§ MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCKI wish to give Notice that it is not my intention to proceed this evening with the Motion with reference to the "Declaration of Paris, 1856," which stands in my name on the Paper. I shall defer it to a more convenient time. I desire to take this opportunity of putting to the right hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government a Question of a somewhat personal nature, of which I have given him private notice. Last night, or, 177 rather, this morning, after 2 o'clock, when I rose to address the House in answer to the right hon. Gentleman, I was met with a very considerable interruption from an hon. Gentleman standing below the Bar. I could not go on for a few minutes. Had this interruption proceeded generally from independent Members of the House I should have thought nothing at all about the matter, and should certainly never have referred to it; but I have been informed by a Member of great experience, an hon. Gentleman who has had the honour of a seat in this House for 20 years, that the principal disturber was a Member of Her Majesty's Government. Now, the House of Commons has always been considered—and I hope will continue to be considered—as an assembly of English gentlemen, and it appears to me exceedingly reprehensible that any Member of Her Majesty's Government, whose seat ought to be on that Bench, should take part in such a proceeding, and endeavour to defeat his opponent by indirect means. I have communicated to the right hon. Gentleman the name of his Colleague to whom I refer. I shall not state it to the House unless the House desires it; but, in the name of the independent Members of the House, I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether in future he will give positive orders to those Members of his Government whose duty it is to sit there, on the Ministerial Benches, to abstain hence-forth from such very improper and un-Parliamentary proceedings?
§ MR. A. PEELI hope the House will bear with me for one moment while I attempt to defend myself from the charge the hon. Member has brought against me. I have seen the note which he has written to the right hon. Gentleman, and in it he has mentioned my name. The facts of the case are these:—At an early hour this morning I was standing below the Gangway—[A VOICE: Below the Bar]—well, yes, below the Bar—and when the hon. Member rose I expressed no sentiments of dissatisfaction or impatience whatever; but when the hon. Member went on to comment on the conduct in this House of Parliamentary Business by the right hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government, and when he said that the right hon. Gentleman was actuated on all occasions by an utter want of prin- 178 ciple on the subject of the Business of this House, I confess that on twice or thrice-repeated occasions I did express my strong disapprobation. In doing so, I hope the House will think that I did not exceed the limits of Parliamentary conduct. I hope I shall always keep within the limits of Parliamentary conduct, at least as rigidly as the hon. Member. At all events, I know I shall always keep within the limits of gentlemanly conduct; and whether as a Member of this House, or as a Member of the Government, I shall reserve to myself the undoubted right to comment upon the expressions used by any hon. Gentleman when I consider them to be at once improper and un-Parliamentary.
§ MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCKI wish to explain. The hon. Member who has just addressed the House—["Order, order!" "Chair, chair!"]
§ MR. SPEAKERA Question has been asked, and it has been answered, and the matter should not proceed further. There is no Question before the House. If the hon. Member has been misunderstood, he is at liberty to explain; but not to reply to anything that has been said.
§ MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCKLast night, as far as I can recollect—[Laughter.] I wish to vindicate myself from the charge of having made any personal attack on the right hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government. I know, and all my hon. Friends sitting around me will bear me out in saying, that I did not attribute to the right hon. Gentleman what has been imputed to me. If I am still told that I made such a statement, I shall withdraw it at once. The most I said was that the right hon. Gentleman has changed his opinions, and so forth, and a construction has been put upon those words which the observations will not bear.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is passing the bounds of Parliamentary explanation.
§ MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCKI wish to explain to the right hon. Gentleman—["Order, order!" "Chair, chair!"]