§ Mr. Brougham moved, that the order of the day be complied with, and that the House be called over.
§ The Speakersaid, there was no order of the day for calling over the House, but there was an order that every member should be in his place on this occasion. A difficulty would arise as to what was a strict compliance with that order. According to the letter, any attendance during the evening would be an attendance in fulfilment of the order. According to the spirit, the attendance must be on the subject of the hon. baronet's (sir F. Burdett's) motion. Under these cir- 754 cumstances if, early in the day, defaulters were proceeded against with severity, a member might be punished without committing an offence, according to the strict letter of the order. The spirit of the order had reference to the particular object which would become the subject of discussion before the House. The course generally pursued was, to call over the list of defaulters from time to time. That list had been already called over three times, and was very considerably diminished. It might be as well to call it over again, and to dot off those who were now absent; leaving it to the House to determine what ought to be done when the case of each particular defaulter was brought before it.
§ The list of absentees was then called over again.