HL Deb 26 July 1860 vol 160 cc176-7
THE LORD CHANCELLOR

said, that on Friday last their Lordships made an Order that the House be put into a Committee on the Admiralty Court Jurisdiction Bill on Friday next. The Bill contained many valuable provisions for improving the jurisdiction of the Court of Admiralty; but it also contained money clauses which their Lordships could not touch without infringing on the privileges of the House of Commons. As the Bill certainly required Amendment in some particulars, he thought the better plan would be to withdraw it, and to present it in an unobjectionable form next year without interfering with the privileges of the House of Commons.

LORD BROUGHAM

said, he regretted that the Bill would be withdrawn, as it was calculated to effect a very important and salutary Amendment of the law as regarded the Admiralty Courts. At the same time, he denied altogether that the House was not entitled to send down to the House of Commons Bills in whatever shape they pleased, even as to money clauses. He admitted that it would be highly unconstitutional for their Lordships to interfere with what were the understood privileges of the other House as confirmed by precedent; but it was open for either House to pass Bills containing money clauses, leaving it to the other House to adopt or reject them.

After a few words from Lord CRANWORTH,

Order discharged.