§ The BISHOP of OXFORD laid upon the table of the House a Bill for the better prevention of the seduction of women. According to the law as it now stood, if persons conspired for purposes of seduction they were subject to certain penalties. He proposed by the Bill which he held in his hand to extend those penalties to any individual who, for hire or reward, assisted in the crime of seduction. He had no idea that morality could be much promoted by the introduction of any Bill into Parliament, but he thought it was the duty of the Legislature to throw its protecting influence around all who stood in need of it. He hoped their Lordships would now read the Bill a first time; on the second reading he should state more particularly, and more in detail, the grounds on which he intended to recommend the measure to their Lordships' favourable consideration.
§ Bill read 1a.
§ House adjourned.