LORDS OF THE ADMIRALTY. (Hansard, 19 February 1817)

§ Mr. Brougham
said, that nothing was further from his intention than to throw any obstacles in the way of this motion, nor should he have in the least objected to it, excepting for the circumstance which had occurred last night. The motion of his hon. friend (sir M. W. Ridley), was then to have been discussed; but, for reasons which all might guess, none of his majesty's ministers were present, and there was such a deficiency in point of numbers, as to render it impossible that a House should be held. Of the deep importance of the question which should then have been discussed, he was sure the House had no occasion to be reminded, and therefore he could not but deeply regret that one night had been lost, and that it was now proposed to lose another day. That there was an immense pressure of business before the House, all could not but know, and it was surely deeply to be lamented that any delay whatever should take place. The motion of his hon. friend, although of such importance in every point of view could not come on this week, in consequence of no notice of it being given, and another important motion coming on before the House on Friday, while there was every probability also of Monday and Tuesday being engaged. It was not difficult to see that the object of ministers was, to put off as long as possible the discussion of this truly important question. It was morally impossible that they should not have known that the discussion was fixed for last night; and as he was aware they would not say on good grounds that they had been disappointed, in not finding sufficient numbers to make a House, he could not but regard it as rather a proof that their apprehension of immediate danger to the country had subsided, and was at an end. If the report of the committee of secrecy was really so pressing, as to call for some legislative provision independent of the existing laws, it was not at all likely that ministers should so readily agree to sacrifice two nights, as would be the case were this motion agreed to. It was the importance of his hon. friend's ^* 437 motion, and no wish to throw any obstacle in the way of the present proposal, that had induced him to address the House.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer
apprehended there could be no difficulty in the House agreeing to his motion, when they considered that it had always been customary not to meet on the birth-days of the king and queen, or at least on the days appointed for celebrating such birth-days. He regretted as much as any man could do, the delay which had taken place in the discussion of the hon. baronet's motion, but he could assure the hon. baronet and the House, that that delay was in no point of view owing to his majesty's ministers, as it was well known they were yesterday engaged at the very hour the House met, on most important business. No inconvenience could possibly arise from the motion of the hon. baronet being delayed for a few days longer, for in fact, that motion would have been before the House when the navy estimates came to be considered. There was not, at all events, such an immediate pressure for bringing it forward, as to induce the House to dispense with their usual custom of not meeting on birth-days. If the hon. baronet was desirous of immediately bringing the case before the House, he might probably make an arrangement with an hon. member on the same side, who had a motion standing for Friday. Monday was the day when the discussion on the report of the secret committee was proposed to take place, and that certainly was as important in every possible view, as any subject which could engage the attention of the House. Some early day might without inconvenience be fixed for the hon. baronet bringing on his motion, in the event of there being no arrangement made between him and the hon. member whose motion stood for Friday.

Lord Castlereagh
said, that the motion which stood for Friday related to the poor laws, and certainly in that view was interesting to the whole country. If the House could devise a remedy for the evils complained of in the present state of these laws, he was certain they could not too soon enter into the consideration of it. Aware of its deep importance, he should lament that it was postponed beyond the time appointed by the hon. member in the notice he had given. Surely a question so infinitely interesting to the country, was worthy of being sooner considered than any reduction which might be made 438 in the seven lords of the admiralty, which number had always been the same since the revolution.

§ Mr. Curwen
would have gladly complied with the wishes of his hon. friend, in postponing his motion, but did not think he could do so in justice.

§ Sir M. W. Ridley
considered the question which should have been discussed last night as one of the greatest importance, and one which could not be too soon, brought before the House. If any thing were wanting to show the anxiety of ministers to put it off as long as they could, their conduct last night was sufficient, for not one of them was in the House.