§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ MR. CHARLEY, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, that the object of it was to mitigate the severity of the punishment of this crime; and, if possible, to prevent the committal of it. The Bill was founded upon the unanimous recommendation of the Commissioners of 1866, and now an effort was made to carry that recommendation into effect. He would be glad to refer the Bill to a Select Committee.
§ MR. HOLKER, in seconding the Motion, said, he believed the measure to be good and useful. He would suggest that the Bill should be so altered as to include other persons than mothers of infants.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Charley.)
MR. ASSHETON CROSSsaid, he would not object to the second reading; but considered that the clauses would require modification. There was a Bill of the right hon. and learned Member the Recorder of the City of London upon the larger subject of homicide before the House; and, upon the understanding that these Bills would be referred to the same Select Committee, he would offer 540 no opposition to the Motion before the House.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed for Wednesday.