Lords Sitting of 19 November 1813

INSOLVENT DEBTORS.
Lord Ellenboroughobserved, with reference to the Insolvent Act, that a representation had been made to him, that in the King's bench prison, where there was only convenient accommodation for 200 persons, there were now no less than 900 prisoners; so that the marshal had found himself compelled to give some of them the rules, upon slender security, at his own risk, from the absolute impossibility of accommodating them within the prison. He had hoped to have seen in his place, before this, his noble and learned friend, the author of the Act, to have communicated with him on the subject. He now understood that his noble and learned friend was expected on Monday. The business
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did not admit of longer delay; and he now gave notice, that if his noble and learned friend was not then in his place, or if it was found impossible to give a speedy operation to the Act, which at present appeared impracticable, he should introduce a Bill for its repeal, and enacting the usual temporary provisions for the relief of insolvent debtors; under which they might, without delay, be released. As the permanent Act was unlimited in point of time, he proposed that the temporary Bill should be equally unlimited, and that the notices given under the former should be available for the purposes of the latter. It was absolutely indispensable that something should be done without further delay for the relief of the persons who had given in notices under the Act.
The Lord Chancellorsaid, his noble and learned friend who was absent had been detained in the country by pressing causes, but purposed being in town on Monday or Tuesday. He should, however, feel himself bound to lend all his assistance to the framing and the success of a Bill such as described by his noble and learned friend (lord Ellenborough). Expectations had been excited by the passing of the Act of test session, which, perhaps, ought not to have been raised; but they had been excited, and it was incumbent on the legislature to gratify them.

MILITIA SERVICE BILL.
The Militia Service Bill was brought up from the Commons—On the motion of the earl of Liverpool, the Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be printed; and his lordship gave notice if the prints were on the table (of which there was no doubt), that he intended to move the second reading on Monday, for which day the Lords were ordered to be summoned.