Lords Sitting of 17 November 1852

MINUTES.
Took the Oaths.— Several Lords. ROYAL ASSENT.—Bills of Exchange and Notes (Metropolis).

EXTENSION OF THE SUFFRAGE.
LORD BROUGHAMsaid, that he was under the necessity of setting himself right with their Lordships respecting what he found some of them had misunderstood in his observations last night upon the extension of the suffrage. One of his noble Friends supposed that he had expressed his opinion against all extension. Most
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probably he had made his statement indistinctly. He had, as his noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor was aware, been fatigued by attending a very important meeting respecting the commercial laws, and had come to the House thence. His noble Friend, not now present, who misunderstood him (being of a different opinion) expressed his satisfaction. But he (Lord Brougham) had said the very reverse of what he was supposed to have said. He had said that he was for an extension of the suffrage by all safe and expedient means, but that his reason for it was not because it would prevent bribery and corruption. He held that it could have no such effect, because, however numerous the constituents of any place were, there would be found among them a certain number capable of taking bribes when the contest ran near, which bribery supposed it to do—a number sufficient to turn the election, and so there would be bribery. As to the ballot, he had still an opinion against it on other grounds; but on one ground, usually given in its favour—its tendency to prevent bribery—he saw no benefit whatever that could result from it. It would prevent prosecution for bribery; but it would lead to bribery in another form— namely, promises to pay on the event of the election, and thus convert each person bribed into an agent of bribery. He wished to add, respecting one of the Bills presented by him last night—the only one entirely new, that on Evidence and Procedure—that he should, before he went abroad, leave not only an abstract of it carefully prepared, but also a full note of all the cases at law referring to the matter of each clause, which would be found convenient in the examination of the various proposed alterations of the law.

FUNERAL OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.
LORD REDESDALEbrought up the Second Report of the Select Committee appointed to consider the circumstances relating to the attendance of this House and their place at the solemnity of the funeral of Field Marshal the late Duke of Wellington:—
"That the Committee had again met, and further recommend, That the Lord Chancellor, as representing this House, do attend in his Parliament Robes.
"Arrangements have been made by which the Departure of the Lords who propose to proceed to the Cathedral by Water may be deferred to a later hour than that mentioned in the First Report.

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"The Committee recommend that such Lords should come to the House at Ten o'clock, as the Steamboat must leave the Esplanade at half-past Ten o'clock precisely. Arrangements have been made with the City Police to keep the Passage clear from Paul's Wharf to Paul's Chain; the Lords to enter at the Southern Door of the West Front of the Cathedral. The Steamboat will be in attendance at the Close of the Ceremony, and every Facility will be afforded to enable the Lords availing themselves of that means of Return to leave the Cathedral early.
"The Lords who desire to come to the House in their Carriages will proceed by Stanhope Street Gate, or Gates North of it, into Hyde Park, through Albert Gate and by Belgrave Square and Victoria Street, to the House of Lords. Lords on Foot will have every Facility afforded them by the Police in approaching the House on producing their Tickets.
"The Committee recommend that Seats in the back Row of the Lords Gallery be reserved for Peers eldest Sons."
Ordered to be printed.
Moved to resolve—
"That the Lord Chancellor, as representing this House, do attend in his Parliament Robes."
On Question, agreed to.
Then it was moved to resolve, "That Seats in the back Row of the Lords Gallery be reserved for Peers eldest Sons."
On Question, agreed to.
House adjourned to Friday next.