§ LORD CLAUD HAMILTONsaid, he would beg to ask the first Lord of the Treasury, what day he will give for the conclusion of the Indian debate, the adjournment of which, on the 23rd June, was agreed to by the President of the Board of Control on the ground of the great importance of the subject? He would also beg to ask, whether the noble Lord did not consider the importance of the debate much increased by the recent news from India?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, I must correct the recollection of the noble Lord, who seems to imagine that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Control, consented to the adjournment of the; debate, solely upon the ground of the importance of the subject. Now, I think the reason the debate was adjourned was, because it happened to be between twelve 879 and one in the morning: and as many hon. Gentlemen wished to speak, it was impossible to resist the Motion for the adjournment. I confess, Sir, that I do not exactly see the connection between the important news which has lately been received from India and the promotion of the growth of cotton on the north-west coast of that country; but that is not material. I am afraid I cannot consent to the request of the noble Lord to name a day, because we have a great many Bills of importance which it is most desirable to advance; and there are a great many Votes; in the Estimates which have not yet been considered. I am afraid, therefore, that those who wish to take part in the discussion to which the noble Lord refers, must find a time for it themselves.