Lords Sitting of 30 June 1807

PRIVATE BILLS.
The Lord Chancellor stated, that, upon consideration, he thought it most expedient that the first step towards the relief of parties interested in Private Bills, which had been interrupted by
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the dissolution, should be to take into consideration the Standing Orders. He therefore moved that the Standing Orders relative to Private Bills, should be taken into consideration on Thursday, on which day he intended to move with respect to such bills, four propositions; first, That with respect to petitions for bills, upon which reports had been made last session, such reports should be taken as of this session, without a new reference, provided the renewed petitions were in substance the same as those presented last session. Secondly, that instead of a fortnight being required to elapse previous to the commitment of a bill of this description, a week only should be necessary. Thirdly, that the evidence taken last session in committees on Private Bills, should be referred to the committees on the renewed bills, with a proviso that such new committee should not be concluded by such evidence, but should be at liberty to call such further evidence as they might deem necessary; and fourthly, that the Standing Orders in other respects should be strictly complied with.
Lord Grenville acquiesced generally in the mode proposed by the noble and learned lord, and thought that whatever difference of opinion there might be with respect to the late dissolution of parliament, there should be a general disposition to give relief to the parties interested in private bills as far as such relief was consistent with the dignity of the house, and with justice to all parties.—The Standing Orders, together with the propositions of the lord chancellor, were ordered to be taken into consideration on Thursday.

AMERICAN TRADE BILL.
Lord Hawkesbury, in consequence of the wish expressed by a noble lord (Grenville) on the preceding evening, for further information respecting the Order of Council, stated, that the only proceeding had was the usual circular letter from the Treasury to the Officers of Customs and Excise, to conform to the regulations contained in the act.
Lord Grenville moved for the production of this circular letter; and also an account of the rates of duties levied under the act; adding to the latter motion, on the suggestion of lord Hawkesbury, an account of the rates of duties payable by law after the expiration of the act alluded to.—Agreed to.