§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, I rise to move that these copies of the correspondence with the Commissioners at the head quarters of the Austrian, French, and Sardinian armies, which I have brought up by command of Her Majesty, should be upon the table. I would avail myself of this opportunity to make a very short statement to the House, not so much as to those circumstances in regard to which the public are already perfectly well informed, as with respect to the course of business which we shall propose to the House. It is well known to everybody that upon the failure of the efforts of my noble Friend, Earl Granville, to form a Government, I was honoured with the commands of Her Majesty to undertake the duty of constructing an Administration. The first step which I took under those circumstances was to address myself to my noble Friend the Member for the City of London (Lord John Russell) between whom and myself an agreement already existed that, whichever of the two might happen to receive the commands of the Sovereign to form an Administration in the place of that which had given in its resignation, we would cooperate for the purpose of forming an efficient and strong Government. My noble Friend, with the utmost promptitude and generosity, immediately consented to give his co-operation for that purpose, and undertook that which at all times is one of the most important departments of State, but which under present circumstances is, beyond all others, of national importance —I mean the direction of our foreign relations. My noble Friend and myself were able to surround ourselves with colleagues eminent for their public station and remarkable for their ability and knowledge of the administration of affairs, and I trust that we have succeeded in presenting to this House, to Parliament, and to the country an Administration which, by the distinguished elements of which it is composed, will command, obtain, and secure the confidence of this House and of the country. I need not say, Sir, that in some respects the duty which I had to per- 479 form was painful to my feelings, because I was unable to ask and obtain the assistance of many of those personal and political friends with whom it had been my pleasure and pride upon a former occasion to co-operate in the public service—men whoso talents, zeal, and ability in the discharge of the duties which were imposed upon them entitled them not only to my esteem and confidence, but also to the approbation of their fellow countrymen. The Administration having been formed, it now becomes our duty to consider what course of proceeding it will be our duty in the present state of the year, and in the present state of the business before Parliament, to propose to this House. There are two great questions which preeminently occupy the attention of this House and the public; one, the state of our foreign relations as connected with those important events which are now passing in the south of Europe; the other, that question of the amendment of the laws regarding the representation of the people in Parliament, which has so recently and so anxiously engaged the attention of Parliament and of the country. The course which we intend to pursue with regard to that first great question is the course which has been chalked out for us by those who preceded us, and which has been recommended, or is intended to be recommended, by the Resolution of which notice has been given by my noble Friend (Lord Elcho)—that is, a strict neutrality in the contest which is now waging. I trust that nothing can occur which should involve this country in hostilities, which, as far as human foresight can go, seems to turn upon matters which, though interesting the sympathies one way or the other of the people of this country, are yet so remote from their direct interests that it would, I think, be unpardonable in any Government to endeavour to involve this country in the contest. It will be our duty, as no doubt it would have been felt to be the duty of the late Government to avail ourselves of any favourable opportunity which may occur in the course of these events to tender the good offices of England, either separately or conjointly with other Powers; for the purpose of restoring to Europe the blessings of peace; but I am sure that this House will feel that stops of that kind ought not to be lightly taken, that a great country like this ought not to tender advice or interpose its offices until it sees that the 480 march of events renders it likely that those good offices or that advice will be acceptable to those to whom they are tendered, and that lightly and without sufficient consideration to commit the country to steps of that sort would be derogatory to the dignity of the country and useless with regard to any good which might be anticipated from the adoption of such a course. With regard to the other great question—the amendment of the laws regulating the representation of the people in Parliament—I think it is almost needless for me to say that, considering the season of the year, considering how short a time must elapse before the return of August, and possibly of September, will so thin the attendance in this House that no question of great importance ought to be submitted to its deliberations, and considering the amount of inevitable business which we have to go through, I am sure the House will agree that it would be trifling with so great and important a subject as that of Parliamentary Reform if we were to attempt to introduce into this House during the present Session a Bill upon that subject. That it will be our endeavour and determination to avail ourselves of the earliest moment of the next Session of Parliament to prepare and produce a Bill, I can give the assurance of myself and my colleagues. When the next Session will commence must depend very much upon the course of events, and upon the course of business. I wish to withhold any opinion upon that subject at the present moment. Events may occur which may render it necessary that that Session should be held earlier than the accustomed period. There may be considerations which may lead in the other direction, but upon that point I beg the House to understand that we reserve it to ourselves to state at some future period of the present Session what our views and intentions may he. We shall therefore proceed at once with the business which is before us. Some of the Estimates will have to be considered and voted by the House. There will be the budget of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to be stated and considered; there may probably be measures consequent upon that budget, and there my be other measures of minor importance which we may think it our duty to propose; but that amount of business will probably, I think certainly, occupy all the remaining portion of the summer during which it is possible for us to expect such an attendance of Members 481 as will enable us to deliberate upon measures of importance. I will not trespass further on the attention of the House except to say that, considering how late the Session is, and how important it is that the business usually called the business of the Government, though really the business of the country, should be proceeded with as rapidly as possible, it is my intention to propose on a future day that Thursdays, beginning with this day fortnight, shall be Order days, instead of, as usual, being Notice days. That is an arrangement that is usually made towards the latter part of the Session: and I trust that, under the circumstances, those who may have notices on the paper for this day fortnight will offer no opposition to the proposal which I shall make.
§ Motion agreed to.