§ MR. J. G. PHILLIMOREsaid, it was his intention to postpone the second reading of this Bill, the hon. and learned Attorney General having assured him that it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to carry a measure this Session which would embody in a great degree the improvements he (Mr. Phillimore) thought 1170 necessary to be made in the law, and which he understood would go even still further with them.
THE ATTORNEY GENERALsaid, he was extremely sorry his hon. and learned Friend (Mr. Phillimore) had misunderstood him. He (the Attorney General) had informed his hon. and learned Friend that he was most sedulously occupied in framing a measure which he hoped to present to the House and to be able to carry; but as to pledging himself to carry a measure of that kind was what he had never done, simply because it would have been folly to have done so. It was one of the most difficult subjects that the House could possibly deal with. If they had at the present moment to deal à priori with such a subject, and to frame a new criminal digest, they might hope to do so successfully; but to engraft the notion of a public prosecutor upon our existing system of criminal judicature was one of the most difficult things the House could possibly attempt to do. He could only say he would give his best and most anxious consideration to the subject, and he should be most happy to avail himself of any assistance his hon. and learned Friend might be able to render him. He had put himself in communication with those who were best able to advise him on such a question, and he would do his best to carry the measure he had in contemplation; but he had never presumed to pledge himself to carry it.
§ MR. J. G. PHILLIMOREsaid, he must disclaim any intention to misrepresent what had passed between his hon. and learned Friend the Attorney General and himself, and admitted he must have misunderstood his hon. and learned Friend.
§ Bill withdrawn.