§ Mr. Portmanwas anxious to take the opportunity of inquiring of the noble Lord (Althorp), whether he had formed any plan by which the petitions on Parliamentary Reform, which hon. Members had hitherto had no opportunity of presenting, might be presented before the great question was submitted to the House on Tuesday next?
§ Lord Althorpsaid, that he knew of no way, except the House sat on Saturday. It was highly desirable that the petitions which hon. Members had should be presented, and he would suggest that the House should take Saturday for that purpose.
Mr. Humethought, that if the House consented to this arrangement, it ought not to sit beyond six o'clock.
§ The Speakersaid, there will undoubtedly be great difficulty in making any arrangement that shall be satisfactory to every one, with respect to the time of the receipt of petitions upon this momentous subject. I am sure that the House will feel, and that they will do me the credit of believing that I feel, anxious there should be no misrepresentation in the public mind that this House is unwilling to extend, to the utmost possible limit, the time for receiving petitions. It is impossible, as it has been said, to stretch the day to more than twenty-four hours, and public convenience has, therefore, required, that as the pressure of other matters is considerable, we should go into the business of the day at five o'clock. Time, however, is allowed for presenting petitions after the ordinary business has been gone through, as well as before it has begun; and at the close of the night, every Member has the opportunity, if he has the strength, to present petitions. Still, however, many petitions remain to be presented, and no 915 other mode of getting them presented suggested itself to me but the proposition now made by the noble Lord. If, therefore, it meets the wish of the House, I should suggest that the Chair should be taken at such an hour as will really give Members the opportunity of presenting these petitions, and I will for that purpose come down at twelve o'clock. At the same time that I say this, I must express my hope, that the House will enable me to do this with effect, and that Members will at that hour assemble in sufficient numbers to prevent the necessity of my sitting at the Table without being able to form a House. I propose, therefore, with the approbation of the House, to come down here and take the Chair at twelve o'clock on Saturday.
§ Lord Althorpbore his testimony to the zeal which the right hon. Gentleman had always manifested in the discharge of his arduous and fatiguing duties. The noble Lord hoped that no other business would be brought forward than that to which the day was to be devoted, and he would suggest that the House should adjourn at the time mentioned by the hon. member for Middlesex—viz., at six o'clock.
§ Mr. Calcraftconcurred with the noble Lord who had just addressed the House, in the eulogium which he had pronounced upon the right hon. Gentleman, who had for a long period so ably filled the Chair.
§ The Speakerfelt gratified by the approbation which had been bestowed upon him, and said that he really felt he had done no more than his duty, and no more than any hon. Gentleman would have done who had the honour of sitting in that Chair. He said, the House would recollect that there were three ballots fixed for Thursday, and, if the House would be pleased to adjourn over that day, the ballots must be taken on Friday, in order to carry into effect the proposition which had been submitted.
Mr. C. W. Wynnsuggested that there should be a call of the House on Friday, in order to secure a full attendance of Members now in town, which proposition was moved by Sir J. Sebright, seconded by Mr. Hunt, and agreed to.