The Archbishop of Canterburysaid, that, in consequence of a request that had been made to him, by the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack, he begged to postpone the second reading of his Bill, on the subject of the Composition of Tithes, to Thursday next.
Lord Kenyanhoped, as the postponement seemed to be made for the convenience of the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack, and as this Bill, with another for the Commutation of Tithes, had been introduced last Session, that to-morrow would answer for the second reading, as well as Thursday, for the Bill was looked to with great interest by all the friends of the Church, who wished for the settlement of the question, and it was material that it should not receive any further delay.
The Lord Chancellorwas aware of the inconvenience of the postponement of the Bill, and he would gladly prevent it if it were in his power. Indeed, it had been too often adjourned, and as it had been before the House during the last Session, full opportunity for understanding its provisions was given to their Lordships; so that no good reason existed for any further delay, nor was it intended that any should take place. But the noble Lord was aware that a Bill on the same subject, which offered another remedy (the Commutation of Tithes) for the same alleged evil was laid on the Table by a noble Baron, not then in his place; and that noble Baron had consented, both for the general convenience, and for the better understanding of both Bills, that the debate on them should take place at the same time. Now he had not as yet seen the Bill of his noble friend, and he did not think it would be 1005 proper for him, considering his station in the House, and his position with respect to the law of the country, to go into the debate on so important a proposition as the Composition or the Commutation of Tithes, without being master of both the Bills. He would undertake to make himself master of them in the course of the night, and be prepared for the debate to-morrow, if their Lordships wished to fix it for that period. There was, however, another reason why the matter should be reserved for Thursday, and that was, that a noble and learned Lord (Earl Eldon), who had been his predecessor in office, would be unable, in consequence of a severe domestic calamity, to attend before that day. Under all the circumstances he would recommend that Thursday be appointed, and he hoped that the debate would then take place.
The Duke of Cumberlandsaid, he had seen the noble Earl (Earl Eldon) in the course of the day, who said he would be in his place on Thursday.