§ MR. FERRANDsaid, that on that day three weeks, when he brought under the 1836 notice of the House the condition of the operatives of Lancashire, the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Poor Law Board stated that an Engineer had already been sent down to the distressed districts, and he had no doubt the Report of that gentleman would be made in about three weeks' time. He now wished to ask the right Gentleman, If he has received the Report from the Engineer sent down into the Cotton Districts, and if he will lay it upon the table?
§ MR. C. P. VILLIERSIn answer to the hon. Gentleman's Question, I hare, Sir, first to observe that he misunderstood the statement made by me on the occasion to which he refers. I do not know that I gave any ground for the misapprehension. I could not have said that I had already sent down an Engineer, for the proposal to take such a step was one which I made in lieu of the proposition made by the hon. Gentleman himself, and of the proposition of another hon. Member, as I thought it more suitable; but I said I did not think that more than three weeks would be required for a competent person to complete the inquiries. I have now to answer that the Civil Engineer who was directed to make these inquiries has this day forwarded to me a Report. He has not concluded his inquiries, but by means of great industry and energy the Report is very nearly complete. Such as it is, it will be laid on the table to-morrow.