§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, he mentioned last week that it would probably be convenient to the House for him to give some indication of the probable course of business for the remainder of the Session, and with the permission of the House he would call attention to the present state of the Paper. He found that there were set down on the Paper fifty Government Bills. With nine of these—the Murder Law Amendment Bill, the Writs Registration (Scotland) Bill, the Tenants Improvements (Ireland) Bill, the Landed Property Improvement and Leasing (Ireland) Bill, the Admiralty Jurisdiction Bill, the Petit Juries (Ireland) Bill, the Intestates Widow and Children (Scotland) Bill, the Sea Fisheries Bill, and the Office of the Judge of the Court of Admiralty Bill—it was not proposed to proceed. 1876 That would leave forty-one Government Bills still remaining, and of these, eleven having come down from the Lords, it was not intended to proceed with till the latest period of the Session. Thirty would still remain, and of those thirty, sixteen stood for second reading, thirteen for Committee, and one for third reading. Among the Bills which might probably lead to some discussion were the Factory Acts Extension Bill, the Hours of Labour Regulation Bill, the Parliamentary Elections Bill, the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill, the Turnpike Acts Continuance Bill, the Public Health Scotland Bill, and the two military Bills relating to the Army of Reserve and the Militia Reserve. The House would now be able to form a tolerable idea of the chance of getting through the business which was to be proceeded with, and he trusted that the Government would be able to carry the measures which he had not announced as to be abandoned. That must, however, depend on a variety of circumstances, over which he had no control at present. To night the second reading of the Scotch Reform Bill, and the second reading of the Meetings in Royal Parks Bill would be taken, and to-morrow there would be a Morning Sitting at twelve o'clock, with the object of giving to the hon. Member for Galway (Mr. Gregory) an opportunity to bring forward his Motion respecting the Tornado case. He had also placed on the Paper for to-morrow the Bill of the hon. Member for Finsbury (the Artizans' Dwellings Bill) and the Irish Tramways Bill; but, with respect to the former Bill, he had heard since he entered the House that there was some possibility of this Bill not coming forward, in consequence of the hon. Member having given a Notice not in conformity with the adoption of such a course. He trusted, however, that the hon. Member would have an opportunity of bringing forward the measure, which was an excellent one. On Thursday the Military and Naval Estimates would be taken, and on Monday next the Vote for the British Museum. On the Friday following, if they had an opportunity, they intended to bring forward the Vote for the Packet Service, and on the subsequent Monday the Education Votes. It would be hardly convenient to trouble the House with any further arrangements at present; but he hoped he had given a tolerably accurate notion of the position in which public business stood.
§ Moved, "That the Order of the Day for the Second Reading of the Murder Law Amendment Bill be discharged." — (Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.)
§ SIR ROUNDELL PALMERsaid, that as he understood from the statement of the right hon. Gentleman, the Government did not intend to go on with the Bill for altering the Admiralty jurisdiction, or the Bill from the Lords referring to the Office of the Judge of the Admiralty, Divorce, and Probate Courts, he would take the liberty of asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the latter subject had been considered by the Government, and whether the Government would be prepared to issue a Royal Commission, with a view to inquiry into that general subject? If that were so, as he hoped it was likely to be, of course he should not be obliged to submit any Motion to the House; but if it were not so, he should be compelled to submit a Motion.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, that the hon. and learned Gentleman would perhaps put his Question on Thursday.
MR. M'CULLAGH TORRENSsaid, that the notice respecting a change in his Bill had been given, not by him, but by another hon. Member, and he had endeavoured to induce the hon. Member to waive it, in order to facilitate the passage of the Bill.