HC Deb 25 May 1857 vol 145 c899

Order for Committee read.

MR. WHITESIDE

appealed to the hon. Gentleman the Attorney General for Ireland not to proceed with this Bill at that late hour (twelve o'clock).

MR. J. D. FITZGERALD

said, that there were thirty unopposed clauses which he was anxious to pass through Committee; after they were agreed to be would consent to report progress. He moved that the Speaker should leave the chair.

Motion made, and Question put, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."

The House divided:—Ayes 121; Noes 67: Majority 54.

House in Committee.

MR. J. D. FITZGERALD

said, he had not thought that there would be any opposition to the early clauses of the Bill, but as he had understood that such was not the case, he would not proceed with the Bill that evening. He wished, however, to mention that, from having yielded to repeated solicitations, he had postponed the Bill from time to time last Session until it was too late to send it up to the House of Lords, and his object in pressing the Bill into Committee had been to advance it a stage.

MR. WHITE SIDE

said, that if the Bill were fixed for consideration at a proper hour, he would afford every assistance; but he objected to a Bill containing so many clauses being entered into at an hour of the evening too late to consider its details properly.

House resumed.

Committee report progress; to sit again on Friday.