§ The Speakersaid, I beg leave, before the House proceeds to any further business, to draw their attention to the special Report, which has been this day made, from the Committee on the South Durham Railway Bill.
§ [The Report was read.]
§ The SpeakerOf the two hon. Members who were ordered by this House to attend in their places forthwith, one hon. Gentleman, the Member for Scarborough, is now present. I am informed that a messenger has been sent to the residence of the hon. Member for Ipswich, and not finding him at home, the messenger has been directed to wait his return, that he may serve him with the notice to attend in his place forthwith. In the mean time it is my duty, without entering upon the merits of the question, to call upon the hon. Member who is in his place, to give the House an assurance that, as far as he is concerned, the affair shall not proceed any further until both Members are in their places in the House.
§ Sir Frederick TrenchI will briefly state to the House the circumstances as they occurred, and the position in which I am placed. The hon. and learned Member for Ipswich had made a very absurd motion in the South Durham Railway Committee, a resolution which, as it appeared to me, was not only very absurd—
§ Mr. LambtonI rise to order, and to suggest, that in the absence of the hon. Member for Ipswich, it would be better to abstain from any statement as to what has taken place.
§ The SpeakerThe House having had this matter reported to them, are bound to take cognizance of the facts. The hon. and gallant Member being in his place, I call upon him, without entering into the question, to give his assurance that he will not, so far as he is concerned, be a party to any hostile proceedings in consequence of what has occurred between himself and Mr. Wason.
§ Sir Frederick TrenchI have no difficulty whatever, Sir, in submitting myself to your judgment and that of the House; and I have double pleasure in doing so on this occasion, because I have already put myself in a position which does not re- 308 quire that I should take any further notice of the matter.
§ Subject was dropped.