MR. CAMPBELLsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, How soon he expects to be in a position to grant Letters of Naturalization to Foreigners resident in this Country, under the provisions of the Naturalization Act of this Session?
MR. BRUCEsaid, in reply, that immediately after the passing of the Act the Home Office undertook the task of framing the necessary regulations. This involved most important questions, inasmuch as the conditions of naturalization were very much altered by the Bill. The effect of it was to render naturalization much more complete, while at the same time it exacted new conditions. It was necessary to communicate with the Foreign Office, and it was found that very considerable difficulties arose in consequence of some defects having been discovered in the Act. The opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown had been taken, and a Bill was introduced last night which he had no doubt would be passed into law. Immediately that was done the regulations which had been prepared would be issued.