The Chancellor of the Exchequerstated, that in consequence of an amendment which he intended to introduce into the Orders in Council bill, he should propose that the bill should that night go through a committee, pro forma; that the report should be received on Monday, and that on Tuesday a recommitment should take place, when the bill might be discussed.
Mr. Ponsonbyexpressed his satisfaction that the right hon. gent. had changed his opinion on the subject since 3 o'clock. on that morning. His objection, however, to the principle of the bill was so strong, that he could not allow the Speaker to leave the chair without taking the sense of the house upon it.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid it was not his intention to protract the discussion of this measure. He was not until this day aware, that alterations were necessary. If the right hon. gent. had a desire to take the sense of the house he might. It appeared to him, that the reason for taking the sense of the house upon the present occasion might be, that the right hon. gent. looking at the strength of the house might think, from the thinness of what were called the ministerial benches, that he was sure of triumph.
§ Mr. H. Martinthought the measure was one of such paramount delinquency, that every opportunity should be taken to ex- 691 pose its injustice. He was surprised at the insinuation thrown out by the right hon. the chancellor of the Exchequer against his right hon. friend, who he knew was in capable of the motive attributed to him. He was satisfied the right hon. gent. could marshal his troops with much more celerity than could be effected on his side the house.—A division then took place, when there appeared,
When strangers were re-admitted, we found the chancellor of the Exchequer on his legs, assuring the right hon. gent. (Mr. Ponsonby) that the division had convinced him, that he was mistaken in the insinuation he had previously made, with respect to any wish of taking an unfair advantage.
For the postponement 118 Against it, 32 Majority —86