§ Lord Monteaglesaid 291 he had postponed his motion several times on account of the indisposition of a noble Lord, a Member of the Government, who was naturally desirous, and would be expected by the public to take a part in the discussion. He was in hopes to have heard to-day that the noble Lord would have been able to have been in attendance; but, from what he learned, he was afraid, that the noble Lord was not yet sufficiently recovered to attend. The nature of the motion, which was for a committee of inquiry, rendered it inexpedient to postpone it much longer. In fixing a day for the discussion, it was painful to do so in any way that would seem calculated to hurry that noble Lord, but he now felt it his duty to give notice that he would bring it forward, not on Thursday next, which was the day the noble Earl had himself named, but on Tuesday next.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonfeared his noble Friend would be unable to attend on the day fixed by the noble Lord, and what was more, he could not say when he would be able. No doubt the question was in the hands of the noble Lord; but, at the same time, their Lordships would see how desirable it was, on a question of such importance, that his noble Friend, filling the particular department he did in her Majesty's Government, should be present during the discussion.