§ The Earl of Carnarvon presented a Petition from certain voters in East Retford against this Bill.
The Marquis of Salisburytook the opportunity of saying, that he begged leave to postpone the second reading of the Bill till the 3rd of May. The noble marquis said, he did so at the request of a noble Duke (Newcastle, as we understood), who had a deep interest in the measure, and who feared his inability to attend on the day for which the second reading was now fixed, from indisposition.
Lord Hollanddid not wish to directly oppose the postponement suggested by the noble Marquis, but to put it to him whether the discussion of a great public question, in which great public interests were involved, should be deferred, solely to suit the personal convenience of any individual, however interested. There were a great number of witnesses to be examined, and if the measure were postponed, it might not be completed during the Session.
The Earl of Malmesburythought, with 1337 the noble Baron, that the Bill had already been too long on the Table, and that it ought not to be further postponed.
§ The Marquis of Salisbury withdrew his Motion.