§ Sir M. W. Ridley, seeing the chancellor of the exchequer in his place, was anxious to know whether the right hon. gentleman had submitted any proposition to the committee now investigating the affairs of the Bank, or whether he had it in contemplation to offer any proposition to their notice, on the subject of country banks. On a former evening, the right hon. gentleman had said, when a question respecting country banks was asked, that it was a subject, of such importance, as rendered it fit to be referred to that committee; But that committee was, as he understood, to 329 report on the state of the Bank of England, with reference to the probability of that body resuming cash payments. Now, he begged leave to state, that as far as the Bank of England was concerned, the subject did not at all interfere with the situation of country banks. The great body of country bankers were most anxious, in consequence of what took place last session, to know distinctly, to what part of their system the right hon. gentleman intended to draw the attention of the committee.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, the hon. baronet would feel that it was impossible for him to give an explicit answer to his question, since propositions might be moved in the committee, of which, up to the time of their being submitted, he could know nothing. He conceived that the country banks, as connected with the general question of the paper currency, formed a very proper subject for the consideration of the committee, when the great point to be decided was, whether a restriction should be placed on the issue of paper. He begged, however to state, that, at present, he did not contemplate any proposition on the subject of country banks.
§ Sir M. W. Ridleysaid, he was then to understand, that there was no intention of submitting to the committee a resolution similar to that which the right hon. gentleman had in contemplation last year.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, he could not presume to state what proceedings might be adopted while the committee was sitting; but at present he knew of no such intention.