Lord Mintoseeing a noble earl in his place (Westmoreland), begged leave to address a few observations to their lordships, for the purpose of explaining and rectifying a mistake which he had made, inadvertently, yesterday, for want of proper information at the moment. What he alluded to, was his statement in the conversation which took place between him and the noble earl, on the subject of the India Papers he had moved for—"that there had been no correspondence between the Board of Controul and the Court of Directors, on the topic of vacating the present Commission of the Government General in Bengal, after that proceeding had taken place." It happened, however, and which had since come to his knowledge, that some correspondence had taken place between those officers, after the circumstance alluded to had occurred; but he felt it incumbent on him to observe, that those communications were of a nature involving such particular points and considerations, that he resist Any motion tending to their public expo- 874 sure, unless very clear, and very strong grounds indeed, should be laid for the propriety or expediency of such a production. Of this, he thought proper to apprise the noble viscount, on whose behalf he imagined the noble earl opposite to him came forward on the occasion. In the course of that morning, he had understood, he observed, it was intended to move for the production of those papers.
The Earl of Westmorelandshortly stated that his noble friend (lord Melville) intending to postpone the motion he had given notice of on Friday,to another day, he would therefore move to discharge the order for summoning their lordships for Friday next, in order to renew the same for Tuesday next.
Lord Mintohad no objection to the proceeding, but expressed his wish to know, whether it was the intention of the noble viscount to move for the papers he had adverted to? To this query, the earl of Westmoreland answered in the affirmative. The order was then discharged, and a similar order made for summoning their lordships on Tuesday next.