The Lord Chancellorstated, that in consequence of the absence of certain noble and learned Lords, he had, from time to time, postponed the consideration of this Bill, and he had still to lament the absence of the noble and learned Lord at the head of the Court of King's Bench, whom he, in common with all their Lordships, was most anxious to see present at the discussion which might arise upon certain details of the measure. He, therefore, proposed, that this Bill should be committed now, and the Amendments inserted; and that then the Bill should be printed, and be recommitted on Friday week, when the discussion on the principle might take place on the motion for its re-commitment. He proposed so late a day as Friday week, in order to give an opportunity to his noble and learned friend to be present, and he was pretty sure that his Lordship could attend on that day; besides that, this would accommodate another noble and learned friend of his, who he knew was desirous of leaving town for a few days. He had three or four clauses to introduce into the Bill.
§ Lord Wynfordobjected to the introduction of the clause for regulating the salaries of the Judges, Commissioners, Assignees, &c., without having consulted all the Judges.
The Lord Chancellorintimated, that this objection might be taken on the motion for the re-commitment.
§ The Earl of Eldonobserved, that he had received no notice of the first or second reading of the Bill. If he had known when the second reading of the Bill was to come on, he would certainly have been in his place, to oppose it; and as that was the proper time for discussing the principle, he thought, that due notice should have been given him.
The Lord Chancellorexplained, that although the second reading was usually the first stage at which the principle was discussed, it was conformable to the practice of this and the other House, to take the debate concerning the principle on the mo- 920 tion for going into the Committee, or on the motion for the re-commitment. It was very convenient on some occasions, that the blanks should be filled up before the discussion on the principle, as it then would best appear what the Bill really was. It had been his object to make the Bill as complete as possible before the discussion on the principle, and to postpone that discussion until all his noble and learned friends, who might be desirous to take a part in it, should be present.
§ The Earl of Eldonwas satisfied with this explanation.
§ The Bill went through a Committee, and to be re-committed on Friday week.