§ Order for Committee read; House in Committee.
§ MR. MALINSsaid, he objected at that hour to proceed with the Bill.
§ MR. J. G. PHILLIMOREsaid, the only object was to take the appointments of Judges in the Ecclesiastical Courts from Bishops. He would ask what was there to object to in that?
§ MR. MALINSsaid, he did not feel bound to say at that hour whether he would object to it or not; but he did object to going into the question at half-past one in the morning. He should move, "That the Chairman report progress, and ask leave to sit again."
§ The Committee divided:—Ayes 25; Noes 31: Majority 6.
§ MR. MOWBRAYsaid, he should now move, "That the Chairman do now leave the chair." He did not even know if the Bill had the support of the Government.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid that it had.
§ The Committee divided:—Ayes 22; Noes 31: Majority 9.
§ MR. NEWDEGATEsaid, he would appeal to the noble Lord at the head of the Government whether it was proper to press a Bill on at that time in the morning. The noble Lord ought to recognise the existence of an Opposition, especially considering the forbearance with which they usually acted, and as the Bill was objected to, it should not be pressed on at a quarter to two in the morning.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid, objections to the principle of the Bill should be taken on the second reading.
§ MR. MOWBRAYsaid, the second reading had passed unobserved.
§ MR. VANCEsaid, the second reading had been taken at a late hour in the morning, and without any discussion.
§ MR. J. G. PHILLIMOREsaid, he would yield to the feeling of the Committee, and postpone the Bill till Monday.
§ The House resumed; Committee report progress.