IMPORT DUTIES. (Hansard, 7 June 1844)

The Lord Chancellor
said, he hoped his noble Friend (Lord Monteagle) would postpone his Motion relative to Import Duties which stood for this evening to some future day. He was sure their Lordships would give his noble Friend ample opportunity for introducing his Motion. Any time, any hour, any day, which he might think proper to select would be agreed to. The object of the postponement in this instance was, that certain noble Lords might have an opportunity to pay respect to Her Majesty. Under these circumstances, he hoped that ^*His Majesty the King of Saxony entered the House shortly after their Lordships had assembled at five o'clock, and was accommodated with a seat between the Woolsack and the Bishops' Front Bench, being the point of the angle between them and what is technically termed "out of the House." Below the Throne several Members of the Commons appeared. 396 his noble Friend would accede to his suggestion.

§ Lord Monteagle
said, that he anticipated that it might be convenient that his Motion should be postponed, and he came down to the House last evening, presuming that an application might be made to him on the subject. He was quite at the command of the House, and was ready either to bring on his Motion, or postpone it, as might be desired; but, at the same time, other noble Lords might not be so prepared; and when notice of a Motion had been frequently given and postponed, he feared he might be complained of, and that it might be thought that he had not acted with sufficient firmness. As far as he was concerned, he had no objection to the noble Lord and the noble Duke opposite, fixing the discussion for any night most convenient to themselves; but that which he wished to avoid was an apparent change of opinion, after having brought down noble Lords by a Notice of Motion, and postponing it at the last moment. He was afraid it might be thought that he undervalued the importance of the subject of the Motion. He did not undervalue the suggestion of the noble and learned Lord, but it was of the first importance that he should discharge the duty imposed upon him. He could only repeat that he was ready to postpone the Motion of which he had given notice, but it must be clearly understood that he was not responsible for such postponement.

§ The Duke of Wellington
said, that previous to his arriving in town, he was not aware of the necessity of asking the noble Lord to postpone his Motion, or he would have informed him of it earlier, and he begged the noble Lord's pardon that the notice should have been given to him at so late an hour. He (the Duke of Wellington) was always in his place, and would be ready to appoint any day for the noble Lord's Motion.

§ Lord Monteagle
believed that the question involved in this Motion could not be fairly and advantageously discussed if the House was not willing that it should be brought forward.

The Lord Chancellor
said, he was much obliged to his noble Friend for having acceded to his suggestion.

Lord Campbell
said, that such an occurrence as that which had led to this discussion might suggest the convenience of altering their hour of meeting. In 397 former times the House of Lords used to meet at eight o'clock in the morning. That would be an inconvenient time now no doubt, except to the noble Duke opposite (the Duke of Wellington), whose attendance in that House was more punctual than that of any other noble Lord, and he never left till the Motion of adjournment was put. The present hour of meeting led to most inconvenient results, because it was so shortly before the most important event of the day, and that event being considered of so much importance that such applications as had been made that evening led to the postponement of most important public business. But that was not all; when they did meet, and that important hour arrived, when it was near seven o'clock, both sides of the House were very much disposed to leave the House, and it was very difficult, he believed, to keep up a proper number to listen to their discussions. Upon a recent occasion, although three formed a quorum in that House, there was great danger of the House being counted out, because it had approached the hour of eight o'clock. He would, therefore, wish their Lordships to consider whether they might not meet at an earlier hour; and he was sure by such a change in the mode of conducting the business of the House great inconvenience would be obviated, and their business would be conducted in a much more satisfactory manner.

§ The Duke of Wellington
said, that he should be ready to attend at any hour which the House might think most convenient for public business, but there were many noble Lords, and noble and learned Lords too, who had much to attend to besides the business of that House; he therefore thought that the present hour was the most convenient for all. Referring to the subject of the discussion, he begged to repeat that he knew nothing of the arrangements till that morning, and he should have no objection to fix on Monday or any other day which the noble Lord might wish for bringing on his Motion.