§ Order for Committee read.
MR. M'CULLAGH TORRENSsaid, it was with great regret that he found himself obliged for the second time, to move the discharge of the Order relating to this Bill. It was due to those who had supported the measure this year and last, to state why its promoters had reached so late a period of the Session without having made more progress than they had. He acquitted the Government of any share of what might seem to be blame in the matter. He believed the Leader of the Government was perfectly sincere in the opinion which he had more then once expressed favourable to the principle of the Bill, but there were great difficulties in working it out. He ought not to shrink from saying that the reason why, for the second time, the destitute portion of the population would be left without any remedy or attempt at remedy against disease, demoralization, and death was the implacable hostility shown to the principle and provisions of the Bill by a small section of the House, not defined by party so much as by locality, and by the possession of advantages which none would envy, but which constituted in his mind a peculiar claim to a more just and generous consideration by them of the merits of the question. ["Oh, oh!"] Pledging himself to bring forward the Bill again next Session, in earnest faith that the Government would consider how they could promote it, he moved that the Order be discharged.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Order discharged: Bill withdrawn.