HC Deb 17 February 1870 vol 199 cc434-6
MR. BERESFORD HOPE

said, that he rose to ask the Question of the hon. and learned Member for Marylebone (Mr. T. Chambers), which stood on the Paper in his name, under somewhat peculiar circumstances. His right hon. Colleague (Mr. Walpole), who was very anxious to meet this Bill with a Motion, was unable, in consequence of a domestic calamity, to be in attendance that night, and, therefore, he threw himself upon the indulgence of the hon. and learned Member, and begged him to postpone the Committee upon the measure which was appointed for that night. He must remark that when those who opposed the Bill made the hon. and learned Member a present yesterday of a stage in its passage, it was upon the understanding that the next stage would be postponed for some little time. With that prelude, he would ask the hon. and learned Member, Whether, considering the important collateral considerations raised by his Bill for legalizing Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister, he would fix some Wednesday for the Committee on which the question can be discussed in all its bearings?

MR. T. CHAMBERS

, in reply to the Question of the hon. Member for Cambridge University, begged to remind him that this Hill was introduced last Session on the 25th of February, was read a second time on the 21st of April, and was finally withdrawn on the 4th of August. The delay between the first and second readings was solely in consequence of his having, at the earnest personal solicitation of the hon. and learned Member for Boston (Mr. Collins), given up the day for which the second reading had been fixed. How was that concession met on the part of some hon. Members who were opposed to the measure? It had been met by a count-out at five minutes past nine on an evening when the House had re-assembled at nine o'clock after a Morning Sitting, and by eight Motions for the adjournment of the debate and for the adjournment of the House. He was anxious that his opponents should have the fullest opportunity of discussing the measure; but he could not help stating that only sis or seven hon. Members on the Opposition side of the House ever rose to offer an argument against the Bill, all the others who were opposed to it rising merely for the purpose of obstructing its progress. The question had been twenty-two years before Parliament, during which time it had been over and over again discussed. He regretted the absence of the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Walpole), the Colleague of the hon. Member for the University of Cambridge (Mr. Beresford Hope), and, in order to afford him an opportunity of discussing the subject, he was willing to postpone the consideration of the Bill in Committee until to-morrow.

MR. T. COLLINS

said, that his conduct having been called in question in that House with respect to the Bill introduced by the lion, and learned Member last Session, he must ask leave to be permitted to defend it, and, if necessary, he would conclude with a Motion, During the progress of the hon. and learned Member's Bill through the House last Session he (Mr. Collins) frequently told him that he should be perfectly content if he would fix the Committee for a Wednesday; but, instead of adopting that suggestion, the hon. and learned Member had persisted in putting the Bill down on the Paper so that it was likely to come on any even- ing after ten or eleven o'clock, and the result was that no one knew with any certainty when it was likely to come on. He had no wish to give a factious opposition to the progress of the Bill if the hon. and learned Member would fix the Committee for some Wednesday. The hon. and learned Member must not forget that, in consequence of the second reading of the Bill having been allowed to pass unopposed yesterday, he was two months in advance of his position last year. He opposed the Bill last year in order that the whole question of affinity might be raised, and he asked for delay now because he understood the right hon. Member for the University of Cambridge (Mr. Walpole) would shortly bring forward a Motion which would raise the whole question of affinity. If the hon. and learned Member would appoint a certain day for the Committee, he promised to offer no further obstructive opposition to the Bill. He wished it to be understood that he was not wantonly obstructing the business of the House by the course he had taken in reference to the measure last Session.