HC Deb 18 July 1859 vol 154 cc1384-5
MR. E. P. BOUVERIE

said, he had a Petition from Sir William Russell, one of the candidates at the last Dovor election, complaining of an undue return for that Borough. The Petitioner said, that he had learnt that a "Select Committee had been appointed by that House to inquire into the Mail and Telegraph Contracts, and that it was likely to investigate the Contract for the Dovor and Ostend Mails; that he had been advised by his counsel that it would be very prejudicial to his case, if this part of the Contract inquiry were to take place until the Dovor Election Committee had sat. The Petitioner, therefore, prayed the House to direct the Select Committee on Contracts, not to proceed with its investigation, as far as the Dovor Contract was concerned, until the Election Committee had closed its labours. He, therefore, gave notice, that to-morrow he should move, that the Petition be printed with the Votes.

MR. ROEBUCK

said, he understood that a Committee of the House was appointed to pronounce, whether Petitions should be printed or not; and until that Committee had come to a determination, no Motion could be made for printing a Petition, unless the right hon. Member stated that he meant to found a Resolution upon it.

MR. E. P. BOUVERIE

had not made a Motion, he had only given notice of one for to-morrow.