HL Deb 16 February 1810 vol 15 cc436-7

The order of the day being read, for the second reading of this Bill,

The Lord Chancellor

observed, that he believed he was regular in moving, that the Act of the 48th Geo. 3, respecting Reversions, be now read.

The Clerk having read the said Act,

Earl Grosvenor

was not disposed to enter into the merits of the present Bill, against which he understood an objection would be taken, in the first instance, as to some technical informality. Now, he should wish to hear what those technical objections were; for, if he should find them of sufficient validity, he should reserve his observations for a future occasion, when the bill might be freed from informalities of that nature.

The Lord Chancellor

said, he had moved the reading of the former Act, in order, that their lordships might be fully aware of the nature of the objection, which, he thought, was fatal to the present bill. He was anxious to avoid entering into the merits of the bill, his object merely being to state the objection which appeared upon the face of the proceeding. The Act for Suspending the Granting of Offices in Reversion, &c. was passed by that House in 1808, with a recital, stating, that it was expedient with a view to inquiries depending in the House of Commons, and the suspension was limited to one year, and to the end of six weeks, after the commencement of the then next session of Parliament. This bill had now come up to the House, and purported to be a bill for rendering perpetual an Act, entitled, an Act for suspending for one year, and until six weeks after the commencement of the then next session of Parliament, &c. He put it to their lordships, whether, under such circumstances, for this was not a mere technical objection, it was not due to the gravity and dignity of their own proceedings, to take some decisive step with respect to this bill. His own opinion was, that the objection could not be cured in a Committee, and that the bill ought not to go to a second reading. The recital of the inquiries that were pending, and upon which the bill passed that House, were understood to be with the view of discovering what offices it would be proper to abolish, and with that view it was fit that no impediment should arise in the mean time, but this could be evidently no argument for rendering a bill of this limited nature, perpetual.

Earl Grosvenor

had not heard any argument from the noble and learned lord to induce him to think that this bill ought to be rejected. It was a subject respecting which there was a great anxiety on the part of the public, and he thought no time ought to be lost in considering it. He did not see the alledged inconsistency in the point of view urged by the noble and learned lord, nor did he think that if the bill were to pass in its present shape it would involve any absurdity.

The Lord Chancellor

put the question for the second reading, which was negatived. He then moved, that the bill be rejected; which was agreed to.

Earl Grosvenor

then gave notice, that he should as soon as possible bring in another bill not liable to the same objection.