The Sun. — London, England, 1848-02-19 00:00:00

r fall as lightly as possible ;on the great bulk of the People. Mr. M. MILNES could not permit the present dis cussion to close or the evening to pass without expressing his profound reg ret that the speech of the Noble Lord at the head of her Majesty's Government, and so much of the subsequent debate, should have been taken up rather upon a subject introduced by accidental circumstances, as a matter of discussion with the public, than upon one necessarily connected with the actual condition of the country. He profoundly regretted that the possibility of an invasion of this country by France should have ever come before the House of Commons as a subject of dis cussion—(Cheers)—or that any such monstrous position should have occurred to the mind of any sensible man. —(Hear, herr.) He was certain, whatever might be the feelings of the Members of that House on the subject, that that, and that alone, was the sentiment of all the intelligent people of England.—([Tear, hear.) From all be knew, and all he had heard, of the feelings of the people of France, he believed that so far from any hos tile sentiment having entered the mind of a single states man of that country towards England, even under the influence of any accidental acerbity that might have been excited, all the eminent men of France were in clined to look upon the agitation of the subject in this country rather as a speculation, or, they knew not what, among certain individuals, than as a matter gravely contemplated by the Ministers of the Queen, or seriously entertained by the people. He thought there prevailed a great misapprehension as to the nature and tendency of, the speech of the Noble Lord at the head of the Treasury. He (Mr. Milnes) heard it whispered by Honourable Members about him, that the speech of the Noble Lord was a war speech—that it was a speech of menace to France. Upon him the speech did not make th,at impression—(Hear)—nor did he think it would have made that impression on others had not their minds been by previous disquisit ions ren dered more than usually susceptible to any allusions upon that topic,. He could quite understand why the Nolsle Lor d should think it necessary to make allusions to the forces of other countries when summing up our own, but he be lieved the Noble Lord did so rather as comparing what other nations thought necessary for their defence with what he considered proper for ours, than as intending to draw a comparison for any antagonistic purpose. Lie regretted these allusions the more bemuse there was no necessity for the Noble Lord to have said anything upon the subject. The additional sum required was so very small that a less honest Minister might have put it into the estimates, and have slurred it over altogether. There was no reason whatever for believing that there was any likelihood of the peace between this country and France being disturbed; although he saw no great objection to the people of England being made somewhat more ac customed to military training than they were at present, The system prevailed with good effect in Prussia, and he saw no reason why it should be at all injurious to the domestic habits of the people of this country. Some men appeared to think that from the very fact of our having long been at peace we must necessarily come to war. But this long peace had taught the world the value and power of peace, and that it was by peace alone that the liberties of the world could be permanently secured, however necessary it might be under certain circumstances for a nation to be prepared for war. Mr. BRIGHT had expected to hear a financial state ment connected with the trade and commerce and fiscal concerns of the country, such as they had been accus tomed to hear for years past; but instead of that he found that the substance of the Noble Lord's speech was in reference to military topics—a speech that would have been much more appropriately delivered by the Noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The Hon. Baronet the Mebaber for the University of Oxford had taken a very unexpected course on this occasion. Hitherto that Hon. Baronet had relied more upon the protection of Providence in preserving this country from its enemies than on the arm of flesh; but now it seemsd, since steam had been invented, Providence was no longer able to protect us from the assaults of France. Steam had given, according to the Honourable Baronet, a power to France to cross the Channel and invade this country which made it no longer safe for us to rely alone upon that higher power; and yet we found that steam had not hitherto succeeded in enabling the ships of France to cross the Atlantic.—(Hear, hear.) He was certain that in France any man who read and deliberated upon the speech would come to the conclu sion that in this country there was great suspicion and jealousy of France; and they all knew that the most bloody wars had their origin in jealousies and suspicions. The Noble Lord said he was prepared to maintain the independence of the country; but would any man affirm that there was the slightest risk of this country losing its independence through foreign aggression? There was, however, a source of national en ta e independence which the policy of the Govern ment, explained that night, was calculated to destroy. the, people were ground down with taxation, and led to mink that that House was careless of economy, and regarded the people in the light of a class from *horn they could raise taxes—if a feeling of this kind was awakened, the confidence which the nation was ac customed to repose in Government would be lost; and if there was to be an invasion, it would only be when schism had sprung up among ourselves, and when we had not a united people to face any enemy that might appear.—(Hear,hear.) He felt bound, in reference to this increased taxation, to tell the Noble 'Lord what were the circumstances of Lancashire. Within that oounty, the most populous in the kingdom, the manu facturers were pressed down under a series of losses unexampled in the history of the cotton trade. This was not the time, therefore, when for the sake of in creasing our military expenditure to meet an imaginary enemy the country should be saddled with an increase of taxation.—(Hear, hear.) In nearly every cotton mill in Lancashire during the last twelve months the whole amount of wages paid to the work people bad been taken from the capital of the employers ; and there was not one employer engaged in the staple trade of that county who had not paid his income-tax upon a loss more than the assumed profit upon which the income-tax was charged.—(Hear, hear.) As to the mode of taxation, he would only remark that he would not oppose direct taxation if any necessity for an increase existed at all. They had long reached the limit of indirect taxation ; they were nearly approaching the limit of direct taxation ; and lif this increase of armaments was to go on, the people would soon not have much to choose between being eaten np by the French and the military expendi ture of their own country.—(A laugh.) But if the income-tax was to be made permanent—and the Chancellor of the Exchequer had informed them that it was to be permanent—how was it that Ministers had not placed it on a footing more equitable to all classes of the community ?—(Hear, hear.) Why was mere income from tsade to be chargeable in an equal degree with the income drawn from real property ? He could tell the Government of one tax to which the Government might have had recourse with greater propriety than the income-tax, and that was the probate and legacy duties. —(Hear, hear.) To collect 2,500,000/. annually by these duties, and allow great landed estates that passed from father to son without paying any tax whatever, was a gross injustice, and one discreditable to the Government to overlook.—(Hear, hear.) He knew a property that within a period of seven or eight years paid the probate and legacy duties three times over.— (Hear, hear.) No less a sum than 70,000,000/. had been drawn by these duties since they were first imposed from personal property, while the landed property of the country had been left untouched.—(Hear.) He knew it would be said they were subjected to an enormous burden from stamps ; but the rest of the community had to boar that burden also, as was exemplified in bills of exchange, the transfer of railway property, and the like. He could assure Government that the announce ment they had made would be received with much dis satisfaction throughout the country. Ile had formerly said in that House that the Government was the Govern ment of the middle classes ; and he would now add, that if it ceased to be the Government of the middle-classes, it would soon be no Government at all. The present Ministry came into power by no virtue or influence of their own ; they were brought in by a lucky accident, and because there were no others to take the charge of the Government at the time.—(Hear, hear.) If the Ministry fancied that they could do in 1848, with re apect to foreign affairs and warlike armaments, what was done 35 or 40 years ago, they wou ld comm it a mos t egregious blunder—(Hear, hear)—and he was satisfied from 'hat he h a d seen an d heard, that by the course they, were n ow t a ki ng , t h ey wou ld p l ace t h emse l ves i n fr_e_?t, opposition to many of their best friends, who "um no longer consider it their duty to support them.—(Hear, hear.)mr..l,4_,_? mach rear;ovfni:oEeGomit rE thought the Ministry had re a lly lain of the manner in which they were treated b y own friends on this occasion ; b u t with regard t o this their increase of taxation, he must concur with many of them in opinion. He regarded the in capital come ta emplo x as v yiciod inus in principle, and as injurious to th e e s ea and he believed that th e c ountry was not in such a state as that it could bear an additional taxation.—(Rear, hear.) The Hon. Member f or Buckinghamshire had answered the Hon. M em b er for the West Riding b y anticipation. It was with g ee reg ret that he (Mr. Newdegate) saw t r h e e v ecnounes ummation and in the of the free - trade p olic y in a de creased p necessity for increased taxation. The anticipation s of p ros p e rity held out to the people as a cons,- , eience of free trade had been most dreadfully disappointed; and though the members of the ultra free trade school migh t ' flatter themselves thrift they still retained a hold on Popular opinion, the time would probably soon arrive when they would be undeceived. Lord PALMERSTON—I do not wish to enter into subjects which have Iteen repeatedly discussed. But I should wish to say one word or two, especially on the speeches made by my Hon . Friend on this side of the House. It is very natural for young Members, unused to Parliamentary tactics, and who do not feel entirely easy when they come to this House, to let fly speeches which they may have prepared beforehand, though the occasion they expected should not exactly occur. —(Cheers.) But certainly I did not expect that Hon. Gentlemen so accustomed to Parliamentary debate as the lion. AI - embers to whom I allude should have fallen into that mistake.—(Cheer s . ) We are told that my Noble Fri en d h as b een prop osing vast armaments, that he has armaments there are none. If been making speech es f u ll o f war lik e sen- ti c a l ru n i t s s a d and th at a e t he has be en h o ldi ng l anguage had my Nobl e Friend jealousy, a n d even enm i ty on the part of p rance. As to an addition of said that he h a d i nten d e d to propose of 10,000 men to the 20,000 men to the army, and the language of those navy, I could have understood come down to protest ! i° s poke as if against s h they had to the army' there is no incre ue a proposition. But disposition, a different distribution There is a different There is no addition whatever n 't!, f t t e xisting army. There is none to tho navy. There is - regular army. to the marines and to the artillery; but stmall increase no augmentation such as the House mi ght there has been gined, from the sort of denunciations th e y have have lean " have heard. THE SUN LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEERVARY 19, )84s. I trust, wh,en my Hon. Friends reflect, and when they find how very small is the increase contemplated, the alarm they have expressed will subside. I should also wish to defend my Noble Friend from the attack which has been made on him in regard to our relations with France. When it is the duty of a Minister of the Crown to propose an addition either to the militaxy or to the naval force of the country, he must assign the grounds on which that addition is required. And the only grounds on which you measure the amount of your naval force must, on the one band, be the extent of your commerce and the number of distant possessions you have to protect; and, on the other hand, the comparative force other countries possess—other coun tries with which it is possible you may, in the course of events, be placed in a state of hostility. So far from its affording any cause of offence to France that we should measure our navy by such a standard, I am sure any one who follows the debates in the French Cham bers, when their naval estimates come under discussion, must know that they follow the same course, adopting the natural and only measure in such cases, namely, the naval force which other nations may happen to have at the time. I therefore deny that anything which fell from my Noble Friend the First Lord of the Treasury can bear the m eaning a tt e mpted to be cast upon it. In fact my Noble Friend expressed sentiments in which I concur, and I am confident the House concurs. He expressed in the strongest terms his anxiety and desire that the relations between these two countries should not only be friendly, but should be as intimate as possible. I think there is one thing essential for preserving that friendly relation. It is, that we should be on a footing of equality. There is no true or permanent friendship between nations unless they are on a looting of reciprocal independence. The passions by which nations may, from time to time, be animated, are attended with great danger. I consider, therefore, that any Government which proposes to place this country in a state of defence, not against war, but against unexpected surprise, is laying the surest foundation for the maintenance of that peace which we desire to see preserved. lam not one of those who indulge in an ticipations of war between this country and France. I believe, with the Hon. Gentleman, that the principles of free trade will tend to preserve friendly relations between different nations. At the same time our commercial relations with France are not exactly those which we should desire ; but France is not an exporting country of corn, and other circum stances do not afford us the same opportunity of en larging our commerce with France as with other na tions. But I look to the general tendency of men's minds towards peace, and I differ from the Hon. Member for the University of Oxford, who thinks that the long duration of peace renders war more profitable; I think,on the contrary, that the duration of peace renders its con tinuance more likely, and will make countries more dis posed to settle their differences otherwise than by war; so far, therefore, from thinking that the long duration of peace will hasten war, lam led to infer from it the pro bability of its continuing, rather than its being curtailed. If there be any two nations in the world who ought more than others to desire to be upon the most intimate terms, they are the English and French nations. Any men at the head of the Governments of these two nations who consider the real interests of both must see that those in terests will be best promoted by relations of friendship and peace between them, and by the prevention of any misunderstandings that :night lead to a rup . Lure. I trust that W 3 are fated to see a ) long continuance of the blessings of peace which we have so long enjoyed ; and if any ) thing more than another could render peace pre carious, it would be the measure of leaving this cowl ' try—a country rich and opulent as it is—unprotected, or without adequate means of defence, so as to invite other nations to take advantage. of our weakness. I consider, therefore, the measures proposed as not de • serving the representations made of them, as extra ordinary armaments, whereas armaments they are none. I think that this country, in time of peace, ought to have the means of providing against any unforeseen attack. The formal motion which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had submitted, on going into Com mittee of Ways and Means, that the sum, of 8,000,000/. be granted as a supply to her Majesty, was then agreed to, the resolutions proposed by Lord John Russell being reserved for further discussion on Monday se'n night. Mr. HUME gave notice that should the army or navy estimates be brought forward before these resolutions were disposed of, he should move that these estimates be postponed. CARLOW ELECTION. The SPEAKER. informed the House that he had re ceived a letter from the agent for the petitioner against the return for Carlow, stating that the petition had been withdrawn. Mr. BANKES inquired what day was fixed for the next stage of the Jewish Disabilities Bill. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied on Monday, but it was not probable it would come on that day. Sir B. HALL inquired of the Noble Lord the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests, whether his Sa nitary Bill would include the metropoliis, and if not, whether it was his intention to introduce a Bill for that purpose ? Also, what other Bills upon that sub ject he proposed to introduce, and what their provisions were? _ _ _ Lord MORPETH was understooe to say that ho had already stated he did not consider the Bill to apply to the metropolis, and it was not his intention at present to introduce a Bill for that purpose. He could not enter into a statement as to the provisions of the other Bills. The first would relate to sewers. The New Zealand Government Bill was read a third time and passed. The Home then adjourned, at a Quarter to One o'clock. lIER ➢iAJESTY'S THEATRE. THIS THEATRE_ Will open THIS EVENIS7(I, the 19th of February, when will be presented VERDI'S ADMIRED OPERA OF ERNANI. Carlo Y• • ...... Signot 7 GXllso - NI, his first appearance this season. Ruy Gomez de Silva.. Signor IIELLETTI, his first appearance. Ernanl .............. Signor CUZZANI, his first appearance; and _ Elvira •••• • • • • •35d11e. SOFIA CRUVELLI. After the Opera the National Anthem, by the principal Artistes, supported by the Chorus. After which *will be presented An entirely Now and Original GIWID BALLET, In Four Tableaux, by M. Paul Taglioni, entitled FIORITA, et la Reins des Elfrides, leMusie composed by Signor Pugni ; the Scenery (entirely new) by Mr. C. Marshall ; the Appointments by Mr. Bradwell ; the Costumes by Miss Bradley and Mr. Whales, under the superin tendence of Madame Copero. Principal parts by Mdlle. CAROLINA ROSATI, Mdlles. Esther Ausundon, Therenot. Julienne, Lamoureux, and Mdlle. MARIE TAGLIONI, &c. &c. Principal Dances. 1. Tableau. La Cour d'Auberge en Sidle La Fiancée—Malle. Rosati, and 3ldlles. Julienne and Lamoureux, &c. La Palermitana—Mdlle Rosati. 2. Tableau. Feret des Elfrides, Ballablle et Pu dela Heine des Elfrides—Mdlle. Marie Tagliont and Mdlle. Ausandon, Thevenot, and Dames de Ballet. Danse Nationale—Corps de Ballet. Pas—Mdllo. Rosati and M. d'Or, Mdlles. Julienne and Lameureux 3. Tableau. La Cabane de Ilertha L'lllusioß—Mdlle Marie Taglioni and M. d'Or, and Dames de - Ballet. 4. Tableau. Lea Janllns Enetiantes. L'Animation—Mdlle. Rosati and M. d'Or. and Dames de Ballet. L'Oubli—Mdlle. Marie Taglioni and M. d'Or, Mdlles Thevenot Atumndoa, Julienne, Lamoureux, and Dames de Ballet. La Chatiment—Scene Finale. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Un lert he Manacement of Mr. B. Webster, sole Lessee. MR. AND MRS. CHARLES KEAN. THIS EVENING " ' Will be performed a new and original Play, entitled THE WIFE'S SECRET. Lord Arden, Mr. Howe; Sir Walter Amyott, Mr. Charles Kean ; Jabez Sneed, Mr. Webster ; Harrington, Mr. Brin tall ; Brouillard, Mr. Rogers ; Lady Eveline Amyott, Mrs. Charles Kean ; Maud Mrs. Keeley. After which, the new Farce, called DEAREST ELIZABETH. Mr. Lionel Lax, Mr. Keeley; Mr. Winch, Mr. Rogers ; Betsy, Mrs. Keeley. To conclude with a new and original Farce, called WHO'S MY HUSBAND ? Doctor Mull, Mr. Tilbury; Daniel Tootles, Mr. Keeley; airs. Smith Thompson, Mrs, W. Clifford ; Sophonisba Mull, Mrs. L. S. Buckingham ; sally Starch, Mrs. rlumby. Stale Manager, Mr. Fanen ; Acting Manager, Mr. F. Webster. J. T. Archer, Box-book keeper. Boxes, as. ; Pit, 3s. ; Gallery, 2s. ; Upper Gallery, Is. Doors open at Half-past Six, Pertonnance to eommepce at Seven. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. Under the direction of Madame Celesta. THIS EVENING Will be presented an entirely new Piece, entitled the PEAL OF THE OCEAN ; or, the Prince and the Mermaiden. Principal cha racters by Messrs. Waye, P. Bedford, Wright, Munyard, Glennaire, Cullenford, and Worrell ; Miss Woolgar, Miss Emma Harding, Miss Ellea Chaplin, Mrs. Laws, and Madame Celeste. _ _ . To be tollolVed by a new and original Farce, entitled OUR NA TIONAL DEFENCES; or, the Cockshot Yeomanry. Principal characters by Messrs. Lambert, Wright, P. Bedford, Sanders ; Ma came Celeste, Miss Emma Harding, Mrs. Laws, and Miss Woolgar. To conclude with a new Farce entitled THE TIPPERARY LE GACY. Tamen], Green. Mr. Wright ; Bob Gills, Mr. Munyard ; Lanty Scrimmage, Mr. Paul Bedford ; Chubblock, Mr. Cullouford ; Policeman, Mr. sanders ; Lizzy Chubblock, Miss Woolgar. Boxes, 45.; Pit, 25.; Gallery, Is. Fors open at Hail-past Six, Performance to commence at Seven. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestril. Sole Lessee, Mr. Charles Mathews. THIS EVENING Will be performed a new and original piece, called ASTOUNDING PHENOMENA. Principal characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, Bellingham, F. Cooke, and Meadows. After which, a New Fairy Extravaganza, entitled THE GOLDEN RRANCII. Principal characters by Messrs. H. Hall, Harley, Ker. ridge, Madame Yestris, Miss K. Fitzwilliam, and Mrs. Macnamara. To conclude with a Romance of Real Life, called BOX and COX. Principal characters by Mr. Harley, Mr. Buckstone, and Mrs. Mac a, Drees Boxes, 55.; Upper Boxes, 45.; Pit, 2i. ; Gallery, Is. No Public every day, from Ten tll S ' Ix. prn,\Feto any Part of the house. Theme Int:Trio:07:111e cc. No. 2 Wellington-street, is open to the House has been entirely re-designed by Mr. W. Bradwell of the Colosseum. FRENCH YLAYS.—ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. Joh n Mitchell, 33, Old Bond-street. Fifth appearance of Mmemoiselle Nathan°. On MONDAY BTENING Will be performed LE VICOMTE GIROFLEE. After which LE CHEVALIER D'ESSONNE. Doses, stalls, tickets, and season p r otPectu.ses, may be had at Mr. 31 ITCII ELL'S Royal Library, 33, Old B on d street. 30. 6d.; Amphitheatre, 3 s . ; Gallery, 2s Doors open at Seven, to commence at. a qu ar t er past Seven. Boxes, 6s. ; Plt, STRAND THEATRE. NEW MANAGEMENT, Under the Sole Direction of Mr. Ozberry, THIS EVENING, The performances willcommettce with the Romantic Drama, called THE DENOUNCER; or, THE SEVEN CLERKS Or MARSEILLES. Principal characters by Mr. E. Laws (his third appearance), Messrs. Oxberry, Yarnold,. Rogerson, Timm —eY, and Miss Love. After which (third time) a New Grand Burlesque Opera, by the Author of the " Adelphi Norma," called LUCY OF LAMMER MOOR. Not with Mr. Bonn's or M. Julllen's, but with Oxtrerry's powerful cast—Lucy, 'Miss E. Terry; Captain Ashton, Mr. Oxberry; and Edgar, Mr. Yarnold. . To conclude wi t h th e a d m i ra l C ome di e tt a o f A ROWLAND FOR . 1 N R OLIVE. Principal characters by Messrs. Laws, Rogerson, Mon tague, pivt,.B.L Oxberry, Miss Egan and Miss Jane Coleman. price to pit an a es, 108. 6.1.• Boxes, 25.; Pit, Is. ; Gallery, 4cl. Ilalf dßt ea at a Quarter before Nine. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Mr. J. 1 C., _Maddox, sole Lessee and Manager, Duchess-street, Portland-place. THIS EVENING Will be pr tesented the Tragedy of THE GAMESTER. Mr. Be verley, Mr. Cooper; Stukely, Mr. Ryder; Lewson. Mr. Conway; Bates, Mr. C. Fisher; Jarvis, Mr. Gilbert; Dawson, Mr. Norton; Mrs. Beverley, Miss Emmeline Montague ; Charlotte, Miss Pillars. - After whi, :h, the comic Drama of " LADIES, BEWARE 1" To conclu e with a new Christmas Pantomime, entitled OLD FATHER Ti a 'IE. ; or, Harlequin and the Four Seasons. Dream Circle, 53.: Boxes, 45.; Pit, 25.; Gallery, Is. iTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE Grand Combing tion of ATTRACTIONS at ASTLEY'S, which con. Uinta 3 its chain of Magnificent Entertainments The Managers tent respectfully announces to the public that for the m ore perfect rec presentation of the New Georgeons Spectacle, TIIE BATTLE OF: THE AMAZONS, it is absolutely necessary to withhold its pro( luction for six nights longer. MONDA' f, F ebruary 14th, positively the last week of THE CAMP OF SIL: ESIA, followed by an unusually brilliant display of fieraemand w, concluding with a favourite Afterplece. Box-office open from 11 till 5. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. ROYAL VICTORIA TUEATR.E. THIS EVENING, Will be performed THE KENT COAST SMUGGLER, or the Murder on the Sea Beach. Principal characters by Messrs. Hicks, Dale, Searl s, Iliggie, Howard, Forman ; Miss Yincent, and Miss Bur roughcliffe. After which, THE VICTIM PATRIOT. To conel Lie with DOMINIQUE, the DESERTER. Dominique, the Deserts r, Mr. Forman. Boxes, I L ; i it, 6d. ; Gallery, 4d. No Half-price to any part sf the hors. . . . . oovt3 open at Six, to commence at Half-past Six. NOTICE.—THE NEW WORK BY ACTON WARBURTON, ESQ., Entitled ROL . .L0 AND HIS RACE , Di , FOOTSTEPS OF THE NORMANS, IS PUBLISHED THIS DAY, And may be had of all Booksellers. I Uchard Bentley, New Burlington-street, (Publisher in Ordinary to her Majesty). Now ready at all the Libraries, LEOIVORA; A LOVE STORY. Ii 3 vols., " In ' Leon , )r.a' Lady Boothby has proved the universality of her talent in depic tit ug character both as a novelist and an actress."— Jerrold's Pape r. " One of the most beautifnl books of the kind we ever remember to have met v. it'l. This very charming tale cannot fall to excite a most powerful it Merest."—Sun. Henry Co/1 urn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street. an additional quarter to the estimates. Last year there was an increase in the estimates of 522,700/., but the actual increase only amounted to 304,2001., which was the amount for which the pre sent Government was responsible. Then with regard to the increase, the present Government had altered the sugar duties, and in consequence of that alteration the revenue for sugar, which in 1845 had amounted to 3,574,0001., amounted in 1847 to 4,414,0001. On the balance-sheet for the year there was exhi bited a balance of revenue over expenditure of 2,956,7821., but deducting the advances made to Ire land on account of the famine, and the China money paid the year preceding, the actual defi ciency :was 981,6831. He would state the amount at which the revenue was estimated for the ensuing year. He estimated the total revenue for the ensuing year from existing sources of taxation at 51,362,060/. From the Customs he expected 19,774,0601.; Exci5e,13,050,340/. ; stamps, 7,150,000/.; taxes, 4,340,0001. ; property-tax, 4,340,000/. ; Post office, 923,0001.; Crown lands, 60,0001.; miscellaneous, 320,0001. There had been an increase in the revenue flora sugar, rum, and molasses of 642,2541., butter o: 16,9211., and cheese of 7,6501. There had been a deft• ciency in the duties on malt spirits of 1,359,000/. The expenditure had amounted to 51,5671. He proposed to take the Customs for the ensuing year at 19,750,000/. ; Excise at 13,000,000/. ; stage coaches, 500,000/. ; stamps, 7,200,0001.; taxes, 4,340,000/.; income-tax, 5,200,000/. ; Post-office at 900,000/.; Crown lands, 60,0001.; miscellaneous at 300,0001. The whole amount of the revenue, ac cording to this estimate, would be 51,250,000/. Taking the expenditure voted at 52,315,709/., and the receipts at 51,250,000/. 2 there would be a defi ciency of 1,065,709/. But there is a large sum to be voted for the excess of expenditure in April, 1847, and a sum of 10,0001. for the Kafir war, and taking these at 1,340,108/., there will be a deficiency of 2,411,000/. He laid this condition of the finances early before the House that the House might consider the state of the finances and the cir cumstances of the country, in order that they might determine upon what course was most befitting. All he should do would be to state that course which the Government considered most advisable, leaving it to the House to determine whether the course the Government proposed was the best, or whether there was another that might seen most advisable. Either they must supply the deficiency by taxation, or make great reductions in their establishments.—(Hear, hear.) He thought it as well to state on this occasion the opinions of the Government on the subject of the national defences. Extreme opinions had been promulgated on both sides. On one side it had been said that we should End ourselves suddenly involved in war with coun tries who had made great military preparations, preparations which we could not rneet. On the other it had been said that all foreign powers were inclined to peace, and that if we reduced our armaments they would reduce theirs. On the part of the Government he would guard him self against the supposition that there was anything in our foreign relations, more especially in our re lations with France, to cause any apprehension of a rupture ; for he was more impressed than ever with the necessity of maintaining peace between these two great representative Powers, France and England.— (Cheers,) And he trusted that henceforth these re lations would be of the most amicable nature. Yet he found it stated in a recent French publication that the Duke of Wellington had thought it neces sary to make a pamphleteering answer to the Prince de Joinville. Now, he knew that nothing had given the Duke of Wellington greater pain than the publicity which had been given to his letter. The Duke had from time to time, and did from time to time com municated to the Government his opinion on the national defences ; but nothing was further from his desire than to exasperate the feelings between France and England against each other. With the patriotism of the Duke of Wellington there had always been joined an opinion that the power and independence of this country should be maintained as a guarantee of the independence of other states. No man could blame the Duke for having stated his sentiments in the manner in which he had done, and he should not have alluded to them had he not had the misfortune to differ from the Duke on some points, and to know that not only abroad, but in this country, the Duke had been misunderstood. War was unhappily a contingency against which it was impossible to guard. If forbearance had not been shown on both sides we might have been in volved in war with the United States as well as with France, in spite of the efforts of Governments, in consequence of the susceptibility of the different nations. However tranquil, therefore, the atmos • phere might be there might at any time arise a storm ; and when he recollected that Mr. Pitt, with all his sagacity, foretold a long continuance of peace only a few months before the outbreak of the revo lutionary war, he could not venture to think that there was no possibility of war. Then, with regard to the probability of invasion. Within the last three hundred years there had been instances in which the elements had stood our friends, and had dispersed armaments destined for our destruction. Since 1815 steam had enabled seamen to set the elements at defiance, and this would lead hostile powers to consider this country more open to inva sion. It was also true that since 1830, under a King who was a sincere lover of peace, there had been a large increase in the naval force of France It was intended to defend large colonial possessions, and to protect a large foreign commerce. There had been a great increase both in the sailing vessels, the steamers, and the amottnt voted for seamen in France in 1847 as compared with 1837. For in stance, in 1837 there were 153 French ships afloat, and in 1847 there were 916, of which 66 were steamers. In 1837, 2,000,0001. had been voted for the naval service of France, in 1847 it had been 3,582,5201. It had been reproached to the Govern- ment that they had made no adequate preparations against invasion. Since 1835 the whole foree, army, navy, and ordnance had been increased from 135,743 men to 196,063 men,;and he would say that there had been no unwillingness in the House to vote the ne cessary increase. There was also another kind of force most efficient ; 15,000 old soldiers had been organised by the former Government, and the pre sent Government had organized 9,800 dock yard men, with 1,080 guns, and a greater part of this force could be moved at any time. There was also a plan for organising the coast guard, and adding to the men, who would serve for a small amount of pay, giving a force of 9,000 men. On this ground of the number of men there had been no unwillingness to make an adequate provision. The question was, then, whether they should make a very great reduction in their force, or make a large increase in it, or continue from time to time making an increase to such parts as require it. His view was, that it would not be wise to endeavour to make the expenditure equal to the revenue by large reduc tions. On the other hand he was of opinion there was no reason for sudden alarm. With moderate additions to certain branches of the army, navy, and ordnance, he believed this country would be in a sufficient state of defence to obtain securities for peace, which was the object of all those preparation;.—(Hear, hear.) If you expose yourself to having a decisive blow struck against you, you give power to the war party in a foreign country, but if you are prepared you give power to the peace party. They proposed in the navy estimates an increase of 164,0001., being 70,0001. for it, which mig,ht properly be called naval services. Lord _Auckland had furnished him with a statement of the naval force, and we proposed to keep our naval force on an equality with this, and also proposed to have a reserve of steamers at the various dockyards and at Cork. He thought this was a very wise pre caution; for be it not forgotten that if steam offered advantages for an invader, it also, on the other hand, offered advantages for opposing him, of which we should avail ourselves, and in the votes he should be prepared fully to avail himself of those advantages. In the naval estimates he pro posed to increase the marine force by 1,500 men. With regard to the defences of the dockyards, that subject had been most carefully attended to by the late Government, and every work proper for their defence had been begun in strengthen ing them. 262,0001. bad been expended in strengthening the defences of Portsmouth, Ply mouth, Pembroke, and Chatham; and the Duke of Wellington, who had inspected those de fences, had expressed himself perfectly satisfied. With regard to the army, alttlough they did not propose the increase of a sineele man, the number of soldiers in the United Kingdom would be in creased by upwards of 5,000 men by those who would return from India, in. consequence of the economy of Lord Hardinge, who having triumphed in hostilities, determined to take upon himself the unpopular task of placing the: finances upon an economical footing.—(Hear, 'sear.) The number of rank and file in the kingdom was now 55,000 ; in the course of a short time it would be 60,000. The number of soldiers in the 1 :rnited Kingdom had been increased 20,000 since Clue year 1837. The army estimates would be only 'increased by 43,0001. He proposed an increase in t he: number of artil lery and sappers and miners, He proposed an increase of 400 sappers and miners, and 1,900 artillery. He also proposed a great it crease in the estimates for the ordnance, for i n creasing the supply of small arms and stores of gunp o wder. That would make, for the purposes of the navy, an increase of 70,000/. ; for the army, of 1.5,000/., and of the ordnance of 245,0001. Now, they had not a sufficient force to garrison the d o ckyards, and at the same time to keep the field in c.e se of invasion, and therefore they must have recourse to the old constitutional force, ate militia. There were difficulties belonging to that subject now that did not formerly prevail. 'if they took substi tutes they might not be forthcoming, and if they did not it would be imposing a herds hip on the people. He would propose a measure which he thought calculated to meet those difficulties, and the House would decide whether , or not it would be practicable to raise a ;militia force ; and it might be in some future year their duty to propose an addition to the armv. He proposed to take 150,0001. this year as a foundation for raising this militia force. The whole expenditure for the year would be navy, arnw, ordnance, and miscellaneous, 21,820,4001., which, with the Un funded and Funded Debt, and for the militia and the Kafir war, would make a total expenditure of 54,546,9001. It was evident therefore that he must not only propose a renewal of the income-tax—(Ironical cheers) --- but that if the House should approve of those , estimates, that addi tional taxation should be imposed. It was obvious that a great part of the deficiency depezded upon the state of the country, afflicted as it was es ith scarcity and with commercial and manufacturing distress. They might look to have those effects removed within a few years, and a consequent improvement; in the annual in come. With respect to the expenditure they might expect that the Kafir war would soon be at an end, although he did not know that there was an end to the bills on that (account.--(Laughter.) On both these grounds he thought they might hope that only a temporary increase of taxation would be required. He would, in stati og what he considered the increase ought to be under the present state of the country and experience of former Govern ments—he thought any increase on the articles of consumption would I ill to yield revenue, and would involve almost insuperable difficulties ; therefore he proposed at once to renew the present income-tax from April next :for a period of five years, and to vote an increase of it from 7d. to ls., or from three to five per cent. for a period of two years— (Cries of "Oh ! oh 1" and great confusion.)--and, without going into the argument on that subject, he would state that considering the great distress prevailing in Ireland, that in 1842 it was not imposed in Ireland, and considering the struggle now going on to remedy the social state of Ireland, they thought that—admitting the justice of imposing that tax in Ireland equally with England—the present was not the moment to impose that tax upon Ireland.—(Hear, and confusion.) They should consider that if they checked the exertions of Ireland to place herself in a condition of prosperity, they checked the prosperity of the United Kingdom. They proposed, therefore, to take the tax exactly as it had been imposed in past years, on the principle on which it had been imposed by Mr. Pitt and increased by Lord GrenvillelandLord Lansdowne.--(Loud laughter)— and on the principles on which it had been imposed by the Right Hon. Gentleman.—(Cheers.) He had voted against it in 1842—(Cheers)—he was right in so doing. He had voted in favour of it in 184.5. — (Hear, hear.) He thought ,he had been right in both votes, and the question was now whether you should continue a tax already imposed or impose others. He thought it better to continue and increase this tax than to impose taxes on articles consumed by the great body of the people. The taxes on candles, coals, and leather, which had been stigmatised by Adam Smith, had been taken off, as had the salt-tax, the beer and cider duties, the glass, sugar, butter, and cheese duties, amounting to ten millions of taxes annually upon articles of consumption which had been reduced. The whole amount of taxation reduced since the peace was 39,705,341/.—(Hear.) He , thought, therefore, that under circumstances of unparal leled difficulty it was not asking too much of the House for an addition to the direct taxa tion of the country. He took the income-tax at 3,500,0001., which would give an income of 54,750,000/. to meet the expenditure of 54,596,000/. He proposed to abolish the tax on copper ore imposed in 1842, which had encouraged smelting abroad, and had only produced a revenue of 41,0001., and the abolition of which would greatly increase the smelting trade of this country. Deduct ing this tax, they would have a revenue of 54,750,000/, to meet an expenditure of 54,637,0001., leaving a sur plus of 115,0001. In another year that surplus would he thought, be increased, and would enable them to reduce taxation still further. He had endeavoured fairly to bring before; the House the financial condition of the country before calling upon them to vote the estimates, in order to let the House see at once that if they voted the estimates proposed, they must be pre ' pared to vote an increase of taxation. He had shown them that since the peace 40,000,0001. of taxation had been reduced, whilst they had not only preserved their empire undiminished, but had extended it. Under, the guidance of the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite they had been enabled to give scope to those principles of commerce of which Adam Smith had been the propounder and Mr. Pitt the disciple. They had been enabled to put down rebellion in Canada, to repel aggression in India, and to defend their fellow•subjects at the Cape of Good Hope. If they continued to keep the revenue equal to the expenditure entirely, they would be able to reduce taxation. He regretted he could not now propose it, but his duty to the country demanded that he should pursue the course he had proposed, which would maintain public credit, uphold public faith, and place this great country beyond the reach of insult from any nation whatever.—(Loud cheers.) The Noble Lord concluded by proposing the formal resolution, which being put from the Chair, Lord Jour' RUSSELL said that on the conclu sion of the debate he should propose that the Chairman should report progress, and ask leave to sit again on Monday se'nnight. The Committee was subsequently addressed by Mr. HumE, Mr. BANKES, Mr. OSBORNE, Sir B. HALL, Mr. COBDEN, Mr. F. BARING, Lord PALMER STON, and several other Hon. Members, when the resolution was reported, and the House adjourned. Several amendments were proposed yesterday evening for insertion in the Bill for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Courts of Rome and London—the Upper House having formally resolved itself into Committee on that measure. Those who are inimical to the generous and tolerant principles embodied in the Bill aro resolved, if they cannot compass its rejection, to militate as much as possible against its character by encumbering it with a variety of offensive interpolations. They find it beyond their capacity to perpetuate that anti papistical fanaticism which, for nearly three hundred years, has estranged us from the Govern ment of the Roman States, while during the continuance of our estrangement we have re mained on terms the most amicable with Cabi nets founded by the Buddist, the Idolator, and the Mussulman. The members of a Christian Le gislature have never recoiled with such manifestations of abhorrence before the proposal of a diplomatic in tercourse with the worshippers of the Egyptian beetle, with the councils of a professed polytheist, or with that portion of the population of Asia Minor which rejects the Bible for the Koran, and the Crucifixion of Curtin. for the Hegira of MenomET. There is ma nifestly something so revolting to the imagination of those who dissent from the spirit of the mea sure introduced by the Marquis of LANSDOWNE, —there is something so revolting to their imagina tions in the provisions of the Bill, that their opposition is persisted in with an almost incomprehensible per tinacity, and they quibble over its clauses with an indescribable determination. At the very outset of the discussion last night there is a rather virulent quarrel about the propriety of using an expression which had been sanctioned in the historic writings of such men as HUME and ROBERTSON—the Bishop of WINCHESTER moving that " Sovereign of the Roman States" should be substituted for " Sovereign Pontiff." Having conceded to this somewhat fastidious objection by agreeing to the amend ment, the Peers are next put at loggerheads by the proposal of the Earl of EGLINTON, that the Bill should be definitively made to preclude all Roman ecclesiastics from filling the post of Pontifical Ambassador to the Court of London. If it be only borne in recollection that the Bill, as originally worded, left the right of acceptance or refusal at the discretion of the SOVEREIGN, it is manifest that the amended clause, as suggested by the Noble Earl, would only just escape from being a direct infringe ment of the royal prerogative. In spite of this con sideration, in spite of the very manly and sensible objections raised by the Duke of WELLINGTON, in spite of the very persuasive interposition of the Lord President of the Council, in spite of the lawyer like argument adduced by Lord CAMPBELL, to the effect that VATTEL, among other jurists, "laid it down that the power qf sending and receiving arnbas• sadors belonged to every Sovereign" —a majority of sixty-seven against sixty-four decided in favour of the suggestion of Lord EGLINTON. Supposing, there fore, that the Bill is ultimately triumphant, this un precedented restriction will deprive her MAJESTY of all discretionary power in the reception of an ambassador from the Eternal City. On the one side this restriction is an insolent inno vation—on the other it is an unnecessary act of contumely. It is a double insult at once to VICTORIA and Pius —a shield raised out of a feeling of fretfulness and petulance against the assaults to Protestantism which are gratuitously anticipated from the QUEEN and the PONTIFF. Two minor amendments were subsequently pro posed and withdrawn by Lord REDESDALE and the Duke of RICHMOND, and it was ultimately announced by the President of the Council, that he proposed having the Bill reported, pro forma, on Monday, and afterwards having it printed in its amended form, and presented to their Lordships. A perceptible progress is, therefore, making in the furtherance of this interesting measure, and a cordial and visible alliance of a political character may be soon anticipated between the Govern ments severally conducted by Lord JOHN Bus- SELL and Cardinal BuFroNDI. Those :who are in capable of comprehending the influence exercised over the various principalities of Europe by the Legislature of Great Britain,; do not at once recognise in the operation of this Bill the confirmation and the still further diffusion and development of those liberal ideas which have been latterly predominant in the Italian peninsula. Ever since the Cardinal Archbishop of Imola, Count GIOVANNI MASTAI FERRETTI was crowned with the tiara, the popular cause has proved gradually victorious. When, therefore, England extends a friendly hand to that Prince— England, the home of revolutions, the arch-promoter of the representative system !—is it not rational to anticipate a confirmation of the political truths which have recently emanated from the Quirinal, the fur ther promulg4ion of the principles which have recently been accepted by the citizens on the banks of the Tiber, and the perfect development of the re forms which have recently radiated like sunbeams from the hill-tops of Rome ? When our diplo matic relations with all the principalities of Italy are placed upon a secure and comprehensible basis, and when our sincere sympathy with Italian liberation is properly understood in the various Courts of that peninsula— farewell to the power of Austria south of the Carpathians !—then may Lom bardy, at last and for ever awaken to independence! The great secret is out. The Whigs in 1848 are again playing the game of the Whigs of 1806. Lord JOHN RUSSELL follows the precedent of Lord HENRI PETTY, and out of office rails in good set terms at that income-tax, which in office he not only con tinues, but increases. We hope, however, that we are wrong in saying increase, for wo believe that neither Lord JOHN RUSSELL, or any other :Minister, will be permitted to increase the income-tax to 5 per cent. in the manner in which he proposed to increase it last night. We fully admit the necessity of keeping the balance even between the income and the expenditure of the country. We fully admit that it is preferable (always supposing the reduction of expenditure has been carried to its utmost limit) to keep that balance even by increasing the amount of taxation, rather than by having recourse to a loan. We also admit that it would be most impolitic to re-impose any of those duties on articles of consumption which have been recently taken off. The deficiency must be supplied by di rect taxation, and the fairest if all taxes is a tax upon property invested property, as distinguished from income the produce of industry, it is evident that henceforth an income-tax or a property-tax is to be one of the regular sources of revenue of the country, and it behoves the tax-payers to be up and stirring, in order to take care that the tax shall be fairly and equitably imposed. When the tax was originally proposed in 1842 by Cir R. PEEL, the Right Hon. Baronet admitted the injustice of subjecting income derived from industry to the same tax as income derived from property permanently invested, but contended that as the tax was to be merely temporarily im posed, it was not worth while to make the distinc tion. But now that the tax is to become permanent it is worth while to make the distinction, and the great body of the electors of the kingdom, who will be the persons principally fleeced by the pro position of the Minister, must be up and doing if they wish to save themselves from the :hearers. LOId JOHN RUSSELL has listened to the suggestions of the aristocracy, the holders of invested property, and has proposed a tax which shall press lightly upon them, but heavily upon the industrious tradesman and the overworked clerk. A true aristocrat, my Lord Jousx RUSSELL " stands by his order." But, as Mr. WAKLET once truly ob served, the Whigs are made of squeezable materials, and now is the time to put on the screw. Electors of England, the country looks to you to do your duty in this crisis. The metropolitan electors are already up and doing. The electors of Finsbury, the consti tuents of THOMAS DUNCOMBE and THOMAS WARLEY, have taken the initiative, and have called a meeting for an early day next week, at White Conduit House, against the proposed ;increase in the income-tax Electors of England, follow this exa m pl e , an d b efore this day week let meetings be held in every borough in England to oppose this iniquitous proposition. But meetings alone will not be sufficient. Let some such document as the following be drawn up and pre. sented to every registered elettor for his signature : " We, the undersigned registered electors of the borough of do hereby pledge ourselves not to vote in favour of any candidate who, having been a Member of Parliament in 1848, shall have voted for, or shall have abstained from voting against the proposition for increasing the income- tax on incomes derived from industry, to 5 per cent." And let this document, with the signatures at tached, be presented to the Members for the borough, on the morning of the day that the Ministerial pro position comes on for discussion. This is no mere party measure, it is an attempt on the part of the aristocracy to regain the privilege of plunder. Prevented from robbing the indus trious classes by means of the corn-laws, they n ow seek to plunder them by substituting that most un just of all taxes, an income-tax, fur that most just of all taxes, a property-tax. The Reform Bill has, however, placed it in the power of the elect ors t o defeat this well-devised scheme of plunder. My Lord JOHN RUSSELL must have forgotten that the 101. householders, who constitute the majority of the borough constituencies, are the persons most affected by this tax. To them we appeal to defent themselves and their countrymen from this most unjust imposition. Let them be up and doing. " England expects that every elector will do his duty." A letter from Rome, of the 9th of February, states " In a few days 300 young men belonging to the first families of this town will start for Naples, to assist at the inauguration of a grand fete to be given in honour of the Constitution. At this moment, four coaches filled with the leaders of the people are traversing the Corso, shcuting out " A basso it Minister° 1 A basso i Alinistri." They have gone to the Capitol to con fer with the Senator, and from thence to the Quiri nal, where they have demanded from the POPE, in the name of the people, the armament of the reserve and of all the volunteers, and the immediate revocation of the circular which forbids the renovation of the fetes celebrated in honour of the Sicilian Constitution. The whole town is in an uproar, and the crowd is so great that it is almost impossible to go through the streets. " We are waiting with anxiety the POPE'S answer, and we expect that events of high importanoe will be the result of the proceedings. " I have just heard that the POPE'S reply to the Deputation states that he was about to enter into a pditical confederacy with Piedmont, Naples, and Tuscany, and that he expects some Piedmontese general officers to be placed at the head of t}4 Roman troops. "It is reported in the Lega of Genoa, That on the 25th of March the Council of State will assemble at Turin, to discuss and fix the terms of the Constitution, upon the basis already announced. On the Ist of July will take place the opening of the Chambers, before which his Majesty will take the oath to the Constitution. It is reckoned, upon an average, that for every hundred thousand inhabitants there, will he chosen two or three deputies. " General DE SONNAR, an old officer of Napoleon, commanding the Place of Genoa, left on the 10th inst. for his new commission of General in Chief of the camp of observation, which is being formed at Novara, in the Milanese frontier. In Genoa all the cannons are placed in the fortifications, and everything is ready to repulse the enemy." NAPLES, FEB. 12.—The constitution was pub lished yesterday. The enthusiasm for the KINQ is extreme. FLORENCE, FEr.. 11.—The Grand'Duke aororm, moved by the liberal intentions of which ha has already given proofs, and of his own propex move ment, has decreed that a representative system shall be adopted for the future as the form of goveenment in the Grand Duchy. The Grand Duke, in exhort the people to tranquillity, promised that the decree developing .the principles of the new Government should appear in a few days. Letters from Padua of the Bth ult., speak of a sanguinary contest which took place in the streets of that city on the 7th, between the Austrian troops and people. Similar collisions have taken place at Brescia, Como, and Path. Madrid papers of the 12th and 13th have arrived. Senor BERTRAM DE Llts has brought forward, in the Chamber of Deputies, the Ministerial measure of the modification of the tariff. It is the tragedy of Hamlet with the part of HAMLET omitted, by parti cular desire. All change in the matter of cotton goods is specially excluded. We have received the French papers of yesterday. The Committee of the Reform Banquet hare pub lished an official notification that it will be held on Tuesday. The Chamber of Peers have adopted the amendment proposed in the Factory Bill, limiting the hours of labour of children between eight and twelve years of age, to six. The Journal des Debats quotes the following from the Akhbar of Algiers : " Abd-el.Knder, accompanied by four of his rela tions, is about to proceed to Paris on a visit to the King. When that is over the ex-Emir will leave the capital and take up bis residence in soma town hi the south of France. Abd-el-Fader has not positively renounced the benefit of the capitulation, but he con sents to allow his being sent to the East to be indefi nitely adjourned." BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, FEE. 18. Dutch Rhenish, 1 !4—Namurand Liege, CA—Orleans and Bordeaux s—Paris and Lyons, sU—Paris and Rouen, 33% ex div. —Maria and Strasbourg, WA—Sambre and Meuae, 6,6 p-V • ,0T11.1•Af44 . ; ,V 7 l D,E , „ T"', r• m 074: THE THIRD EDITIONS “THE SUN” CONTAIN, AS USUAL, THE LATEST PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE, AND ALL .OTHER NEWS UP TO THE HOUR OF POST. Orders: received by all Newsmen, and at the Sun•oQice, 112, Strand. ~` '.°l - 11; WEATIII.3R.—Sun OFFICE, FEII. 19. TEIE; EITOMETEE, Lowest, 31 ; )Highest, 37 ; Noon, 42 BAROMETER, 29 77.—WIND S.S.W.; hazy. )4J 1t WATER AT LONDON-fIRIDGF. THIS DAY. Ntm 21 minutes after 2. 1 Eveninz .. 39 rninntes ...tier 2. Qlbindn Tjlfl LONDON. SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 13, 1848 . The House of Lords met at Five. The House went into Committee on the Diplo maiie Relations with Rome Bill. On the suggestion of Lord STANLEY, the allusion in the preamble to the Bill of Rights and the Act of Set tlement was struck out. sChe Bishop of WINCHESTER objected to the words Sovereign Pontiff, and on the suggestion of the Du ke of WELLINGTON, the words " Sovereign of the Roman States" were substituted. The Earl of EGLINTON then proposed an amend mend, to the effect that no Ambassador should be re ceived in this country from Rome who was in holy orders, or a Jesuit, or a minister of any other religious order or community bound by monastic or religious vows in connexion with the Church of Rome. The amendment was opposed by the Marquis of LANSDOWNE, Lord BEAUMONT, the Earl of SHREWS BURY, the Marquis of CLANRICARDE, and Lord CAMPBELL, and supported by the Earl of ABER DEEN, Lord STANLEY, the Duke of RICHMOND, and the Earl of HARROWEY. The Duke of WELLINGTON considered that the terxna " diplomatic relations" in the Bill put an end to specifying the denomination of the party. It was for the Sovereign to decide who should or who should not be received as an Ambassador. On a division the amendment was carried by a ma. jority of 3, the numbers being— For the amendment . 67 Against it . 64 The Duke of WELLINGTON then moved the fol lowing as a declaratory amendment :—" Whereas it has seen enacted and declared in the provisions of various ancient laws of this realm, that the Sove reign thereof; acting by and with the advice and under the authority of both Houses of Parliament, is the sole and supreme head and governor of all mat ters ecclesiastical and civil within this realm, or else where, the dominions of the Crown of England; and the same Acts contain provisions, having for their objects to control, regulate, and restrain the acts, conduct, and relations of the subjects of this realm with Foreign Powers upon the said matters : and whereas it is essential to the welfare of these realms that the said provisions, as to the Crown and Go vernment thereof, should be invariably maintained, and it is expedient, nevertheless, to remove any doubts which may exist as to the competence of her Majesty, her heirs and successors, to establish diplo matic relations with the Sovereign of the Roman States :" which was agreed to. Lord REDESDALE proposed an amendment, that no minister er diplomatic agent from the Court of Rome should be received in this country until the Court of Rome declared that it did not claim, but disavowed any temporal or civil jurisdiction, directly or indirectly, within this realm. This amendment, after a short conversation, was negatived The Bill, as amended, was agreed to, and The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved that it should be re-committed pro forma on Monday. The amendments would then be printed. The House then adjourned, The House of Commons met at Four o'clock. On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the Excnn- QUER, the House resolved itself into a Committee of Ways and Means. Lord JOHN RUSSELL then rose for the purpose of making the financial statement for the year. The Noble Lord said that he felt his strength so unequal to the task he had undertaken that he thought it best to content himself with lay ing before the House the statement of the financial state and policy of the country, leaving to a future occasion the supporting that policy by argument. During the last 18 months the vicissitudes of the country, except during the time of war, had been unparralleled. There had been a fluctuation in prices and a period of distress induced by famine unparalleled in the history of the country. The changes in the price of wheat, the rate of discount, and the price of bullion had been unparalleled. With regard to wheat, the price in September, 1846, had been 495. per quarter ; in January, 1847, it had been 703. per quar ter ; in May, 1847, 102 s. per quarter, and in September, 1847, it had again fallen to 495. 6d. a quarter, being, within 6d., the same price as in September, 1846. Then with regard to the rate of discount :—ln November, 1846, it had been 3 per cent.; in April, 1847, 5 per cent. ; in October, 8 per cent. ; and in January, 1848, it was 4 per cent. The amount of bullion on the 10th of October, 1846, was 15,780,5001. ; in September, 1847, 7,865,4151.; and in Feb., 1848, 13,821,7501. Then, again, in the manufacturing districts, the num ber of persons in full work in Feb. 1846 was 16,898 ; in July, 14,865 ; and in Feb. 1847, 32,142. Of persons working half time, the number had been, in February, 1847, 13,404 ; in November, 5,517; and in February, 1848, 4,901 ; while out of em ploy there had been, in February, 1846, 5,600; 'these Nov em b er, 11,616/. ; and in February, 7,514/. fluctuations must have necessarily greatly affected the public revenue. When the late Govern ment went out of office they had in many instances only taken votes for three quarters of a year instead of the whole year, thereby throwing or adding irt Erb 92Vition ELECTION COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) LYME REGIS. The Committee re-assembled this morning; Lord Ashley in the chair. Mr: Richard Sellins, draper, proved that a voter named Clyde was offered a situation by Mr. Abdy's party if he would vote for that gentleman. Since the election Clyde had been working at Merton in the Marsh, Gloucestershire. Mr. John Charles Williams, solicitor of Walbrook, proved that there were some works going on at Merton in which Mr. Abdy was interested. Mr. Bird was the contractor for executing the works of the Oxford, Wor cester, and Wolverhampton Railway, near to• Moreton, and Mr. Abdy had advanced Mr. Bird money to enable him to execute his contract. Another witness gave similar testimony, awl the evi• dence of bribery ciusvd. Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE then summed up on behalf of the petitioners, after which ITfie C 111 naitee adjourned till eleven o'clock on Monday. KINSALE. The Committee assembled this morning; Mr. BouTerie in the chair. John Burke, collector of the borough-rate for Kinsale, proved that previous to the last election there were tnany electors in arrear, and that a day or so before the election the arrears were paid by, some of the agents of the sitting Member. The amount came to 11/. Ils. The witness gave a list of the names of the voters whoa. rates had been paid in this way. Some other evidence of a similar nature to that given by the above witnesses occupied the attention of the Committce during the rest of the day. BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, FEB. 18. Scarcely any business bas been done in our market this week, and the tendency of prices is downward. Rum in steady demand at the reduction lately established.—Briat.ol Mercury. FUNERAL OF TOE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.-.me (Tms DAY.)—The mortal remains of the Right Rev. Dr. Howley, Archbishop of Canterbury, were removed this morning from Lambeth Palace to their last resting place at Addiscombe. The mournful cortege _formed at a quarter past ten o'clock, and shortly afterwards moved from the Palace. Crowds of well-dressed individuals lined the various roads through which the procession passed. ExTENSITE FIRE.—TOTAL DESTRUCTION OP STEVENSON'S BISCUIT FACTORY BY FlRE.—Last night, shortly before eight o'clock, a fire, attended with a serious destruction of property, broke out in the midst of an immense pile of premises extending from the main street, termed Wapping-wall, to the waterside. The flames, when first perceived, were issuing from the spa cious factory and warehouses belonging to Messrs. Robert Stephenson and Son, ship-biscuit bakers, situate at No. 75, in the before -mentioned thoroughfare. Several persons had very narrow escapes of being crushed when the roof fell in, bat happily no one re ceived any injury. PRINCESS'S THEATRE.—The engagement of Mac ready and Mrs. Butler (late Miss Fanny Kemble) to act together in the same play is certainly a startling an nouncement, and cannot fail in drawing crowds to witness their united exertions, more especially as this will be their last performances previo usly to their vi s i t i ng America. T he fascinating Thillon also remains, and appears on the alternate nights. The manager deserves encouragement. We would advise thos e w h o h ave not seen the pantomime not to miss the opportunity; it cer tainly is the best we have witnessed for years. Flex more is inimitable as the Clown; his droll er i es are c h aste and unoffending, and his dancing in imitation of the Pets of the Ballet is an attraction of itself. With such pantomimists as Bologna, Paulo, Sylvani, Miss Fawcett, and the incomparable Fie:more, the pantomime will still continue its popularity. RTIM. On the 16th inst., at Sussex gardens, Hyde-park, the lady of J. Hamill!, Esq., of a daughter. On the 16th inst., the wife of the Rev. R. C. Burton, in cumbent of Christ Church, Camberwell, of a daughter. MARRIED On the IGth i ns t., a t St. Peter's . Church, Sheffield, by the Rev. J. Blackburn, M.A., incumbent of Attercliffe, Mr. J. Brier, of Camden-road-villas, to Selina Sewallis, daughter of the late J. Shirley, Esq., of Attercliffe house. DIED. On the 11th inst., Charlotte, relict of the late T. 'Parley, :sq., aged 47. On the 15th inst., at Lisson.grove South, W. Butler, Elq.. fel reedy of the Victualling-office, aged 72. On the 16th inst., aged 59, Mr. H. A. Freer, of Cursitor strut, Chancery-lane. London: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, at No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the punt, of Middlesex, Saturday, February 19, 1848. r. s F i