§ EARL GRANVILLEwished to ask the noble Earl (the Earl of Derby) if he was prepared to state to the House what course he proposed to adopt with reference to the conduct of business in that House; and also with regard to the adjournment for the Easter recess.
§ THE EARL of DERBYYour Lordships are aware that it has for a long time been a matter of considerable comment that at the early period of the Session your Lordships have very little business to conduct, and that the business of the Session is brought before your Lordships at so late a period of it that it has to be transacted in an unreasonable short period of time. Unfortunately, my Lords, I cannot hold out any expectation of any difference during the present Session. On the contrary, owing to the change of Government, as your Lordships must be aware, and the necessary adjournment of the other House, they have been prevented going on with the measures that were then before them. Beyond those Bills which have just been brought up from the other House and laid on the table, and which would be read a first time to-night, I am not aware that any other measures will come before your Lordships before the recess. I should therefore have been prepared to move the adjournment of the House on Friday next; but as I understand it would be for the convenience of my noble and learned Friend on the woolsack, and other noble and learned Lords, that this House should sit on Monday and Tuesday next, I propose that we adjourn from Tuesday next until Monday, 448 the 12th of April, it being understood that our meetings on Monday and Tuesday will be purely for the transaction of legal business.