§ Mr. Warburtonmoved that the consideration of the Petition of Silas Pearse (presented on the 17th of August), complaining of the conduct of Government, in February last, in relation to a contract for the supply of limestone to the Breakwater at Plymouth, should be referred to a Select Committee.
§ Lord Ashleysaid, that the grievance complained of occurred in February last; yet now, on the 19th of August, the hon. Gentleman proposed to take into consideration the conduct of an individual who had been for the last five months in London, but who was now in Ireland with his family, and unable to defend himself. He hoped the hon. Member would have too much justice to conduct the prosecution in the absence of the accused. Why not bring forward the affair before, while his friend was present to defend himself? That would have been a more fitting and honourable course than to impeach him the moment he left the country.
§ Mr. Warburtondid not know why it was the petition was put so late in his hands, but immediately on its receipt he took measures for instituting an investigation. He thought there would be plenty of time to enter upon the subject, even though some days must elapse before the return of Mr. Dawson.
§ Mr. Shawsaid, it would be impossible Mr. Dawson could be in London within a week. He thought it was far too late in the Session to proceed with such an inquiry as the hon. Member proposed. It would even be difficult to get a sufficient number of Members to constitute a Committee. And the chances were, before Mr. Dawson arrived, Parliament would be prorogued.
§ Mr. Humeexpressed his surprise that when the malversation of a public functionary was the question to be submitted to the consideration of the proposed Committee, the noble Lord opposite (Lord Ashley), during whose continuance in 698 office, as one of the Lords of the Admiralty, the ascribed breach of duty was said to have taken place, should have objected to the Motion of the hon. Member for Bridport. In his opinion the Lords of the Admiralty were the most deeply interested in the investigation which it was intended to institute before the Committee, for it was scarcely possible that the Secretary should have signed the order which formed the subject of the Petition which had already been presented without the assent of the Lords of the Admiralty.
§ Lord Ashleywas certainly astonished that this subject was not brought to an investigation at an earlier period of the Session. He would say now, however, that he was perfectly willing to take all responsibility that could fairly be attached to him on himself, and to abide by the decision even of the hon. Member for Middlesex as judge.
§ Mr. Warburtonsaid that he had postponed his Motion at an early period of the Session for a considerable time, in order to accommodate the noble Lord (Lord Ashley.)
§ Captain Pechellwas old enough to recollect that on one occasion Mr. J. Wilson Croker turned round on Sir Joseph Yorke, and declared that he, as Secretary, was only the servant of the Admiralty. He did not think, then, that it was any ground for refusing the appointment of the Committee that the Secretary to the Admiralty was absent in Ireland, when the Lords of the Admiralty must be prepared to meet the charges intended to be brought against them.
§ The House divided: Ayes 59; Noes 12; Majority 47.
| List of the AYES. | |
| Aglionby, H. A. | Ewart, William |
| Baring, F. T. | French, F. |
| Baines, E. | Hawes, B. |
| Barry, Garrett S. | Hall, Benjamin |
| Bellew, R. M. | Handley, Henry |
| Blake, M. J. | Jephson, C. D. O. |
| Blamire, W. | Lennox, Lord A. |
| Bowring, Dr. | Lushington, Dr. |
| Bowes, John | Lynch, A. H. |
| Brabazon, Sir W. J. | Macleod, Roderick |
| Bridgman, H. | Maule, Hon. Fox. |
| Brotherton, Joseph | Mangles, J. |
| Callaghan, B. | Maher, John |
| Carter, John B. | Morpeth, Lord |
| Codrington, Sir E. | Murray, J. A. |
| Crawford, W. S. | Nagle, Sir R. Bart. |
| Dillwyn, L. W. | O'Loghlen, M. |
| Duncombe, T. S. | O'Brien, C. |
| Dykes, F. L. B. | Ord, Wm. Henry |
| Oswald, J. | Smith, B. |
| Parker, J. | Stanley, Edward J. |
| Pease, Joseph | Steuart, Robert |
| Pechell, Capt. | Thornely, Thos. |
| Pendarves, E. W. | Wakley, Thomas |
| Potter, R. | Walker, C. A. |
| Power, Jas. | Williams, W. |
| Rickford, Wm. | Williams, W. A. |
| Ronayne, D. | TELLERS. |
| Rolfe, R. M. | Hume, Joseph |
| Seale, Colonel | Warburton, Henry |
| List of the NOES. | |
| Ashley, Lord | Praed, Winthrop M. |
| Beckett, Sir J. | Shaw, F. |
| Dick, Q. | Tyrell, Sir J. |
| Elley, Sir J. | Vesey, Hon. T. |
| Hayes, Sir G. | |
| Jackson, J. D. | TELLERS. |
| Pelham, Hon. C. | Bonham, F. R. |
| Plunkett, R. | Perceval, Col. |