§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer, after a few observations, took notice of the report from the committee, stating the answer of the house of lords to the application for leave to examine lord St. Vincent before the committee; that committee had wished to examine his lordship on sundry points respecting Mr. D E. Bartholomew and other matters, to ascertain how far his lordship had concurred in those proceedings. He believed it would not he denied, that it was unusual for their lordships to allow any noble lord to be examined by that house, on any point which might have a tendency to criminate himself. He conceived that the most regular mode, in every view of the business, would be, to move that this report be re-committed to the same committee.
§ Mr. Kianaird said, that it was resolved, by a large majority in the committee, to present this report as it now stood, to the house. The committee did not think it right to call on his lordship as a party, though possibly the lords might think some part of the evidence had a tendency to criminate his lordship: they did not think it fit to call upon his lordship as judges. He would rather send back the report to the committee, with instructions as to the sort of answer to be given to their lordships, whether specific or otherwise. He should rather, under these circumstances, request the attendance of Lord St. Vincent as a witness, that, being subject to their lordships' limitations, as in the case of lord Melville, in whose case their lordships put that wide interpretation upon the request, that it might tend to matters to criminate the noble lord.
§ Sir John Stewart said, it was at first intended to examine Lord St. Vincent merely as a witness, but matters afterwards came before the committee, that rendered the attendance of his lordship in that view only, impracticable.
§ Sir W. Burroughs said, he coincided with what had fallen from the hon. baronet. He thought many parts of the evidence such as the noble earl would not wish to go to the public as they stood, and he wished to give his lordship an opportunity of correcting them. If the house thought they ought not to persist in the examination, it was better now to let it rest.
§ The Speaker said, the custom of the house was, not to instruct the committee as to their report; but the committee 164 were to gather from the sense of the house, in its proceedings, what method they ought to pursue.—The report was re-committed to the same committee.—Adjourned to Wednesday.