HC Deb 31 January 1832 vol 9 cc1090-1
Lord Althorp

observed, that he had not anticipated the debate on the glove trade would have lasted till so late an hour. He was, in consequence of the consumption of the whole of this evening on this discussion, obliged to announce that he should bring on the Reform Bill in Committee to-morrow. He moved that the Committee on the Reform of Parliament (England) Bill, be appointed for to-morrow.

Lord Stormont

said, he must remonstrate upon the lateness of the hour at which the noble Lord had given this notice of his intention to depart from the understanding prevailing in the House as to the mode of proceeding on Wednesday. It would be very inconvenient to many who, at so short a notice, could not arrange to be in their places to-morrow evening.

Lord Althorp

observed, this was the first opportunity he had had, in consequence of the continuance of the debate on the Motion of the hon. and gallant member for Worcester, of acquainting the House with his change of intention.

Mr. Croker

said, he had taken it for granted, with all those who heard the arrangement announced by the noble Lord, that Wednesday was to be an open day, and now he regretted to find that the noble Lord was resolved to devote it to the Reform Bill. It was not his intention to offer any opposition of a factious or dilatory nature to the Bill, so as to impede its progress, though he should not compromise the hostility he felt to many of the provisions of the Bill. He hoped the noble Lord would not persevere in this infraction of the understood arrangement, but would be content to leave to-morrow an open day.

Lord Milton

said, unless they devoted to-morrow to the Reform Bill, as Thursday would be taken up, no doubt, in a great degree, by the Motion of the hon. Baronet on Belgium, there would be only one other day of this week in which they could expect to make any progress with the Reform Bill in Committee.

Mr. Hunt

said, the delay of to-night had been occasioned at any rate by a Reformer. The people must observe that the Bill was making but little progress.

Sir Richard Vyvyan

observed, his motion had been postponed to meet the convenience of the noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

Sir Francis Burdett rose to express a hope that the noble Lord would persevere in fixing Wednesday for the Committee on the Reform Bill. All unnecessary delay was to be avoided in a case of such urgency as this—a case in which the anxieties, the fears, and hopes, of so large a portion of the community were embarked. Already the most perplexing consequences to trade, manufactures, business, and, indeed, to commercial confidence generally throughout the country, had flowed from the procrastination of this question so unnecessarily. For himself he confessed that, although many important improvements had been suggested by the opposers of the Bill, yet he was persuaded it would, as respected the peace and quiet of society, and the revival of confidence, have been much better if the Reform Bill of last Session had been pressed through Parliament, with all its imperfections on its head, than have suffered it to drag on so heavily as it had of late. He strongly recommended his noble friend, therefore, not to suffer the measure to be, postponed on any frivolous excuse or pretext. If he were firm, he would find that the House would support him in this desirable object.

The Order of the Day for going into Committee on the Reform Bill, was accordingly fixed for the next day.