Lord Chandosbegged to ask the right hon. Secretary for the Home Department whether it was the intention of the Government to oppose the motion of his hon. friend (Mr. Keith Douglas) for a committee to inquire into the distressed condition of the British West India colonists?
§ Sir R. Peelsaid, that as he had not yet heard the terms of the reference to the committee, it was hard for him to answer the question of his noble friend. While he could not say that the Government were altogether prepared to resist the motion, yet he must put it to his noble friend and to the hon. mover, whether any public advantage could result from the appointment of such a committee at this late period of the Session. He thought it, too, well worthy their consideration, whether much public inconvenience might not arise from such a committee making recommendations which there was no chance of their being able to carry through Parliament in the present Session. He could assure his noble friend that the Government were deeply impressed with the importance of the subject, and that they felt much that distress which it was understood existed in the West India colonies.