§ MR. JOHN MACGREGORsaid, he had given notice of his intention; upon the Motion for the adjournment of the House to Monday, to move "That it is expedient that the office of Secretary of State for Scotland be reinstated"—[Cries of "Oh, oh!" and "Order!"
§ LORD HARRY VANEsaid, he rose to order. He thought it desirable that there should be some definite understanding with regard to, the question put by the right hon. Gentleman (Sir J. Pakington), and that some answer should be given to it by the noble Lord at the head of the Government.
§ MR. SPEAKERI believe the hon. Member for Glasgow is quite in order, and 20 it is just one of those inconveniences to the House arising from a great number of Motions being made on that one question of the adjournment of the House. The hon. Member for Glasgow is perfectly in order in rising to speak to that question.
§ MR. JOHN MACGREGORagain rose to address the House, when—
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, I rise to order. It appears by the notice on the paper that the hon. Gentleman does not rise to speak to the question of the adjournment of the House to Monday, but to bring forward a Motion of which he has given notice, but which I apprehend cannot be put by way of Amendment.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is perfectly in order in speaking to the question of adjournment. But, if when he closes his remarks on that subject, he makes this Motion by way of Amendment, it will be my duty to tell him that he can not move it.
§ MR. JOHN MACGREGORsaid, he wished to speak upon the Motion for adjournment. He apprehended he was as much in order as the right hon. Gentleman, and he should not give way with the notice he had put upon the paper respecting the administration of public affairs in Scotland. [Cries of "Question."] If he were so interrupted he should certainly move the adjournment of the House, He should trouble the House very briefly on the subject; but if he were interrupted he should go into the most minute details. The offices of Secretary of State and Under Secretary of State for Scotland both existed until the year 1746, when the last Secretary of State was dismissed, though the office itself was not abolished. The Under Secretaryship was continued to a later period, and, in his opinion, should be revived, as, looking to the population, the industry, the wealth, and the intelligence of Scotland, there was obviously more business than the Lord Advocate could attend to without neglecting his own professional avocations. He therefore trusted Her Majesty's Government would take into consideration the necessity of doing for Scotland that which was necessary, and at once appoint an Under Secretary of State.
§ THE LORD ADVOCATEsaid, he had no doubt he should find a time and season to discuss the subject with his hon. Friend, but, as the House seemed fully agreed that it was impossible to carry on their legislative duties if such irregular discussions 21 were raised on these occasions, he hoped they would excuse him if he did not enter on the discussion with his hon. Friend at the present moment.