The Marquess of Normanbybegged to lay upon the Table a bill to which he would request their Lordships to give a first reading. He should feel it his duty, in a future stage, to call their Lordships' attention to the bill in detail, and he was sure their Lordships would readily give their attention, when they understood the nature of the bill, and when they were informed that it had for its object not only the social condition, but the bodily health of large classes of our fellow-subjects. The bill he proposed to be read a first time was entitled, "An Act for the better drainage and improvement of Buildings in large Towns and Cities." The commission which had been appointed to enquire into this subject had collected a great mass of information, which had been laid before their Lordships. At the conclusion of the Session, he had directed his attention to the evidence collected; in fact, he had read every word, and would strongly recommend the perusal of it to such of their Lordships as had not already bestowed their attention upon it, and for that purpose he would allow a sufficient period to elapse between the first and second read- 139 ing of the bill. He regretted to say, that at present there was by no means sufficient provision for the social comfort or health of great masses of the industrious classes in those localities which they necessarily inhabited; and although any remedy they might be able to apply might be only a palliative, and to a certain extent a preventive for the future, still he thought it was an imperative duty upon Parliament to apply themselves to this subject with the greatest zeal and diligence.
Lord Ellenboroughwas exceedingly glad that the noble Marquess had laid this bill on the Table. He had read the evidence with the greatest pain and apprehension, and with the greatest compassion for those who were compelled to inhabit the dwellings referred to, and he would certainly assist the noble Marquess in the progress of this bill, to the best of his ability.
§ Bill read a first time.