THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, before the Orders of the Day are proceeded with, I hope I may be allowed to make an appeal to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow (Dr. Cameron) and other hon. Members who have Notices on the Paper on the Motion for going into Supply to-morrow. I have thought it right to give Notice of a Motion for further Papers on the Eastern Question, and think I ought to take the earliest opportunity in my power to ask the House for a decision upon the subject. If the Motion had been one involving a question of Want of Confidence in the Government, I should have had no hesitation in appealing to the Government for a day on which to discuss the matter, and. I have not the slightest doubt that the Government would have very little difficulty in responding. As the Motion which I propose to make does not raise a Motion of that character, I think I should not be justified in asking the Government to interfere with the progress of the Public Business, at all events until I had exhausted every other means in my power of obtaining the opportunity of discussing it. I believe that it is possible that the Motion I shall make may lead. to some discussion, and I think it would be the desire of the House that that discussion should be held at a convenient hour. I am always extremely unwilling to trespass on the opportunities that private Members with so much difficulty obtain for themselves, and I know I am asking for a great sacrifice on their part. Still, I hope it will not be thought unreasonable, and that it will be considered. for the advantage of the House that my request should be complied with; and therefore I wish to ask, if the House thinks fit to allow it, hon. Members who have Motions on the Paper for to-morrow, whether they will be good enough to postpone them until I have had an opportunity of making the Motion of which I have given Notice?
DR. CAMERONA Motion in my name stands first for to-morrow; but, as I some days ago told the noble Lord privately, I was quite prepared to make way for him if he thought it necessary. When I said this, I confess I did so with considerable reluctance, because the matter to which my Motion referred was one of a very pressing nature, and must be brought on at once to be of any use; but I am sure he will be glad to learn that the necessity for bringing on that Resolution has been done away with by the decision which the Prime Minister announced to a deputation on the subject which waited on him this afternoon.
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREpostponed his Motion, which was on the Paper for to-morrow, until the 1st May.
§ MR. MELDONalso postponed his Motion.