Viscount Torringtonsaid, that as counsel could not be heard that evening on the second reading of this Bill, as was intended, owing to the indisposition of one of them, he would not object to the Bill's being now read a second time, but would afterwards move, That counsel be heard on the commitment of the Bill on Tuesday next.
§ The Earl of Buckinghamshireobserved, that as the noble lord seemed to have no objection to the Bill being now read, and was desirous that counsel, under the circumstance to which he referred, should be heard in the committee on Tuesday next, he would not object to the proposed arrangement, and would move that the Bill be now read a second time.
The Earl of Donoughmoreobserved, that the proposition of a measure of such vast importance to the trade, the shipping, and navigation of the country, should be accompanied by some statement of the grounds on which it was brought forward. A statement of the kind had been given in another place; and he deemed it proper that that House should be informed of the grounds upon which so questionable a measure was brought forward.
The Earl of Liverpoolsaid, that such was the intention; but as it had been proposed that counsel should be heard that day before the second reading, it was deemed the most regular time to make the necessary statement of the grounds, after the counsel were heard. It now appeared that, from the indisposition of one of the learned gentlemen, counsel could not be heard that day; and it seemed the intention, for general convenience, that the discussion should not take place till the next stage, when his noble friend, or some other of his Majesty's ministers in that House, would be prepared to state the grounds of the proposed measure.
The question was then put, and the Bill was read a second time. On the question for its commitment,
§ Lord Sheffieldsaid, he could not reconcile it to himself to suffer a Bill of such a nature to be read a second time in silence; 848 as one more mischievous in its tendency, or more calculated to produce injurious consequences to the vital interests of the country, he never knew.
§ The Bill was committed for Tuesday.
§ Viscount Sidmouthcommunicated to the House a Message from his royal highness the Prince Regent, announcing his Royal Highness's intention of calling out the British and Irish militia, or such part thereof as might be judged necessary. His lordship thereafter moved an Address of Thanks in return to the Message, in the usual form, which was agreed to nem. con.