§ Mr. Humeinquired whether the Government intended to renew the Committee, or take any measures with respect to the Bank of England?
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that in the course of next week he should propose the re-appointment of the Committee on joint-stock banks.
§ Mr. HumeWill it be open for the Committee to inquire into the conduct of the Bank of England during the last eighteen months?
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that it certainly was not his intention to propose any question before that Committee the tendency of which would be to alter the arrangements deliberately entered into between that House and the Bank of England; at the same time he thought it would be impossible for the Committee to consider the state of banking generally throughout the country without taking into account a certain portion of the proceedings of the Bank of England, as connected with the circulation of the country.
§ Mr. Humesaid, it was not his intention to propose any alteration in the agreement made with the Bank of England, but he wished to know how that agreement was to be carried out. He should therefore move, whenever the proposed Committee should be appointed, that the inquiry should be extended into the conduct of the Bank of England. He also wanted to know what was to be done with the Bank of Ireland, as the expiration of its charter was fast approaching?
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequerproposed to proceed with the inquiry on joint-stock banks before any measures should be be taken with regard to the Bank of Ireland.
§ Conversation dropped.