§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
LORD BROUGHAMwished to ask a question of his noble Friend (the Marquess of Lansdowne) as to this Bill, which stood for a second reading to-night. His noble Friend was aware that in 1812 the late Mr. John Smith introduced a Bill, which received the sanction of Parliament, by which it was enacted that if a person became a bankrupt as a trader, and did not resign his seat before the expiration of twelve months, a new writ should be issued for the place he represented at the end of this period. Now he (Lord Brougham) did not see why this should not extend to all insolvents, when the parties were not traders. It should be recollected that this class of persons thus holding seats in Parliament who were law makers, were in point of fact law breakers, and by their conduct guilty of a gross fraud in Parliament. He wished to ask his noble Friend whether he was prepared to introduce a Bill for the purpose which he had in view? If his noble Friend thought it better not to pass the Bill at present, he would postpone it.
§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEsuggested that however good the object of the Bill, such a measure ought more properly to proceed from the other House.
LORD BROUGHAMsaid, he was ready to admit that this measure, in extent, more properly affected the House of Commons than that House, and it might he well to allow it to originate there. He would not proceed with the Bill at present.
§ Order for the second reading discharged.
§ Bill, by leave of the House, withdrawn.