§ LORD GEORGE BENTINCKwished to know whether it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to give a full explanation to the House of those circumstances which induced Her Majesty to authorise Her Ministers to advise the Government to infringe the Bank Charter Act of 1844?
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI stated last night in answer to the right hon. Gentleman who sits next to the noble Lord (Mr. J. C. Herries), that I was ready and prepared to make such a statement to the House as the Government thought it incumbent upon them to make. The late hour at which I spoke last night, rendered it clearly impossible that I should make that statement then; and when I stated that probably the most convenient opportunity for making it would be Tuesday next, it appeared to me that that proposition met with the general concurrence of the House. I took it, therefore, for granted that it was understood as settled that on Tuesday that statement should be made. Personally I am ready now, as I was ready last night, to make that statement; but I think it is not fair to the House to proceed with it now, after the general understanding which was come to last night. It is not usual to introduce subjects of this importance upon the report of the Address; still, if it had been so arranged last night, I should have been perfectly ready to proceed now; but I think it would be more consistent with the wishes of the House to defer my statement until Tuesday. I may add, that I have laid on the table of the House to-day the documents alluded to last evening by the right hon. Gentleman. Those papers will be printed, and I think it desirable that they should be in the hands of Members previous to the explanation being given.