§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, the measure was occupied with details in regard to legal proceedings in Scotland on which it would be better to postpone comment until they were in Committee. A strong feeling was entertained in Scotland that a large and comprehensive reform was necessary in respect to legal proceedings in that country, which must be regarded as very cumbrous, dilatory, and he was afraid very expensive. The Government were about to recommend the issue of a Royal Commission to inquire into the whole system of pleading and practice in the Scotch Courts, with a view to the introduction of improvements. The inquiry itself must necessarily occupy some time, and the legislation consequent upon it some further time. It was desirable, however, that the partial but urgent Amendments proposed by the Bill should be made, and there would be an opportunity of knowing how they would work. The arrangements now proposed, however, 1164 were not in any way to supersede the inquiry or the action of the Commission, which would deal with the whole subject of the pleading and practice of the Scotch Courts without reference to the Amendments to be made by that Bill.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a" (The Lord Chancellor.)
§ LORD WESTBURYunderstood that the Commission would embrace the subject included in the Bill, and that if the measure passed it would not be made the pretext for withdrawing the matter comprised within it from the inquiry of the Commissioners.
§ Motion agreed to: Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.
§ House adjourned at Seven o'clock, to Thursday next, half past Ten o'clock.