Lord Brougham, in presenting a Petition from the debtors confined in Dublin gaol, in favour of the Imprisonment for Debt Bill, stated that he was anxious to correct an erroneous impression which had gone abroad in consequence of what had fallen from a noble Lord last night. That noble Lord was 1315 understood to have said, that several important measures had been postponed for the Session at his suggestion. Now, he had not proposed to postpone any measures; but had consented to do so at the request of his noble and learned Friend, who objected to their being proceeded with at such a late period of the Session. If the House of Lords were to continue to exist as an independent body, it must have time to consider the measures sent up from the other House before it passed them. So far from his proposing the postponement of these measures, he had said that he was willing to sit for a month longer for the purpose of getting through them.
Lord Fitzgerald and Veseyobserved, that all that he meant to say last night was, that important measures had been postponed in consequence of the lateness of the Session, at the request of noble Lords opposite, as well as at the desire of those on his side the House. The wish to postpone these measures, did not altogether arise on one side of the House.
§ Lord Lyndhurststated, that it was utterly impossible to proceed with the Imprisonment for Debt Bill at such a late period of the Session. He had not stated that he was opposed to it, but had requested that it should be postponed, that sufficient time might be given to it, as it involved the most important alteration in the law.
Lord Broughamwas perfectly aware that that Bill could not be proceeded with at this late period of the Session. Indeed, the learned Gentleman who drew the Bill had admitted to him, that it was impossible to go on with it in that House at that time if any thing like a full consideration was to be given to it.
§ Lord Lyndhurstremarked, that the most extraordinary observations had been made by the Attorney-General, according to the report, respecting the delay of this measure. Any person making such remarks could hardly be supposed to possess common sense; and it must therefore be supposed that some misapprehension had taken place on the part of the reporters, who had put words into the learned Gentleman's mouth.
§ Petition laid on the Table.