§ Sir R. H. Inglissaid, that since he had entered the House he had received a communication which, he feared, left him no alternative but that of postponing the motion which he had placed on the paper for this evening. He begged to apologise to hon. Members on both sides of the House for the needless trouble which he had given them, and he deeply regretted, for the sake of the cause which he advocated, that any circumstance should have arisen to prevent his bringing forward his motion. At the same time, the communication which he had received was of such a nature, and of so high an authority, that he thought it more 487 respectful to the House to bow to it at once rather than give the House the trouble of discussing its propriety. The communication was, that he must proceed by committee, and he was informed, that a notice was necessary before, upon such a subject, the House could go into Committee. He could only, therefore, now give notice that he should, as soon as possible after Whitsuntide, call the attention of the House to the same subject.
§ Mr. Humethought, that the effect of leaving the question thus unsettled would be, to increase the agitation which already existed throughout the country upon this subject. He begged to ask what there was to prevent the hon. Baronet now moving that the House should go into Committee? Or, if it would be a more convenient course, he would submit the motion which he had on the paper as a substantive motion, and the hon. Baronet might make his motion by way of amendment.
§ The Speakersaid, that the course suggested would be as irregular as that originally intended to be taken by the hon. Baronet, the Member for Oxford University. He was quite sure that the hon. Member must be aware of the necessity of a notice of any motion that the House should resolve itself into a Committee upon this subject.
§ Mr. Humeinquired whether it were impossible that any question respecting religion could be entered into without previous notice.
§ The Speakersaid, that the Standing Order of the House was, "that this House shall not proceed on any motion for addressing the Crown for any money to be issued, or expense incurred, without notice."
§ Motion postponed.