Mr. Elliswished to ask a question of the Chancellor of the Exchequer with respect to the Shannon Navigation Bill. On the bringing up the report on that bill he distinctly gave notice of his determination to take the sense of the House on the third reading, and he was promised papers on the subject; but a course had been taken with respect to it that was unworthy of the station the right hon. Gentleman held in that House. The bill had been smuggled through the House at two o'clock on Saturday morning. He begged to know why such an unworthy course had been taken?
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, with respect to the personal observation, he would not take the slightest notice of what had fallen from the hon. Gentleman. With respect to the papers alluded to by the hon. Gentleman, he had never told him they would be laid on the table of the House. On the contrary, he had told him quite the reverse—be had told him, that a letter from General Burgoyne would be put into his hands, but it was improper to lay either it or the other papers on the table of the House. So far as regarded the bill distinct notice had been given, and it was distinctly understood, that the bill was to pass the third reading that night. The hon. Member, therefore, had himself to thank for what had taken place, because if he had been in his place what he complained of would not have occurred.