SECOND READING. (Hansard, 18 June 1857)

THE MARQUESS OF BLANDFORD
said, here were two Bills on the paper standing for a second reading, which had similar objects in view; the one was the Ecclesiastical Corporations Bill, and the other the Ecclesiastical Commission, &c., Bill. He proposed that both Bills should be read a second time, and that one of them should be committed pro formâ, with a view to having them both consolidated into the one Bill. He would move the second reading of the one immediately under consideration.

§ SIR GEORGE GREY
said, he thought it would be much better to amalgamate the two Bills as far as it was possible, and concurred in the suggestion of the noble Marquess.

§ MR. MOWBRAY
said, he thought the House ought to know whether the Government would support the Bill of his noble Friend. For himself, he would say that he had no objection to the Bill being read a second time then, on the understanding that the discussion should take place on the Motion for going into Committee.

§ MR. HENLEY
said, he thought the Government was not treating the House very fairly in asking it to assent to the 2077 second reading of two Bills by no means analogous in character. He had always protested against this pro formâ style of doing business; and he thought it would be much better to adhere to the forms of the House, and take the discussion upon the second reading. Otherwise, he thought that the better course would be that both Bills should be withdrawn, and one brought in with the sanction of the Government, on which the noble Marquess could move any Amendment he thought proper.

§ MR. NEATE
gave notice of his intention to move the insertion of a clause rigidly defining the rights of lessees under the Commissioners.

§ SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBY
said, he concurred in the view taken by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Oxford-shire (Mr. Henley), that it would be much better to adhere to the old rules of the House, and discuss the principle of the Bill upon the second reading.

§ MR. WALPOLE
said, he would venture to make a suggestion to the House. Let the two Bills be read a second time now, and then referred to a Select Committee. The Committee would be in a position to frame one Bill out of the two, and then it would be competent for the House to discuss the general principle when the new Bill came before them.

LORD JOHN MANNERS
said, he thought the recommendation of his right hon. Friend was a very wise one. He must say, he found this great fault with the Bill of the right hon. Gentleman opposite, that it perpetuated the interference of the Ecclesiastical Commission with the property of all the bishops in England. He hoped that ample opportunity would be yet afforded to discuss the principle of the two Bills.

§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTON
said, he would offer no objection to the adoption of the suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Walpole). Of course, when the Bill came out from the Committee, full opportunity would be afforded to discuss the whole question involved.