LORD BROUGHAMsaid, it would be in the recollection of the House that the Protection of Females Bill was rejected a few evenings ago; but as he thought that it was most desirable to obtain the chief object of that measure, he had prepared another Bill on the subject, which he would lay on the table, which would impose penalties only in case of the seduction of virtuous and correct females by fraud and covin. He should move that the Bill be now read a first time, and appoint the second reading for Monday.
LORD CAMPBELLhoped his noble and learned Friend would be able to accomplish the object in view, which was extremely laudable; and he certainly was unwilling to throw any impediment in the way of his noble Friend. What he wished to state was, that when a Bill for the attainment of a particular object had been rejected during the course of a Session, he doubted whether, consistently with the Orders of the House, a Bill for the same purpose cauld be brought forward during the same Session. He would suggest, therefore, 464 whether it would not be better at once to defer the measure to the next Session.
LORD BROUGHAMsaid, he would propose instead of Monday to take the second reading on Tuesday; and if upon conferring with his noble and learned Friends opposite, and with his noble and learned Friend on the woolsack, and with the noble Chairman of Committees, he found the feeling was against him, he would not proceed further with the measure this Session.
§ LORD DENMANsaid, he should not be able to attend on Monday or Tuesday; but he must say he felt the greatest apprehension and alarm at any such measure as that now proposed, on which his noble and learned Friend had touched lightly. The subject, however, was one on which every one must feel great anxiety: for his own part, he could only observe, that it was only after much consideration that he had come to the conclusion that such measures would do more harm than good.
§ Bill read 1a