitted to his hon. Friend that it would be better for him to defer this partial measure. He called it partial only because it related to one branch of a great subject; but he could not, in answer to the question, make any specific pledge as to the details of the Government measure, though he could confidently assure his hon. Friend that the general subject would be dealt with, and that the Government would be prepared with their measure in the early part of the next Session.

MR. HADFIELD

said, he should like to have an assurance from the noble Lord that the general measure would include the particular point he had stated?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

said, he apprehended that any measure which dealt with the jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical courts must also deal with the question of the probates of wills.

Order of the Day for the Committee discharged.