§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the order of the day for receiving the report of the Committee of Ways and Means.
Mr. O'Connellrose to move, pursuant to notice, that an address should be presented to her Majesty, praying her Majesty to give directions for the appointment of a commissioner to examine forthwith and to report on the best of the four railroads, already made or surveyed, to the nearest ports to Dublin, and upon the best means of communication by steam between such port and Dublin. This could not be drawn into a precedent, because the line depended principally on the goodness of the harbours, and no other line would be so connected.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerhad been in communication with a great number of Members from Ireland, England, and Wales, on this subject, which would not militate against an; general principle. If it bad rested with the Treasury alone to make the arrangement, he would have felt no difficulty; but as a similar question in another direction had been before Parlia- 214 ment, and had been negatived, although by a single vote, he did not like to take any step without the consent of the House of Commons. He could not, however, allow the amendment to pass now, as it would interfere with the report of the Committee of Ways and Means; but if the hon. and learned Gentleman would withdraw his motion till the close of the evening, he would meet with no opposition.
§ Amendment withdrawn. Report agreed to.