§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the third time."
§ MR. PULESTONsaid, he found that this Bill had been referred to a Com- 1739 mittee as an unopposed Bill. He had placed a Notice upon the Paper in reference to it; but he found that it was impossible for him, under the circumstances, to proceed with his Amendment, seeing that the Bill was unopposed, and the Chairman of Committees would have no power to insert other clauses. He had also conferred with the hon. and gallant Member for Dover (Major Dickson), who happened to be a Director of the Company; and he had stated to his hon. and gallant Friend that he should not proceed with his Amendment. As he had also stated to other hon. Members of the House that he should not go on with it, it would not be competent for him to move the Amendment now, and he should not do so. It was right, however, that he should say the remarks made by the Chairman of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company, and some of his over-zealous friends in the Press and elsewhere, in reference to the matter, had rendered it difficult for him to maintain the decision lie had come to, to withdraw the Amendment. At the same time, as he considered there was no other course open to him, he should do so; and it was not necessary that he should reply to the remarks of the Chairman of the Company, further than to say that they had no foundation whatever, and he hoped that the hon. and gallant Gentleman would himself be the first to see the propriety of withdrawing statements which were utterly unfounded and unbecoming, and in violation of the Privileges of that House.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read the third time, and passed.