§ MR. E. JENKINSsaid, he wished to put to the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition a Question, of which he had given him private Notice. The noble Lord had announced it to be his intention to bring forward a Motion with reference to the movement of certain Native Indian troops to Malta, and the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Colonies had, to-night, given Notice of the terms of an Amendment which was to be proposed to the Motion from the other side of the House. What he desired to know from the noble Lord was, Whether it was his fixed intention to press his Motion to a division?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, I think the Question of my hon. Friend, though perfectly regular in form, is somewhat unusual in character. I believe that the action which any Member of this House may take, either in pressing or refraining from pressing, a Motion to a division, must always be held to depend, to a certain extent, on what may occur during the debate to which it gives rise. I might, perhaps, say, that my course will be influenced by the support which I receive from my hon. Friend and others who act with him on the occasion to which he refers. I should imagine that it would be only regular, at all events, that we should all suppose that it is possible I may be converted by the arguments which may be used on the other side, or that hon. Members opposite might be converted by my argu- 162 ments. Under those circumstances, a division may not be necessary; but I can assure my hon. Friend that, as at present advised, it is my most undoubted intention to press the Motion, of which I have given Notice, to a division.