Lords Sitting of 25 November 1847

MINUTES.
Took the Oaths.—Several Lords.

THE QUEEN'S ANSWER TO THE ADDRESS.
The LORD CHAMBERLAIN (Earl Spenser)brought up HER MAJESTY'S most gracious Answer to the Address. The Answer was as follows:—
"MY LORDS,
"I thank you for your loyal and dutiful Address.
"It will be My constant Desire to co-operate with you in Measures calculated to advance the permanent Interests and Welfare of My People."
Address and Answer to be printed and published.

THE SLAVE TRADE.
LORD BROUGHAMbegged to ask the noble Earl at the head of the Colonial Department, whether any information would be laid on the table by Her Majesty's Government with respect to any correspondence that had taken place during the last two years on the subject of slavery in Cuba and the Brazils?
EARL GREYsaid, it was the invariable practice to lay such correspondence as took place on the subject of the slave trade from time to time on the table of their Lordships' House, and of course there could be no objection to a similar course being followed in the present year.
LORD BROUGHAMinquired what time it was likely any information on the subject would be laid before the House?
EARL GREYsaid, it was difficult to give an answer to the question. Many volumes of blue books had already been laid before Parliament on the subject; and he was inclined to think noble Lords were more familiar with the exteriors of these volumes than with their contents.
LORD BROUGHAMsaid, the reply of the noble Earl only convinced him that it was often easier to ask a question than to answer one.

COMMERCIAL DISTRESS.
LORD STANLEYsaid, he perceived that a notice had been given in the other
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House of Parliament, on the part of Her Majesty's Ministers, of a Motion for a Committee of that House to inquire into the causes of the recent commercial distress, and how far it has been affected by the Bank Charter Act of 1844. He was aware also that it was stated not to be the intention of Her Majesty's Government to make any similar Motion in their Lordships' House. He wished, therefore, to give notice that he would, on Tuesday next, move for the appointment of a similar Committee of their Lordships' House. If it would not be trespassing too much on the noble Earl, perhaps the noble Earl could now inform him whether Her Majesty's Government were disposed to offer any opposition to that Motion, or whether they would consent to the appointment of the Committee?
EARL GREYexpressed his regret at the absence of the Lord President of the Council from indisposition, and said he believed it was the intention of his noble Friend, had he been able to attend that evening, to have submitted a similar notice to that just given by the noble Lord.
LORD STANLEYsaid, after the statement made by the noble Earl, he would withdraw his notice; but, at the same time, he begged to remind the noble Earl that it had been distinctly intimated by the noble Earl himself, the other night, that no such intention was entertained by Her Majesty's Government. His Lordship subsequently said, that instead of withdrawing his Motion, he proposed to let it stand over.

PUBLIC BUSINESS.
LORD REDESDALEbegged to ask what was the intention of Government with regard to proceeding with business in that House? He thought it exceedingly desirable that noble Lords should know when any public business would come before their Lordships' House.
EARL GREYsaid, it had been before announced that it was not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce either of the measures to be immediately submitted to Parliament in that House. In the absence, from illness, of the Lord Chancellor, and of the President of the Council, such a course would not be very advisable. He was, however, not prepared to say but that one Bill would be introduced.
LORD REDESDALEsaid, that perhaps

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the noble Earl would state to what Bill he alluded.
EARL GREYsaid, he would rather not explain facther at present.

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BANK.
LORD ASHBURTONsaid, he understood the Bank Directors had come to a resolution, on Thursday last, to the effect that it would be inexpedient to continue to the public the high rate of 8 per cent interest, chargeable under the letter of the First Lord of the Treasury and of the Chancellor of the Exchequer; but that they had to wait until Monday, the day before the meeting of Parliament, before the Government authorised them to carry that resolution into effect. He wished to know if the facts were as he had stated.
EARL GREYcomplained of the extreme inconvenience arising from the practice of noble Lords putting questions without giving the usual notice of their intention. He was unable to inform the noble Lord further than that his right hon. Friend had an interview with the Governor of the Bank of England on the subject of the resolution in question, and that he had no doubt but that the course taken was in accordance with the arrangement made between them.
House adjourned.