Lord Folke422 stone moved, that this Order be read for the purpose of postponing it till to-morrow.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersuggested to the noble lord, that as it might be possible this night for the house to conclude whether it was proper to adopt the mode of Address or Resolutions, perhaps it would be better not to propose his motion at so early an hour, before the decision upon that part of the question which pointed out the most convenient mode of proceeding. He could wish it to be held over their heads till the end of their sitting this evening, that in case they did come to any decision, the opportunity of such a break in the discussion might be seized, to move a short adjournment, which was not only desirable for the health and strength of the members, but also to enable them to come with a clear and unfatigued mind to a final decision upon a question so important. For himself, he was free to confess, that five nights in a week sitting up till three or four o'clock in the morning, and being again called on at an early hour to fulfil the other duties of his official situation, was, he found, too much fatigue for him to undergo. The health also of the respectable person in the Chair was an object not to be trifled with, though he was sure he would be the last to complain of it. What he wished, therefore, was, that the noble lord should not push his motion till the rising of the house, when, if they had decided between the Address and Resolutions, he would move for an adjournment of this debate over Wednesday, and that the Call of the House be enforced on Thursday; and if they did not come to any decision then, that the present motion for a Call tomorrow, when the business should go on, might be acceded to.
Lord Folkestonewas ready to accede to the proposition of the right hon. gent., not only on his own account, but on account of the right hon. member who filled the Chair. He had only to observe, that his desisting at this moment did not imply that the Call was dropped, but that, whether to-morrow or the next day, it might be enforced till the business was concluded.
§ Earl Templesaid, his feelings towards the right hon. the Speaker were paramount to every other consideration. But he conjured the house upon no other consideration to put off or delay coming to a' decision upon this question, upon which the eyes of the country were fixed, and in which the character of the illustrious indi- 423 vidual accused was so much implicated and injured by every moment that was lost.
§ The Speakerreturned his thanks to the house for their attention towards him, and the indulgence with which they seemed disposed to treat him, but he might venture without affectation to say, that he found no disability in himself to continue to discharge his duty, so long as the house found it expedient to carry on these discussions.
Lord Folkestone then withdrew his motion for the present.
§ Mr. Henry Smith,before the house proceeded to the other business of the night, wished to call their attention to a matter which affected their privileges. In whatever manner the Speeches of members might be reported out of doors, he was sure, that even in so humble an individual as himself, they ought not to he misrepresented. A Morning Paper, in stating the purport of what fell from him last night, said, that he "spoke in favour of the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer." Nothing could be further from his view of the subject, as those hon. gentlemen who had done him the honour of attending to him, would be ready to bear witness. The house were, indeed, at the time he spoke very impatient, and this, perhaps, with the noise that prevailed, and the disturbed state of the house, might prevent the person who reported him from hearing distinctly what he said. The line he took, so far from agreeing with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, was to point out the necessity of putting the Duke of York upon his trial, and giving him an opportunity of defending himself. He had thought it necessary to say this much, in order to set himself right, but did not mean to take any ulterior proceedings, as all his purposes were attained by explaining the matter.
§ Mr. C. W. Wynn,after a short conversation with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, postponed his motion for the further consideration of the evidence of gen. Clavering till Monday next.