§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, he did not apprehend that there would be much opposition to the second reading of this Bill. In the first place, it merely provided ordinary machinery to carry out and give effect to the reduction of the wine duties. He should think it necessary on another occasion to state in detail the provisions of the measure; but, considering the state of the House, he should not enter into them on the present occasion, unless he was called upon to do so. He should now simply content himself with moving the Second Reading of the Bill.
§ THE EARL OF HARRINGTONsaid, that considering the importance of this Bill, that only one day's notice had been given of the second reading, and that he had only received that notice at twelve o'clock to-day, it would be a very undignified course to press a measure of such importance, and which had occasioned so much discussion in the other House of Parliament, forward with undue haste. He thought it ought to be brought on at a period when there were more Members of their Lordships' House present. As far as he was concerned, if it was of great importance that the Bill should pass this stage, he should have no objection to make the observations he had to make upon going into Committee, or even upon the third reading of the measure.
§ EARL GRANVILLEassured his noble Friend that it would be a great convenience that the Bill should now be read a second time, and he would fix the Committee to suit the noble Earl's convenience. If, however, the noble Earl objected to 2050 that course, he would postpone the second reading.
§ THE EARL OF HARRINGTONsaid, he was quite content to make his observations on going into Committee.
§ Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Friday next.
§ House adjourned at Half-past Seven o'clock, to Thursday next, Half-past Ten o'clock.