§ THE EARL OF MALMESBURY moved, that the Bill be now read 2a.
THE EARL OF LEITRIMexpressed regret at the course taken by the House of Commons with regard to polling-places, his fear being that scenes of confusion and bloodshed would occur at the approaching election.
§ THE EARL OF MALMESBURYsaid, he deeply regretted the failure of the proposition made by the Government, when the Bill was in the other House, for an increased number of polling-places, in consequence of the opposition of the very 1710 persons who for the last two years had been urging the necessity of such an increase for the convenience and peace of the country. Polling-places were now in many instances thirty miles apart. Considering, however, that the question was peculiarly one for the consideration of the House of Commons, and that it would have been useless for the Government to persist in their scheme against the determined opposition they met with, they were obliged, especially at so late a period of the Session, to give way and leave things in their present unsatisfactory state. He trusted that the noble Earl's predictions would not be verified, and that the opposition to the scheme would not occasion the confusion and bloodshed which he appeared to dread. The Government had every wish to preserve tranquillity as far as possible during the coming election, and were determined to perform their duty by maintaining the law, as it stood, to the utmost. They did not think it expedient to propose any alteration in the Bill as it had come up from the other House.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, he did not think it necessary, as the Government did not intend to propose the restoration of the clauses expunged by the other House, to enter into the reasons why those clauses had been deemed objectionable.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Eight o'clock, to Monday next, half past Four o'clock.