§ Mr. Robinson moved for Copies of all the Treaties relative to Trade and Navigation entered into between Great Britain and other States; also specifying those States with which no such Treaties were entered into.
§ Mr. Spring Ricesaid, that the Return would be very voluminous, and not necessary: almost all these treaties were already before the House, and nearly all of them published in a more commodious shape than they would be under the Order of the House. If the hon. Member only wished for one or two particular treaties, there would be no objection to grant them, but the Return to the Motion, as it now stood, would occasion a great deal of unnecessary expense.
Mr. Humesaid, on a late occasion a treaty nearly two centuries old had been produced to them, and the House were told then proceedings must be founded upon such a document as that, of which the existence was not previously known. He had at that time declared it as his opinion, that it was advisable that a complete List of the Treaties in force should be made out, or that there should be some authorized means of reference to them which would obviate the inconvenience of an almost obsolete treaty being brought forward unexpectedly for the purpose of influencing their judgment.
§ Mr. Robinsonsaid, he had no wish to create expense, or cause unnecessary trouble, 228 but he was not aware where he could obtain the information he required His Motion did not refer to political treaties but to those merely connected with commerce and navigation, and he thought it of importance to know with what States we had such treaties, particularly as we seemed to be going on a system as if no treaties were necessary, or as if they intended everything to find its own level. However, he would not press his Motion.
§ Motion withdrawn.