§ Admiral Markham having moved that the papers relating to the navy, which were presented to the house on the 19th instant, should be printed, which was ordered, he then adverted to a notice which had been given by an hon. gent. (Mr. Jeffery) for Thursday, of a motion founded upon the Papers respecting the Navy. It was not possible, he said, that the papers for the printing of which he had moved could be printed in time for the house to be in possession of their contents by Thursday; added to which, the papers for which he had moved were not yet all of them before the house. He hoped, therefore, the hon. gent. would consent to postpone his motion.
§ Mr. Jeffery said it would have given him great pleasure to have complied with the hon. admiral's request; but he thought it high time at this late period of the session that the country should be made acquainted with the state of its navy, and with the conduct of those by whom it had been managed.
§ Admiral Markham thought it very extraordinary that the hon. gent. being in possession of the papers on one side of the question, should refuse to give time for the production of those on the other side. If more time was not given for this purpose it would be impossible for him to meet the question as it deserved. He had a right to ask to be allowed the opportunity and the means of defence, as being a member of that board of admiralty, the noble lord at the head of which had been accused by the hon. gent. of being the worst enemy of his country. It would be extremely strange if the accuser should bring in his accusation, and he (admiral M.) should not be allowed the opportunity of making his defence.
§ Mr. Jeffery was proceeding to comment upon what had fallen from the hon. admiral when he was called to order by the speaker, who reminded him that there was no question before the house. He then contented himself with stating, that he did not think it necessary to postpone his motion
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer said he could not help wishing that the hon. gent. 562 would not press his motion on the day for which it was a present fixed. Under the circumstances of the case, he did not think the house would be enabled to enter into that full detail upon the subject which must of course, be desirable, the papers moved for by the hon. admiral being not yet all of them before the house.
§ Mr. Jeffery said the papers moved for by the hon. admiral were of little or no consequence with respect to the subject which he intended to bring forward in the house. The hon. member was again proceeding, when he was stopped by the speaker, and the conversation ended. Mr. Jeffery's motion remaining as before fixed for Thursday.