§ Lord John RussellI wish to take this opportunity of calling the attention of the House to a matter connect ed with the progress of business. A debate is to take place to-morrow on the Irish Church Bill, which I understand, according to the general impression of the House, will last beyond one night. In that event, I shall not propose the consideration of the Municipal Corporation Act Amendment Bill on Thursday. I shall not be able to do so either on Friday or Monday next, and shall therefore beg to postpone it for a week. On Friday my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will, in pursuance of his notice, propose the question of the stamp-duties; and on Monday I mean to bring forward the question of the registration of marriages.
Mr. O'Brienbegged to put it to the noble Lord, whether it was consistent with a proper respect for the feelings of the people of Ireland, that so important a question as that to which he alluded should be postponed.
§ Mr. HumeIf there be any one question which deeply affects the British public, it is what shall be the fate of the measure for reforming the Irish corporations. I therefore conjure the noble Lord, so far from postponing it, to postpone, in preference, even the Stamp-duties Bill—any measure is inferior in importance to one which affects the whole of the Irish people. The question is really this, whether the House having to decide on a point of just ice to Ireland, shall postpone the consideration of such a subject for a week.
§ Subject dropped,