General Tarleton wished the right hon. secretary (Mr. Windham) would have the goodness to inform him, whether or not he meant, according to that half notice he had given, to bring forward on Monday next?
Mr. Secretary Windhamsaid, the hon. general was certainly correct in calling it a half notice: he had not given any regular notice, because it was not in his power to pledge himself that he should be prepared to bring it forward by Monday. Notwithstanding the great anxiexy which the hon. general and his friends might feel upon the subject, or which might be felt out of doors, he could only say, that it did not appear to him that any inconvenience would result from a little delay. He did not see any necessity for hurrying measures of such vast importance and delicacy, and which required the maturest deliberation. Although the expectation of the hon. general might have been disappointed by this apparent delay, his was not. It appeared to him, that the object of the greatest importance was, to give the fullest consideration to any changes that were to be proposed, before the subject was introduced, and he saw no other inconvenience that could result from the unavoidable delay, than that it would disappoint the curiosity, and the anxious expectation of a number of persons.
§ General Tarletonmentioned, that considerable anxiety must necessarily be felt on the subject, both by the gentlemen of the army and the volunteers.
Mr. Secretary Windhamsaid, that as soon as he was prepared to bring the 502 business forward, he should name the day.