§ Sir E. B. Sugdenbegged to ask the right hon. Gentleman opposite a question relative to the Bills.
§ The Attorney-GeneralIs it relative to the Bishop of Exeter? [A laugh, followed by cries of "Order."]
§ Sir E. B. Sugdenreplied, that it related to the five bills which the hon. Gentleman had on the orders of that day, which were marked down for second reading, although they were not yet printed. He wanted to know why?
The Attorney-General said,he was glad the right hon. Gentleman had given him an opportunity of explaining. Before he asked for leave to bring in those bills they were drawn up; on obtaining leave he sent them to the printer, but from some circumstance or other, and to his very great surprise, for he had sent several times for them, they had not yet been received.
§ Sir E. B. Sugdensaid, it was a very inconvenient practice to have bills which were not yet printed set down for second reading. He would take that opportunity of telling the hon. Gentleman (the Attorney-General) that he would decline serving on any Committee of which he was the guardian, and of requesting the hon. and learned Gentleman, whenever he should 374 feel it his duty to address that House, or any Member of her Majesty's Government, on matters of public business, not to insult him by asking him across the table whether what he had to say related to the Bishop of Exeter or not. He desired that he would not take the liberty of mixing him (Sir E. B. Sugden) up with subjects which might press upon the hon. Gentleman's own mind, but which were totally foreign to that upon which he (Sir E. B. Sugden) rose to speak. He was referring to the property bills of the hon. Gentleman, when the hon. Gentleman asked him if his question related to the Bishop of Exeter, although the hon. Gentleman was aware it did not when he so interrogated him.
§ The Attorney-Generaldeclared he had not the most distant notion of what the right hon. Gentleman's question referred to at the time. He regretted exceedingly that the right hon. and learned Gentleman could not consent to be a Member of the Committee; he hoped that when those bills should have received the consent of Queen, Lords, and Commons, the right hon. Gentleman would not on that account move that their operation be suspended for three months.
§ Subject dropped.