HC Deb 22 May 1823 vol 9 cc441-2
Sir Robert Heron

said, he thought it would be convenient for the House, and a measure that would relieve very many individuals from much anxiety and inconvenience, if the House would name some definitive period for considering the order of the day oh this matter. There were upwards of fifty witnesses in town, at a great expense to the public, and much inconvenience to themselves; and several of them, perhaps, with little public advantage, and little probability of being asked many questions. He did not wish to anticipate any interrogatories which hon. gentlemen might be disposed to put to them; but every one, who had at all attended to the course of this inquiry, must have observed how languidly it went on. At present, there appeared no chance of again pursuing the inquiry on any but a very distant day. Under these circumstances he wished the House to come to some decision; so that the inquiry might either cease at once, or be brought to a speedy determination.

Colonel Barry

said, that however it might appear to the hon. baronet, the fact was, that the last day's: proceedings had elicited matter of the greatest importance. He was anxious to conclude the proceedings, but he felt it his duty, on the part of the sheriff, to conduct the defence to a conclusion.

Sir R. Heron

disclaimed any intention of reflecting on the mode in which the right hon. gentleman had conducted the inquiry. Would Monday next be an inconvenient day for resuming it?

Mr. Abercromby

could not help saying that the House had been placed in a very unpleasant situation in this business. It had been conducted in a manner very unlikely to attain the ends of justice, but much calculated to produce inconvenience and expense to the public. At the suggestion of ministers, all public business had, for a time, given way to this inquiry. At the same time, he hoped the matter would not be allowed to die a natural death, but would henceforth be prosecuted with vigour.

Mr. Grattan

thought it highly expedient that the House should come to a decision upon this important question as speedily as possible; because, independently of the inconvenience which it occasioned to the House, it was productive of much irritation in Dublin.

Colonel Barry

said, that he himself had never postponed the inquiry a single day.

Mr. Calcraft

thought, that if the right hon. gentleman would propose to go to the order of the day, that would soon bring the business to an issue.

Colonel Barry

said, that from the first of these proceedings, he had never once moved the order of the day. The inquiry had been brought on by gentlemen on the other side, and it was for them to move the order of the day upon it.

Mr. Calcraft

said, he would them tomorrow, at an early hour, move the Order of the day on this inquiry, and take the sense of the House upon the matter. The present course of the proceeding was quite intolerable.