§ Mr. Wallace,seeing the right hon. Baronet at the head of the Government in his place, wished to put a question to him, for which he really felt an excuse was necessary. He was exceedingly pressed by his own constituents, and from various other quarters, to endeavour to elicit from the right hon. Baronet —now that the resolutions on the Corn-laws had passed through committee—at what time it was probable that he could announce the commercial alterations which he was about to propose. He really begged pardon. He was afraid he was pressing on the right hon. Gentleman, but it would be a great satisfaction if he could now name the probable day on which that communication would be made to the House.
§ Sir R. Peelsaid, the position of the hon. Gentleman, and the circumstances of that portion of the country with which he was connected, rendered any apology for his question unnecessary. But he was afraid he could say in answer to it little more than he had already said. It was certainly true that the Corn-law resolutions had gone through committee at half-past one that morning, and he hoped they might be reported that day. In that expectation he had fixed the army and navy estimates for Friday, and he would do all 1269 in his power to expedite the Committee of Supply. But notice had been given him on the previous evening, that on the report various motions would be made, which might preclude his bringing up the report on the resolutions that evening, if the other business should occupy the time of the House to too late an hour. He would do all in his power to bring up the report that evening, to give an opportunity for bringing in the bill founded on the resolutions. But if he were unable to do it that evening, there would probably be no opportunity before Friday; therefore he would only say, that he had fixed the Committee of Supply for the earliest day, and that, having obtained a vote in supply, he would take the earliest opportunity of naming a day for the Committee of Ways and Means.