§ Order for Committee read.
THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH,who had given Notice to move to insert a clause which would in effect restore to that House the appellate jurisdiction of which it was deprived by the Act of 187;5, said, he thought that this would be a convenient time to announce to 1175 their Lordships that on mature consideration he thought it would be, perhaps, better to postpone till a future stage the Amendment of which he had given Notice. That future stage, the Report, was not likely to come on until after Easter, and he should reserve his arguments in favour of his Amendment until the Report, when he would propose an Amendment not perhaps in exactly similar terms, but to the same effect, as that of which he had given Notice.
§ LORD PENZANCEsaid, that the Amendment of which he had given Notice was only to be moved in the event of the Amendment of the noble Duke being agreed to by their Lordships. If the noble Duke's Amendment was carried on the Report, he should move his Amendment in substantially the same form as it now stood on the Notice Paper.
§ LORD REDESDALEhoped it would be understood that this postponement meant nothing in the way of an abandonment of the opposition to the taking away their Lordships appellate jurisdiction on the part of either the noble Duke or himself. On the contrary, there was a great change in public opinion on the subject, and he thought the delay was desirable in order that the change might be more strongly developed in favour of retaining that jurisdiction.
§ House in Committee accordingly.
§ Amendments made: The Report thereof to be received on the first Thursday after the recess at Easter; and Bill to be printed, as amended. (No. 29.)
§ House adjourned at half past Five o'clock, till To-morrow, half past Ten o'clock.