THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI rise to move the adjournment of the House 3 until Monday next, and I take this opportunity of saying that my noble Friend at the head of the Government has thought it would be more respectful to your Lordships to postpone until that day the statements which it will he his duty to make. It is only a very few minutes ago that a Council was summoned, and there has been as yet no time for consideration or consultation.
§ EARL GRANVILLEAs far as myself and my late colleagues are concerned, of course there cannot be the slightest objection to the Motion of my noble Friend. I only wish to remind the House that, when Lord Aberdeen's Government was formed, and a Motion for adjournment for a week was made, my noble Friend now at the head of the Government objected to the length of time, and expressed his opinion that forty-eight hours, or three days at the utmost, were amply sufficient. It is not our wish to take any such course on the present occasion; on the contrary, we think it of great importance, not only as regards the personal convenience of the noble Earl, which, of course, we should wish to study, but also for the public interest, that the new Government should have some opportunity of consulting the official documents in their respective offices, and should have ample time for considering their policy before the statement is made in which that policy and the principles on which it is founded are to be conveyed to the country.
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMonday, I beg leave to point out to the noble Earl, would be the next day of meeting under any circumstances.
§ House adjourned at a quarter past Five o'clock, to Monday next, half past Four o'clock.