§ THE DUKE OF RICHMOND, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, it required very little explanation. It seemed that property acquired by Act of Parliament by justices of the peace might be vested in the clerks of the peace, and there was an Act of the present reign which empowered the vesting of such property. He believed, however, that it had been found that property that virtually belonged to the county, concerning which there was no means of showing how the property was acquired, could not be vested in the clerk of the peace for the county. The Bill had been under the inspection of the authorities of the Home Office, who seemed satisfied, and had passed through the other House without much discussion; but if the Lord Chancellor thought it necessary, he would postpone the second reading.
THE LORD CHANCELLORwas obliged for this offer, as the Bill at first 168 sight appeared to contain some rather startling provisions. He promised to examine it more closely before the Motion was repeated.
§ LORD PENZANCEremarked that some clauses of the Bill were rather more comprehensive than the noble Duke seemed to think, and joined in the request for postponement.
§ THE DUKE OF RICHMONDwithdrew his Motion.
§ Second Reading put off to Thursday next.