§ MR. LAINGsaid, that in the absence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he wished to move the appointment of the Select Committee on Packet and Telegraphic Contracts. It was his belief that no opposition would be made to the Motion.
§ MR. SPOONERsaid, he must object to the appointment of the Committee, in the absence of the hon. Member for Berkshire (Captain Vernon), who had postponed his Motion on this subject, on the understanding that this Motion also would be postponed.
§ MR. LAINGexplained, that the hon. and gallant Gentleman's notice related to a substantive Motion; it was not an Amendment; and the hon. and gallant Gentleman had not himself hinted to the Government the slightest desire to have the nomination of the Committee postponed.
SIR GEORGE LEWISsaid, he also must deny that there was any such understanding. The two Motions had no connection with each other. The hon. and gallant Gentleman's Motion referred to the proceedings of the Committee of last year, and this was for the re-appointment of another Committee this Session on the same subject.
§ The appointment of the Committee was then agreed to, and the following Members nominated to serve on it;—Sir FRANCIS BARING, Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, Mr. HENRY HERBERT, Mr. CORRY, Mr. SCHOLEFIELD, Sir HENRY WILLOUGHBY, Mr. DUN-LOP, Captain LEICESTER VERNON, Mr. BAXTER, Captain GLADSTONE, Mr. HUBBARD, Mr. ROBERT CRAWFORD, Mr. HOPE, Mr. LAING, Mr. BAZLEY, Sir EDWARD GROGAN, Mr. HOWES, Mr. EDWARD ELLICE, and Colonel GREVILLE.
§ House adjourned shortly after a quarter past Seven o'clock.