§ MR. ROEBUCKSir, I am about to give a notice of an extraordinary nature, and I wish to solicit the attention of the House to it. On Monday I shall present a petition to the House from an individual charging a Member of this House with a Breach of the Privileges thereof. I think I may as well state that the Member in question is Mr. Isaac Butt. He is charged with a Breach of the Privileges of this House, and I intend to present a Petition charging him with such Breach of Privilege, and to move, as it is a matter relating to the Privileges of the House, to appoint a Committee to inquire into the allegations of the Petition. If nothing is stated now to induce me to alter the day, I beg to give notice that I shall on Monday present a Petition charging a Member of this House with having been guilty of a Breach of the Privileges thereof, and to move for 1731 the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the allegations of that Petition.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYPerhaps, Sir, it would be better if the Petition was printed and placed in the hands of Members before the House is called upon to give an opinion with regard to the appointment of a Committee of Inquiry.
§ MR. ROEBUCKI should be ready, Sir, to do that, but I believe it would be contrary to the Rules of the House to do so. The Petition merely states that a Breach of the Privileges of this House has been committed by a Member of this House, which statement I may say that I believe to be true, and in such cases it is usual, I apprehend, to grant a Committee of investigation. If the House thinks differently, although I have not the Petition with me, I will see that it is sent to the printer immediately, and have it circulated with the Votes. But I still think I am right, and that as the Petition merely contains an allegation that a Breach of the Privileges of this House has been committed by one of its Members, a Committee of Inquiry should be granted.
§ MR. WALPOLEI will appeal to you, Sir, in reference to this question. No doubt the hon. and learned Gentleman (Mr. Roebuck) is right in saying that on the presentation of a Petition affecting the conduct of a Member of this House and the Privileges of the House, he is entitled in strict right to go into statements of the facts of the case. But I believe that, as a matter of practice, and as a matter of justice to the person charged with committing the offence, and in justice to the House, it has been usual—and if it has not been usual, it would be desirable that it should be the practice—that notice should be given, in order that an opportunity may be given to the Member charged with committing the Breach of Privilege to prepare for his defence, and to enable the House to give a fair and dispassionate consideration to the question. What I would suggest is, that the Petition be presented either now or on Monday; that if it is presented now, notice should be given for Monday of a Motion for a Committee of Inquiry; and if it is presented on Monday, that notice should be then given for a future day, when it would be taken into consideration.
§ MR. ROEBUCKI have sent a copy of the Petition to the hon. Member concerned. I have not got it with me, but I will send it to the printer immediately, so 1732 that before the night is over it will be in the hands of Members; and I now give notice that on Monday I will present it, and move for a Select Committee to inquire into the allegations contained in it.
MR. MILESI would suggest, Sir, to the hon. and learned Gentleman whether Monday would not be too early a day, this being Friday, for the Petition to be presented and to be in the hands of Members before the discussion comes on.
§ MR. SPEAKERI would suggest to the hon. and learned Member that the course he originally proposed would be the most convenient, with one slight alteration. Having given notice that he will present the Petition on Monday, let him then move that it be printed, and give notice of a day on which he will move for a Select Committee.
§ MR. ROEBUCKI will do that.