Lord J. Russellwished to know whether, at that late hour the right hon. Baronet would bring forward his motion as to the precedence of orders of the day to notices of motion on Tuesdays.
§ Sir R. Peelwas anxious to obtain the opinion of the House on the subject, but he would not press the matter to a conclusion, unless there was something like a general consent on both sides. The noble Lord must be fully aware that a similar course had been proposed on former occasions in cases of emergency. On the present occasion the notice of motion which he had given, had been suggested to him by Gentlemen opposite last night, as they were anxious to proceed with the Incometax, so that the tariff might be taken into consideration. He would not, however, persist in his motion if it did not receive a general assent, as it might interfere with the general course of business. He should be glad to hear the opinion of the noble Lord on the subject, not only individually but as the organ of a great party in that House, as he must be fully aware that at that season of the year it was a matter of great importance to come to a decision on the great questions before it with as little delay as possible. At the same time he admitted that under ordinary circumstances it was 1176 inexpedient to depart from the established course of proceedings in that House; but he was desirous of having the decided opinion of the noble Lord on the subject. If the motion was seriously and strenuously objected to, he would not persist in it.
Lord J. Russelldid not think that it would be advisable to press the motion at present, unless it met with the general assent of the House, but at any rate he should not be prepared that night to give an opinion on the subject. He would recommend the right hon. Baronet to renew the subject early on the next general night, and in the mean time he should have an opportunity of conversing with other Members on the subject, and should then be prepared to give an opinion.
§ Sir R. Peeldid not intend to persist in his notice of motion that night. If the noble Lord wished to have the opinion of the House when it was fuller than it was at present, he would postpone the matter until Thursday at 5 o'clock.
§ Mr. T. Duncombewished to know whether it were to be understood whether or not the adoption of the proposition of the right hon. Baronet would interfere with existing notices of motions for Tuesdays.
§ Sir R. Peelreplied, that his motion distinctly applied to all Tuesdays after the next fortnight, on which nights of course, no notice of motions existed.
§ Mr. Redingtonshould object to any proposition of the kind. As Chairman of the Sudbury election committee, he had been instructed to bring in a bill to disfranchise that borough, but if there was only one day in the week allowed for motions he feared that he should have to postpone it until an indefinite period. He had intended to bring forward his motion on the 5th of May, but he found a notice on the orders which would take precedence of his own, which would probably take up the whole of the evening.