16 DECEMBER 1837, Page 10

POSTSCRIPT.

SATURDAY NIGHT. Last night's sitting of the House of Commons was a damming one to the Ministers. The Committee on the Pension.list, which should have been named on Monday, had been put off in a most unusual and suspi- cions manner. Being part of the stated business of last night, Sit GEORGE SINCLAIR, before the Order of the Eery for going into Com- mittee on the Civil List Bill was read, asked Mr. SPRING RICE at what hour he would name his Committee? Not getting a distinct reply, be moved as an amendment on the Order of the Day, that the Committee be then nominated. This motion gave Mr. HARVEY an opportunity of remarking upon the unhandsome treatment he had received from Ministers, who, after taking out of hie hands a subject on which he had laboured for years, and adopting the very words of his motion because they could find no better, still left it in doubt whether or not he should be put on the Com. mittee. He called upon Mr. Rice to say at once, whether he was to be on the Committee or not ? Mr. Rice refused an answer,—on the pretence that he ought not to be dragged into a premature discussion of a question which would be brought before the House subsequently by Sir George Sinclair : but he promised that the Committee should not be named at an inconvenient hour. Sir GEORGE Srscsate, on this assurance, said be would not press the motion then. Mr. Spring Rice may suppose that, by this unprecedented treatment of Mr. Harvey, he is merely annoying a Member who sometimes annoys him ; but the country will regard his conduct as a gross affront to the large and respectable constituency whom Mr. Harvey so ably represents, if not a breach of faith and contemptible juggle to limit the efficiency of the Pension-inquiry. Ministers will gain no credit with the country by their old Tory mode of forcing the Civil List through Parliament. Pitiful was the advantage taken of the formal objection of "want of the Crown's con- sent," to put aside Mr. HARVEY'S most necessary motion. They seem to have found a zealous ally in the Speaker ; who did his best to enforce forms which Ministers only can get over when it suits their purpose. The Division-list shows the Whigs in close alliance with the Tories, and in opposition to the Representatives of almost every large Liberal constituency—Mr. GROTE, Mr. LEADER, Mr. CLAY, Mr. HAWES, Mr. HARVEY, Mr. T. DeNCOMBE, Mr. HALL, Mr. MARK PHILLIPS, Sir WILLIAM ii/IOLFSWORTH, Mr. THORNELY, Mr. EASTItOPE, and Mr. DENNISTOCN. The real state of parties in the House is exhibited to the public by such divisions.