Mr. Baring,seeing the right hon. President of the Board of Control in his place, wished to know when he thought it likely that he would be able to hiring the question of the East India Company's Charter under the consideration of the House? He ventured to suggest that the great importance of the question to every part of 633 the kingdom, and the great interests connected with it, rendered it necessary that a subject of such magnitude should not be brought forward at a late period of the Session. He was aware that there were already questions before the House which would prevent this subject from being brought forward at present; but he was desirous of expressing his objection to have a subject of such vast importance brought forward at a late period of the Session. The noble Lord had stated that it was not his intention to move for the re-appointment of the Bank Committee, and he (Mr. Baring) must say it appeared to him that the House were already in possession of sufficient information upon the subject of the East-India question; indeed, his objection was rather to the abundance than the scantiness of evidence on the subject.
§ Mr. Charles Grantsaid, that the importance of the question to which the hon. Member had referred could not be overrated. It was at present under the consideration of the Government and the Court of Directors. The introduction of the subject into the House certainly would not be deferred to a late period of the Session; indeed, it was his intention to bring it before them at no distant period from the present time. Of course he could not pledge himself to the exact moment, but he expected it would be before Easter.
§ Mr. Warburtonobserved that a large portion of the evidence taken before the Committee in the last Parliament was not yet in the hands of Members, and desired to know when it would be produced.
§ Mr. Charles Grantreplied, that the Report of the Committee had been furnished to Members a fortnight since. With respect to the evidence and the appendices, they were so voluminous that it had been found impossible to complete the printing of them. That, however, was not owing to any want of exertion on the part of the printer, for he had been indefatigable.
Subject dropped.