§ Mr. E. B. Rochewished to ask the right hon. Baronet a question. He had learned from the ordinary sources whence they derived their information of what occurred in another place, that a noble and learned Lord had introduced a bill, for the purpose of reviving a portion of the Coercion Bill for Ireland, and giving to the Government the power of changing the venue on the trial of any description of offences from one county to another. He asked the right hon. Gentleman whether the Government meant to take up that bill, he asked whether the Government meant to support it, and, if it did mean to support it, whether it supported it on the military reasons which had been assigned for it by the noble and learned Lord? He asked the question because most of the Irish Members had left town, and it was a matter of necessity, on a question of such importance, that the speediest information should be obtained of the intention of the Government.
§ Sir R. Peelsaid, the hon. Member had given him an intimation of his intention to ask him a question respecting a bill which had been introduced into the House of Lords. The hon. Gentleman was better informed upon the bill than he was; for until the hon. Gentleman told him of the bill he was himself ignorant of its existence. The hon. Gentleman would no doubt take that as a complete proof that he was no party to the introduction of the bill. The hon. Gentleman must be aware, that if, in the opinion of her Majesty's Government, such a measure was necessary—that if they thought it proper that a measure of that nature should be proposed to Parliament, they would propose the measure themselves, and take on themselves the responsibility of introducing it and conducting it through Parliament. He must also say, that if her Majesty's Government had thought it expedient to introduce such a measure, they would certainly have deemed it ad- 551 visable to present it to the consideration of the House at an earlier period of the Session, and they would not have permitted the Members for Ireland to depart from town without giving them some intimation of their intentions upon the subject. He trusted he should not be called upon to pronounce an opinion with respect to the bill, but he felt under no obligation whatever to support it as a Government measure, or to state the general opinions of the Government on the subject. He thought the hon. Gentleman might infer what would be the course the Government would take, should the bill come before that House.
§ Mr. E. B. Rochecould not feel otherwise than satisfied with the answer of the right hon. Gentleman. But, at the same time, as the bill was in the other House, he would put it to the right hon. Gentleman, whether it should be proceeded with in the absence of the leading Irish Members.
§ Sir R. Peelsaid, that he thought he could undertake to assure the hon. Gentleman that it would not be necessary for him to call his friends to London on account of that bill.