§ MR. HADFIELDsaid, that not being satisfied with a reply to a question addressed by him to the Home Secretary a night or two since, he rose to move for a return showing the names of the Commissioners, Secretary, and of all other Persons employed on the Jersey Commission, and in what capacity they are employed; of the number of days on which the Commissioners met, distinguishing those days on which they met in Jersey, from those on which they met in London; of the entire expense of the Commission in detail up to the present time
SIR GEORGE LEWISsaid, the Commission was issued while the Administration of the Earl of Derby was in power, and Her Majesty's present advisers had no share in recommending its appointment. He would take it for granted that, as it was issued in consequence of an address from the House, it was issued with sufficient reason; but he submitted that it was not usual to impute dereliction of duty or unnecessary delay, without some proof, or to cast the censure which this return seemed to apply to the Commissioners. When the Miscellaneous Estimates were presented there would be a complete account of the expenses, and that would be the proper time to object to them. He did not see that any advantage would be gained by this return; and therefore, if it were pressed to a division, he should feel it his duty to vote against it.
§ MR. W. WILLIAMSsaid, the Secretary of State appeared to draw a distinction between the appointment of Commissions by the late and by the present Governments; but it should be remembered that all such appointments were really the acts of the House. It was most important that the House should know what the Commission had done, and he was very much surprised at the opposition offered by the right hon. Baronet.
§ Motion, by leave, withdrawn.