§ Order for Second Reading read.
THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE, in moving that this Bill be read a second time, said, that its object was to repeal two Acts of the Irish Parliament—one of the reign of Queen Anne, the other of the reign of George III.—by the former of which it was provided that Irish gentlemen who would do no work, but would go "coshering" from house to house, and all persons of loose and idle character, should be liable to penal servitude for seven years. Their Lordships would probably be of opinion that in these days an Act of such a nature ought to be allowed to fall into utter disuetude, but it had recently been revived and put in force, for an unfortunate man had recently been brought before the Judge at the Kilkenny Assizes and sentenced to seven years' penal servitude. Public attention had been called to the subject, and hence the Bill which he now asked their Lordships to read a second time.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(The Earl of Donoughmore.)
§ Motion agreed to: Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.