THE O'DONOGHUEasked the hon. Member for Brighton, after what hour he will not proceed with this Bill?
§ MR. FAWCETTsaid, he would give the best reply he could. Had the Question been put to him last Friday, he should, considering the difficulty experienced by an independent Member in getting a night, have stated that he would proceed with the Bill any time before half-past 12. If, however, there was any truth in rumours which were industriously circulated, and which had received a certain amount of authority, the measure now occupied an entirely different position to what it then did, and to what he had ever supposed it would occupy. He felt that if the Motion of the noble Lord the Chief Secretary for Ireland (the Marquess of Hartington) were to involve a Vote of Want of Confidence in the Ministry, he should not be dealing fairly with the House or the Government if he did not consult both of them as to the hour when they would like a debate on so important an issue to commence. He must, therefore, leave the decision of the question in a great degree with the House.
§ MR. M'CARTHY DOWNINGappealed to the right hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government to say, after this answer, whether he could assist in 1686 any way in fixing an hour for the debate, either this evening or any other night.
MR. GLADSTONESir, I have no power whatever in arranging when this debate should come on during the present evening, nor has any overture or request been made to me upon the subject of this Bill. If such a request should be made to me, it would, of course, be the duty of the Government to consider it with reference to the state of Public Business; but I could not undertake to give an answer, except after a few days.
§ Afterwards—
§ MR. FAWCETTsaid, he would proceed with the Order for going into Committee on the Bill on Thursday.