§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
EARL NELSON,in moving the second reading of this Bill, said, that its object was to legalize the holding of the office of Postmaster General by a Member of the House of Commons. The 25th section of the 6th of Anne disqualified the holders of certain offices for sitting in the House of Commons; but from time to time nearly every office in the Government had been freed from the operation of that Act—beginning with the Presidency of the Board of Control, and ending with the Secretary of State for War. There was no reason why the office of Postmaster General should not be held by a Member of the House of Commons; and, remembering the difficulties the present Prime Minister had in forming his Government, it was expedient to give additional facilities to the First Lord of the Treasury in the organization of an Administration, while the passing of the Bill could not by possibility be construed into a reflection upon the noble Duke (the Duke of Montrose) who had so lately accepted the office.
§ Motion agreed to: Bill read 2a accordingly;. and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.