§ SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBYsaid, he had taken no part in the late great debate, but he had taken a small share in that on the Reform Bill of 1832, and he then came to the conclusion that when a question of this kind was raised it ought to be finally settled as soon as possible, or it would lead to a complete paralysis of public business. On that account he regretted that the Government Bill had not been read a second time, as it might have been altered in Committee. He had risen, pursuant to the notice he had given, to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty to give some explanation of the excess of the naval expenditure for the year ending the 31st of March, 1858, over the amount voted and appropriated. The excess was no less than £828,596. It was stated the 1431 excess arose from closing up the accounts of the Russian war, but he would wish for some explanation. He would also wish to know what was the position of the expenditure on the war in China. A vote of £400,000 had been taken on account, but no explanation had been given, nor had any further vote been asked for. He wished to know whether all the Chinese bills had been paid.?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, he would answer both questions in Committee. He could not then do so, having already spoken on the question before the House.