SCHOOLMASTERS' WIDOWS' FUND SCOTLAND.

HL Deb 18 May 1843 vol 69 cc490-1

The Lord Chancellor

said, it was his duty to communicate a circumstance connected with the privileges of Parliament. It appeared that in the month of April last, a bill came up to their Lordships from the other House of Parliament, entitled, the " Schoolmasters' Widows' Fund (Scotland) Bill," which was read a third time and passed by their Lordships on the 1st of May, and certain amendments having been made, it went, back to the House of Commons. On the 5th of May Mr. Vivian and other messengers from the Commons brought back the bill to their Lordships' bar, and stated that the Commons had agreed to the amendments. In consequence the bill had been inserted in the list of bills which received the royal assent by commisson on the 9th of May. He should have felt it his duty to have moved for a committee to inquire into the circumstances connected with this bill, but upon looking over the votes of the other House of Parliament, he found that the House of Commons had appointed a committee to make the inquiry; and he, therefore, thought that their Lordships should take no further steps at present. It appeared by the votes of the House of Commons that they never did assent to those amendments; but he had no reason to doubt that they had, be-cause the bill was brought by messengers from the House of Commons, stating that the House had concurred in the amendments. It was possible that at a future day he might call their Lordships' attention again to the circumstances; but he hoped that their Lordships would consider that no blame attached to the officer of their Lordships' House, inasmuch as a message was brought to their Lordships' bar by messengers from the other House, stating that the amendments had been agreed to.

Lord Campbell

was sure that no blame could attach either to the noble and learned Lord on the woolsack, or to the officers of their Lordships' House.

Lord Brougham

said, that all their Lordships did was to give credit to the messengers sent from the other House. His noble and learned Friend had defended his noble Friend on the woolsack when he was not attacked—he trusted the noble Lord would defend him when he was attacked.

Lord Campbell

was sorry even for once to have encroached on the peculiar province of his noble and learned Friend (Lord Brougham).

Conversation at an end.