HL Deb 17 July 1868 vol 193 cc1363-4

Order for the House to be again in Committee on the said Bill, read.

LORD CHELMSFORD

said, there was an impression abroad that he was opposed to the Bill, and that he had the other evening endeavoured to obstruct the progress of the Bill by moving that the House should resume; whereas, as their Lordships were quite aware, his reason for moving that the House resume was that, though the understanding had been that only unopposed Amendments should be then agreed to, one was proposed to which opposition was raised. The fact, however, was that a great many Amendments had been given Notice of which he, in common with many of their Lordships, had not seen, and which, therefore, the House was; unprepared to discuss. So far from being actuated by hostility to the Bill, he was quite in favour of it; for, though its introduction would have been undesirable had there been any immediate prospect of more comprehensive legislation on the subject, the passing of a general bankruptcy measure appeared more and more distant.

LORD ROMILLY

entirely agreed with the noble and learned Lord; for, not having on Tuesday night seen the Amendments of the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack, he was unable to consider what their effect would be. He now found that many of them were identical with those which he had himself drawn up. He understood that his noble and learned Friend who had charge of the Bill (Lord Cranworth) was prepared to re-print the Bill with the Amendments of the Lord Chancellor, and allow the additional Amendments to be inserted on the Report or third reading. He thought it was much to be regretted that Bills making important changes in the law should be introduced at a period of the Session when it was impossible to avoid blunders which, when exposed in Courts of Law, brought the Legislature into discredit.

House again in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

LORD CRANWORTH

stated that he proposed to accept all the Amendments of the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack, leaving it open to any of their Lordships on the Report or third reading to bring forward any further Amendments which might appear desirable.

Amendments made: The Report thereof to be received on Monday next; and Bill to be printed as amended. (No. 270.)