SECOND READING. (Hansard, 4 August 1891)

LORD DENMAN

My Lords, through the research of the noble Lord the Secretary for Scotland it was discovered that "months" meant lunar months, and consequently 13 days are saved which had to elapse before this Bill could have been read a second time. I will state to your Lordships that on the 17th February I very nearly fainted, and I thought I should have fainted. I had been advised by two medical men not to exert myself, and it was, consequently, at very great risk that I came up here. I can only say, without any desire to 1218 appropriate credit to myself, that I have conscientiously brought forward this measure. If I had died in the course of time after my first bringing in the Bill my wife would have had no vote. The Duchess of Granville, the Duchess of Roxburgh, and the Duchess of Buckingham have also been in the same position, though their servants have all votes. Your Lordships, I really believe, would not regret it if you set a good example to the other House of Parliament, and allow this Bill to be read a second time. With regard to the conduct of a Bill not beginning in your Lordships' House, it really does show a great want of knowledge of the Constitution for anyone to advance that such a scruple should prevail in this House. A Bill was brought in by an ancestor of the Duke of Devonshire at a most critical time when Parties were really violently opposed to each other; and even now I believe that if this Bill were passed it would tend to the promotion of goodwill and good counsels, which are sure to be followed by those, whether they be strikers who almost ruin themselves, or whoever they may be, who have sensible women around them to give them advice at the right time. I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time.