§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That Committees shall not sit To-morrow, being Ascension Day, until Two of the clock, and have leave to sit until Six of the clock, notwithstanding the sitting of the House."—(Mr. John Morley.)
SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL&c.) (Kirkcaldy,said, that, having opposed the Motion for the Adjournment of the House over the Derby Day, he felt bound to oppose the present Motion, although on slightly different grounds. He had opposed the Motion for Adjournment over the Derby Day on the ground that it was a bad thing to encourage the gambling that took place on that occasion. He was not going to say that he thought that it was a bad thing to go to church on Ascension Day. If any 784 hon. Member wanted to go to church on Ascension Day he had not the slightest objection; but he opposed the Motion on the ground that he believed that nobody wanted to go to church on Ascension Day. ["Oh, oh!"] He repeated that he believed there was no considerable number of Members who wanted to go to church to-morrow. Being a Presbyterian, he knew nothing about these Saints' days. If, however, any considerable number of hon. Members really wanted to go to church to-morrow, although he thought it was rather hard on the Business of the House that it should be postponed, he would be willing to withdraw his objection. If not, he thought it extremely undesirable that the Business of the House should be delayed. There was still important Business before the Committees, and, as the time was short, some of the Bills might be lost if the Motion were agreed to. If the Committees did not meet until 2 o'clock, he was quite sure, considering the absorbing interest centred in the debate to be resumed to-morrow, that hon. Members would not be got to sit after 4 o'clock; and therefore, under those circumstances, he must oppose the Motion.
§ Question put.
§ The House divided:—Ayes 63; Noes 22: Majority 41.—(Div. List, No. 114.)