The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid that he found, on an application to the printer of the Minutes, that he would not be able to have those which related to the Inquiry into the Conduct of the Commander in Chief, ready to deliver to the members of the house so soon as Monday next; nor could he even answer for Tuesday or Wednesday. He thought, therefore, it would be necessary to enlarge the time beyond that which had been fixed for bringing up the report; and as the hon. gent. (Mr. Whitbread) was in possession of Monday se'nnight, he was at a loss how to fix so early a day as he could wish, unless the hon. gent. would agree to postpone his motion to a future day. The hon. gent. had already so frequently postponed it, that he hardly knew how to ask him again to do it; but if he could with convenience, he should be obliged to him.
After some conversation between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr. Whitbread, it appeared that as the assizes in Ireland were nearly approaching, and that many members from that part of the united kingdom, who wished to be present at the discussion of the American question, could not conveniently remain in town longer than Monday se'nnight, it was agreed that Mr. Whitbread's motion should 1056 stand as it was already fixed, for that day, and that the Report on the Inquiry into the Conduct of the D. of Y., should be taken into consideration on Wednesday the 8th of March.
§ Mr. Tierneywished to know, if, when the Report was brought up on Wednesday se'nnight, the right hon. gent. intended to come forward with any specific proceedings on it.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, he did not conceive he had any thing to do with the business, in the way the right hon. gent. had mentioned. He conceived it to be in the hands of the hon. gent. (Mr. Wardle) who brought forward the accusation, and he did not think it would be proper for him to interfere in it, as he naturally supposed the hon. gent., whom he did not then see in his place, would bring forward some proceeding or other on it.
Lord Folkestonesaid, he did not rise to object to any thing which had been said by the last speaker, but thought he had reason to complain of the right hon. gent. below him (Mr. Tierney,) as his question seemed to insinuate that his hon. friend had abandoned the business, and wished the right hon. gent. opposite to him to take it up. His hon. friend had, however, expressed his readiness to go on with the matter even on the day that had been first appointed, though he (lord F.) thought it too early a one. The right hon. gent. might, therefore, rest satisfied that on Wednesday se'nnight the matter would be taken up by his hon. friend, who had left the house, not supposing any thing would be said on the subject that night.
§ Mr. Tierneydisclaimed any intention of even a wish to take the business out of the hands of the hon. gent. who brought forward the accusation, and had only asked the question to satisfy himself, whether on that night any proceeding was to take place on bringing up the report.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerthen said, it would be recollected by the house, that the hon. gent. opposite (Mr. Wardle) when he brought forward his Charges, had mentioned an Office in the City kept for the Sale of Places under Government, in which the names of the Lord Chancellor and the Duke of Portland had been used. He had then said he would be glad to give every assistance to the hon. gent., in order to discover if any such unjust practices were really in existence. Since that time, a gentleman had observed an advertisement for the sale of a place under government, 1057 and had applied accordingly to the office of Coleman and Taylor, who informed him they had a place under government to dispose of. He informed the Chancellor of the Exchequer of it, who sent for the Solicitor to the Treasury, and desired him to go with the gentleman, and make an advance of any sum that might he required, to endeavour to find out if any such practices did exist, so as to fix them with a prosecution. They had accordingly proceeded, and a sum had been agreed on, which was deposited, and by the advice of the Attorney and Solicitor General, Coleman and Taylor, and a Mrs. Harvey, were indicted; there was also a banker.
§ Mr. Alderman Combethought the right hon. gent. should mention the banker's name.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, he did not exactly recollect it, and might therefore, by giving a wrong name, do more harm than good.