§ LORD LYNDHURSTsaid, in the marginal note to the first clause of this Bill it was stated—"Rates and Duties granted by recited Act further continued for three years," while the clause itself recited that it was to be continued for "the term of one year then next ensuing, and until the assessments made, or which ought to be made, for the last year of the said term shall be completed, levied, &c." Now, what was meant by the last year of a term of one year, he could not for his life comprehend. He wanted to know how far the print of the Bill given to their Lordships corrresponded with the Bill as it came from the other House?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEsaid, inquiry should be made into the point. He was convinced that the error had originated with no officer of their Lordships' House.
§ LORD LYNDHURSTsaid, the error could not have arisen in the printing, because he had inspected the original Bill, and found the mistake there also.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEsaid, 993 if there was any error in the original Bill, it would be necessary that the Bill should be sent back again to the other House before it could be corrected. It could not be amended by their Lordships.
§ EARL GREYsaid, the blunder must be attributable to the Mover of the Amendment in the other House, who had not seen that the necessary alterations were properly carried out. No inconvenience, however, could arise beyond the mere clumsiness of the language, from the wording being allowed to stand as it was.
§ House adjourned till to-morrow.