§ LORD LOVAINEsaid, he had listened with the greatest possible pleasure to the speech of the hon. Member for Tavistock (Mr. Byng), which, in tone, reflected the utmost possible honour upon his religious principles, and thought that these observations deserved to be embodied in some substantive resolution of the House. He had always abstained from making Motions or raising questions which, during the progress of the war, were likely to embarrass the Government, because he considered them entitled to every possible assistance. The war was now brought to a conclusion, and peace was obtained; but it was, undoubtedly, not the peace desired by the people of this country. Indeed, the manner in which the noble Lord at the head of the Government had announced it to that House, as well as the mode in which it had been communicated to the Members of the other branch of the Legislature, was a recognition of its advent so slight that it would appear to find but little favour even with Her Majesty's Ministers themselves. The Government, however, had since begun to think better of it, and were about to enter upon its celebration by a largo display of fireworks. Now that, in his opinion, was a very singular way of spending the public money, and hitherto no information had been afforded as to the amount of the expense or the department responsible for it. It was treated simply as a matter in the hands of the Government, but he trusted, if his motion had no other effect, it would secure recognition of the fact that the finances of the country were not to be thus dealt with. He had thought it more respectful to the hon. Gentleman who first called attention to the subject, that the Motion should be as nearly as possible in his own terms, and he would therefore beg to move, as an Amendment upon the Motion for adjournment—
That, considering no day of thanksgiving has been proposed for the restoration of peace, on the ground that the Treaty has not yet been ratified, the conduct of her Majesty's Government in authorising preparations and expenditure on a large scale to celebrate the cessation of hostilities, without the previous sanction of Parliament, is a course which the House cannot approve.
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid, that the Amendment of the noble Lord was quite irregular. On the question that the House should adjourn to Monday, hon. Members had a right to speak on any question they pleased; but the only Amendment which could be moved was, that the House should adjourn to some other day than Monday.
§ LORD LOVAINEsaid, that under those circumstances, he would give notice that he would move his Amendment as a substantive Motion on Monday next.
THE MARQUESS OF BLANDFORDsaid, he could not allow this subject to drop without saying that he thought the noble Lord had expressed the feelings of many Members of that House in a manner which was exceedingly well suited to the occasion. In his (Lord Blandford's) opinion, our thanks were due to the Disposer of events, not only on account of the restoration of peace, but also for the signal mercies which had accompanied the British army through the whole course of the expedition to the Crimea. Instances of such mercies were particularly to be found in the battle of Inkerman and the attack upon Sebastopol. Those events, together with others which had occurred in the course of the campaign, were such as to call for an earnest expression of thankfulness on the part of the nation, and the Government would stand higher in the national estimation if it took the initiative in regard to the appointment of such a thanksgiving.