§ Mr. Wodehousesaid, he was authorized by the hon. Member for Shaftesbury (Mr. E. Davenport) to withdraw his notice of Motion which stood for to-morrow (upon the Distressed State of the Country). The hon. Member was induced to take this step partly on account of ill health, but chiefly from a desire to concur with those Members who were of opinion that it would be unwise to do any thing at the present moment which could have a ten- 529 dency to embarrass Ministers. He would take the opportunity of asking the right hon. Secretary for the Home Department, whether Government had it in contemplation to propose any measure respecting the system of Private Banking. He was induced to ask the question by what had fallen from the right hon. Gentleman on a former evening.
Mr. Peelsaid, in reply to the hon. Member's question, that all he had stated on a former day was an opinion that it was possible materially to improve the system of banking, by removing the restrictions which impeded the formation of companies to carry on the business of banking. He had then said, that he hoped to see the day when a sound system of banking would be established; but he had said nothing with respect to any measure being in contemplation, nor was he now prepared to make any further declaration on the subject.
§ Mr. Wodehouseasked whether it was trite that Mr. F. Lewis had been appointed to the office of Treasurer of the Navy?