The Chancellor of the Exchequerrose to move the order of the day, that the House do resolve itself into a committee of ways and means.
§ Mr. Serjeant Onslowobserved, that his motion for the second reading of the Usury Laws' Repeal bill was entitled to precedence; however, he was willing to concede priority on the understanding that his motion should come on immediately after the committee of ways and means.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, he considered the best course to pursue would be to abstain from the second reading of the bill this session. Owing to the present state of the country, and the inquiries which were going on in the committee on the Scotch and Irish currency, he thought that some future occasion would be much better than the present for discussing the subject. He would not pledge himself to support the bill, but should be guided in the course he should pursue by the evidence which might be given in the committee, and by the information which he should endeavour to acquire on the subject before next session.
§ Mr. Philipsobjected to this delay. He considered that a question of such importance ought not to be put off session after session.
§ Mr. Serjeant Onslowsaid, he did not complain so much of the personal inconvenience to which the frequent postponement of this measure had exposed him, as that it precluded him from having the 281 question fairly brought forward. He had first introduced the measure to the notice of the House in the year 1816, and he had laboured ever since to forward it. With regard to a further postponement he should abide the pleasure of the House. This was a bill which should have emanated in the first instance from government, and not from an individual. It had been its fate to meet with much opposition, although many gentlemen who at first opposed it were now its warmest supporters. The measure had made many converts, and he could not help regretting that it had not been long since carried. If ministers had given it their support, he could not but feel that much of the misery which the country was doomed to witness last November and December, would have been spared. If they would themselves bring forward the measure, he would at once decline pressing the present bill, and would support theirs.
Mr. Secretary Peelsaid, that his learned friend was entitled to the highest praise for his perseverance. It was not on account of the lateness of the session, that his right hon. friend wished for the postponement of the question; but because there were at present under the consideration of parliament, so many important subjects, as to render the period extremely inconvenient. There was an inquiry on foot as to promissory notes, which was closely connected with the subject; and it would be obviously inconvenient to make any alteration in the law relating to interest, at a moment when the whole question of the currency of England, Ireland, and Scotland, was under consideration. As the learned serjeant had been patient for ten years, perhaps he would consent to defer the subject a little longer. In the recess, the attention of the government would be directed to it, and they would, of course have no objection to relieve the learned serjeant from the labour of the question, if, upon due consideration, it appeared a subject which they would be justified in bringing forward.
§ Mr. Serjeant Onslowsaid, that after what had fallen from his right hon. friend, it would be doing great injustice to the question to persevere in his motion. He should therefore beg leave to withdraw the bill.