bers of Parliament, agreed
to forward a request to Lord George, to postpone the second reading. The
request was contained in the following resolution, with which Smith
O'Brien was deputed to wait on him: "Resolved--That Lord George Bentinck
be requested to postpone, to such a day as he shall appoint, the second
reading of the Railway Bill, in order that the discussion on the Bill
may not interfere with the progress of measures now before the House,
which are of urgent and immediate importance to the famishing people of
Ireland; and also in order that time may be allowed for the expression
of public opinion in Ireland upon the merits of the proposal of Lord
George Bentinck."

He received Mr. O'Brien in the kindest manner, but frankly told him he
could not postpone the second reading of his Bill without consulting his
friends. At the same time, he expressed an opinion, that if the Irish
members pressed their request, it would be acceded to, provided those
who were the cause of the postponement would take the responsibility of
it. There was no postponement: the second reading was proceeded with
that evening, as originally intended. When it came on, Smith O'Brien,
who was probably appointed by the Irish party for the purpose,
immediately rose, and appealed to the noble lord to postpone the second
reading, saying (as the resolution had said) that the constituents of
the Irish members had not had time to express their opinions on the
Bill--a most delusive plea, as if, forsooth, the Irish people would at
such a moment, or at any time, object to the outlay of L16,000,000 on
the improvement of their country. Besides, they were known to be
favourable to the Bill. Mr. O'Brien gave the true reason, when he asked
Lord George to postpone the second reading, because the Government had
staked their existence upon it. A change of ministry, he truly said,
would throw into confusion legislation, which was of pressing necessity
for Ireland. He tendered his support to the noble lord, but he was
anxious to consider the question apart from a change of ministry; and he
knew that many members, like himself, wished for a postponement, at
least for a few days.

The debate was adjourned to the next day. The proposal of the Irish
party to postpone the second reading of Lord George Bentinck's Railway
Bill, does not seem to have had much to recommend it. Lord John
Russell's Government would have opposed it at any time it might be
brought forward, a