§ MR. WALPOLEmoved to nominate the Members of the Select Committee. When this Bill was introduced by the late Secretary of State for the Home Department, he was asked to serve on the Committee. He consented to do so, and said that he should go into it with a perfectly unbiassed mind. Since he had come into office he had become better acquainted with the Bill, hut he should still enter on the inquiry with the same unbiassed mind. Some of the clauses would certainly require consideration, but he should be sorry to preclude inquiry by any intimation of his own opinion before the Committee was appointed. Reference had been made in debate to the propriety of extending the area of the jurisdiction of the corporation; but he thought that that question would be better raised separately, and without reference to this Bill. He desired, at present, to give no opinion upon it.
§ MR. AYRTONsaid, he thought the Committee was not constituted in such a manner as rendered it likely to deal fairly with the question of an extension of the corporate jurisdiction to the metropolitan districts; for, while it included two representatives of the City of London, two Aldermen of London, and several hon. Members connected with the City, he found upon it the name of only one hon. Member for Westminster, who was the sole representative of the interest of the western portion of the metropolis. On a future occasion he would ask the House to consider whether the wards for the election of Common Councilmen ought not to embrace the whole metropolitan district.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Select Committee on the London Corporation Regulation Bill nominated:—
§ Lord JOHN RUSSELL, Sir GEORGE GREY, Mr. Secretary WALPOLE, Mr. THOMAS BARING, Mr. Alderman CUBITT, Sir JAMES DUKE, Sir JOHN SHELLEY, Mr. BAINES, Mr. MILNER GIBSON, Sir WILLIAM HEATHCOTE, Mr. HANKEY, Mr. EDWARD EGERTON, Mr. KER SEYMOUR, Mr. LYALL, and Mr. GEORGE CLIVE.
§ Power to send for persons, papers, and records; Five to be the quorum.