§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ LORD CHELMSFORD, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, that its object was to remove an inconsistency in the present law under which embezzlement by a partner was not in general punishable except by the tedious process of filing a bill in Equity. It would be necessary, however, to substitute a new clause instead of the first, and that he proposed to do either in Committee or on the Report. A groundless distinction was made by the present law between the penal character of larceny and of embezzlement by clerks and servants, and that distinction also he proposed to do away with.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Lord Chelmsford.)
THE LORD CHANCELLORapproved the general objects of the Bill, and expressed his satisfaction that his noble and learned Friend was prepared to lay on the table a modification of the first clause. The Bill was not carefully worded. It 1365 spoke of "wrongfully defrauding." He did not know what kind of defrauding there could be if it was not wrongful.
§ Motion agreed to: Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.