§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONI take the earliest opportunity of appealing to the indulgence of the House, and to advert to the course of business with respect to the Financial Statement. The House is probably aware that in consequence of the unfortunate indisposition of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he is unable to bring it forward to-night as he had intended to do. I trust that there is good reason for hoping and believing that on Friday night he will be in a condition to make his statement to the House. That statement will probably involve a considerable length of speech, and it will be desirable for my right hon. Friend to have the interval between this and then in which to regain his powers. I shall not have occasion, therefore, to ask the House to depart from its usual course of business on Thursday. Friday being our own natural day, my right hon. Friend will, I trust, make his statement on that day. I beg accordingly to give notice that on Friday night the Chancellor of the Exchequer will make his financial statement to the House.
§ MR. DISRAELII am sure we have all heard with universal regret the cause of the delay. I wish to ask the noble Viscount whether the commercial treaty with France, if it is ratified, will be laid on the table previous to the financial statement on Friday?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONIt is the intention of my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to lay the Treaty on the table on Friday.
§ MR. BAXTERwished to ask the noble Viscount when it was proposed to take the debate on the Financial Statement and Treaty?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONMy right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will make his statement on Friday, and it will then be for the House to decide, according to its pleasure, when the discussion arising from it shall take place.