THE SLAVE TRADE. (Hansard, 1 March 1858)

LORD BROUGHAM

said: My Lords, I am quite sure that I shall best consult the convenience of your Lordships—I may say the convenience and the wishes of all persons within these walls—by simply putting the question of which I have given notice to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to which, no doubt, if he cannot give an immediate answer, he will prepare himself to give an answer on a future day. When I say consult the convenience and wishes of all present, it is because it has been said that men are very apt to labour under an impression which confounds near things with great things. I labour under that impression at the present moment, and I think in this instance near things are to be considered as great ones. Therefore I am very far indeed from wishing to divert your Lordships' attention to the subject, great though its importance undeniably is, of the slave trade. [A slight laugh from the strangers' galleries.] If anything can make me repent of the resolution which I began by announcing— namely, that I should only put the simple question to my noble Friend without detaining your Lordships one instant, — it is 22 the indecorous proceeding which we have just witnessed [laughter—"Order!"]; and, if repeated, means will be taken to prevent the possibility of a third act of the same sort, because at one instant, and as a matter of course, this House will be cleared of all but your Lordships. My question is, whether steps have been taken to remedy the very great inconvenience of postponing the presentation of the slave trade returns, especially those from Cuba and the Brazils, to the end of the Session, instead of their being presented before Easter?