HC Deb 27 April 1812 vol 22 cc1068-9

The order of the day for attendance of the several members who had not appeared to the Call of the House being read, the names of several members were called over, who answered in their places, and were excused. On the name of the right hon. William Fitzgerald being called, he did not appear, and the Speaker enquired whether any member had been requested to answer for the right hon. member's absence.

Mr. Pole

said, that he believed the right hon. member was in Ireland.

General Mathew

said, that he did not at all doubt but that the right hon. gentleman was in Ireland, where, during the discussion of the late important question, he ought not to have been. He expressed his hope, that the House would not excuse the absence of the right hon. gentleman.

Mr. Ellison

thought the hon. general might have been a little more lenient in his observations.

General Mathew

did not understand why the right hon. gentleman should have been allowed to fight shy of the Catholic question. Notwithstanding what had been said by the hon. gentleman opposite, he still hoped the right hon. member would not be excused.

Sir W. W. Wynn

did not see there was even a pretence laid before the House for the absence of the right hon. member. He should move. That he be taken into the custody of the Serjeant at Arms.

Mr. Pole

rose again and said, he was absolutely certain that the right hon. gentleman would have been in his place had he not met with some unforeseen accident. However, he confessed that he had received no letter from the right hon. member.

Mr. Eden

urged the propriety of the motion.

Mr. R. Ward

deprecated the harshness with which the gentlemen opposite seemed to wish to have the right hon. member treated. He should move an amendment to the motion, That the right hon. gentleman be ordered to attend in his place on this day se'nnight.

Mr. Herbert

opposed the amendment. The right hon. member had appeared in his place almost every day until the approach of the Catholic question.

Mr. Brand

expected that the right hon. gentleman opposite, who had moved the call of the House, would have been the first to move the right hon. member into custody. As to the amendment, there was not the least doubt but that the right hon. member would be in his place on that day se'nnight. He was one of the lords of the Treasury, and materially connected with Ireland; and he certainly knew not why the presence of such a member should not have been enforced on the important question lately under consideration. If the House had the least regard for its dignity, it must order the right hon. member into custody.

The Speaker

then put the question, and as the House was about to divide, Mr. Ward withdrew his amendment, and the original motion was carried in the affirmative.