§ SIR WILLIAM HART DYKE (Kent, Dartford)said, that when the debate had concluded on Tuesday night, or, rather, early on Wednesday morning, a Motion was made for a Select Committee to inquire into the question of the Refreshment Department. He thought it was absolutely without precedent that two Select Committees should be sitting at the same time on the same subject. He was perfectly willing that the inquiry should be held; indeed, he was anxious that it should. In a discussion they had yesterday in the Committee they were unanimously of opinion that the inquiry would be useful, and that it should be held. He would suggest whether it would not be well to discharge the Order for this Committee, and add certain names to the Committee now sitting, and so carry on the inquiry?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE) (Edinburgh, Mid Lothian)said, that the right hon. Gentleman in introducing the subject, which was quite new to him, had made out a primâ facie case, and he agreed with him that there was an apparent anomaly. He had had no opportunity of consulting the authorities; and the proceedings having been taken almost at the very last moment of the Sitting, he believed there was no Member of the Government present who could take notice of it. The right hon. Gentleman had done a service by calling attention to the matter, and he would advise him to communicate with the Authorities of the House on the subject; and, for his part, he would be glad to second any reason able proposal for obtaining an escape from what appeared an unfortunate position.