Lord Sandon, before the House went into Committee, begged to put a question to the noble Lord (Lord Althorp). He hoped the noble Lord would be so good as to state what were the intentions of the Government with respect to the slave-population of the West Indies, and if it was the intention of the noble Lord to make any statement on that subject on the occasion of the hon. member for Weymouth bringing, forward his Motion.
§ Sir John Hobhouse moved the Order of the Day for a Committee of Supply.
§ Lord Althorpthought the regular opportunity had now come for answering the question which had been put to him by the noble Lord, the member for Liverpool. In answer, he begged to say, that he knew nothing at present of the object of the Motion of the hon. member for Weymouth, and, therefore, was not ready to make any statement on the subject, until the time arrived when that Motion was to be brought forward. It was impossible that he could pledge himself that on such an occasion he should take an opportunity of opening the views of the Government to the House. Such might be a convenient opportunity, but at present he could not pledge himself on the subject.
Lord Sandonbegged to apologize to the 1017 noble Lord and the House, if he had in any way deviated from the regular course in putting the question he had done. All he wished was to conciliate; and he hoped the Motion of the hon. member for Weymouth would meet the views of his Majesty's Government.