§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTON moved that the Committee do consist of 19 Members.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Select Committee on East India Finance do consist of Nineteen Members."—(Lord George Hamilton.)
§ MR. M'CARTHY DOWNINGobjected to the constitution of the Committee, and complained that there was not a single Irishman upon it. How was it, he wished to know, that Irishmen were excluded from this Committee? There were English and Scotch Members on the Committee, and he was glad of it. He moved that the Committee be constituted of 21 Members, and two Irish Members be appointed.
§ Amendment proposed, to leave out the word "Nineteen," in order to insert the words "Twenty-one,"—(Mr. Downing,)
§ —instead thereof.
§ MR. DISRAELIassured the hon. Gentleman that there was no disinclination on the part of the Government to appoint Irish Members on the Committee, and they would consent to accept one Irish Member named by the hon. Member for Cork, and nominate another Irish Member on their part.
§ SIR PATRICK O'BRIENprotested against the system invariably carried out by both political parties in that House, Whig and Tory, in the appointment of Select Committees.
§ Question, "That the word 'Nineteen' stand part of the Question," put, and negatived.
§ Question, "That the words 'Twenty-one' be inserted, instead thereof," put and agreed to.
§ Main Question, as amended, put, and agreed to.
§ Ordered, That the Select Committee on East India Finance do consist of Twenty-one Members:—Mr. FAWCETT, Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNER-MAN, Mr. DALRYMPLE, Mr. BALFOUR, and Mr. DUNBAR added to the Committee.
§ House adjourned at a quarter after Two o'clock.