§ THE EARL OF DERBY, seeing his noble Friend (the Earl of Shaftesbury), who had a notice on the paper for Monday next with regard to the opium trade, in his place, said, he wished to ask, whether, in bringing that question forward, he intended to make a substantive Motion, and to take the sense of the House upon it; and, if so, whether he would lay the words of the Motion upon the table of the House?
§ THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURYsaid, that when he gave the notice it was certainly his intention to bring forward the question and make a substantive Motion upon it. On going deeper and deeper into the subject he was convinced that the whole system, from first to last, was altogether illegal, and had not the sanction of law for any portion of its operation. He, therefore, determined to put the matter into the hands of some learned counsel and obtain their opinion upon it, and then frame his Motion in such a manner that the question should be brought forward legally and technically with a view to its being submitted to the Judges, of the realm. It was his intention to have brought forward his Motion last Monday, but the learned counsel had not been able to give their opinion upon it, and therefore he had postponed his Motion until next Monday. It certainly was his intention to bring forward his Motion on that day, and he should repeat it year after year until some satisfactory announcement on the question were made. He would lay upon the table tomorrow the Motion he intended to make, and would move on Monday, that certain questions should be submitted to the Judges of the realm.