HL Deb 04 September 1848 vol 101 cc769-70

Bill read 3a according to order.

On the Motion that the Bill do pass,

The EARL of DESART

said, he wished to remove a misconception that prevailed, that, in consequence of what had been stated on Friday night by Lord Redesdale, no further opposition would be given to the Bill. He would be no party to any such understanding. The Bill had passed with inconsiderate haste through the Commons, and he must still assert his right to oppose it in every stage. To show that the noble Lord (Lord Redesdale) merely spoke for himself when he said he would give no further opposition to the Bill, he (the Earl of Desart) would read an extract of a letter received from that Nobleman on the subject:— I will state to you exactly all that passed between Lord Lansdowne and myself on Friday evening, as to further opposition to the Copper and Lead Duties Bill. Just before the House adjourned, he asked me, across the table, whether I intended to oppose the further stages of the measure, as it was important that they should know; my reply was, I can only answer for myself that I hope to be many miles from this place by twelve o'clock to-morrow.' I was not in a position to answer for others, especially for Lord Falmouth, and those personally interested in the change of duties; nor had I had that communication with them as to their wishes and intentions which would have justified me in saying anything that would have the effect of tying up their hands. On Thursday evening, when I told Lord Lansdowne and Lord Granville that I intended to oppose the Bill on the first reading, I said that I did so, not only as objecting to the measure, but to mark my opinion of the conduct of the House of Commons to our House in sending up a Bill of such importance, which they had before them in May, and might, therefore, have passed months earlier. Lord Lansdowne said that it would be more convenient to him to take the debate, as I proposed, on Friday than on Saturday; but not a word was said about the opposition ending with the first debate. He (the Earl of Desart) felt it his duty to oppose, at this late period of the Session, the further progress of the Bill.

After a few words in explanation from the Marquess of LANSDOWNE,

LORD MOUNTCASHEL

said, he felt it his duty, not only to oppose this mischievous Bill, but to give it every obstruction in his power.

Their Lordships then divided on question that the Bill do pass:—Content 25; Not-Content 11: Majority 14.

Bill passed.