§ MR. BORTHWICKwished to have some proper understanding of the terms on which they were to separate with reference to the important question of the Poor Law. It would be in the recollection of the House, that when the noble Lord at the head of the Government adopted the Poor Removal measure of the late Government, there stood in his (Mr. Borthwick's) name a notice of Motion, with a view of referring that measure to a Select Committee, instead of a Committee of the whole House. The noble Lord asked him to withdraw that Motion, because, on the part of the Government, he was ready at the beginning of next Session to consent to a close inquiry into the whole law of settlement. Subsequently there had also stood in his name a Notice of Motion for an inquiry into the whole operation of the Poor Law. He had, however, withdrawn that Motion, because he had felt that it was not fair to press it, as the Government had come into office only towards the end of the Session, and had not therefore had time to form their opinions on the various reports, such as that on district asylums and the Andover union. Nevertheless, he had expressed his intention of moving at the beginning of next Session, unless the Government did something on the subject, for a Select Committee of Inquiry into the whole operation of the Poor Law, founded on the reports to which he had adverted; he trusted, however, that he should be spared the necessity of giving notice on 1065 the subject, for he felt he might confidently leave the matter in the hands of the Government. At the same time, he would ask whether it was the intention of the Government to take the whole operation of the Poor Law into consideration, with a view to introduce some measure on the subject at the beginning of next Session?
LORD J. RUSSELLsaid, he would not venture, in the present state of the Poor Law, and of the inquiries lately made, to say what measure or inquiry Government would propose; but he would give this promise to the hon. Gentleman, that unless he (Lord J. Russell) did propose a full inquiry in the name of the Government, or unless he took some steps to preclude the necessity of it, he should make no opposition next Session to the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the whole operation of the Poor Law.