BUSINESS—ADJOURNMENT. (Hansard, 6 June 1840)

§ Sir George Sinclair

said, he believed that a true bill had been found against this House by the grand jury of the Bri- 964 tish nation, in reference to the slow and slovenly manner in which the business of the country was carried on. Of the counts comprehended in the indictment, which were very numerous, he should only specify a few. The first was, the number of regular holydays which occurred in the Parliamentary calendar; the second, that it was so often impossible, especially when the weather was favourable for equestrian exercise, to muster a quorum at four o'clock; the third, that the House was so often counted out at the trying hour, when patriots and statesmen must make their option between their dinner and the debate —an hour at which no bill, however momentous, (not even, I believe, the Bill of Rights),could stand in competition with the bill of fare; the fourth, and not least grave accusation, was levelled against the preposterous practice of adjourning debates, which was not only a great but a growing nuisance, and ought, by common consent, to be abolished. On this subject, he was a radical reformer, and altogether opposed to partial, or bit by bit legislation. It was impracticable to classify or draw an arbitrary line of distinction between different subjects, as Gentlemen would naturally form different estimates as to their relative interest and importance, and he therefore thought there should be a standing order for putting a stop to so serious an evil. The House, at the commencement of every Session, seemed disposed to deal with the public time as a spendthrift does with a large fortune, of which he has unexpectedly come into possession. He acts as if he thought such a mine of wealth was inexhaustible, and throws his money away to the right hand and to the left, on trifles light as air, without keeping any account of his disbursements. But when the ominous period arrives at which creditors have long bills, and debtors long faces, he discovers, with equal mortification and surprise, that he can scarcely scrape together as much cash as will purchase the necessaries of life. It was thus that they at first consumed many days, weeks, and months, on protracted debates by adjournment, on motions designed to lead to nothing, and on bills intended to be withdrawn, and when the season of prorogation was near at hand, they could scarcely command as much time, or collect as many Members, as were necessary for expediting indipensable business, before they were summoned to receive her Ma- 965 jesty's thanks for having so liberally provided the supplies for the current year. I have also (said the hon. Baronet) been at all times an ardent repealer, as far as nocturnal legislation is concerned, but I despair of seeing that anomalous course discontinued, until a parliament is convened on College-green. Whilst, however, I am anxious to avoid the Scylla of adjourned debates, I am not less desirous, if possible, to keep clear of the Charybdis of late hours, and I may perhaps be allowed most respectfully to observe, that this is an evil which is mainly owing to our most distinguished statesmen, and which they, at any time, have it in their power to cure. If they would only adopt the salutary practice of early rising—by which I mean, as far as they are concerned, rising early in the debate,—if they would commence their harangues at 5 p.m., instead of concluding them at 5 a.m., they would be listened to with more satisfaction, and reported with greater accuracy. The second or third-rate debaters, "who think of convincing, whilst leaders are dining," would be glad (if I may judge from my own feelings) to sacrifice the chance of celebrity for the certainty of sleep. All orators ought to remember, that when they compel their reluctant colleagues to sit up at unreasonable hours, they may be said, in a figurative sense, to be acting the part of undertakers, and are virtually driving nails into the coffins of many an infirm and aged auditor. I believe, that if the causes which occasioned the premature death of many an useful and amiable Member of Parliament were impartially inquired into, it would be found that each of them had died by the visitation of late hours and long speeches, and a verdict of wilful murder, or at least of culpable homicide, against Joseph Hume, and others would be returned. I shall take an opportunity, after the recess, to invite the attention of the House more fully to this subject.