§ The EARL of AUCKLAND moved the Second Reading of the Naval Prisons Bill. In the course of the noble Earl's explanation of the nature of the Bill (in which he was almost inaudible), he was understood to say, that with reference to a subject mentioned by a noble Friend opposite (Lord Colchester) a few nights ago, namely, the enabling naval courts-martial in certain cases to pass a sentence short of death, that if the noble Baron would bring in a Bill for that purpose, it should receive his most favourable consideration.
§ LORD COLCHESTERdid not oppose the second reading of the Bill, and would reserve some objections he had to the details until it was in Committee. He offered his thanks to the noble Earl for the kind manner in which he had received his proposition, the object of which was this—that whereas, by certain articles, naval courts-martial were restricted from passing sentence short of death, he wished that they should have the power, as in the Army, of pronouncing a sentence of death, or of such other punishment short of death, as the offence should to the court appear to deserve. He wished to see the same rule prevail in the Navy as in the Army.
§ After a few observations from Lord SALTOUN, Bill read 2a.
§ House adjourned.