§ The Earl of Aberdeenon moving that the Order of the Day for the resumption of the committee on the Church of Scotland Benefices Bill be postponed said, he was anxious to advert for a moment to a complaint which his noble and learned Friend opposite had made the other day, in consequence of the bill having been proceeded with on Monday evening, notwithstanding a request from him that it should be postponed. When his noble Friend made that request, having postponed the consideration of the measure two or three times, and wishing they should make some progress with it, he crossed over to the other side to speak to his noble Friend on the subject, and he certainly left his noble Friend with the impression that he was indifferent about its being proceeded with on that evening, and that he would take another opportunity of delivering his sentiments upon it. Undoubtedly he must have been mistaken in that; but leaving his noble and learned Friend with that firm conviction, of course it was out of the question that any intentional disrespect or discourtesy could have been intended by him towards his noble Friend in going on with the measure. He also wished to advert to the other point which his noble and learned Friend made with respect to his not being in his place on the day following. The House would recollect when the noble and learned Lord moved the adjournment on Monday night, which he did not oppose, he proposed that the House should meet on the following day for the purpose of considering this very bill, and he was met by the assurance that it would be generally inconvenient to the House, he gave way in consequence and 453 he fixed it for the present day. He wished also to say, that if his noble and learned Friend had given him the slightest intimation that he would have been present on Tuesday, he (the Earl of Aberdeen) would certainly have been in his place; he begged to move that the committee be adjourned to Monday.
Lord Broughamwished to say, that his noble Friend need have taken no trouble to assure the House and himself of what he was perfectly well aware of, that the proceeding with the bill could not possibly have arisen from any personal discourtesy towards him on his noble Friend's part. It was evidently a misunderstanding. He left the House on the evening in question with the impression that the bill was to be put off.
§ Motion agreed to. Committee postponed.
§ Their Lordships then adjourned.