The Marquess of Clanricardewished before the House adjourned to call their Lordships' attention to the fact, that no papers at all had been yet laid on their Table relative to the movement in Affghanistan, preparatory to the motion of which the noble Duke had given notice. Neither had any papers been presented with respect to the proceedings in China. The noble Duke intended on Thursday next to propose a vote of thanks to the army in Affghanistan. On that subject be was in possession of no information except what he derived from the newspapers. Now, there was no doubt, that when the motion was brought forward the House would enter deeply into the consideration of the subject, that they would thoroughly investigate what had occurred in Affghanistan before they agreed to the proposed vote. It was necessary, therefore, that the papers should be placed in their Lordships' hands as soon as possible, in order that they might make themselves masters of the subject before they proceeded to vote. He wished 383 to ask, whether the papers would be ready by Monday?
§ The Duke of Wellingtonsaid, the papers were in the course of being printed, and he expected that they would have been in the House that day.
Lord Broughamsaid, he understood the motion of which the noble Duke had given notice for Thursday next related solely to the military part of the question. [The Duke of Wellington: Nothing more.]—And to such parts of the Governor-general's proceedings as related to the carrying on of the war, that it would be strictly confined to the military part of the question. It would, therefore, be better, both in that and another place, if they kept their minds as free as possible from party and political feelings, when they were called on to agree to a vote of thanks to the military for their services, because they had nothing to do with the cause of the war.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonsaid, the motion of which he had given notice had no reference to political matters, and would involve no discussion except as to the merits and services of the military force employed in the recent events. The general bearing of the motion would have reference only to military affairs, and to the conduct of the army in India.
The Marquess of Clanricardesaid, he perfectly understood the nature of the motion, and that the papers to be laid before them would be strictly connected with military operations; but, so far as the public were concerned, there were matters connected with those operations in which they were deeply interested, and on which they were naturally anxious to receive authentic information. With respect to any blame that might be attached to any party in the course of these proceedings, he could not say that his opinion was at all made up on the question.
§ Lord Monteaglewished to know from what period the papers, with respect to the proceedings in Affghanistan would take their date, and down to what period they would extend?
§ The Duke of Wellingtonsaid, that every paper would be produced, from the breaking out of the insurrection, or what he would call the disaster, to the latest proceedings of the army of Affghanistan.
§ Adjourned,