§ — The order of the day for the house resolving itself into a committee of ways and means having been read, it was ordered, on the motion of the chancellor of the exchequer, that the public estimates and accounts be referred to the said committee. On the motion for the speaker's leaving the chair,
§ Mr. Fox asked the right hon. gent. opposite, whether or not he was right in understanding that the sum of five millions to be appropriated to a particular purpose, had been already voted in the committee of supply?
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied, that it was certainly inched in the general vote, but that there had been no specific votes had been kept back from the circumstances of the destination of that sum not having been ascertained. He hoped, however, either 451 to-day or to-morrow to lay before the house it message from his majesty on that subject. An accidental circumstance alone had prevented his not having done so already, but he trusted before the rising of the house he might yet be enabled to communicate it to them.
§ Mr. Grey observed, that when he gave the notice of his motion, which, stood for to-morrow, it was because no communication of the kind alluded to by the right hon. gent. had been made to the house; an occurrence which might alter his intention.—The house then went into a committee, in which it was resolved on the motion of the chancellor of the exchequer, that the sum of 4 millions out of the surplus of the consolidated fund, and the sum of £1,192,115 19 11½ out of the surplus of the grants of last year, be granted towards the supply. The house having resumed, the report was ordered to be received to-morrow.