§ SIR R. PEELsaid, it was his intention to move that from and after Thursday, the 18th June, Orders of the Day should have precedence over Notices. It had been the uniform course to move, at the present period of the Session, that a third day should be devoted to the transaction of the public business which belonged to the Government. He begged leave, therefore, to 195 move, that on Thursday, the 18th June, Orders of the Day should have precedence over Notices, and the same with regard to all succeeding Thursdays.
§ MR. J. O'CONNELLthought that the House ought not to consent to the Motion, so long as the Coercion Bill was before the House. After so many Members had left, it would not be fair to enter at this time into the grounds of his objection; he would therefore move that the debate on this question be adjourned. On a future occasion he should be prepared to state the grounds why the House should not adopt this proposition.
MR. R. YORKEapprehended that the proposed course had been usually adopted every year, and had been found to work well. If the matter went to a division, he should, therefore, vote with the Government.
§ MR. F. MAULEsaid, that he should also support the proposition of the right hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government. This was a usual Motion at this period of the Session, and if it was necessary during any Session, it was so this Session, when business was in arrear.
§ MR. J. O'CONNELLsaid, that if the right hon. Baronet would give an assurance that he would not use Thursday for the purposes of this Bill, he would withdraw his Motion. All he asked for was, that the question should be entertained at a future time.
§ DR. BOWRINGalso thought the Motion a usual one at this period of the Session.
§ SIR R. PEELsaid, he had made the Motion from a sense of public duty, and not for the purpose of promoting the convenience of the Government, his sole object being to advance the public business, as was customary at this period of the Session. With respect to any stipulation, such as had been suggested by the hon. Gentleman, he could not consent to it. He had brought forward the Motion without the slightest reference to the Irish Life Protection Bill; and if that measure had not been in existence, he would have made it as a matter of course. He should, therefore, consider it inconsistent with his duty to make the Motion, and at the same time to enter into a stipulation of the kind alluded to. Nor could he see that it could prevent discussion on the Irish Life Protection Bill. He might observe that, in declining to enter into any stipulation, he did not wish to take any unfair advantage 196 with reference to the discussion on that measure.
§ MR. J. O'CONNELL, finding the opinion of the House was generally against him, would then withdraw his Amendment.
§ Amendment withdrawn. Motion agreed to.
§ House adjourned at half-past One o'clock.