§ THE EARL OF DERBYMy Lords, I wish to state for the information of this House that I find that the business of the House of Commons will be brought to a close certainly by Friday next; and therefore I think it desirable that the adjournment of both Houses should not be postponed longer than that day. In order that the business of this House may be concluded within that period I have to propose to your Lordships to sit for a short time to-morrow, for the purpose of advancing a stage certain Bills to which no objection has been raised. I was afraid at first that, even in the event of your Lordships agreeing to the proposition I have just made, it would be impossible to adjourn the House before Saturday; but if the business is got through on an early hour on Friday, we may be able to adjourn on that day until the ordinary period of meeting in February.