Mr. Vansittartstated his intention to propose Resolutions on the subject of the Bullion Report on Monday next, in case those of his hon. and learned friend (Mr. Horner) should not be adopted. Having only very lately seen the Resolutions of his hon. and learned friend, he was not prepared as yet to state exactly what the nature of his own Resolutions would be but he would read them to the House on Friday, after which they might be printed, so as to be in the hands of members previous to the discussion. In the mean time he was desirous that some facts already sufficiently notorious should be brought formally under the view of the House, and would therefore move for some papers. An Account of the number of Bank notes in circulation between February and August 1785–6—2d, the average amount in circulation in 1799, 1800–1–2—3d, an account of the average amount between 1797 and 1810—4th, an account 759 of the quantity of gold coined from the Revolution to the beginning of the present reign,&c.
§ Sir J. Newportremaked, that these were called for at so late a period; that it would be impossible for his hon. and learned friend to avail himself of whatever light they might throw on the question.
Mr. Vansittartsaid they were matters of notoriety. Gentlemen might, by glancing over one page, see the situation of the exchanges at different periods.
§ Mr. Tierneysaid that though the hon. gent. wished to elucidate his own view of the subject from these papers, others might see cause to use them for the elucidation of another view. He did not refuse to grant the paper; but the time even for the consideration of the hon. gentleman's Resolutions was very short. He was as anxious as any one that the House should come to a speedy decision on this subject; but, at the same time, it was necessary that they should be thoroughly aware of whatever was to be proposed on either side. If the hon. gent then intended to propose Resolutions contrary to those of his hon. and learned friend, and could not state them till Friday, he suggested whether it-might not be advisable at once to delay the discussion for a day or two.
The Chancellor of the Exchequeradmitted that there was some weight in what had been said by the right hon. gent., but he tnought it better to wait till they heard what the Resolutions of his hon. friend were before they postponed the discussion. Finding that the view taken of the subject by his hon. friend (Mr. Vansittart) coincided with his own, he had requested him to draw up Resolutions accordingly, and it had so happened, that this was the earliest moment he could apprize the House of his intention.
§ Mr. Tierneyspoke only on the supposition that they were to be the contrary of those proposed by his hon. and learned friend. If they should turn out unexpectedly not to be so, certainly the foundation of his suggestion would be gone.
§ Mr. H. Thorntonthought that there should be the earliest notice given of Resolutions of such great and acknowledged general importance as those to be proposed by the right hon. gent. He did not accuse the right hon. gent, of taking the House by surprise—very far from it; but still it was to be lamented that they were not already before the public, in order to enable them to form a fair judgment upon them, com- 760 pared with those from which they were avowed so materially to differ. It might too operate rather unexpectedly on his hon. and learned friend, who was not then in town, nor could be, he believed, before some time in the forenoon of Monday.
§ Mr. Huskissonexpressed a wash that the resolutions might be ready for printing on Friday.
Mr. Vansittartpledged himself that nothing should be wanting on his part to put them in every state of forwardness.—The motion was then agreed to.