HC Deb 01 August 1859 vol 155 cc768-9
SIR GEORGE LEWIS

said, that when he brought in the Ecclesiastical Commission Bill he stated that it was his intention to confine it exclusively to points which did not appear likely to provoke any controversy, and subsequently he expressed his readiness to abandon those Clauses of the Bill which were calculated to invite debate. Now, no notice had been given of any amendments upon the Clauses; but a long series of new Clauses had been proposed, which would in fact amount to a Bill, on many disputed and controverted points—which it was desirable to avoid. Under these circumstances, seeing no prospect of the House being able to agree to a Bill of that character in the present Session, he should not proceed with it further. He should, therefore, place the Police Bill as the first order on the paper for tomorrow, at twelve o'clock; and the Roman Catholic Charities Bill would stand second.