§ Lord John Russellwished to take that opportunity of stating to the House that he understood that doubts had occurred—although he did not think that they were reasonable and just doubts—as to the propriety and legality of the course that had been taken at the last sitting respecting the petitions that had been presented complaining of undue returns of Members at the late election. It was required by the Act that in certain cases within five days of the appointment of a Committee to try the merits of a contested election the parties should be mutually furnished with a list of the voters objected to on each side; but this period was lengthened five days in the case of county elections in England, and elections in Scotland. The clause in the Act went on to say, that the lists of objections, &c, should be exchanged so many days before the sitting of the Committee, but if the House should previously postpone the appointment of the Committee, that the time of exchanging the lists should also be postponed. He did not think that any fair doubts could arise or be entertained as to what took place the other evening on the subject of the postponement of the nomination of the Election Committees until after the vacation. He was told, however, that there were persons of authority who thought that there was a doubt on the subject, and that, as the Election Committees now stood fixed for the twelfth of December, two days before that time the parties interested in English county elections and Scotch elections where petitions had been presented, would feel themselves obliged to give in their lists. He stated this to the House, not that he entertained any doubt himself, but in the hope that the point would not be overlooked. If there was thought to be any ground of doubt in the opinion of the House, or in the mind of any hon. Member, he would endeavour to remove it by moving to-morrow, or next day, that the House would not take into its consideration any election petition until after the vacation. He did not wish, however, to take up the time of the House on the subject unless it appeared to hon. Members there were now 284 great doubts on the subject. But looking to the words of the clause, which it was not necessary for Him to quote, he thought that there could be no reasonable doubt entertained on the subject.