THE SOLICITOR GENERALsaid, he begged to move for leave to bring in a Bill to release William Philip Price, Esq., M.P., from any disability he may have incurred by reason of a contract for sending wooden houses to the army in the Crimea. Persons standing in the position of contractors with the Government were by law disqualified from sitting in that House, or from voting at the election of its Members. In the case of Mr. Price, however, no benefit had resulted from the contract, and it had proceeded entirely on public grounds. There was nothing in his position, therefore, contrary to the spirit of the Act of Parliament.
§ MR. APSLEY PELLATTsaid, he wished to know if there was any precedent for the course which the hon. and learned Gentleman proposed to take?
THE SOLICITOR GENERALsaid, that there were a great number of cases in which the House had interfered to relieve individuals from disabilities, which were not in reality contrary to the spirit of the law.
§ Leave given.
§ Bill read 1o.
§ The House adjourned at Eleven o'clock.