Mr. Baynesreferred to the proceedings of last Session on a measure for extending the Bonding System to some of the principal inland towns, and inquired of the President of the Board of Trade if it had been abandoned, or if it were intended to follow it up.
§ Mr. Poulett Thomsonreplied, that last Session he had been obliged to abandon the measure; but he had stated his intention of bringing it on again this Session. Circumstances, which were well known, had prevented his doing so early in the Session in his official capacity, and too much business of a different kind had since been before the House to afford him an opportunity. He was not in a condition to give the honourable Member any pledge for next Session, because he had not only met with considerable resistance to the plan from the out-ports, but he had found, in the inland towns intended to be benefited, a degree of lukewarmness for which he had not been prepared. They wished for a more extended measure than was consistent with his views of the question. He must therefore wait to ascertain what was the opinion of those places regarding a measure of a more limited character, before he pledged himself either way.—Subject dropped.