§ THE EARL OF MALMESBURY, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, I believe your Lordships will not expect that I shall now enter into any lengthened explanation of its provisions. I need only remind your Lordships that in the year 1850 Parliament had made great progress in the reform of the Irish representation, while no corresponding measure has been passed until last Session for this country. The Bill will therefore make very little alteration in the Irish franchise. It will leave the county franchise unchanged at its present amount of £12, and it will lower the borough franchise from £8 to £4. This arrangement will practically give household suffrage to all who pay rates in boroughs in Ireland—for in Ireland those persons whose houses are worth less than £4 are not liable to the payment of the rate, which is paid by the lessor. The provisions with respect to the county franchise and the borough franchise are the two main points in the measure. I propose that your Lordships should go into Committee on the Bill on Monday next.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Lord Privy Seal.)
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, he thought the noble Earl might have given them some further explanations with respect to the Bill, and more particularly in reference to their abandonment of that doctrine on the subject of the "hard and fast line" on which, they had insisted in dealing with the subject of Reform in this country. But their Lordships might enter into the general subject, if they should think proper, on the Motion for going into Committee on Monday next.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Tuesday next.
§ House adjourned at a quarter past Eight o'clock, to Thursday next, half past Ten o'clock.