Lords Sitting of 9 March 1849

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS.—Received the Royal Assent,—Consolidated Fund; Relief of Distress (Ireland); Vice-Guardians of Unions (Ireland); Commons Inclosure; Buckingham Summer Assizes.
PETITIONS PRESENTED. From Guardians of Unions of Dundalk, and Others, against the Rate in Aid (Ireland) Bill—From Clergy, and Others, of Hereford, for the Adoption of Measures for the Suppression of Seduction and Prostitution.—From Society of Attorneys, Solicitors, Proctors, and Others, not being Barristers, for the Postponement of the Bankrupt Law Consolidation Bill.—From Inhabitants of Liverpool, in Public Meeting assembled, against the Repeal of the Navigation Laws.—From Landowners and Landholders of the County of Mayo, for the Repeal of the Poor Law (Ireland).—From the Provost, Magistrates, and Council of the City of Aberdeen, praying that Hospitals and Charitable Institutions may be relieved from the Payment of Legacy Duty on Bequests made to them.—From Saint Germans' Poor Law Union, for making Personal Property liable to Contribute to the Maintenance of the Poor.

BANKRUPT LAW CONSOLIDATION BILL.
The LORD CHANCELLORpresented a petition from the Incorporated Law Society, that the further progress of the Bill may be postponed till after Easter, in order to afford time for considering the provisions contained therein.
LORD BROUGHAMsupported the prayer of the petition, and stated that the Bill he had introduced on the subject was a great improvement on the old law, and was founded on the careful examination of a great number of legal and commercial witnesses. He believed that, as the Bill now stood, it gave satisfaction. His Lordship concluded by laying on the table the report of the Committee on the subject, and proposing that the report should be printed, and to let the further progress of the Bill stand over until after Easter—namely, the 10th of May, so that their Lordships and the public might have an opportunity of making themselves fully acquainted with the progress of the Bill.
LORD WHARNCLIFFEthought the noble and learned Lord deserved great credit for the judicious labour he had bestowed on the Bill, and he had reason to believe that the mercantile classes were perfectly satisfied, as far as it went, with the contemplated change.
Petition laid on the table.
House adjourned to Monday.