The Express. — London, England, 1850-02-01 00:00:00

A ...11. - i IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.—TIICRIWAT, JAN. 31. reltilllllollt was opened this day by commissima The Leeds Commassoners were—the Lind Chain:eller, the Mar got' of Lansdowne, the Earl ot Miato, the Earl ut Breadal bun, and the Bishop of Loudon. There wen but few pain present. The body of the home was occupied by Win, 111011 t of whore were la full dress. The Strangers' 0 diary wee tolerably well fll ed, sad seasidenble anxiety was mini• felted to witness the ceresioey of the opening of parliament, although divested. of a• regal splendour of such a wane when her Majesty is paws presides over the august as. eembl. The y Veber of the Black Rod having sasmined the Com mons. the Speaker, accompanied by an imam.' number of anthem, appeared at the bar, when Ike Lord Chancellor read the royal speech, which appeared in yesterday** Ez. pre SJ. Their lordships than adjourned daring pleasure. The house resumed at 5 o'clock. LAW OF BANKRUPTCY. Lord BROUG HAY introduced • bUI to 'amid the law of I bankruptcy. SCOTCH REPRESENTATIVE PEERS. The Dukes. RICHMOND wished to call the attention of hie noble friend the President of the Conned to a great oink- Eon which ought to be avoids.' in future. Re found that two vacancies had occurred in the Scotch peerage by the deaths of Lord Airlie and Lord C hills, and although by net of parliansmit • prods:nation should have been belied forth- with, he found that, in consequence of the delay which had *lapsed, 24 days mast now elapse after the peemting of podia west bekini two peen could be elected in pae of those dommed noblemen. In that part of the United Kingdom Os peers were not properly represented. Now, he would Mk Ms noble friend what his defence was? Tke Marquis of LANSDOWNE, who was shoos' edible, was was understood to lay that the I/overflown% were not roppoweible for Me osaiieim. The Earl of EOLINTON thought the explenation was anything but satisfactory. He thought the government bad been gii.ity of unwarrantable neglect. The 'Marquis of LANSDOWNE repudiated the charm of neglect on the panot government, who had strictly followed the usage in similar cues. After a conversation. in which the Duke of Duccleach, the Dube of Argyll, Lord Stanley, Lord Redesdale, and the Marquis of Lansdowne took part, the mater dropped. SELECT VESTRIES. The liar cis of LANSDOWNE introdusd • bill for regulating select vestries. lIEH MAJESTY'S SPEECH.—THE ADDRESS. The Royal Speech havieg bees read by the Loan Coax. caMos and the C'erk at the table, Tae Earl of ESSEX rasa to more the whims, and, after an appropriate rpsreh, is the course of which ha paid a high compliment to the public prim for im exertions in the muse of order, and espremed his conviction that the distress under which the agricultural portion of the community at present laboured was of • temporary nature, moved the &dimes, whisk was as echo of the sentiments contained is the speech. Lord rue to wooed it. He regretted ex esedingly the (complaint" that had been made in different pare of the onatry, and which complaints would not WY , lest tim in ocegratulatiog them cm the este of the agricul tural classes or duteous. (leer, bear.) lie was telly sweet that a panic existed in reference to the masons ef ewe trade ; at the same dm* that he believed the musk was much increased by the exckentent kept up by the peetutlealet pulp threstpbcnit the kingdom. (Laughter aai " Hear, beer.") Be wished them to refer bath to the years 1821, 1823, sad 1824, whoa they would find that tura was then cheaper than at presoak (Meer, hear.) lie thought the,, were several cameo to which the loner of rain might at prawn be attributed. (Hear, hear.) Let them caremplate the enormous amount of capital locked up Is railway 'petulance, together with the immense sum looked up is fte {Jen of the 13 iak of England, as in all the miser beaks throughout the It'agdom, and then be =at they weeld be of *piston, aq he unguse , Rap that all that amount Lai been withlraws. He had stub pleasure is seueding the address is reply is the speech uf her met gracious Majesty. Oa the gustiest being pat, Marl STRADBROYE toes to propose an amendereat to the adobes% but for the greater pert was totally iesedible la the mdlery. lie should have bees wanes, is kis duty if he did sot embrace the very firm oprretunity that offered to declare to their lordship' the custence of rep great and deep duress acmet the agri• cultural clams, the existence of winch was admitted in the speak tram the throne, but which the proposer and the sectiesler of the address would wish to make appear of a merely temporary astute. Hear, bear.) He begged to mem as as amecdmmit—'• That we regret to have to repre sent tnat is ma .y parts of the united kinglom. particularly Iresad, ageism, manes of bier M•jesty'v subjects °oasis:tea with tie cultivation of land are lab.unog under severs dia l/me in conveqoence of meat legislative enactments, the operation of wbiak iseggninved by mai taxation." The tan of I)ESART said, that it was net without en_ bathe of regret that he felt himself obliged to support the aminounect which had been so ably moved by his noble friend, because he was unwilling that any thing 'hosed stand in the way of that unanimity with which the speech of her Ifsjetty should be answered. But when he found that • more net was expressed in that speech for the agricultural distress whin ...Sited throughout the kingdom, but more particularly iatihat wake senate country with whieh he waitron. anted, because it possessed less capital to bear up against the heavy reetriction unposed upon her; and when is found that that regret wes unaccompanied by any suggestions for its alleviation, but was merely cloaked over by a reference to the prosperity of commerce and manufactures, be felt called ea to joie in the opinion of his noble friend, and to support the amendment which he moved. Thus could be little doubt that agricultural distress prevailed is this country, bat he could give, from his owe personal obeervatios and know. ledge, such • picture of its extent and intensity in Ireland, that be was suntan it did not call forth something stronger than a casual e xpronionof regret. (Hear.) As the chairman of a board of guanine in a highly-favoured portion of Ireland, he could state that at that moment, earn I. that part of Ire land, all later**, laadlords, labourers and tenants, were fast programing to atter aseihilation and ruin—(hmar, hear) —and that the bad legislation of Ragland inflicted more distress and vainly epos them than did the visitation of Providence. (Hwir, hear. Of the distress of the farmen there could be as b ider proof than their inability to meet their engsgemesite to their landlords, and their other kinds el liabilities. This was the first year that the landlords had mot been able to get their rents. He hoped their lord ships by assenting to their amendment, would show to the Wand classes that they were determined as far as they could to protect them, and with them those national institu doss by means of which, ander divine Providence, this gantry had attained its present rank amongst the nations of the world. (Cusses.) The Sul of CARLISLE said that in dealing with the address, and with an amendment of 0)4 des cription, and having considered which was best, he would advise their lordships, not merely to look at the casual expressing in either, but to consider the view in whist' the amendment was p roposed the hopes by which it was ingested, and the practica l results which would sane If it were adopted. (Hear. hear.) There was no groat difference in the terms used. Toe ameadment, indeed, made allusion to local burdens, but their lordship would agree with him, that any question as to local burdens, whether they should be reamed or redistributed, would be more cones nientiy and properly considered when the subject was brought directly under their notice. (Hear, hear.) It also made mention of recent legislative change.. His opinioa was, that If they sanctioned the amendment, and substituted it lee the originl wade—if they allowed it to be understood throughout the whole length and breadth of the land that perliameat threw any doubt ea their recent lerielation— that they were prepared to reacievider it, and, Jades I, at length to reverse it—it would, in his opinion, be a most miebalma sad diesetrone meelesioa for their lordships to wive at; sad it was in that hope—not to gin rise to meek a constriction—an to give rise to sun a de ludes—that he called opus the house to give a positive sad unqualified negative to the amendment just mond. (Hear, hear.) The noble earl who had just spoken sailed attention to the distress is Ireland. No person could be less unwilling than he (Lord Carlisle) was to underrate the dieter which prevailed in that country. But it was plain, after the experience of three years, that Ireland could only he brought through (if he might ate that expression) the horrible state of destitution and guff , ring to which she was exposed by the cheapness of foreign corn. (Hear, hear.) But after all, it was not, as connected with Inland, they 11/0f• to try the system of free Vide. (Hear, lust.) They had, after serious discuesions, which eagroesed the attention, 'swayed the feeling, sad enlisted the passions of a large portion of the community, resolved to make en experi ment of free trade. Now, he thought their lordships would agree with him, that since the con trade was made per fectly free than was not time to test that experiment. (Hear, hear) Then the failure of the potato r m o t Inl did sod in other part of the country, the un d ranged= which took place in every corner of slope, were eo may disnarbiag and occasional ranee@ to prevent free trade is eon MOB betas fairly tried even in the abort period that elapsed sines it was adopted as the policy of the empty. (lien Under these circumstances it wou ld b e un f a i r , and , Indeed, preposterous at once to retrace their step, and be expect them to adopt a different policy. Ile mould not en how they could consider that they were at present in a situation to pronounce on whet might be the island and permanent results of the great elperinerat which they were now making. They could not now say whether they would continue to line the mum abundance and cheapness in this country, or whether the Imports would continue in the same quantity. His own impression was not one of deepeadesey, ft was not en of dinourageth at, nor was it GNP of dank. All he wished to enforce on -their lordships was that they were not now is a condition to prnoanos that the corn grows in ibis mientry will fetch better pricee, or that the nom degree 61 foreign importa tion w uld continue. Ile wad net Imeeetly stop hen; he could not mane hilbeltif within these ambiguous and hypo thetical limits, and he felt Mead to tell their lordship that even if be were convinced Out the enrage price of corn generally would not ascend gas farthing higher, still he was not prepared to revere the policy on which they had 'petered, or to return to the principle of teetion. Ho had made geferesee to the ealeu which were metained la the speeches of the noble lords who had preceded him, and which had reference to the remune rative prices received by the agriculturists ; but at the same time he most say, that the 'pump to enure such matters by any find oe anthem redo would always be a most delusive =a. Each ere must be governed by its own peculiar new ; Mal farm must be considered as a specialty in itielt, is sub de;euded 711 its pcsitif,o, its sesta". 84 THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 1, 1850. this country Weald nailer 000lena to the Tips., protective duties ea foreign eon. Lerd BROUGHAM laseated the great and general Me tres, which existed amongst the agricultural classes H. bad asp elm ca No mind. If he thought he bad acted wrong . he was pewsd to deelanith If he felt no bias te Minnie, Die mind be had load no argument to esker his kailplesat. He lilt that they Were right in 1546, sad ihet they would be imesessurably wrong it they were to alter their peliey now. (Olives.) Is the great emery of . Feanes—that peat agricultural eommunity was tuffetin,g as deep distress as ever this country did In the worst of times, and mach more *as this country was suffering now. He knew In several districts—in five, taken as en average—it was hardly possible to imagine greater agriculture' suffering—hate sot paid, knee thrown up, aed laboaren without employ. These weep fads he kne This sunning he bad received a letter leM a friend in a d aps nbeat not far from Paris—the de partment of the Gass—who had within the last twelve or thirteen months, thrown apes his hands tea or twelve brow. Pres trade there war note la Francs • it wee a eliding seek. He inquired is bb own neigh bourbeeil whether certain peen which he NSW Nine from °dens, bat he was told the duty was so high that they could not get it is. Prance wee a protection country ; and the want of free trade did not prodeee a general distress there, and protection did not pro vost it. No law they could make, aed no society they could bead, would ever make the employer of labour pay 4d. a day when be wild get the work done for 2d. These were seem of the observations which had occurred to him. He was net prepared to retrace his steps. He mut tint be eon- Tiellad of the netwasity of doing so; and this ad being the We, be could not support the amendment. Led STANLEY would added' a few words on some Ivies in the speech from the throne which cep. peered to have been poised over. He was quite sure there was no one who would not echo in the perfect sincerity of their hearts the sentiments of essiblence to her Majesty on the premature death of the Quell Dowager. He retained in the strongest manner eli the opinions he had entertained with regard to the impolicy of the repeal of the navigation laws. If there could be aay mitigation of the evils which would result therefrom, It must be found in a full and entire reciprocity of other countries. But be believed no country could give us a full and equivalent recipreeity—(hear, hear); and he believed that measure would be found to be so ill-judged one. And here he would correct an error made by the noble earl who moved the address, when he said it was thought the United States would be the last to reciprocate, whereas she bad been the first to do so. The neble earl must have forgotten that in the discussion upon the navigation laws it was stated that by the laws of the United States the feet of the bible tore et this country passim the bill then under dissuades would entitle this reentry to certain reciprocal advantages. Ni was grateful to know also from the royal that we were not at war with foreign pow. n. e rejoiced is find that they were at peace and amity with all foreign nation.. (Hear, hear.) They had been told that they received assurances from all foreign °diaries of the strongest and domed friendship, and that the most cordial understanding and friendly intimacy existed between Great Britain and all foreign countriee. (Hear, hear) The speech from the throne informed them, and oongratulated them on the feet, that they were not at war with France, with Spain, with Prussia, or with Austria ; bat he (Lord Stanley) wished to know if her Majesty's ministers would venture to assert that Great Britain was oa a friendly footing with either Spain, Austria, or Russia ? (Hear, hear.) He rejoiced exceedingly that they enjoyed the blessings of peace sad order; and be would re joie' yet more if her Majesty's =misted would take it on them to state—which undoubtedly they would if they ' eeuld—that they still retained friendly rela'ions with the peat European countries. (Hear, hear.) As regarded the neat topic referred to in the speech from the theme, he pre seabed some further inhumation would he laid before their lordships relative to the dilletence that existed between Russia, Austria, and the Sublime Porte : and it would rejoice him (Lord Stanley) much to learn this the expla nations which had taken place had secured, as was asserted, the pram of Europe. (Heir, hear.) They were informed by the royal speech to the effect that her Majesty had to units her efforts with those of Franco, in order to brimg about an amicable settlement of matters. (Laughter.) Now, if an explanation had taken pleas between th e Turkish anSimperial governments, it wss hardly eel:Sleazy to say that other powers should be called = l to interfere. He should next approach a point on he felt bound to reject entirely the address which had bees proposed as a response to her Majesty's speech ; and whilst doing so be begged to assure their lordships that there was no person more willing or m re anxious to concur in an unanimous address to her Majesty than he was. (Hear, hear.) It was therefore with &Wears regret that he found allusions made in that speech, and also in the addreee, to the condition of the agricultural interests, which compelled him to dissent trom the address. Set tisg apart altogether the names of the gentlemen who had been selected to propose and second the oddness in the other hoses of parliament, he could not help *tsars that he had heard midi regn t and surprise the tone and temper adopted In their lordsripe house, and he coati sot separate the language of the speech i• sell from t►e feet of the mover and seconder of the address being selected by the government from the strongest supporters of those free trade measures, whic's, if they had not destroyed, had at lout aggravat ed the acricultural distress in the country. (Hear, hear.) Drawing a wide distinction bet ween the tone a.lopted between the mover and seconder of the address, he should say that if it were the intention of government to peavoke discussion and to all forth an amendment, that asenesity would be found in The comments of the noble earl who prpond the address. (Hear.) How was the agricultu eel distress that prevailed entered to in the royal speech ? It was said that' her Majesty with regret had observed the osnaplainte that in many parts ofthe kingdom had proceeded teem the owners and occupiers of land." Now, in the first place he (Lord Stanley) ghoul l say that that was not a tan statement. (Hest, bear.) The complaints that had been heard were loud and general, and proclaimed that the dis tress was great and grievous. (Hear, hear.) It wee not confined to the owners and occupiers of landed property— (hear, hear)—it reached far beyond them. (Hear, hear.) It reached primarily a class more humble, more dependent, and more helping, than the owners—namely, the lsbouren on the soil, together with the mechanic, the artisan, and all those numerous classes who were not owners or occupiers of the land, but who, nevertheless, were all dependent on the well-being of the owners of the soil, gad who, consequently, were the first and severest sufferers uader the distressing state of affairs brought about by such legisla tion. (Hear, hear.) Therefore, be (Lord Stanley) repu diated the assertion that the complaints proceeded from the owners of the land, because they were general and wide spread amongst all claws in the community. (Hoar, hear.) The next paragraph of her Majesty's speech expressed " the source of sincere pleasure her Majesty felt at the cheapness and plenty bestowed on the great majority of the people." (Cries of " Hear, hear," from both sides of the house.) He hoped he would not be mi,understood as wishing to depre ciate or undervalue the blessings of plenty and cheapness to the great body of the people. (Hear, hear.) But he would prefer that cheapness and abundance which resulted tetra the productive harvest ot 1896, which, whilst it gave abundance to the community at large, also enabled the proprietor to employ the labourer in the tillage of the soil at remunerative wage*. (Hear, bear.) But be feared the government had fallen into en error, or rather, had been leo into one by that clogs of per sons who, because they made a great deal of noise, fancied they were the entire country—that they were the great body of the people, and that all opposed to them were a miserable faction that should succumb. (Hear, hear.) He (Lord Stanley) escorted that the great body of the people were not to be invidiously set down in contrast or oppraition to the landowners, as was the can in the royal speech. (Hear, hear.) He should say, as regarded the great claw of parsons whose Interests were involved in the culti vation of the soil, and who, heretofore, were considered primarily a portion of the people, that cheripneee, afforded by foreign importations,. had not given them as great a com mand over the nectarines and comforts of life as they had been led to believe it would. (Hear, lieu.) He would venture to say that the wages of labour in the sgricultural districts had fallen from lls. to 95., from 9s. to 75., and from 7s. to th.; and that men were obliged to work three days in the week for half that NM, on the roads or en other works, in et;er to sane themselves from the union, and that their employers might keep down the poor rate. His noble friend, Lord Brougham, had made allusions to France, where, he said, there was no free trade, but protection, yet ell classes were sunk in distress. Now he (Lord Stanley) should thank that protecting Pro vidence that had saved them Iran the wars and convulsions which that country had experienced. His noble friend had told them that the tenure of land in France was far different from what it was in Eogland. The difference was, that in France there being " liberty, fraternity, and equality," the land wee subdivided amongst a elms of persons, some of whom were too poor and wretched to be able to cultivate it properly, and yet one of the objects of declamation with the party in accordance with whose views the government sensed to be acting, was to seek to reduce the gnat landed proprietors of England to a similar position. (Hear, hear.) They might rely on it that the question at bottom was not one o r f= but whether the weight and Imp o rt ance o f t h e t er aristocracy of England should be reduced, and the le= tinned out, as in France to an humbler clam of (Hear) But let tho rn understand, If they took that step towards breaking down the landed aristocracy of the coun try, the days of the country's happiness and independence were numbered—(hmar, hear)—evil days would be upon them, and ones let the landed or tenitenal aristocracy be doomed, and the days of British monarchy .ere numbered. (Cries of "Hear, hear," from the opreltion benches.) It was laid down se a principle by the advocates of free trade, and wax acted upon by them, that no person would give more for a thing than it was worth ; but be was glad to say that this principle was not acted nu by the - itlem en 'He v. hear markets, the nature of the soil, the various growths for which it was used, the amount of arsilable skill and capital applied to it, and the infinite variety of please om the part of the landlord and tenet. Math depended also es the relky doss whisk existed between the landlord and mean% But to the sentence which he had sheerly quoted from her jelly's speech, in which she made quill allusios %the owners and occupiers of land, there is added soother, in which her Majesty states that it is a attune of sinews grafi isation to her to, wittier the increased enjoyment of the mecessaries and comforts of life, which *Moses and plenty hare bestowed cm t he g reat body of her people. It should be recollected that there was an interest which wee paramount to that of the farmer and the landlord, seemly, that of the peblis at large. and the speechof her Majesty rightly seaweed the ems that had been given to the great body of the people by the increased enjoyment of the comforts of life whieh cheap ness and plenty had diffesed amongst them. But to reduce the chief protectionist complidot and demand to its real elements, he would ask their lordships what it was ? He would not my that those who supported protectloo were really coo s/nous of what their real complaint conatitad in, fee he thought that those who composed the sgricultural body were lot wore 'elfish than th ese who composed any other class, perhaps he might say less so, because they were more intimately con nected with the community, and bad snore points of contact with them than any other • but to reduce the isomplaint to its real elements it was th is, that there was too muck to eat la the cosstry. (Cheers and ironical cheers.) %het did they atesplain of as being the result of free trade, if it was not that there was too meth to eat in the country ; It was not that there was too much wheat from abroad ; it it wee set that there was too great a cheapness, what was it t He blow that it had been sometimes argued that the abolition of protection would have a tendency to throw the ' lead out of cultivation, and that therefore, though they may still °outings to impo rt • greater quantity, there would not, in fact, be • greater quantity to eat at home. Barely thoy could not say that this was the ease at moist; they eftM not say that they had beard of any considerable portico of lead out of cultivation. II he was informed sightly, that was a greeter quantity of wheat grown last year than wee formerly the ease. Their experiments in that respect were not yet totally discouraged; end he was able, on good authority to assure them that there were this year seventy-two applications for enclosures, whisk was a greater number than ever before was made and provided for 48,063 acres of land. Where, then, was the matter of blame against fres trade, if it was ant that there esse • large importation of corn from abroad ? Tnen the marl somplaint resolved itself to this. They could bring , 11111MlitiOli that free trade diminished their oanufac. 1 IBM that it diminished their trade ; they could not say that It mitt est of the country • large quantity of hellion. They needy complained of the cheapness of the home market, and of the abundance of food. With reference to any tom plaint that may be made as to the wisdom of the policy whisk actuated the goy/receipt in passing the measure which sir dared the results which he led just mentioned, he would my that there was scarcely a by-way in the rural districts (he wield not allude to their large towns or cities) which could set give • aselrauictios to the statementa upon which the pro tectionists founded their arguments in favour of•• change of goo eer than he (the Burl of Carlisle) would give Vleadividlaal tensest te any such prop/miles for a cha , :ge of rag. be would lay with trush that he would forfeit that reek gad station which he held in their lordships' house. Me hoped that 'hey would set renounce the policy that they bed adopted. and that they would not leave it to be under stood in the country that they, for one stomasut, thought of returning to the protections.: system, and that they would give • positive, and, in point of number, as overwhelming refusal to the proposition that had b. en made to them. (Chem.) The Duke of RICHMOND warned the last speaker that the time might come when it would be fortunate for him to be shore of his honours. To speak plainly, he thought the egricultaral interest bad bees slighted in the speech Iron the threw, which, ea he understood it, did not even admit that the ageicultensts were suffering from distress. The noble earl had talked of the cheapness of provisions, but had emitted to my neythieg about wages, which had fairs ex suasively in some districts, is which hundreds of lab miners were out of work. It was surprising to hear the noble lord talk of the courage which their lordships displayed in timing the hoe trade measures. It was noturtoss that their lord shivers it:fineness by as ti mt.ve—they yielded is preemie from without. Let it not he supposed that teidtural agitating would terminate with the year 1850. farmers were men who, whim ogee aroused, would never MOM exerting themselves until they obtained redress for their hilusies. Every hustings in the country would be made • battle-field on which they would ateodily, but with out vi .knee of language, state their grievances end demand je•Lce. The Earl of ESSEX, in explanation, persisted in calling the eoeduet of their lordships, in passing the free trade :mea sures, courageous. inasmuch as they had no private reasons tor adopting a court' which estranged them Palm their best friends. Earl FITZWILLIAK (who woe very indietiactly heard) was uaderstsod to urge that at the prceest mores% for the Chase*llor of the Excheqo to think of prop:Wog a duty ow tars of2e., 11c, or 6.. • quarter, was as bility, end even if it ' were not impossible, those who we agitating on the plan which the noble duke (Richmond) s.. strenuously advocated, would have rendered it so. Why should agriculture be now protected when all our great manufacturing interests were exposed to unlimited compe tition ? (Hear.) the *But of the first m cures of Sr Rthert Peel, whisk preserved protection, was to induce the egrieml. turista to suppose that the ge price of corn would be G 6.. a quarter, and is the commutation of tithes that price was generally essumed as the average. It therefore, in coo tracts between landlords and tenants it was assumed that 66s was to be the avenge price, and be made the basis of their ealculations, and the average was reduced to 605., or 415., er 40t., it was the necessary consequence that rents must be dread, and in fact be lowered in Iproportion. This was the utmost extent of the calamity to be apprehended, although be was aware that the reduction must be somewhat more in proportion than the exact dimi nution of the price. But still he doubted whether ultimately the landlord who now reduced his rents would suffer by the decrease in price. As to the present price, it was owing to a great variety of causes—among others, to a superabundant harvest. (Hear.) There had been an abundant importation of corn, bat that had been caused by the great di tress which prevailed in the two or three years previous, and which induced merchants t 3 import. He wtald say that it would be most unwise to deceive the country again by any recurrence to protective measures ; he said de ceive, because it was in ernaequence of those former measures of protection that the arrangements had been made between landlords end tenants to which be had alluded. The Earl of WINCHILSEA said it was impossible for say man to think of the inundation of foreign corn into Ulla waste, and not foresee the destruction of its agricultural claws. He would undertake that, before very long, foreign con could be purchased here at dl).. per quarter, and what, then, meat be the condition of the farmers of England ? It was impossible for an Hellish farmer to produce wheat under 60... a quarter, upon an average, era how could he shaping with the foreigner ? He was very glad to hear the noble earl opposite, her Majesty's Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests, openly avow what the fiche p and intentions of the government were. The landed proprietors and agriculturists, at least, might infer from the noble earl's speech what the determination of government was. Toe noble earl plainly said that the sup porters of free trade would not retrace their steps, and that be, kr one, would not recommeod the government to do ter. The agricultural interests were reduced to the deepest dis tress by the abolition of protection. They Lad embarked their 'spits' and applied their industry for years in the catti est/on of land, the produce of which was protected, and the withdrawal of that protection necessarily br..ught ruin upon every one connected with land in this country. To such a state were agricultural pursuits reduced that lamas could he had almost for nothing. He looked upon the speech prepared by her Majesty's ministers GM an i• cult to the agricultural interests, and he woe certain the yeomanry, and people in general, would he et a Umber They were not so blind as to be incapable of demeanding the manifest object of the lepalature, and they would express their opinions plainly, as it was their constitu demal privilege. They had reason to complain. of a severe gleMethim, wad they had a right to yawns their opiurons wen the subject. There never was greater distress amongst tic agricultural labourers then at the present time, and hitherto they had been employed out of the capital of the landlords and deupiers of land. How was it passible to withhold relief from that large class whose Meteors was hourly increasing? Earl GRA.NIFILLE said it was a matt , rof satisfaction to And that there was some difference in the largos"e used in that house and that which was use 1 in different parts of the country. The proposed amendment, which was very vague, entirely omitted even an allusion to a ny es-seance 'retch the opponents of free Ueda would be inclined to adopt it any theme should take place. It appeared from t h ,. speeches delivered that twists, that the cppositton to free trade was eonlined to those elude who were immediately interested in igristilture. Those clews Included the landowner, the occupying tenant, the labourers enraged in agricultural pursuits, and the inhabitants of some of the smaller towns in purely agricultural districts perhat s might ho added. There was no doubt that some alarm end panic existed in these small towns. The tradesmen were assured by their cus tomers, who were prim-4)41y tenant farmers, that their situation was ruinous, and that they were no longer capable of being good customers. Their lordships were aware that the increase of population in the manufacturing d i stricts was greeter than the increase of persons em ployed in agricultural pursuits. It was clear that any step taken to injure the manufacturing districts must bear noon the agricultural labourers likewise. No doubt recent changes had dosed a transition which inflicted - •to some extent. In some in- injury so stamen farmers heal not sufficient skill or capital to eulti. gneland. (Hear, ....Re.) When they scald get labium mite their terms. They might now turn their attention to for 8.1. they gave them Is. (Hear.) And yet this was the elms occupy smaller fume, as being more suitable to their skill who were exposed to so much obloquy, and who were tad and capabilities. That was another of the advantages whirls that they must reduce their rents. Reduce their recta l bee trade would confer. No ore would state that withal- He certainly did not reduce his rents in Ireland—(laughter) Mire in trig country was now approsehlog even to a Mate of —hut, although he war lot supposed to be a harsh or illiberal perfection. If Femoral improvements were introduced by landlord, it was his full Intention when asked for his amount the operation of tree trade, no doubt we cluld compete with of income-tax from his property there to return " oil " the foreign enterer of cam. The next question was as (hear, hear)—becsume he could aver, ma his word of honour to the IRedlords, and it certainly was wholly a as a gentleman, that for the last 18 mouths he had not m question of rent. No one on his (Earl Gran- cured a single shilling. (Hear, hear.) Yet for some years trills's) side of the home dented ttist the he had been in the habit of expendiag one•third of his yearly engsweets of free trade had a perfect right to discuss the rental anon it, and it contributed, he was happy to say, bat a itertion and express their opininos. The only question was small number of paupers to the workhouse. (Hear.) But wlssdier the protectionists had met together to attain an ob nsvertheleas between a third and a fourth of his property was Vshaily practicable. Es should not dimouraire farmers thrown upon his hand., because he could not get tena n t s is making each efforts se they thought fl.; ft opposed occupy it. (Hear, bear.) Let it not be supposed that this howevsr to him that the aceaunts given of the isposethility was bad laud, for 28 tons of turnips, statute acre, were of getting rents, &e., was exaggerated. He did not believe grown on it. This was far from being an extreme case in the land of this country was over rented, or that the Ireland. (Haar.) It was with regret that be assented to the rate should be redtmfl. He war earn the people of asendatent of his noble friend, because he wee unwilling to di tart that nunissity with which he wished to see the speech from Prose summed; but, in justice to those istereets *MU were su ff ering so musk he could not resist supoeting the temperate sad mo derate amendment which was so moderately sad taupe reedy, and ably moved by his Noble friend. (Hear, hear.) Ner hie noble Mend nee himself *eked them to re- Mme their steps, though he believed that • ennui of materate protective duties was for the built of all amen of the community. (Hear.) He had hie opinions en that subjest but he would aot press them cia that caseelou. He believed that the two propositions contained in his noble friend's amendment were undeniable, namely, that the prri e stari:ulteral distress was mainly mord by the resent • , and that the legal beans pressed unequally unfairly on the real property of the soutry. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that, after the speech of the noble lord he felt himself called upon to touch, not only upon the matter more directly before the house, but en those topics also of her Melody's speech to which the noble lord had 'dueled, but were not immediately connected with the question at hue ; and, la the Ins place, he could not help deriving some consolation from the fact that, out of the various Wks of that truth, only one was found at which it bed been thought necessary to take exception. (Hear, hear.) The noble lord began by saying that he wee surprised her Majesty had been only advised to declare that she was at peas and amity with other nations, and he seemed to discover some inconsistency be tween it and the following paragraph. He begged to tell the noble lord that it was by no means necessary, when parlia ment was about to meet, that foreign governments were to write to them giving them assurances of friendly relations, in order that it might be announced here. But , whatever might be the opinion of the noble lord, he could affirm that the statement made in her Majesty's spec-k was strictly correct, and with respect to Russia he timid UM* him that they were not only at peace, but even to salty with that country, end if the noble lord chose to inquire, he cruld obtain a confirma tion of that assurance from the distinguished individual who represented Russia in this country. (Hear, hear.) The noble lord then referred to the navigation laws. On this head he would inform the noble lord that the reciprocity to which he attributed so much value had been obtained now even lathe short space of hall a year, to an extent which the most sanguine hopes of the government could not have antici pated. Even those states which they thought wield have shown the least disposition to reciprocate—the United States, Sweden, and even Holland, though the arrangements were not yet completed with that state, had shown a desire to meet the views of this country, and to enter upon a more enlarged system of navigation laws. With respect to the amendment before the house, the noble lord said that her Majesty had alluded with coldness to the distress which masted generally amongst all clauses of the community except the manufacturing class. Now, whea the noble lord said that this distress was shared in by the rest mass of the com munity or even by the agricultural clam at large he met the noble lord with the assertion that throughout England the condition of the labourers was better. (Hear, hear.) He did not state this for the purpose of making an odious contrast between any classes of the community, which were too frequently made ; but he met the noble lord with that assertion, because he was convinced that the interest of the labourer was ultimately identified with the owner and eulti , water of the land, and that neither benefit nor injury could be done to the one without at the same time benefiting or injuring the other. (lieu.) What were the proofs and arguments for eacertainiog the state of the poor and of society in general. First of all the poor rate. Now, taking any day in the year 1640, and comparing it with the year 1848, there would be found a con siderable diminution in the number of able bodied persons receiving relief. (Hear, hear.) If the condition of the labouring class was so bad, would it not show itself in diminished consumption? But what is the fad? Take tea, which might be considered as an article of luxury to the poor man. During the last year there was an increased consumption of 3,000,000 lb.. beyond any former year. It was the same with regard to other articles, and dad tee had somewhat fallen off the UNTO led consumption of cocoa made up for it. (Hear, hear.) He would go farther and say that not only bad an increased consumption taken place, but, without venturing to prophesy too boldly, he would say thatit was increasing, or about to increase, and bakes much time had elapsed would increase much se re. (Heir.) His noble friend made &Husks to commerce, and it was his (the Marquis of Lansdowne's) opiniou that their commerce could not increase without benefiting the proprietors of land in this country. The exportation of this country had increased to the amount of ten millions. The noble lord opposite may say that some of their exports went to India. Well, and what if they did ? Could any body deny that a very large quantity of them were consumed in the United States. The export of their initnu.sefures could not but serve the landlord in the end. (Hear, hear.) He objected to return to their old policy on the ground Oat no scheme of the kind suoseeded elsewhere, and because it had been is failure in this country. The landed interest opposed a fixed duty when they might have had it; thinking at the time that the eliding scale was the great principle by which they were to be protected. The noble marquis then quoted from a report made by a com mittee on the sliding scale in 1835, which stated that the effect of the sliding scale, with regard to the egrecultu- Hata, was their savings were gene, their credit had failed, and their resources had been exhausted. This was mid when the favourite scheme was adopted. The egriculturists should remember that they were not the only body who bad to coupe.e with the foreigner. Those who addrcs ed the agri culturists should recommend them to make some exertion to compete with the foreigner instead of advising them to come to parliament seeking for relief. But what after all is the relief which is proposed to be obtained by parliament. Was it a fixed duty ? The noble lord opposite seemed to imply that it was, but he did not seem to advise his followers to that effect. In the speeches which had been made in favour of protection, he could find nothing but generalities. The Duke of RICHMOND here said that what was sought by the farmer was protection to all sorts of industry in this country. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that he was glad to bear from the Noble I)uke what their object was. He would be as frank with the Noble Duke as the Noble Duke had been with him. There was a time when he thought that a fixed duty was the best way to meet the necessity that then existed, but when that proposition was made, it was sec casolully resisted by the Noble Lord (Stanley), and that opposition placed the country in a position whisk compelled them to determine between a sliding stele or no duty on corn at all. He could not say whether the farmers were or were not grateful to the noble lord fat having driven the country to this alternative. He wee glad that the sense of the house was appealed to in this instance, because he thought that the sooner the public were enlight ened with regard to the impossibility of returning to the old system of protection the better it would be for them. He was of opinion that the prosperity of one portion of the community could not continue without affecting the rest, and it was the consuming power of this country that enhanced the interests of all classes. He was not new pre pared to go back to their last policy, and he believed that if this amendment should by any chance be carried, the mover of it would find, that when the question came to he pressed further, he would be deserted by most of those who now supported him. The noble marquis concluded his observations by calling the attention of their lordships to the fact that the efficts of the repeal of the navigation laws were exhibiting themselves in a manner which was most advantageous to this country. There was scarcely • port in England in which there were not more ships building than at any former period; and, more me , daily, he would allude to Sunderland, which must be con , sidered the grand emporium of the shipping trade. The Duke of BEAUFORT said that, in spite of what the , noble marquis had said, he could not help thinking that theme's much distress in the country, when he fount large bodies of labourers, who wen willing to lab..ur, seeking for L work or relief, and unable to obtain either. With regard to . the statement which had been made with respect to the de crease in pauperism, there was no question that it had arisen . from the practice of giving labourers who were able-bodied I men 4s. for working three days, in order to keep them out I of the workhouse. Earl GREY said that he had been represented as having said that be raised his rent when the corn laws were repealed. What be said was that when the corn laws were repealed, he considered that his land was increased in value. That opinion he adhered to. Ir. his mind the lund must increase in value while the manufacturing interest was in • prop.- lOUs state. Their lordships then divided. For the amendment—Present 6O Proxies Present Proxies Apintt the Majority against the amendment 49 The bowie than adjourned, at • quarter alter one, till Monday. HOUSE OF COMMONS—THURSDAY, JAM. 31. In consequence of a refusal on the part of the official in attendance to open the doer of the reporters' gallery until about 10 minutes after 2, it is impossible to state what in , m berm assembled for the purpose of accompanying the Speaker to the House of Lords. At the time mentioned the Speaker returned, but an adjournment till a quarter to 4 having been previously arranged, the members left the house without re aiming their seats. The Eirraxin took the chair at a quarter to 4. The following new members took the oaths and their pats:—Mr. D. A. Pelham, for Boston; Mr. J. F. Stanford, CT Reading ,• Kr. J. Brat, for Kidderminster ; Kr. W. J. Evelyn, for West Surrey ; Col. Chattertoo, for the oily of Cork; and Lord A. Lennox, for New Shoreham. THEA#kY IN INDIA. The SPBAKliiiablb - e had to eequsint the house that he had revived the following latter in acknowledirinent of. vote of thanks pared by the house on the 24th of April last : Sir, —I have had the honour to receive from the Most Noble the Governor-General of India, a printed resolution of the Ileum of ('em. nuns, of the 94th April. 1549, conveying the thanlie of the house for the octems of the PuMaub ; and as a Ma-tlenetal therein named I had the honour to oiler my best acknowkdgments to the Most N.,bte the Governor-General fee the same; and I now have the honour of emu-using to the House of 00111MOIN my grateful wham% lodgments for such a dlittagulatted mark of their approMtion. I have the honour to be, he., Jumps Tunenwati. NOTICES OF MOTION-00VERNMENT MEA SURES. Mr. TUFNELL said—Perhaps the house will allow me to tak , this opportunity of announcing the order in which her Majesty's government propose to bring forward their measures in the course of the present session. On Monday the noble lord the First Lord of the Admiralty would move Oar leave to hving . in a bill for the better government of the Australian colonies, when the noble lord would take the opportunity of making a statement of the colonial pAicy of s th o th e ra s ineak Weelasedag. the 6th of February. the oral woad men fat lean to bring in a bill for tae issida tm e is pe:. and prectioo in the superior courts of corascoa* w in I nland ; also a bill to simplify and im lrove the is the High Court of Memory is In and; else a bill to amend the laws for the registration of OBIUMIOIIII of lands in Ireland; and also a bill to amend the laws coaosrning Judgment In Ireland. Oa the suss day the Under Srctetary for tho Colonise would move the mappolatment of the Select Committee on the affairs of Ceylon. Oa Friday, the Bth of February, the Secretary for Inland Mould move for leave to bring in a bill to retrain party pretensions in Ireland. (Hear, hear.) Oa the same day the Solicitor General would move for lea,* to bring In a bill to enable persons having limited interests in load .in Ireland to make building lease and improving lease •• also a bill for facilitating and better securing the doe aderfaistration of charitable trusts. Oa the aeon day the Charicellor of the Euchequer would move for leave to bring in a Mil to make bettor provision for the management of the woods and forests and Lad revenues of the grown, and for the direction of works and public buildings. And, on the same day, the Secretary for the Home Department would move for the appointment of a committee on prison disci pline. Oa Monday, the 11th of February, the President of ohs Board of Trade would move for lean to bring in a bill for improving the condition of mates, metes, and seamen In the merchant service ; also a bill for the regulation of the Merchant Seamen's Fund; also a bill for the regulation of the admessurement of the tonnage and burden of the mer chant shipping. On Monday, the 11th of February, the fircretary foe Inland would move for leave to introduce a bill to amend the laws which regulate the qualification and registration of parliamentary voten in Ireland ; also a bill to shorten the duration of &tams in Ireland, and for establishing additional places for taking the poll thereat. SAVINGS BANKS. Mr. HATTER gave notice, on behalf of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that on Tuesday, the 6th of February, the right hon. gentleman would ask for leave to introdaee a bill to amend the law relating to savings banks; and also move for the re-appointment of the select committee on savings banks. ARMY AND ORDNANCE EXPENDITURE. Mr. HATTER gave notice, that on Tuesday next the Chancellor of the Exchequer would move for the re appointment of the select committees on army and ordnance expenditure. AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS. Mr. CHRISTOPHER gave notice that he would to- morrow (this day) present a petition from the county of Lincoln, screed to at a public meeting, complainiag of agri cultural diatreso. IRISH FISHERIES. ANSTBY gave ewes that he should to-morrow move for leave to bring in a bill to consolidate and amend tie Irish Fishery Ad. THE NATIVI3 PRINCES OF INDIA. - . ...—.... Sir E. COLEBII,OOKE gave notice that on Tuesday, the 12th of February, he would move for a select committee to inquire into the rights of succtssion of the native princes of India. THE POORER CLASSES AND LOCAL TAXATION. Mr. P. SCROPE are notice that on Thursday, the 7th of Februery, he would move for leave to bring in a bill for the exemption of houses occupied by the poorer claws from local taxation. PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Mr. SWART gave notice that on Th;sday, the 14th of February, he would move for leave to bring in a bull to enable town councils to establish public libraries. The hon. member also notified his intention to move for the re appointment of a committee on public libraries, and to pro pene the repeal of the duty on advertitements. HUNGARY. lArd D. STUART gave notice that on that day week he would move for certain papers relating to Hungary. WEST LONDON. Mr. MACGREGOtt gave notice that he would, on Thursday next, bring forward a resolution regardiax the representation of the parishes of Kensington, Hammer smith, Chelsea, anti Fulham. MINISTERS' MONEY IN IRELAND. Mr. FAGAN gave notice that on that day fortnight be would move that the house should resolve itself into a com mittee to take into consideration the tax or rate in Ireland called " ministers' money," with the view of providing a substitute. THE LATE BREVET. Major BLACKALL WM* notice that, on the house going into a eomrsittee of supply on the army eatimatea, he would call attention to the brevet on the occasion of her Majesty's visit to Ireland. THE ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION. - - - - Mr. HORSMAN gave notice that onTuesday next he would submit to the haute a resolution on the subject of the Ecclesiastical Comminion. TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY. Mr. DRUMMOND gave notice of his intention to move for leave to brat( in a bill to facilitate the transfer of real property. THE RATE.PAYINO CLAUSES OF THE REFORM BILL. Sir DE LACY ENTANSgavonotice that on the 14th of February he would more for leave to bring in a bill to re• peal the law requiring the payment of local taxes as a condi tion of voting for candidates at parliamentary elections. THE WEST INDIAN COLONIES AND THE SLAVE TRADE. Sir B. N. BUXTON gave Lobos that, on the following (this) day, he would present a petition from Kingston, 'analog, praying that the colonists might not be exposed to the competition of Cuba end Brazil, until the govern ments of those places tad fulfilled Ihe treaties into which they had entered for the abAitiou of the slave trade. Sir R. INGLIS gave • similar notice with respect to a similar petition from Barbadoev. COLONIAL GOVERNMENT. Mr. ADDEfaili ggpee notice,onbeTtsll4Sir W. Moles worth, that, on Tuesday next, the hon. baronet would move a resolution relating to the subject of colonial government. TIIE ROYAL SPEECII. The SPEAKER then stated that he had attended the House of Peers, and that the Lord Chancellor, acting u one of the commissioners on behalf of her Majesty, had delivered the royal speech. The right bon. gentleman then read the speech to the bons*. [For which ace yesterday's Expros.] THE ADDRESS. Mr. C. VILLIERS, on rising to address the house, was received with general cheering. lie said, I am bound to say that I entirely concur in the views which her Majesty's govern- ment take of the condition of the people of this country ; end having the most implicit confidence that my noble friend at the head of the government will not compromise, will not in any way surrender, but will maintain entire, those measures which he conceives to be essential to the happiness end well being of the Ipeople,—(cheep)-1 have no hesitation in making the house to respond to the speech which has just been read. Bir, I will advert at once to those topics in her Majesty's speech which will, I presume, elicit the united Winos of this house. The speech communicates the deep affliction which her Majesty has experienced on account of the cis•ath of her illustrious relative, the late Queen Dowager. I think I should but correctly represent the feelings of the country, were I to say with regard to her late Majesty, that her blameless life, her un ostentatioue counter, and her numerous acts of charity, as well as the exemplary meaner in which she ful filled the duties of her exalted station, have deserved for her memory a deep feeling of respect in the minds of the people at larg•—(cheere)—and the house will not hesitate, I am sure, to concur in • cordial expression of condolence and sympathy for the bereavement which her Majesty has sustained. (Cheers.) It is stated in her Majesty s speech, and the statement is one which this house always receives with the greatest satisfaction, that " Her Majesty happily continues in peace and amity with foreign powers." It is lurther announced that her Majesty has, in conjunction with ' France, and by means of a friendly mediation, prevented hostilities from "occurring between the governments of Austria and Russia on the one band and the Sublime Porte on the other." The apprehension of a rupture is stated to have arisen from the fact of certain persons, subjects of Russia and of Austria, luring sought refuge and protection in the territories of the Sultan. A demand was made by the Emperor of Russia and the Emperor of Austria, seve rally, that these parties should be surrendered, in order that they might be punished for the offences with which they were charged. A doubt having arisen, however, in the mind of the Sultan as to the correctness of the construc tion iat upon those treaties on which the demand was founded, he applied to the governments of England and France to aid him in the solution; and I believe it is now mat ter of notoriety that those governments adopted the construe tion which was put by the Sultan noon those treaties, that con struction being unfavourable to the surrender of these per sons, while its correctness was admitted by the final arrange ment with respect to those who had sought refuge in his dominions. Sir, 1 am aware that there never was a time when the interference of this country in the affairs of foreign countries with which it is not directly concerned has been met with stronger objection than it would excite at present. But, sir, I think there is a great distinction be tween an intervention which has for its object to dictate to a people the form of government under which they shall live, or to contribute a force with which the existing government may suppress that peeple when it would otherwise be unable to do so, and that kind of intervention which assumes the form of a friendly arbitration, and which has in view the cause of humanity and the prevention of hostilities the issue of which might be dangerous to ourselves I conceive that in the latter cue intervention is not only justifiable but most politic, and I think it is one of the most fortunate conse quences of the position which we now hold in the opinion of the world, that when we do intervene for the rake of peace and of humanity we are able to do so with effect. (Cheers.) I refer to the position which we hold in the opinion of the world with a feeling of pride. I believe there never was a time when this country was regarded with more trust and with more respect than it is at present. I attribute this opinion to the better understanding of the character of the people of this country in general. (Hear, hear.) Sir, her Majesty „has an nounced that she has been in communication with different powers, for the purpose of making arrangements con sequent upon the changes which were effected last year in the laws for the regulation of our navigation; and it is added that her Majesty is negotiating at this moment with states which have intimated their rea diner to reciprocate the advantages which have been extended to them. The United States and Sweden having already reciprocated every advantage which his been offered to them by the recent abolition of our navigation laws. Sir, it is gratifying to observe that all thaw apprehensions which were expressed by them who resisted the change, appear to have been wholly unfounded. Seldom has so m u ch exc i tement sod feeling united with pecuniary interest as in the resistance to the repeal of the aavigation laws; and rarely have the mis chiefs and evils of an old system and the advantages of its abolition been so quickly and clearly brought into view. I may also mention that some of the persons who were most remittent in predicting evil consequences from this change hays been alike forward in showing either that they did nut etredit the statements they had made themselves or that there was a justification for the discredit which had been cast upon them. It has further been discovered what was perhaps not known before this change, that we have an advantage in build ing ships beyond that of any other country, and so tar from lany interest being likely to suffer from that alteration, we Iflnd that we can not only build ships cheaper in our own yards than we could buy them in other countries, but also that theme countries can build ships cheaper here than in their own yards. (Hear, hear.) And it das appear that whatever advantage may possibly have been obtained by other countries over us was the result of the system that pre viously existed in this country. The consequence of the change we have adopted, together with the mode of build ing our vessels, and in the examinations to which the any. tees and mates are subject, will very speedily place the vessels of this country on an equality with the vessels of any other nation in the world. I have here the monthly cir cular of Meson. Currie and Co., a passage in which is of such great importance, that I think it is worthy the attention of the house. (The hon. member read ihe passage in question, which stated that so soon aa all uncertainty was removed on tha subject of the repeal of the Navigation Laws, the shipbuilders of Liverpool, had evinced increased activity. The native hue of resolution which had b een sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought.—(Loud Laughter, which completely drowned the rest of the passage.) Th.: re! =tinder ot the extract quoted, stated that the shipbuilders of Liverpool then determined to be up and doing) In conse quence of the doubt being removed with respect to the repeal the shipownen determined to be up and doing. Now with respect to this being up and doing, I have • return from the port of Sunderland, and I End that the amount of tonnage of vessels built in that port during the year ending December, 1847 was 22,140, and on the 31st December, 1849, eh e nsvi gation laws having been repealed, the total amount of ton nage was 29,210. The number of chips built in 1847 wee 16, and in 1849, 24. (Hear, hear.) Thaw were the number of ships and their tonnage built in 1847 and 1849 ; now the number of vessels built in Sunderland in 1844, while there was still some doubt respecting the re peal of the navigation laws, was 142 of 37,878 tons while the number of ships built in 1849 was 155 of 44,333 tone. Her Majesty's speech has communicated to the house the satisfaction which she has derived from her recent visit te Ireland. Tnat her Majesty's recep tion in that country should have been marked by every indication of devotion and loyalty, I believe occasioned nu surprise to those who were best acquainted with the feejeg o of that people. (Hear.) The people of Ireland oiten com plain, and venetian, with reason, ot this country, but hey have seldom been wanting in respect to the crown. (Hear, hear.) They have always cheerfully &deco*" dyed the an cient right of r Majesty's dominion over their country, and of her Majesty pen enally they only know that from the time of her accession she has always been anxious for their welfare, desirous that every reasonable ground of complaint should be removed, and &axioms that equal justice and favour should be dispensed in each portion of her kingdom. Enter taining respect and affection for her Disj.aty, it w., not wonderful that the people of that generous nation shi,uld have welcomed her yeah enthusiasm. Sir, from iolorma tion which I have received, 1 do not belv.ve that anything has occurred among the people of Ireland since her Ma jesty's departure, at all likely to shake the ft...liege of attachment and loyalty evinced on that occasion. (Mese, hear.) And Ido believe that her Majesty well receive the same reception, and meet with equal aatistaction, should she determine again to visit Ireland Her Majesty's speech hes referred to the great distress of Ireland, and to the lamentable ravages Co which it has been subjected by the pre sence of that disease, which has equally affeeed this country, and al.o to the mitigation of the sufferings of the parer chews, by the present abundaace,of food and the tranquilli y which prevails. I b-lieve that that is the ease, and ate gratifying to know that in many respects the people of that country, the poor of Ireland, are improving in their c.a.:s cion, owing to the abundance and cheapness of the ue ces @Aries of life and the greater demand fur labour There is every intimation of a less resort to public relief, and it is a satisfactory feature, with respect to the syseem of public relief introduced into that country, tnat it has ectirely re moved all the lean of those who were opposed to it. It was argued that if you once admitted the system of relict out of the workhouse, the Irish poor and people generally Inuit/ become demoralised, and that there would be a dependence ore pu dic charity which nothing c , uld resist. It is satisactory to ob • *free that, to the extent that the necessaries of life arc more abundant to the people, they show no disposvion to rely ex clusively upon public charity. The amount of outdoor re lief administered has diminished iu proportion to the abun dance and cheapness of the necessaries at li:e and she demand for labour. In 1819 the number of persons reeeising ode cr relief amounted to 206,2.34, and in IS6d to 204,467 ; the number receiving outdoor relief on the fat of Januery, 1•19, amounted to 479,67. i, and in 18.50 only 104,0.50, showing a decrease in the number receiving indoor re :iet of 1,760, and in outdoor relief of 375,626. Rear, hear.) I thick it right to state that, so far as we can ascertain at present, with respect to the prospects of the operati en of the poor law that from year to year, I might say tram month to month, its administra tion becomes more easy, more tracqual, and more beneficial to the count!) , at large. I stated that there was a dimi nution consequent upon the improved condition of the people. I have a return from the constabulary department of the number of outrages committed is the van 1847 and 1849. The number of outrages committed by stealing cattle and sheep in 1847 was 10,044, and in 1849, 8,157; the number of ether outrages was in 1847, 10,942 ; and in 1849, 6,749. The total in 1817 was 20,986, mein 1849 14,906. Tee total number of animals stolen was in 1847, 15,41, and in 1449, 13,631. (Hear, bear) Sir, I shall now advert to another announcement in her Majesty's speech, and I am sure that it will be most gratifying to the house, and will be received with perfect satisfaction. Reference is made in that announcement with respect to the manufactures and commerce of the country, as well as v.., general condition of the people. It rests upon that high authority that the ma nufactures and commerce of the country are improving, and that the condition of the people is very much better than it his been in consequence of greater access to the necessaries and comforts of life. (Hear, hear.) Tnat 13 • most important an nouncement. (Hear, hear) Important at any time. We are aware of the vast consequences that are involved at all times in any disturbance of that state of things. There are such vast interests connected with the condition of our mahutactures— I may say the general prosperity of the country is so in tact —that at any other time such an announcement woult not be unusual or particular. But, sir, that announcement has been waited for and watched for with great anxiety by the whole country. 1 believe there never was a time when at tention and interest were more directed to that circumstance out of the country than at the present moment, when all are waiting to see what is the state of England. All the conti nental world seem to think that we have lately tried a vast experiment, and they are waiting for the result. This announcement, therefore , is most important. The fact is rho nations of the earth are turning their attention to the doctrues of political economy. 'There never was a time when nations were more desirous of becoming wealthy, and of becoming acquainted with the proper dirrt. button of wealth, and the problem now undergoing a solution is in what way can nations accumulate the greatest possible amount of wealth consi-tent with for distribution. 1 do not deny that there are two systems by which it is sought to obtain this object. The one is by regulating and restrict ing the trade of the country, irrespective of the wants and requirements of the people—that is the protecive system. The other is to leave to the unfettered energy and intelli gence and understanding of a tree and civilised people the discovery of the means by which they tin otitait. the greatest returns for their capital and labour — that is the system of free trade. (Cheers ) By all the com mercial nations of the earth we have been seen pursuiag for many years the protective system; that system has just cm abolished in favour of free trade. And perhaps the tn. t in the result of this change of system has beau considerably heightened by the confidence with which the prophecies of its effects were enunciated by both parties. l have no doubt that many persona have been shaken in their faith to • sound principle from the confidence with which many per sons have predicted unfavourable results from the change But we now have the authority of an announcement con tained in her Majesty's speech, that tete results at least during the first year have realised ens more than was expected from the change. It may be said, that the time is rather short to judge of the results. blot there has been suck a variety of un:avourable predicti.ms. which if they were justified, I think the times has arrived when we should at least have some indication of their value and truth. From the best source we are now told on this the very first occasion that the manufactures see thriving, and that the condition of the people has improv ed . owing to thee. hear," greater .o d access ch the r,.) i during that time we hare arrived at results much m ire fa vourable to the advocates of tree trade than even the must i s wants true in th d at emmi the in trm o e t iiisrealt(o.; H ear , sanguine of its friends could have anticipated. I am ain • position now to state that within the last It, mouths we have imported mote food than during sixteen years In. fore. (Hear, hear.) And the results of this importation fully prove in an unexpectedly short time, the ad vantages of free trade, said I think I am ea titled to say, that every one of the statements put forth b the opponents of free trade has been . entirely falsified, while not one single statement made by its adv., tutu, has tailed to prove true. (Great cheering and laughter from the protectionists. ) It will be to the advantage of all parties, that the predictions ot both should be tested during this discussion. The condition of the working classes has not only not dete riorated, hut has very much improved ; and the Chancellor of the Exchequer will inform me whether I am right in saying that the revenue has increased. lam in possesaion of letters and documents from every part of the country. in which they admit that they were well off, but ascribe it naturally to the cheapness and abundance of the o r e..wanes of life. As to the home trade I had had some little doubts se the' subject bull this very day have received letter from the north ot England, where they an chiefly concerned in the supply of the country, describing what the state of the manufacturing interest is. The letter is from Bradford. The hon. member then proceeded to read a letter from Bradford, which stated that the writer had taken considera ble interest in the state of the working clog. P, and that in all respects a constant, steady, and great improvement bad taken place during the last twelve months. The export@ from the United States had increased, the demand trout the continent had revived, and in the home trade a large in crease had taken plum. He had also received a letter treat Leicester, a district in which there had b-en • great deal e agitation, with regard to the proposed measure of five trade. The groat staple trade of Leicester was the stocked* trade, and this was one of the bast indexes of the rondo:eon of the workin g Chime Three-802s of the population wero