HL Deb 20 April 1860 vol 157 cc2041-4
THE MARQUESS OF NORMANBY

said, that in reference to his Motion which stood for that evening on the subject of the recent Correspondence between Earl Cowley and the Foreign Secretary respecting the annexation of Savoy, and the subject of Official and Private Correspondence, he had been placed in a situation of embarrassment by a communication which had been made to him by his noble Friend (Earl Granville). It was impossible that he could resist the appeal which had been made to him to postpone his Motion, but he must at the same time throw himself on the kind disposition of his noble Friend, and also on the indulgence of the House, in fixing another day on which he might be enabled to bring forward the Motion of which he had given notice. The appeal made to him was founded on the fact that Her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, intending to come over to assist at the discussion, was detained at Calais, owing to the state of the weather, which prevented the mail packet putting to sea. It appeared that Lord Cowley regarded the notice as an intended censure; he (the Marquess of Normanby) had therefore announced to him that such was very far from his intention and from the scope of his Motion, and, unless it were perfectly convenient for him, he need not be present. However, the noble Earl was now at Calais. Monday, which had been named by his noble Friend, would be very satisfactory to him, if that could be fixed for the discussion, but he found so many Motions fixed for that day that he should be glad to know what disposition there was in the House to facilitate that arrangement.

EARL GRANVILLE

observed that the following telegram had just been received from his noble Friend Earl Cowley, dated Dover 4.30:— Does Lord Normanby persist in his Motion for to-night? I am only this moment arrived, and as I have not yet taken my seat it is impossible for me to be in the House to-night. If Lord Normanby persists, pray say to the House that I wished to be present and have come over on purpose. As his noble Friend had not yet taken his seat it would be more convenient to postpone the matter till Monday.

THE MARQUESS OF NORMANBY

inquired if his noble Friend the Marquess of Clanricarde, who had a notice on the paper for Monday, would give way.

THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDE

said, that the Motion of which he had given notice for Monday, appeared to him to be of far more importance than that of his noble Friend. It was on the subject of India; and the people of India complained of too little notice being taken of their affairs in Parliament, and the question to which he was to call attention was very important. If the object of the noble Marquess was to pass a vote of censure and charge the Government of course he would give way; but the abstract Resolution of which the noble Marquess had given notice was one which might as well be discussed that day month. He asked if it could not be brought on after his Motion had been disposed of?

THE MARUESS OF NORMANBY

said, that his Motion, though not intended as a vote of censure either upon the Government or upon Her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, was most important, as affecting the conduct of our diplomatic relations, and he thought he should be able to show that if the recognized principles which should regulate such relations had been observed on the occasion referred to, matters would not have been in the present predicament. He had no objection to proceed with the discussion that evening, if their Lordships were of opinion that that was the best course to pursue; but he was not prepared to consent to the proposition of the noble Marquess opposite that his Motion should come on at the close of a long debate upon India.

EARL GRANVILLE

said, it would be extremely inconvenient to Lord Cowley, and in some measure injurious to the public service, that the Motion should be postponed beyond Monday next; and under those circumstances he hoped that the noble Marquess near him (the Marquess of Clanricarde) would postpone the Motion which stood in his name for that day.

THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDE

said, he should not object to act upon the suggestion of his noble Friend, inasmuch as it was based upon the ground of convenience to the public service.

THE MARQUESS OF NORMANBY

said, that another difficulty had arisen in reference to the debate to take place on Monday next. He had found from his noble and learned Friend (Lord St. Leonards) that the Divorce Bill was fixed for Committee on Monday evening, and that it was his intention that it should be brought on. The subject of the Divorce Court would therefore take precedence unless his noble and learned Friend on the woolsack would consent to its postponement.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

said, that so far as he was concerned, he should be most willing to postpone the Committee on the Divorce Bill till a later hour of the evening in order that the noble Marquess might have precedence; but he must for the credit of the House protest against its being supposed that they could not entertain more than one subject on any evening. He must refuse to enter into any arrangement of that sort.

LORD ST. LEONARDS

then said the Divorce Bill must keep its place in the paper.

THE MARQUESS OF NORMANBY

said, he must again appeal to his noble and learned Friend on the woolsack to postpone the Divorce Bill to another evening. It would be very inconvenient to many noble Lords if a discussion on another subject should precede the one of which he had given notice.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

said, he would repeat that, so far as he was concerned, he was willing to postpone the Bill to a later hour of the evening, and he could do no more than that.

THE MARQUESS OF NORMANBY

then fixed his Motion for Monday.