THE BISHOP OF EXETERcalled attention to the fact that the Ordinances relating to Durham University had been laid on the table sixteen days before the close of last Session. The Act of Parliament provided that they should lie on the table for forty days; and if in that time an Address were not carried by either House of Parliament requesting Her Majesty to withhold her consent, the Queen in Council was empowered to confirm the Ordinances. He wished to know whether it was intended that the forty days were to be forty continuous days, or whether it would be deemed a sufficient compliance with the statute if they remained on the table unchallenged sixteen days of last Session and twenty-four days of the present?
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, that the question raised by the right rev. Prelate was one of considerable importance. He was of opinion that the forty days must be taken to mean forty Sessional days; injustice might otherwise result, if Ordinances were laid on the table a few days before the recess, and were, by lapse of time, confirmed at a period when an opportunity of objecting to them could not be afforded. That the forty days should be continuous days would require stronger expressions than were to be found in the statute, and, as he understood the Act, they were to be forty Sessional days, and therefore the sixteen days of last Session would count in the present case.
THE BISHOP OF EXETERsaid, that as to-morrow would be the last day on which Parliament would be able to deal with 795 this question, he begged to give notice that he should then move an Address to Her Majesty praying Her Majesty to withhold her confirmation from the Ordinances of the Commission of the Durham University.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Six o'clock, till To-morrow, half past Ten o'clock.