§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
LORD TEYNHAMdirected attention to the change which the measure would effect in the law of evidence, and expressed a wish to know whether, under cover of this alteration, it was intended that the magistrates before whom the accused parties were brought should alter the view they had hitherto taken in determining whether the accused were primâ facie guilty of the offence alleged against them. He desired also to point out that no provision had been made for ascertaining the relation of the depositions sent over with the crime charged in the warrant of arrest.
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, that in order to remove any alarm from the mind of the noble Lord, be might state that there was no foundation whatever for the notion that any change in the law of 1161 evidence would alter the opinion which the magistrate might entertain of his duty. It was sufficient, he thought, to give that answer to the noble Lord, who, he regretted, had not urged his objections yesterday, on the occasion of the Bill being introduced and read a first time. For his own part, as he had taken up so much time yesterday in explaining the objects of the Bill, and taking into consideration the deserted state of the Benches on the side of the House where the noble Lord sat, he hoped the noble Lord would not consider it disrespectful if he declined to trespass any further on their Lordships' time.
§ Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.