§ Mr. C. Woodwished to put a question to the right hon. Baronet opposite, upon a subject which had of late excited a good deal of public attention—the subject of currency and banking. An impression seemed generally to prevail that some legislation would take place upon the matter in the course of the present Session; and he now wished merely to ask whether it were the intention of her Majesty's Government to introduce any measure during the present Session upon that subject?
§ Sir R. Peelsaid, he believed that the present state of the law with respect to banking, so far at least as the Bank of England was concerned, was, that the charter of the Bank of England would not expire till the 1st of August, 1844; or rather that it would then be competent for the Government to give notice of an intention to introduce a change in the charter of the Bank. He was aware that they might legislate with reference to private and joint stock banks, but her Majesty's Government did not think there was any necessity for calling the attention of the Parliament to the subject during the present Session