§ MR. SOTHERON ESTCOURTsaid, he wished to ask the hon. Baronet the Member for Tavistock whether he intended to proceed with the Church Rates Bill that evening; and if not—as he could hardly suppose that he would—whether he would fix a day which the House generally might recognise as a proper one on which to take the discussion upon the third reading of that Measure?
§ SIR JOHN TRELAWNYreplied that, as at present advised he was disposed to take his chance that evening; but that if there was a general wish that he should postpone the third reading of the Church Rates Bill, and if he could arrange with the Government that it should come on upon a particular day, he should not object to take that course.
§ MR. DISRAELISir, I was not in the House when this question was brought forward last night; but I can assure the hon. Baronet that, so far as I am concerned—and I know I speak the opinions of many hon. Gentlemen on this side—there is not the slightest wish on their part to offer any impediment to the fair discussion of the important question in which he is interested. But a full and fair discussion we certainly have a right to ask. And, while I should be very happy myself to assist in any way to bring about a fair discussion, I protest against any hon. Member, entrusted with the conduct of so important a Measure, attempting to force it upon the consideration of the House at an hour when it is utterly impossible that anything like such a discussion could take place. If the hon. Baronet, who has always been a very fair opponent, will take into consideration the circumstances under which this question is now brought before the House, he will see that they are very different from those under which it formerly engaged its attention. No one on either side of the House will deny, all hon. Members will agree, that there has been a great exhibition of public feeling on both sides of the question. We have had before us nearly 10,000 petitions, with nearly a million of signatures; and I am sure that there is no one on either side of the House who would not speak with due and proper respect of such a demonstration of public feeling. Is it unreasonable, therefore, that 2047 under such circumstances we, who are opposed to the policy recommended by the hon. Baronet, should require that the third reading of such a Measure should be submitted to the House at a time when a full and fair discussion of its principles and objects could take place, and when the feeling which is exhibited out of doors could be adequately represented in the House? I therefore trust that the hon. Baronet will not resume a course which would be looked upon as very vexatious, by attempting at too late a hour of the night to introduce such a question. At the same time I distinctly say that if any arrangement can be made by which the question may be brought forward on Friday, by an understanding with hon. Gentlemen who have notices of Motion for that evening, I shall be in favour of it. There is another consideration which we have a right to look for, namely, that a fair, not an unreasonable, notice shall be given to the House generally of the day on which the third reading will take place. If by any understanding we can arrive at some satisfactory conclusion on that head, I shall myself be very glad. The more the question is discussed, the more public attention is fixed upon it, so much the better for the cause I wish to uphold. We have a right, therefore, to assume that the third reading will not be moved at too late an hour of the night, and that it will not be brought forward without reasonable notice.
§ MR. CONINGHAMsaid, he also would appeal to the hon. Baronet not to bring forward the question at a late hour of the night.
§ MR. SOTHERON ESTCOURTsaid, that on the previous night he had taken the liberty of suggesting to the hon. Baronet that he would do well to take next Friday, but the hon. Baronet objected, on the ground that there would be so many notices of Motion that the question might again be put off until a late hour. There was, however, a mode by which that difficulty could be overcome—namely, that the House should resolve, that the third reading, being an order of the day, should have precedence of the notices of Motion on Friday next. He thought, under the circumstances, the hon. Baronet had a right to expect that the House would concede so much.
§ SIR JOHN TRELAWNYsaid, he was willing to adopt the suggestion, and gave notice accordingly that he would move that the third reading be taken before the notices of Motion on Friday next.