§ Sir R. Peelinquired whether the right hon. the President of the Board of Trade meant to move his proposed resolution for regulating the commercial intercourse of the West-India colonies and the United States, on Monday next, or whether the committee on the Poor-law Act was to have precedance. Because, as the right hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer had fixed an early day after Easter for the Budget, and as the resolution in question might have some relation to the general financial statement, or that financial statement have relation to the resolution it would be much more expedient to postpone the resolution till after the statement had been made, in order that the House might have the whole measure of the right hon. Gentleman before them at the same time.
§ Mr. Laboucheresaid, his resolution could in no degree affect the British revenue and he did not, therefore, see any reason for the proposed delay.
§ Sir R. Peelsaid, if the resolution embraced an isolated abstract measure, then his objection could not apply; but suppose the importation of foreign sugar at a lower rate should form a part of the right hon. Gentleman's financial measures, then he apprehended it would be better for them to have the whole subject before them at once.
§ Mr. Laboucheresaid, the right hon. Gentleman would see that it would be improper in him to give any answer that could in any way anticipate his right hon. Friend's statement; but he repeated, that the resolution he had to propose was quite independent of the general subject. Considering what the House had done this Session for the East Indies, he thought there should be no opposition to entertaining a question so important to the West India colonies.