§ EARL GRANVILLE moved the second reading of this Bill, and in doing so suggested that, as there was a considerable amount of business upon the paper, their Lordships should assent to the second reading now without discussion, in which case he would reserve his statement until the period for going into Committee, at which time the merits of the Bill could be fully discussed.
§ THE EARL OF DERBYhoped it would be understood that in agreeing to the suggestion of the noble Earl the House would not be considered as committing itself to the Bill.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, it was understood that the whole discussion should be open upon going into Committee.
§ THE DUKE OF CLEVELANDcomplained that the discussion which had followed the question of the noble Viscount (Viscount Dungannon) had exhausted the whole period allowed for the presentation of petitions, and consequently that which he had to present, which was of a highly important character, could not be laid before their Lordships.
§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHsaid, that all those noble Lords who had petitions to present might do so on the Order of the Day being read to which they referred.
§ EARL GRANVILLEthought blame ought not to be cast upon an individual Peer for following what had become the 905 practice of the House. It was no doubt inconvenient that the time set apart for the presentation of petitions and the asking of questions should be consumed by a debate, and he hoped their Lordships would agree in future to avoid doing so. At the same time he thought the noble Lord (Lord Kinnaird) had been justified by what had become a practice in that House.
§ Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the whole House on Thursday next.