HC Deb 13 August 1857 vol 147 cc1567-9
SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

said, he would beg to inquire of the noble Lord at the head of the Government whether he could appoint any day when he (Sir J. Pakington) could bring on the Motion relating to Education, of which he had given notice.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

said, he was sorry he could not give the right hon. Baronet a day at present, but when the Divorce Bill was disposed of he would be happy to accommodate him.

LORD JOHN MANNERS

As the Attorney General will be engaged to-morrow morning in the House of Lords, is it intended to proceed with the Divorce Bill to-morrow morning?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

I am not aware of anything to prevent us from going on to-morrow morning.

LORD JOHN MANNERS

Then I will ask the Attorney General whether he can attend to-morrow morning.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Among the minor duties to be discharged by the Attorney General at this time of the year is the duty of summing up for the Crown in certain cases in the House of Lords. In the Shrewsbury peerage case I shall have to perform that duty to-morrow, unless the House of Lords upon my application shall think proper to defer my address until Monday. If the Divorce Bill be fixed for to-morrow morning it is my intention to acquaint the House of Lords with the fact, and to ask their Lordships to allow me to postpone my summing-up until Monday.

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

As there seems to be some doubt whether the Attorney General can be here to-morrow, perhaps the noble Lord will re-consider his determination and give me to-morrow morning.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

Every point in this Bill is discussed at so much length that I cannot lose an opportunity of pressing it forward. However unwilling, therefore, I may be to inconvenience the right hon. Gentleman, I am afraid we must go on with the Bill to-morrow.

LORD JOHN MANNERS

said, he understood it was the intention of the Government to proceed with the Divorce Bill Committee on the following morning, provided the Lords would postpone the Shrewsbury case. Supposing their Lordships not to do so, what would then be the course of Her Majesty's Government?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

There is a French saying, "Then as then" (Alors comme alors).

MR. GLADSTONE

I rise, Sir, to move the adjournment of the House. Really, I think my noble Friend, confident in the power of his majority, is overstepping the fair consideration which is due to Members of this House. We are now told that we are to-morrow morning to wait upon the Attorney General at twelve o'clock to know whether the House of Lords will give him a permission which will dispense with his attendance there and enable him to go on with the Bill in this House. However confident my noble Friend may be in his position, and however much he may desire to push this Bill in the same manner as he pushed on the Limited Liability Bill, which he had to repeal the next year, it is not right that he should keep Members of this House dancing attendance here in order to know whether we are to have any business or not.

MR. MALINS

said, he thought it was very hard upon Members who took an interest in the Bill, and who made a point of attending to discuss it at great personal inconvenience, to be brought down at twelve o'clock to-morrow, and then to be coolly told that as the hon. and learned Attorney General could not attend there would be no business. He would venture to predict confidently that the House of Lords would refuse the hon. and learned Attorney General's application to postpone his summing up, and that they would insist upon his proceeding to-morrow.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

I have no hesitation in saying that we will go on with the Bill to-morrow, whether the hon. and learned Attorney General is here or not.

MR. GLADSTONE

said, he must beg pardon. If he had known that the Bill would be proceeded with in the absence of the Attorney General he should not have made any observation. He would beg to withdraw his Motion.

Motion by leave withdrawn.