§ THE EARL OF DERBYMy Lords, in rising to move the adjournment of the House till Monday, I trust that my silence on the present state of public affairs will not be construed by your Lordships into indifference or disparagement of the unfortunate consequences which result from the vote of last night; on the contrary, my Lords, I consider that vote to be of such serious consequence that I felt it necessary to invite my colleagues to meet at an early hour this morning; and after the meeting of the Cabinet I had the honour of an audience with Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace. My Lords, I have not the sanction of Her Majesty to make any communication to your Lordships in regard to what took place; and I think that the state of affairs is so critical and the consequences of the vote of last night are so important, that, considering the House of Commons has adjourned till Monday, I think I shall best consult your Lordships' convenience, and the convenience and interest of the public, and shall best show my sense of the gravity of the occasion, by postponing till Monday any statement I may have to offer to your Lordships. But I shall be prepared on that day to lay fully before 1266 your Lordships the advice which I and my colleagues have thought it our duty to tender to Her Majesty, and the course which, with Her Majesty's sanction, we propose to adopt.
§ House adjourned at half-past Five o'clock to Monday next, Eleven o'clock.