PARLIAMENTARY RECORD, 1861. LONDON PRINTED BY T. F. A. DAY, 13, CAREY STREET, Per. 2277 THIS HIS Volume has been prepared in accordance with a wish expressed by several Peers and Members of the Commons, who, dissatisfied with the trouble and loss of time attendant on a reference to the Votes or Journals, desire to obtain a record of Parliamentary proceedings, compendious in form and susceptible of prompt and easy reference. It will be seen that these objects are here attained. In the work now produced every item of Public Business is carefully recorded, but free from the immense mass of entries in the Votes referring to Petitions, Returns, Private Bills, Postponements of the various stages of Public Bills, &c., &c., which possess no interest beyond the day on which they are made. Thus the course of Parliamentary action is clearly and accurately presented to view. Every motion and every amendment proposed during the session is recorded, together with the names of their movers. Every division of the Houses is stated, and the numbers of every division are given. Some of the principal division lists for each House are added; but it might be deemed advisable hereafter to give complete division lists, with the view of concentrating, as it were, all matter of Parliamentary reference within one focus, or, if thought preferable, they could be altogether omitted. The Index is an important part of the work. It furnishes, at a glance, the history of every bill introduced into either House of Parliament, showing when and by whom it was presented, when it passed through its subsequent stages, and what material alterations it underwent during its progress. It rests with the members of the Legislature, in their collective capacity, to determine whether it is desirable that the proceedings of Parliament should be thus recorded for the use of the two Houses. ** The Work has been printed in a small and compact letter, in order that a large quantity of matter might be brought within a moderate compass; but this is a mere typographical arrangement, which can be altered at pleasure. RECORD OF THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS IN PUBLIC MATTERS FOR THE YEAR 1861, BEING THE TWENTY-FOURTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA. |