§ Order for Committee read. Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."
§ MR. BROTHERTONgave notice that, 1304 as they had been sitting there since twelve o'clock that day, if any opposed Motion should come on, he should at once move the adjournment of the House.
§ MR. JOHN STUARTsaid, that it would be impossible to remedy the delay of business in the Court of Chancery by any new provisions, without accompanying them with an increase of the force in the Registrar's department.
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLsaid, that the present proposition was only to vote for the provision of the money for the purpose proposed out of the Consolidated Fund.
§ CAPTAIN ARCHDALLAs I see the hon. Member for Salford (Mr. Brotherton) is waiting for orders, I move that the House do now adjourn. If the noble Lord refers to the conduct pursued by the hon. Member, he will know the reason why I do so.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLsaid, that the hon. and learned Gentleman (Mr. Stuart) should take another opportunity of raising the question to which he had just referred, as it was not the proper time to discuss it when the House had before them a Motion for going into Committee, with a view to provide for a Judge's annuity.
§ SIR WILLIAM VERNERsaid, he rose to second the Motion of his hon. and gallant Friend (Captain Archdall) for the adjournment of the House. On Tuesday night last, the hon. Member for Salford (Mr. Brotherton) moved the adjournment of the House when there was a Motion of his hon. and gallant Friend's on the Paper (for correspondence between the Irish Government and Orange lodges), which was of great importance, and which he had had no earlier opportunity of making. His hon. and gallant Friend wished to defend himself from some imputations referred to himself personally, and he wished to defend himself also from the charges of the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who was interested in the question.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYbegged to assure the hon. and gallant Member (Captain Archdall) he was not aware he intended to make the Motion which had stood in his name for many weeks on Tuesday last, nor had the hon. and gallant Member stated he wished to do so. He (Sir G. Grey) had not the least objection to the Motion being made at any time as an unopposed 1305 Motion, with a slight variation in the words, to correspond with the documents.
§ MR. BROTHERTONhad no motive or reason for moving the adjournment the other night but this, that he was determined that when the House met at noon, he would prevent discussions going on after midnight, if he could.
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLthought it was desirable that business which was not opposed should be disposed of, though it might be after twelve.
§ MR. CHISHOLM ANSTEYhoped the hon. Member (Mr. Brotherton) would move adjournments impartially, and not merely when there were Motions to come on which might not be agreeable to the Government.
§ MR. JOHN STUARTwould suggest that independent Members were subjected to great hardships if adjournment were moved by supporters of the Government on business which the Government would not assist.
§ MR. FREWENsaid, he must complain of the conduct of the Government in getting the House adjourned when they pleased, and occupying all the hours which independent Members ought to have. An attempt had been made on Wednesday, at five minutes to six o'clock, to smuggle the second reading of a Bill which was not entered on the paper.
§ CAPTAIN ARCHDALLsaid, that after the explanation of the right hon. Baronet the Home Secretary he would not press his Motion for the adjournment of the House.
§ The Motion, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Main Question put, and agreed to.
§
Resolved—
That an Annuity, not exceeding 3,750l., be granted to any Judge of the Court of Appeal in Chancery who shall resign his Office, the same to be payable out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
§ Resolution to be reported To-morrow.