Lords Sitting of 12 November 1852

MINUTES.
Took the Oaths.—Several Lords.

LAW REFORM.
LORD LYNDHURST: I wish to put a question to my noble and learned Friend on the woolsack (Lord St. Leonards) with respect to the expenses of proceedings under commissions of lunacy, in pursuance of a Motion I made in the last Session. My noble and learned Friend will no doubt recollect that I introduced a Bill in the last Session for the purpose of endeavouring to reduce the expenses of such proceedings. I wish to ask my noble and Friend whether it is his intention to introduce any measure this Session on the subject?—for if so I shall cheerfully leave the
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matter in his hands, and it will probably come to a better conclusion under the conduct of a Member of the Government, than it would do in mine. I hope my noble and learned Friend opposite (Lord Brougham) i will not consider I am trespassing on his manor—[Lord BROUGHAM: You have my leave and license]—even if I put a question to my noble and learned Friend on the woolsack which has been repeatedly [ put to former Governments, but which never received a satisfactory answer. The question is this—"Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government in this Session to introduce any measure for the purpose of carrying into effect the report! of the Criminal Law Commission?"
The LORD CHANCELLOR: I need not say I should have been glad to leave | the subject of the expense of commissions of lunacy in the hands of my noble and learned Friend, because I know nobody who is more capable of treating it ade- quately, or who would do it more justice. But I considered it a duty which I ought to take upon myself to deal with that subject, and accordingly I assumed that duty. I may as well mention that on Tuesday next I propose to state, with your Lordships' permission, the different measures of legal reform which the Government intend to introduce. Whether all of them will be introduced in this short Session or not, I cannot undertake to say; but they are all in preparation. Every care has been taken with the details, and every care will be taken to render them fit to be laid before your Lordships in a short time. I hope this answer will be satisfactory to your Lordships; and my noble and learned Friend will excuse my going any further.
LORD BROUGHAM: I said, somewhat irregularly, whilst my noble and learned Friend opposite was speaking, that nobody could be more gratified by having a trespass committed on his manor than I should be by my noble Friend's trespass on mine; and I have only to add, that I should be still better pleased by my noble and learned Friend on the woolsack making himself an accomplice in that trespass; and I am glad that he has announced his intention of doing so. I hope my noble and learned Friend will, on Tuesday next, give us reason to believe that he has taken up that most important measure—Criminal Law Reform. Passing to another branch of the same great subject of the improvement of our jurisprudence, I hope he will also tell us that, on behalf of the Government, he will introduce

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a measure for the further improvement of the County Courts.

THE QUEEN'S ANSWER TO THE ADDRESS.
The LORD HIGH STEWARD (the DUKE of MONTROSE): It is my duty to inform your Lordships that I have presented to Her Majesty the Address agreed to yesterday by your Lordships in Answer to Her Majesty's Speech from the Throne, and that I have obtained this Answer, which I am commanded to communicate to your Lordships. The noble Duke then read the Answer as follows:—
"Mr LORDS,
"I THANK you for your loyal and dutiful Address.
"IT will be My constant Desire to co-operate with you in Measures calculated to advance the permanent Interests and Welfare of My People."

MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN—FUNERAL OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.
The LORD HIGH STEWARDsaid, he had to acquaint the House, that he had a Message under Her Majesty's sign-manual, which Her Majesty had commanded him to deliver to their Lordships:—
The LORD CHANCELLORaccordingly read the Message, as follows:—
"VICTORIA R.
"Her Majesty, desirous of marking in the most solemn manner Her sense of the pre-eminent Services of the late Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, and of affording to Her Subjects an opportunity of testifying their veneration for his memory, and their sorrow for the loss which they have sustained by his death, has directed that measures should be taken for the public interment, at the earliest possible period, of His Grace's mortal remains in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul's.
"The Queen is persuaded that, in taking this step, Her Majesty has only anticipated the general wishes of Parliament and of the Country, and that you will afford to Her Majesty your cordial aid and concurrence in giving to the mournful ceremony a degree of solemnity and importance worthy of the country and of the occasion.
"Her Majesty is confident that you will readily concur in any suitable provision which may be made by the liberality of the House of Commons for the due discharge of this debt of Public gratitude and tribute of national sorrow."
The EARL of DERBY: I beg to move that Her Majesty's most gracious Message
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be taken into consideration on Monday next. And at the same time I shall move your Lordships to appoint a Committee for the purpose of inquiring, considering, and reporting to your Lordships, in what manner the propositions of the Message shall be carried out, and in what manner this House shall join in the proceedings consequent thereon.
Agreed to.
House adjourned to Monday next.