§ Order for Committee read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."—(Mr. Leighton.)
581§ MR. DILLWYNobjected to the Committee proceeding at such an hour, and consequently moved that the debate be now adjourned.
§ MR. MONKreminded the hon. Member who had charge of the Bill (Mr. Leighton), that it was altogether contrary to Parliamentary practice to consider a Bill until the Report of the Committee to whom it had been referred was in the hands of hon. Members. A considerable amount of evidence was taken by that Committee, which had been sitting for upwards of three months, and there had not yet been time to print the Report and deliver it to hon. Members. Therefore, as a matter of Order, he did not think the Bill, which was only amended by the Select Committee on the previous Friday and delivered on Monday, could be now considered.
§ EARL PERCYdid not know that it was out of Order for the House to go into Committee on the Bill simply because the Report of the Committee was not in the hands of hon. Members. But while he did not think it out of Order, it appeared to him to be a very unreasonable time to consider it.
§ Debate adjourned, till Monday next.