§ EARL SPENCERsaid, he wished to make a short explanation on the subject of a Motion of which his noble Friend behind him (the Earl of Airlie) had given Notice for that evening, and of a Question which his noble Friend wished to ask in moving his Motion. His noble Friend wished to move for Copies of any Correspondence that might have passed this year between the Veterinary Department of the Privy Council and the Committee of Lloyd's on the subject of the importation of cattle into this country; and to ask whether any commmunication had been made to Her Majesty's Government by the Government of the United States with respect to any steps which the last-named Government might have taken or might purpose to take with the object of stamping out cattle disease in the United States. Now, with regard to the Motion, he had to say that the Correspondence was not yet complete, and he did not think it would be for the public advantage that it should be produced in an unfinished state. With regard to the question, no communication 160 had been made on the subject to Her Majesty's Government by the Government of the United States; but there had been considerable Correspondence of another kind on the matter. In Papers which he presented last night, there would be found a great deal of information on the subject of cattle disease in the United States. In these circumstances, perhaps his noble Friend would think it more convenient to postpone raising anything like a discussion on the question till those Papers were in the hands of their Lordships.
THE EARL OF AIRLIEsaid, that, after this intimation from the Government, he would postpone the matter.