HC Deb 27 February 1844 vol 73 cc385-7
Captain Bernal

rose to move For the Copy of an Address presented to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from the Dublin Protestant Operative Association and Reformation Society, dated the 14th day of October, 1843; together with the official reply of the Lord Lieutenant, dated, "Vice-regal Lodge, Oct. 16, 1843. In proposing this Motion, he could not help drawing the attention of Gentlemen upon both sides of the House to what he thought was a most objectionable practice. He alluded to the practice of the First Minister of the Crown reading letters to that House which he had addressed to himself; for he (Captain Bernal) contended that to read letters which he had written to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was, in point of fact, to read letters which he had addressed to himself. It put hint (Captain Bernal) very much in mind of schoolboys writing love-letters to themselves, and by posting them trying to persuade their schoolfellows that they came from their sweethearts. At that late hour he would not trouble the House with any further observations, as their time had been sufficiently taken up by hon. Gentlemen who went down to that House at seven o'clock, consumed the whole of the evening, and then were afraid to go to a division.

Lord Eliot

would not, for a moment object to the production of the Papers moved for by the hon. and gallant Member, if he thought their production would serve any useful purpose. But as he thought it would be highly inexpedient to give importance to such documents by placing them amongst the records of that House he must object to the Motion. There was no secrecy about the matter; the correspondence had appeared in all the newspapers, and the only objection he had was, that it would give an importance to the matter it did not deserve. The hon. and gallant Member must have been aware that the address was intended to express approbation of the political conduct of the Lord Lieutenant, whilst their opinions upon religious topics appeared to have crept into it quite inadvertently. He was sure the production of the Papers would only serve to perpetuate animosities, and to resuscitate matters that had better be buried in oblivion.

Captain Bernal

expressed his determination of going to a division. It was not he who gave any importance to this matter, but the Lord Lieutenant, who received the address, and returned his warm acknowledgment for it.

Mr. Duncombe

was of opinion that the Papers should be produced, in case any hon. Member should wish to found a Motion upon it. The noble Lord said, if it were laid upon the Table of the House it would only serve to perpetuate animosities. What was that but an admission that the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland had made an answer to an address which was calculated to perpetuate animosities? He looked upon it as an additional reason why the Papers should be produced. No doubt the Ministry had power to do what they pleased, but they could not satisfy the country. He thought his hon. and gallant Friend was justified in pressing his Motion to a division.

The House divided.—Ayes 54; Noes 105: Majority 51.

List of the AYES.
Aglionby, H. A. Hutt, W.
Aldam, W. Leveson, Lord
Blake, M. J. Marshall, W.
Blewitt, R. J. Morris, D.
Bowes, J. Murray, A.
Bright, J. Napier, Sir C.
Brocklehurst, J. Palmerston, Visct.
Brotherton, J. Pechell, Capt.
Browne, hon. W. Plumridge, Capt.
Buller, E. Scott, R.
Busfeild, W. Stansfield, W. R. C.
Byng, rt. hon. G. S. Stuart, Lord J.
Christie, W. D. Stock, Mr. Serjt.
Colebrooke, Sir T. E. Strickland, Sir G.
Collett, J. Strutt, E.
Duff, J. Thornely, T.
Duncan, G. Trelawny, J. S.
Duncannon, Visct. Tufnell, H.
Easthope, Sir J. Wakley, T.
Ellis, W. Wallace, R.
Evans, W. Warburton, H.
Ewart, W. Wawn, J. T.
Forster, M. Worsley, Lord
Gibson, T. M. Wyse, T.
Gill, T. Yorke, H. R.
Hatton, Capt. V.
Hawes, B. TELLERS.
Hay, Sir A. L. Bernal, Capt.
Hindley, C. Duncombe, T.
List of the NOES.
Acland, T. D. Broadley, H.
Adare, Visct. Bruce, Lord E.
Ainsworth, P. Bruges, W. H. L.
Antrobus, E. Charteris, hon. F.
Baillie, Col. Chetwode, Sir J.
Bankes, G. Clayton, R. R.
Bentinck, Lord G. Clerk, Sir G.
Blackstone, W. S. Clive, Visct.
Boldero, H. G. Clive, hon. R. H.
Borthwick, P. Cochrane, A.
Collett, W. R. Lowther, hon. Col.
Colville, C. R. Lygon, hon. Gen.
Copeland, Mr. Ald. McGeachy, F. A.
Corry, rt. hon. H. Mackenzie, W. F.
Davies, D. A. S. Maclean, D.
Denison, E. B. McNeill, D.
Dick, Q. Mahon, Visct.
Dickinson, F. H. March, Earl of
Douglas, Sir C. E. Masterman, J.
Duncombe, hon. A. Meynell, hon. Capt.
Eliot, Lord Milnes, R. M.
Emlyn, Visct. Morgan, O.
Escott, B. Mundy, E. M.
Farnham, E. B. Neville, R.
Fitzmaurice, hon. W. Nicholl, rt. hon. J.
Flower, Sir J. Norreys, Lord
Fuller, A. E. O'Brien, A. S.
Gaskell, J. Milnes Packe, C. W.
Gladstone, rt. hn. W.E. Peel, rt. hon. Sir R.
Gladstone, Capt. Peel, J.
Glynne, Sir S. R. Plumptre, J. P.
Gordon, hon. Capt. Rashleigh, W.
Gore, W. O. Rendlesham, Lord
Goulburn, rt. hon. H. Repton, G. W. J.
Graham, rt. hn. Sir J. Round, J.
Greenall, P. Rous, hon. Capt.
Greene, T. Scott, hon. F.
Hamilton, W. J. Sibthorp, Col.
Hardinge, rt. hon. Sir H. Smith, rt. hon. T.B.C.
Hayes, Sir E. Somerset, Lord G.
Henley, J. W. Stanley, Lord
Herbert, hon. S. Sutton, hon. H. M.
Hodgson, R. Trevor, hon. G. R.
Hope, A. Trollope, Sir J.
Hope, G. W. Trotter, J.
Hughes, W. B. Tyrell, Sir J. T.
James, Sir W. C. Vane, Lord H.
Jermyn, Earl Wood, Col.
Jolliffe, Sir W. G. H. Wood, Col. T.
Knatchbull, rt. hn. Sir E Yorke, hon. E. T.
Knight, H. G. Young, J.
Lawson, A. TELLERS.
Lincoln, Earl of Fremantle, Sir T.
Lockhart, W. Pringle, A.