§ LORD J. RUSSELLinformed the House that the hon. and learned Member for the University of Dublin (Mr. Napier) was desirous of making some observations regarding himself and the debate of the night before.
§ MR. NAPIERsaid, that in the course of the debate the previous evening the noble Lord at the head of the Government had alluded to his (Mr. Napier's) observations as being "uncandid;" and, under the circumstances, he certainly had felt aggrieved that such an imputation should have been made against him. He had alluded to the noble Lord's measure on that occasion as being premature, and he did so on this ground—that as it was unaccompanied by any proposals on the part of the Government 99 for a final modification of the poor-law, the House was not in a position to judge of its propriety. The noble Lord seemed, by his observations, to think that he (Mr. Napier), as a Member of the Committee, was aware that other portions of the Irish plans had been submitted for consideration, and that, taking the whole of the proposals together, the plan was complete, and ought not to have been considered as premature. Now, the other portions of the plan were postponed for consideration until the inquiry was completed and the evidence published, and those subsequent portions were dependent on the result of that inquiry. The view he took was this, that those other portions had no bearing on the question at all; but, even if they were connected with the proposal before the House, then, if they were premature, à fortiori the whole was premature; and if the matter were not to be finally adjusted, then he did think the proposal was premature. He was obliged to the noble Lord for having afforded him this opportunity to explain, because he should be sorry now, or at any other time, if an imputation should rest upon him of a want of candour.