HL Deb 14 June 1832 vol 13 cc610-1
Lord Suffield

rose to move the second reading of this Bill. The object of it was, to substitute Norwich for Thetford as the place of holding the Assizes for the county of Norfolk, and the substitution was most earnestly wished for by a large majority of the magistracy of the county, and by five-sevenths of the population. Men who differed widely on all public questions, were all agreed on this point. The inconvenience of holding the Assizes at Thetford, situated as that was in one corner of the county, and removed from the chief seat of the population, was very great; while many advantages would accrue by holding them at Norwich, a large manufacturing town, from the neighbourhood of which the greater number of prisoners came to be tried; the prisons, and other necessary, accommodations were very good at Norwich, and very defective at Thetford. He concluded by moving that the Bill be read a second time.

The Duke of Grafton

opposed the Bill. It was not required, for, if the object it proposed to accomplish were necessary, the Judges had the power to order the change. The law gave them that power, and it was not prudent in the Legislature to interfere with it. The Lent Assizes for Norfolk had been held at Thetford for 600 years. He moved that it be read a second time this day six months.

The Earl of Rosebery

supported the Bill, and said, that his views of its propriety coincided with those of his noble friend who moved the second reading.

Lord Tenterden

thought this Bill unnecessary; for, though the Magistrates of the city of Norwich had never exercised the power, the Judges of England had held unanimously, that under the charter of that city the Magistrates and the Recorder had the power of trying prisoners for capital felonies committed within their jurisdiction. If prisoners were confined there for an unreasonable length of time, that was, therefore, the fault of the Magistrates, and not of the Assizes being held at Thetford.

The House divided on the original Motion:—Contents 32; Not Contents 21—Majority 11.

Bill read a second time.