§ House in Committee (according to Order).
§ LORD PORTMANobserved, that the fortifications in the Bristol Channel did not appear to be making any progress.
THE EARL OF LONGFORDwas understood to say, that some difficulty had arisen in carrying out one of the contracts; but he hoped that arrangements would be made by which the works would be resumed.
EARL GREYsaid, that Parliament was guilty of extraordinary inconsistency in passing this Bill. The fortifications were being provided for by borrowed money, and at the same time the House of Commons was trying to reduce the National Debt by means of terminable annuities. The simplest way of paying the Debt was to keep the expenditure within the income, and to apply any surplus to the reduction of the Debt; but to have an elaborate scheme to tie up the hands of Parliament by creating terminable annuities, and at the same time to create new Debt by borrowing money, was a great inconsistency.
THE EARL OF LONGFORDsaid, that the money required for carrying out these works had been already voted by the other House.
§ Bill reported, without Amendment; and to be read 3a To-morrow.