§ Earl Spencermoved the second reading of the Woollen Manufacturers' bill. The noble secretary of state prefaced his motion by adverting to the importance of the subject of which the measure now proposed made a part; the necessity that existed for the bill's passing into a law, as the existing suspension bill would shortly expire; it was that alone which induced the bringing forward the present bill, which went to continue the suspension bill for a year longer. In the interval, the general subject, he hoped would, the proceedings being already in train in another house, 450 be thoroughly investigated, and such steps taken in the present session, as would be attended with beneficial effects. In the mean time, under the circumstances of the case, their lordships must be aware of the necessity for the passing of the bill, and on that ground he moved the second reading of the bill.
Lord Aucklandsaid a few words generally in support of what had fallen from the noble secretary of state; and, in addition, adverted to some proceedings which had taken place upon the subject, in the committee of the privy council, appointed for the consideration of such topics.
§ Lord Grenvillefollowed on the same side. He seemed adverse to the principle of bills of the kind, but in the interval of the general subject of the woollen manufacture being thoroughly investigated, and a general law framed for remedying the evil complained of, a measure of the kind, merely to avert a greater evil, was deemed necessary; and nothing but the peculiar circumstances of the case, could induce him to support the bill.—The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be printed.
[DISCOVERY OF TRUTH BILL.] The order of the day, for their lordships going into a committee on the bill for the more effectual discovery of Truth from Witnesses, being read,
§ Earl Stanhope rose,and observed, that an opinion had been suggested to him, and in which he most cordially agreed, that the best way would be to refer the bill in question to the consideration of the judges, with instructions to frame it, or to draw up another bill, so as to answer its purpose. He had been told, on a former night, that his bill was in a crude state; now, that was what he should like to debate, either in a committee, or out of a committee; on that head, however, he thought he had gained a victory over a noble and learned lord then absent. On the whole, he thought it was best to submit the present bill to the judges, as a more important subject than that to which it referred, could not exist; it was the more necessary, because their lordships had, to a bill very properly introduced by his noble friend on the woolsack, tacked certain provisions, suggested by another noble and learned lord, which, instead of improving the bill, only rendered it obscure and unintelligible, and which in the pending stage of the bill, ought to be rejected, in order to reduce it to its original clearness. In the view, and for 451 the purposes he had stated, the noble earl moved to adjourn the committee on the bill till this day three weeks.
§ Lord Ellenboroughobserved, that he assented to the proposed adjournment of the consideration of the bill, with the hope that the bill, as presented by the noble earl, whether a crude bill or not, would, in that interval, receive that due and mature consideration, which one of its import evidently required. As the bill now stood, he was one of those who thought, that were such a law enacted, it would tend to let out truth in one instance, and close the door on it afterwards; it would, therefore, be productive of great mischief. He hoped the noble earl, in the interval proposed, would better consider the subject, and present it in quite another form; and, farther, that when it should come to be considered, the point whether the lords spiritual or temporal should have the priority in the bill, would form no part of the discussion.