The Lord Chancellorsaid, he had to move the second 1303 reading of a Bill of great importance, which went to repeal the law awarding punishment of death in cases of forgery. He was not aware that any noble Lord intended to make any objections to the second reading of the Bill, nor was he aware that any noble Lord would move to alter any of the details; but he recollected that, on a former occasion, when a Bill of a similar nature was before the House, exceptions had been taken to some of the details, with a view of retaining the punishment of death in some cases of forgery. They, however, did not succeed then—nor would they, he believed, if they were proposed now, for men's minds were pretty well made up on the point, as it was not to be expected that the punishment of death for offences of that description, which were seldom or never carried into execution, could continue the law of the land. At the same time, if any noble Lord thought that there ought to be exceptions in the Bill with respect to certain cases, a favourable opportunity would be afforded in a future stage. If the House consented to the second reading now, it was his intention to move to have the Bill committed on Monday.
The Duke of Cumberlandhoped that the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack would not move to have the Bill committed on Monday, unless the noble and learned Lord, the Chief Justice (Lord Tenterden) had then returned to town from the Circuit.
The Lord Chancellorcould assure the illustrious Duke, that no appeal could be stronger to delay the Bill a short time than that made on account of the absence of his noble and learned friend, the Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench; but the Bill had been put off to so late a period of the Session, that it was almost the last day to which it could be deferred with a hope of carrying it. He trusted that his noble and learned friend would have returned to town on Monday; nevertheless, he did not say he would; and, if he should not, as there would be some amendments to make in the Committee, there would be another stage, in which his noble and learned friend might propose any alterations he thought right.
§ Bill read a second time.