The Sun. — London, England, 1848-08-30 00:00:00

company (Exeter and Exmouth) had been in a state of abeyance. When the monetary pressure - came on, the directors thought it expedient to introduce a Bill for the purpose of extending their powers and postponing the purchase of land, as they did not deem it expedient to proceed with the works while railway property was at tin low de ebb: which Bill, he was happy to say, had passed, bo . th:Houses of Parliament; but as 'soon as the directors deemed it expedient they would proceed with the works. The SECIULTARY (Mr. Cleach) read the following re port:— " The special Act for the construction of your railway received the sanction of the Legislature in 1846, but, by the 37th clause, the powers of the Act were not to begin to take effect until the Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway Bill, then before Parliament, had passed either in that or some future session. Such have been the pro tracted deliberations of Parliament, and such unparal leled opposition was evinced by the promoters of com peting lines, that it was only a few weeks since that the restrictions on the exercise of the powers under your Act of incorpratiun were removed by the royal assent being granted to the Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway Cempany's Bill. Upwards of two years have elapsed without the possibility of any active measures being taken for carrying out the undertaking, end referring to the depressed state of railway investments, which would further retard any immediate operations, your directors introduced a Bill into Parliament. this session for ex tending the powers contained in your Act, with a view to postpone us long as may be found convenient the out lay of capital in the vurehase of land, or the construction of the railway. This-; Bill has passed both Houses of Parliament, and only awaits the royal assent. " Your directors have to report that they are prepared, in accordance with the 7th clause of your Act of Parlia • ment, to pay interest at the rate of 4 per cent.per annum, which has accrued on the deposits from the date of pay ment to the 30th of June, 1848, being at the rate of 2s. 4d. per share. " The financial account was as follows:—Receipts 17,1671., expenditure 9,1321., leaving a balance in hand of 8,035/. "The outstanding liabilities are chiefly those incurred in passing the Act of the present session, which we ven ture to hope will not exceed 7001." The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr. W. H. S. GEORGE, and car ried unanimously. Some formal resolutions, fixing the salaries of the offi cers, were passed, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman and directors for their services was proposed and unani mously agreed to. CORNWALL RAILWAY. The half-yearly general meeting of the shareholders in this company was held at Truro on Saturday. Mr. J. 'l'. Treffery, chairman of the board of directors, presided. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, re marked that the directors had deemed it expedient, for the present, to suspend all works upon the line; this step was rendered necessary in consequence of the diffi culties of obtaining money without paving an exorbitant rate of interest, a course which the directors conceived not to be warranted in the present condition of railway property. Mr. BoND, the secretary, then read the report, which stated that " the directors of the Great Western, Bristol and Exeter, and South Devon Companies had withdrawn the Bill empowering them to contribute additional capi tal to this company, in consequence of the depressed sate of the money market; the directors had deemed it right to give directions fur the suspension of all fur ther operations by the contractors for the present. The laud for seven miles and a quarter of the line had been purchased, and satisfactory progress made in the works which hael been under construction. Measures were about to be adopted for the enforcement of calls now due, and it was anticipated that the amount arising from this source would, with the balance in hand, be sufficient to cover outstanding liabilities. The directors, since March last, have declined to receive the sum voted to them. They hope shortly to prosecute the works with renovated vigour." Appended to the report was the balance-sheet of the company, from which it ap p,ared that the total receipts up to the present time were 193,995 L, and the expenditure 173,65 V., leaving a balance in hand of .20,340/. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said he was to happy to inform the meeting that all fur ther opposition to the Cornwall Central Line had been rendered unnecessary by the withdrawal of that scheme; that opposition, however, had cast the company up to the present time nearly 100,0001 In answer to a question from a SHAREHOLDER, The CHAIRMAN said, that to continue to carry out the works on the most moderate scale, it would be neces sary to keep an engineering and office staff almost as ex pensive as would Co required if the works were prose cuted with the greatest ardour and speed ; and that therefore it had been thought the most prudent and the most economical course to suspend the contractors' op. rations altogether with one or two trifling exceptions. The report was then adopted. . . Mr. GOB would be glad to know if there were any other liabilities beyond what might be met by the 20,0001. in hand? The CHAIRMAN observed that the accounts were made up to the oth of June, since which period fresh liabili ties had been incurred; but he had no doubt that the balance in hand and the arrears on calls would be suffi cient to meet all liabilities. Mr. CortzEn wished to know what amount was due cn call‘? Mr. BOND said, the arrears amounted to 22,0001., namely, on 5,534 shares and 4,314 half-shares. Mr. COTMER—Up to the 30th of June? Mr. BOND—No; up to the present time. Mr. TWEEDY, a director, said, the solicitor had writ ten to those who had not paid up on their shares, and that further step.; would be taken if such a course should be deemed expedient. After some business of minor importance had been transacted, a vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the business of the meeting. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, Aim 29. , _ STOCK EXCHANGE.—This being settling day, but little actual business in shares was done. There were a good many inquiries for different descriptions of stock; holders were, however, unwilling to sell, anticipating better prices. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'clock. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY presented a petition ogains the Savings Banks Bill. POST HORSE LICENSES BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. LOCK-UP HOUSES BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. SPIRITS (DEALERS IN) BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. REVIEW OF THE SESSION. The Distilling from Sugar Bill was read a third time. On the question that the Bill do pass, Mr. DISRAELI rose and said—Sir, I take this oc casion, because I think it the best and most convenient to the House, to make some observations upon the conduct of public business this session, and to lay before Hon. Members the reasons which render it ex pedient that the House should not separate without offering some opinion upon that subject.—(Hear, hear.) Sir, whatever may be the merits or demerits of this session of Parliament, there attaches to it by general consent, one characteristic, namely, that it has been a session of unexampled duration. There is, however, an impression very prevalent, that its efficiency has not been commensurate with the:period of its existence.— (Cheers, and laughter.) Sir, it is said that after having sat, now nearly ten months, after having laboured with unusual assiduity—for that has not been questioned— Parliument is about to be prorogued with a vast number of projects of legislation of great inte rest and value not passed, and many of them little advanced while the subjects which have been re commended to our consideration in the speech from the Throne have not even been dealt with by the House in the way it was contemplated when we first met. Tnere is more than one reason that is usually offered to account for this unsatisfactory state of agairs. An unsatisfactory state of affairs lam sure ull Gentlemen will agree it really is, because it amounts, in fact, to the encouragemenn—if the reasons be true—to a very great public evil, namely, that our system of Go vernment is inadequate to pass those measures that are required for the public welfare. One of the most popular causes which is assigned fur this unsatisfactory state of things—the existence of this great evil—is that there is too much discussion in the House of Commons —that too many speeches are made, and too much talk indulged in. —(Cheers.) Sir, this is en imputation that has been heard of before this session of Parliament. It was not so popular, but it was an accusation prevalent during the last session—during the last session of the last Parliament. I think it was first urged as an objection to our conduct of public business, by the members of the Manchester School, and it has been brought forward Ithis session by their distinguished leader, in a most formal and precise manner. That Hon. Gt nticnian the Member for the West Riding has even acknowledged to the House that, as far as he is concerned, so sensible ! is he of the evil of prolonged discussion in the House of Commons, that he would consent, though opposed to all tariff's, to a sort-of rhetorical tariff—(Hear, and laughter)—and that, for his part, but not speak• ing for his friends, he has no objection that the time allotted to him for addressing the house should be settled by standing order.—(Hear, hear.) That is unfortunately a popular idea, and it may be a good suggestion, only I would remind the House that it is only very recently that this inconve nience of prolonged discussion has been experienced by the Hon. Member for the West Riding, and the sup• porters of his party.—(Hear, hear.) There certainly was a time not very distant, indeed, being only a few years ago, when I do not think that the Hon. Member for the West Riding would haie been satisfied with the limited period of time he would have allowed him by the House for addressing us. I have listened to a great many very lengthened and able addresses from the Hon. Gentleman and his Friends, most of them extending to a period that he does not seem to approve of now. So far from his thinking that there was too much discussion then, the lion. Gentleman and his friends were not so satisfied with the time allowed them for discussion as to prevent them from building hustings and hiring theatres to continue their talk, feeling no doubt that the House of Commons did not offer sufficient opportunities for the discussion of those great questions, and the advance ment of those great political views which they wished to press upon public opinion. (Cheers.) There is another cause that has been alleged for the unsatisfac. tory state of public business, and that the forms of this House, theconstitulion of this House arc now pronounced to be cumbersom e and intricate, and form a great obstacle and barrier to the efficient and satisfactory and speedy transaction of public business. This is the view of the case that is, I believe, principally relied upon by her Majesty's . Government. Her Majesty's Govern ment have on several cccasiona objected, or rather de plored that the forms of the House have enabled Hon. Members to delay the progress of measures, and at the close of this dying session Government have obtained a Committee to inquire into the modes of conducting public business, of which Committee I am an humble member, and you, Sir, are a distinguished member.—(Cheers.) Therefore, I apprehend the ap pointment of this Committee renders it clear that her Majesty's Government consider that the forms of this House present a cause for the unsatisfactory state of our affairs, which every one deplores.—(Hear, hear.) At the same time it is clear her Majesty's Government by no means withhold their acquiescence from the other cause which has been alleged by the lion. Member for the West Riding and his friends. The Noble Lord the First Minister, and other members of the Government, have on several occasions depre cated this propensity for discussion, which had been considered to form an obstacle ,to the transaction of public business. They have often called upon Hon. Members not to make speeches, hut to inquire into the merits of questionable measures; but still they attribute the delays in the progress of public business to the cumbersome and intricate forms of the House, while they at the same time do not object to accept the other cause brought forward by the Hon. Member for the West Riding, namely, the propensity for discussion, which led to much waste of time, which was the cause of public business being so tardily ad vanced. The first charge has been openly stated sad adopted by Government; but it is clear that they con sider the propensity for discussion as the real cause of the present unsatisfactory state of public affairs, because I have observed in an official paper a paragraph which seems to encourage that view of the question.—(Hear, hear.) It is not the London Gazette. —(Laughter.) But I will show to the House that it is a paper to which are entrusted the Government secrets, and in which there appears information far more in teresting and important than ever appeared in the London Cavite. I copied this paragraph—it is an official paragraph—from a journal I consider, and will consider, to be the only official journal—a journal which circulates all the secrets of the Cabinet the moment they are known —a journal that announces every appointment from the Ambassador to the French Republic down to the last gauger of Excise—(Hear, hear, and laughter)— I read in this journal, on Sunday week, the following official announcement, which I think proves that Mi nisters, although by the appointment of this Committee, show they are of opinion that the forms of the House are the cause of the evils, still adopt the opinion taken by the Hon. Member for the West Riding and his friends. The paragraph commences—" We have authority to state"--but if this is forgery it will be open to the Treasury benches to contradict it—" We have authority to state that the fish dinner"—(Loud laughter)—" that was fixed for the 16th is postponed till the 25th. This postponement is occasioned by the vexatious discussions in the House of Consmons.—(Laughter.) We have, however, authority to state that the fish dinner will positively take place on the 25th instant." Now, I SaturdayWsupepdonseesday willb eNv the et digestion. —( Hear , i e ges t dinner ion._ d ?P H o e a f r t , h a e n d session, laughter.) a nd dentto Governmenta It is quitem-calenar,llowing for the timidity naturally inci dent whohm s lost his dinner, that the feeling of .3 that there is too much discussion in the House of Commons. I value this alight means of obtaining the truth moth announcement of the L o mo re Lord himself,t ha than even lt tibeeo official only t e (Laughter) and immediately everybody be comes as gay, and as cheerful, and as easy as can possibly be imagined—the panic and depression both disappear, and everybody returns to his business, and to his music and macaroni.—(Great laughter.) In LIVERPOOL, Auc. 29. ISTocic ExcularGE.—We have a better market to-day, more business has been done, and at slightly improved prices. The sales are Caledonian, Preference, 7 percent., 1 A p.— Lancashire and Yorkshir e (l a t e and B.), Fifths, I dis.— Ditto, 10/. Preference, 1 / 2 p.--Ditto, Halves (late Liverpool and Bury), 14 dis.—London and North• Western; 115— Ditto, New Quarters, ti p.--Alidland Stock, 92—Ditto, New Halves, 71. 18s. 9d. dis.--North Staffordshire, 3/. 18s. 9d. South-Eastern and Dover, 25 1 / 2 —Ditto, No. 2,9% dis.;-- Ditto, No. 3, 9 dis.—Ditto, No. 4, 71. 3s. 9d.—York, New castle, acd Berwick (G. N. E. Purchase), 6s. 3d. p. ...... MAIs.CHESTE,R. AUG. 29. STOCK EXCHANGIS.—Tbe sales are—Birkenhead, Lan cashire, and Cheshire Junction, 22/. Shares, 8% di s .— Leedi and Think , N ew , 23 dis.-South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4, 7 3 -16-I",anchcater and . Birmingham (H. and B.), Quarter., 1 p.—Sheffield and Lincoln, 71% dis.—Cheshire Junction, 8% dis.—Grinistry, 201. Shares, 9% dis. • BIRMINGHAM, Ana. 29. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—North Staffordshire, 78s. 9d. dis.—Shrewsbury and Binning (A), Cl. 3s. 9d. dis.—Ditto (B), 4 YORK, AUG. 23. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The business transacted to-day was as !Dhows: Great .Northern, 7 —York, Newcastle, and Berwick (Extension), .fie. 1 , 164—Ditto, No. 2 (late New ilerwicks), 157 g —Ditto (G. N. ri. Purchase), 84. GLASGOW, Aug. 28. STOCK ExcuaNGE.—The sales are—Caledonian, Pre ference, 51s.—Eastern Counties, 144 1 —Glasgow, Kilmar nock, and Ayr, Halves, No 1,6/. us. —Ditto, Preference, 64s.—..Great Northern, 71. 6s. —North British, Thirds, 38s.— York; Newcastle, and Berwick (G. N. E. Preference), 8 What is generally deemed the final Government proposition' of the session was last night moved in the Howse of Commons, namely, the " appropriation clause;" the Chancellor of the Exchequer moved that such clause be inserted in the Consolidation Fund Bill.— Advertiser. COLLISION AT SEA.--.KINGSTOWN, AUG. 28.--On the 27th inst. the American ship St. Lawrence, Brown master, bound to New York, and the schooner Cosmo. politan, of Liverpool, William Maxwell master, bound to Bonny, in Africa, general cargo, when off the Mizen head, at four o'clock, P.M., were both on the port tack, the schooner being a quarter of a mile or less on the weather quarter of the ship, wind S.W., blowing strong. The ship hove about, the schooner up" helm, 'but a col lision instantly took place. The schooner was run on boarOiy the ship striking her on the bow, carrying away all but the mainmast. The crew scrambled on board ,the ship, except one seaman, who was struck over board and drowned. The ship immediately made sail for Liverpool, having injured her cutwater and lost her jibboom. The ship arrived in Kingstown this forenoon, and landed the crew of the schooner, who, although not members, were relieved by the agent of the shipwrecked Mariners' Society and forwarded to Liverpool. • SUICIDE.—Last night Mr. Mills held an inquest at the Railway Tavern, Hampstead-road, upon the body of Emma Sarah Maria • Greggs, a housemaid in the family of Mr. Loman, silk merchant, Regent-street., aged twenty-six. Deceased lived upwards of six years in Mr. Loman's family, ?' i towis-place, Haverstock-hill, where she formed an at : • o tnent tor a young man who paid her attention, but sub sequently his affections to another. This so threatened m o ind that she latterly became quite dejected and rose from bed,t destroy herself. Last Sunday morning she dress over her h ead into the garden, and fastening her night Deceased destroead, flung herself into a pond. Verdictf her state of mind yl:i'il herself, but there was no evidence of hen she committed the fatal deed." TIGER SMITH. Bengal: Native Infa—tr aptain Thomas Smith, 15th aura Tiger Smith, who was sen tenced to four months'n "Y'p,tiisonment and bard labour in the House of Correction, f i o n ' t Mr. Bishop, of Bond street, was liberated on Thursdayeiraudinmgorning, but was lame t—John Bull. dlately afterwards arrested fordb The Lord Chancellor has teen pleased to appoint Assistant Clerk of Mr. Robert Crosby to be se Affidavits in the Chancery .a.eli c d o a n v d • oortsiat the gentlemen, death of Mr. Wm. Thodey S m i th, s it.° l tlice, Vacant by the before whom all a ffi davits, deelarati nre now made, under the lat e Acts 'aV afnrinatkns Messrs. Samuel Anderson, John J eff erson rliament., are Crosby. . , and Robert TEMWBATHER AND CROPS.—After some weeks of very unsettled weather, the heavy atmosphere gradually drew into large masses of thunder-elnuds traversing the country in all directions, and in some places emptying them selves. it was feared, very injuriously to the crops. wi thin these two days, however, they have gradually cleared away ; frosty nights and bright sunshine during the day hav e suc ceeded, and it is now ascertained that the damage has been much lees than was anticipated. On all hands harvest operations are going on briskly, and with the exceptioh of the pot a t oes very favourable accounts are b roug h t i n b oth of the quality and yield of the crops throughout North Derby shire. —.Derbyshire Courier. ,1 • ' 44 e JJ txton SUN OFFICE, Seven o Clock. BOULOGNE. AUGUST 29.—Our private correspondent informs us that The O'Gorman Mahon, M.P., passed through this town between three and four o'clock this morning, en route from Paris to London, and embarked on board her Majesty's steamer Albert, Captain Smythick, -which awaited his arrival, he being the bearer to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs of dispatches supposed to be of a more than usual important nature. ELECTION COMMITTEE. (THIS DAY.) HORSHAM. The Committ ee were again occupied the whole day with receiving rebutting evidence on behalf of the sit ting Member, Mr. Fitzgerald. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Woo; sack at Five o'clock. LOCAL ACT BILL. This Bill was read a second time on the motion of the Earl of GRANVILLE. acts of a man while under the influence of ruffled temper, produced by being disappointed in obtaining a dinner, that indicate his secret views. It is only under such circumstances that tha pas• sions and master feelings of the Man come out ; and although the Noble Teord talked a great deal of the forms of the Hewe s ft is quite clear that he feels with the Hon. Member for the %Vest Riding, that the proeepeitV for discussion is the reason why the betereee'i bf the country cannot be carried on vilth It e eldity.—(Cheers.) Now I propose, in Matinee the most brief and condensed that I can keennmand, to ascertain whether these two causes ate the real causes, whether it is to be attributed to the discussions in this House. Cl‘ to 'toe fears of the Legislature, that after haselbg eat nearly ten months we have done very little, and that very little not very well.—(Chentes.) But, however, before I enter into that argument, it will, perpaps, be interesting to the House that I should just state, hale pendently of our debates, what the Hoene Of Commons has done in the present seeeietneeehat really has been done falls very far short uf what was originally proposed to us. From a ecport of the Committee on Public, Business, which has been kid upon the table of the llouse, but which from an accident has not yet been circulated amongst Members, it apps ars, Sir, that there have been this year 45 public Committees, some of them of more than usual importance, with an average number of fifteen Members serving on each Committee; that thcrs have been 28 Election Committees with five Members serving on each Committee ; that there have been fourteen Groups on Railway Bills, with five Mem bers serving on each Group ; that there have been seventeen Groups on private Bills, with five Mem bers serving on each Group ; that there have been 111 other Committees on Private Bills. Of the public Com mittees, that on commercial distress sat 39 days, that on sugar and coffee planting, 39 days; that on the navy, army, and ordnance expenditure, 40 days; and that on miscellaneous expenditure, 37 days. It appears that there have been presented this year to the House upwards of 18,500 petitions, showing an increase of 25 per cent. upon the greatest number presented in any former year, except the year 1843. I will take this opportunity of making an observation upon these petitions, since a considerable degree of error exists out of doors on this subject. It is supposed, when a petition is presented, it is simply ordered to lay upon the table and never heard of again ; but it is well that our constituents should know that every petition that is laid upon the table is scrutinized by a Select Committee of the most ex perienced and intelligent Members of this House, and that every petition which from the import ance of its subj ec t, or the ability of its statements, renders it deserving of the distinction, is printed at the public cost, and circulated among Members. The right, then, since we are not permitted to make a speech on every petition presented, is a more important and efficient right than has ever been enjoyed at any time by the public in England.—(Loud cheers.) Having, Sir, fully I hope, stated the causes to which are imputed the great delay which we all acknowledge— namely, the present inefficiency of the system of govern ment to transact the businesa necessary for the country, the next thing for me to consider is whether those causes are founded in truth and accuracy, and if not, whether it is possible before Parliament is prorogued for this House to ascertain what the real cause is. —(Hear, hear.) Now, it will be perhaps convenient to re cal to the recollection of the House the circum stances under which Parliament met.—(Hear, hear.) Such extraordinary events have occurred since Fe bruary, that we are apt to forget when we remember the fall of thrones, the uprooting of dynasties, the deposing of great Ministers whose reputation had become almost part of the history of more than half a century—who had selected and guided the Governments of almost the whole of civilized Europe —when these mighty occurrences are fresh in one's memory, one is too apt to forget, so long has been the duration of this painful session, the circumstances under which the Parliament met. Gentlemen should recollect that we had in this country, when the House met in the first session of the new Parliament, that we were then suffering from events, which though not, frem reputa tion, so large as to partake of an European character, were yet as comprehensive, as far as we were con cerned these were, however, not less strange, and far more sad.—(Hear, hear.) The inscrutable Omnipotent decree had gone out that a famine was visiting the land, and in consequence of that terrible visitation our merchants were compelled to make good the deficiency, and no doubt that and many other causes led Ito a commercial crisis, perhaps of unprecedented severity. There were uprooting of commercial ;dynasties in England not less striking than the fall of those political Houses: of which of late we have heard so much. Hon. Gentlemen whom we had known and lived with in this House of Commons, whom we had all highly respected, who had an Euro pean reputation in their career, were rudely torn almost from these benches, if not with disgrace and ohs • honour, under circumstances of pitiable severity and vicissitude seldom met with. We had had a com mercial pressure of unprecedented severity, and when earliament met private credit was certainly para lyzed. Trade was not only dull, but almost dead.—(Hear, hear.) There was scarcely any private party, from the rich noble to the most enterprising man of the middle class, who was not smarting under the severity of the circumstances to which I have alluded. Why, Sir, that commercial distress was so general and so severe, that it was one of the main causes that led to the' calling of Parliament together in the month of November.—(Hear, hear.) Her Majesty, in her Speech from the Throne, stated that this was one of the causes which had induced her to call Parlia ment together at so early a period ; but let me ask the House whether, on this subject of com mercial distress, . there has been too much discussion?—(Hear, hear.) Can the Members of the House of Commons be charged with having such a pro pensity to make speeches upon that subject? Let me recap to the recollection of the House that the only impression upon the mind of the coun try after we had met was, that we had been called together by the Sovereign on a great emer gency of universal interest, and yet upon that sub ject the House of Commons has absolutely said no thing.—(Cheers.) There was a feeling of discontent ; amongst all classes, and men of all parties in the country and in town, that when Parlia ment met they did not immediately go to the cause of that commercial distress by which the country had been stricken so severely, with the view ot arriving at some conclusion that should be able to guide the public intelligence on the subject. There was cer• tainly, when the House met, oneldesultory discussion of two nights upon the Address, when the com mercial crisis formed one important element in the discussion, but Parliament had never met yet with out a desultory discussion taking place on the Address. In the present instance the desultory debate was very insignificant, because there was a general understanding in the House that the question of the commercial crisis was too vast, too encumbered with other important matters, to be dealt with in an accidental debate on the first business of the House of Commons. It was naturally supposed that an opportunity would be afferded for a complete e t if he th q e m s a u tt b o j n ec iA t •; because allud e d lteot byme t b r e e recap to Sovereign v er e t t g h n e lj i d n i°6' t ca h u' e es s s e tlih) w nat ords to the effect that the embarrassments in trade were so great at one period that a general feeling o proceedings ier infringement ee t ri et n 7i g l nteo c t o lfhi n teoh fl ue d s e w ce of distrust and alarm had arisen throughout the country, u and her Majesty for the purpose had, by an order in Council, authorised the Bank of tE:anngl emer gencyaa any England to thatt o o nmpe might tuuehb have course fl u te r ed s r e t ot o h t ai . Commons did not feel that an opportunity would be ' a e f- 1 forded them for fully discussing the subject, discussion yet was there any great propensity j for discussion on that question ? No doubt I shall be told that besides the desultory debate to which I have just alluded on the moving of the Addrese motion was made with respect to the conduct 'i a Ministers, when the subject of commercial di°st tress, and especially as to the conduct of Gover went with regard to its advice to the Bank b y Englund, was brought formally before the House by the Right Honourable Gentleman the Member for, Stamford. Very true, but, Sir, in the first place, I can not at all agree that there is any abuse of the privilege of Parliament when such a man or such a subject bp. pealed to the House of C o m m o ns . —(H ear, hear.) / should say that, considering the experience of my Righ t lion. Friend, and the turn of his mind, was sufficient guarantee that it would have been satisfactory to th e a c h o o u n n i ty, d r hay e e nd ori t g o men inated an of all p inyes a tt r g te, a - tio t n ha i t nt h o e t o h f is all men matter relating to the management of the Bank, th e constitution of the Bank, and the conduct of the Ministers during the commercial crisis. —(Hear.) the led ir House to me a Well, Sir, I do not suppose that the motion of lily waste ßig h time; of Right Hon. it his, e alleged as re having mind that lie had no alternative. Ministers had announced through the highest medium, that they had coun selled the directors of the Bank of England to violate the law. True it is, that in the same speech they intimated that that infringement of the law, notwithstanding the permission, did not take place, but in the opinion of my Right Hon. Friend, and of Gentlemen on this side of the liouse,:we could not agree that a crime or an offence was only constituted in the perpetration of the accusation. We consider the intention is just as guilty as the perpetration; for if a man contemplate the committal of a murder, he is just as guilty as the man who has committed the mur der; and, therefore, if Ministers counsel a public body to infringe the law, although the infringement may not take place, it was still competent for Parliament to come et t ey o twh of were, torvt ee l a, e rea t ye t s e egt r uhr , forward to discuss or dissent from such counsel. nee is tys for sapoeerwriytp: I think myself that the whole conduct of the Govern ment,nae akxt except3rn,adl whimsi cal y sup posingmight have t been, e w a te t h i ntah,i that they respect difficultsseapyes at tthey .—(Hear, hear.) And having done all this, which amounted to nothing, and written this paragraph, and made the speeches which greatly pleased me, I can compare it to nothing but to the annual procession which takes place in a city with which all gentlemen are very familiar— an annual ceremony which takes place on one day in the year, and which puts the whole population in a state of the greatest excitement and alarm; and after a short time the whole procession becomes panic-struck about the consecrated blood, and the most curious thing is that in both cases it is the same— a case of congealed circulation. — (Laughter.) Just a t that moment when there is unutterable gloom, and when the time popu lation, the Archbishop of announces the liquifi- L St. Janarius—( aughter)— despair and consternation prevails over the whole cation of the blood of that a wholesome state of currency has returned both cases the remedy is equally efficient and equally apposite.—(Laughter.) I think I have shown some ft'llsoll3 for the House to agree with me, that as far as this great question of commercial distress—tehich the Hon. Member for Warwickshire has not yet terminated —as far as that ie Concerned, the House of tecommoes ha`s not wasted muc h t i me. —(H ear. ) rie is one of the most important subjects that can pos sibly interest a great commercial nation, and I believe not ten men in the House expressed their opinions upon the subject. I confess as far es our disenSsiehe Upon :Jane ing was cenefeentid—having long relinquished any hope aunt the result would be as satisfactory as I desired—a combat has al ways taken place be tween opposite opinions, with which men who generally originated the question have had little to do—(Hear, hear)—the clebnte was always interesting, frequently entertaining, but as far as the sound principles of bank ing were concerned, they had certainly not been ad vanced by such discussions, and I confess I look for ward to the attainment of that end which we desire by only one means, and that of a very sorrowful na • tuee—another depression and another panic.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentleman continued—He would now take a subject of the utmost possible importarce—tee financial question, and he welled ask the House it they would permit bins calmly to consider, on the 30th of August. after sitting there ten months, whether, in the financial statement and in those measures which resulted from it, the conduct of the Government had been of that thoughtless, unbusiness like, and unsatisfactory charac ter which had been alleged? Ho would ask the House to inquire how much time had been occu pied this session by those financial communications and arrangements by an English House of Commons. Ho would ask the House to it-quire whether any time had been wasted by the House of Commons, and whether the speeches of Members, or the forms of the House, had caused that expenditure of the public time? On the 18th February the financial statement was made—it was exceedingly satisfactory—but the moment Parliament met after Christmas, not an hour was lost in announcing that another financial statement would be made. The general opinion was satisfactory in the House and in the country.—(Laughter.) The Ministers were rather favourites out of doors ; some that they were n o t men o f busi ness,ght they had to enco un t er h ar d times.—(Laughter.) Th e Ch ancellor of the Exchequer people but said, thenh however, e was ver, thou was a most active man ; he got wrong with his deficiency bills, but on the whole they were satisfactory.— (Laughter.) But now they were sailing in still water—they were perfectly business men—not a moment was to be lost—the First Minister of the Crown comes down, and we have a budget early in February.—(A laugh.) Notwithstanding all the great events that had occurred in Europe, they Atilt recollected that budget.— (Laughter.) It was not entrusted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Prime Minister—the first Minister of Finance —comes forward, and Tamworth itself could not have produced a more magnificent and solemn budget. In a politioal sense it was not less important than in a financial sense. It was clearly a budget which demanded expansive views, and the highest efforts of a statesman, because the country was to be defended as well as taxes to be paid. Those were great considerations for the House to enter into; and when they were informed of their danger, they were induced to express their determination to protect their country, their Sovereign, and their hearths. But, then, they were informed that there was not only to be an increase of the miscellaneous, but of the mili tary estimates ; and they were told that the income-tax was to be redoubled. Now, it was clear thatthe financial scheme of the Government must have been completely matured—it was not a scheme taken up in an hour, or drawn with a pen upon the back of a letter, but there must have been Cabinets, frequent and long discussions, upon a budget whichlin a moment of deficiency called upon the country to increase the expenditure, and which attempted to accomplish two great ends, viz., to defend the country, and to fill the Exchequer.—(Laughter and cheers.) And he thought he should use no terms of exaggeration if he expressed the feeling of the House as one of considerable dissatis faction—(Hear, hear)—because at the time he alluded to Members in every quareer of the House, even to almost behind the Treasury benches, gave utterance to their in dignant protest against tbe Government propositions. But that was but a murmur to what took place out of doors— a menagerie before feeding time would alone give an idea of the unearthly yell—(A laugh)---with which the middle classes, especially the inhabitan ts of towns, the followers of liberal opinions, and the disciples of free-trade opinions — (Laughter)—received the announcement of the Go vernment. Great towns, such as Manchester, Liver • pool, Leeds, and Bradford, sent up their protests day after day, and, in fact, persons were so alarmed that they had not time to inquire into their condition. On the 21st of February, the Monday follow ing the Friday, the Chancellor of the Ex chequer came forward just as one might see a great general, after he had taken the position of his infantry, and finding out that it had not gone quite as well as he expected, brings in a body of cavalry to put every thing right—(Laughter) —the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a most extraordinary speech. It was a sort of lament over the misconceptions which un accountably occurred as to the statement of his chief. —(Hear, hear.) He should have thought that if any statement ought to be clear, it would be that of a financial exposition, but unfOrtunately the charmed and classic eloquence of the Noble Lord had enveloped it in a feeble mist, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer was the only man to put it right.—(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) He mem forward and said there had been the greatest possible misconception as to the statement; it was true that there was a mistake in the navy estimates, but there had been a very great increase in consequence of an expedition to the North Pule.—(Laughter.) That, he supposed, was to show that they had no intention of going to war—(Hear)—that they were merely going to the North Pole; but he thought it was an expedition rather adapted to times when they had a surplus in the Ex chequer.—(Laughter and cheers.) As to the misce.la ;moue estimates, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said they were considerably inereased, but told the house not to forget the expense of building the new Houses of Parliament, the expenses of keeping up the British Museum, and, lastly, the increase to an immense extent in the amount of the printer's bill.—(Great laughter.) The statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. he contended, was the most extraordi nary proposition that bad ever been made by a Minister, viz., that the Government had determined to propose that the estimates for the army and navy should im mediately be referred to the Committee up stairs, and on the next day the miscellaneous estimates should be submitted to the same ordeal. That was on the 21st February, on the Monday after the Friday. But the storm had grown loud. A most curious thing occurred on the 28th February, there having been a notice of a motion given by the Hon. Member for Montrose for a reduction of expenditure and a diminution of taxation, and a great many other notices of very in convenient motions. On that day, ten days after the financial exposition of the Noble Lord, the Chancellor of the Exchequer came down and in the handsomest manner presented the House with two budgets (Laughter.) On that occasion the Chancellor of the Exchequer said, ia consequence of the misconceptions which had gone abroad, and two more inconvenient motions baying been already placed on the books of the House, it became necessary, in fact, for the Government to review their position, and he had no doubt himself that the estimates might be consider ably curtailed, and by borrowing some money -which was intended for another purpose, they might save some money for the purpose intended —(Laughter)— that was to say, that by pinching on the one hand and screwing on the ,other, there would not be the slightest necessity for additional imposts, because they might manage very well to make the expenditure and income balanc e— (Laughter)—that they might do very well without doubling the Income-tax, by which it was estimated by the Noble Lord that three millions and a half would be brought into the Exchequer.—(A laugh.) Now, he would ask, was the House of Commons guilty of the charge of having wasted those ten days, from the lath to the 28th of February?—(Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) Was there too much discussion, or were the antiquated forms of the House tripping up the Noble Lord at the head of the Cabinet? —(Cries of " Hear, hear.") But ten days had been wasted ; they were now on the 28th, and still they had an empty Exchequer, and the only chance they bad of getting anything like tenpecce in the pound was by scraping some 6001., 7001., or 8001. from the estimates. (Hear, hear.) He fouad an announcement in the Queen's Speech, stating that her Majesty had given di rections that the estimates for the next year should be Prepared for the purpose of being laid before the House, and that they would be formed with a careful regard to the exigencies of the public service. — (Hear, and laughter.) The greatest exigency which they were then labouring under was a deficiency in the revenue, and he now complained that those estimates had. not been prepared with , a careful regard t o t h e exigencies of the public service. He would not enter into a detailed account of what was done in those eventful ten days, but would pursue the financial point to the end that the House and the country might clearly understand what time had been wasted, how it had been wasted, and who had been guilty of wasting that time.—(Hear.) He would go on to the 30th of June, on which day, in the midst of a colonial debate, the Chancellor of the Ex chequer suddenly rose, as was supposed, to answer a speech which had been made by an Hun. Member of con siderable ability and intelligence, but in a most im promptu manner brought forward a third budget, which he laid on the table of the House.—(Loud laughter.) A nd what occurred on that occasion ? The Right Hon. Member for Manchester, and the Hon. Member for the West Riding, moved the adjournment of the debate, on the plea that instead of discussing a great question which was then before the House, a question involving a great principle, of which those two Hon. Members were the champions, viz, that there should be no alteration of the law of 1846 with respect to the sugar duties —inst ea d o f d o i ng that, he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) sought to introduce a new budget, an- at h at entirely diverted the attention of the House from the subject before it. The discus sion on the financial st a te o f the country lasted two days, and that great sugar debate was spent Mm in deliver ingiatry.—(Hear, speeches on the b u d ge t of the hear.) N ow th ey h a d t h ree b u dgets within the permd from the 18th o f F e b ruar y down to the 30th of June— andad not in the h during that p er i o d t h e Government held slightest d e g ree re d eeme d t h e promise which they out to the House and to the public. All that time the estimates were up stairs submitted to a select Com mittee, and the Conamitee of Supply of the House was virtually done away with. When that Select Committee was appointed, he took occasion to state the objections which he entertained to the proposition, that the esti mates should be referred to the Committee up stairs. He showed that it was an unconstitutional course, and that there were no precedents whatever for submitting the estimates, which ought to be proposed by the Ministers, on their own responsibility, to a Select Committee, and of shifting the responsibility from a Committee of the whole House.— (Hear.) He had showed to the House that this was a Select Com mittee of Ways end Means, and that if they were al lotted to hare such a Committee, they might have a Select Coffitnittee on nhythinge and that Committee would have the power of inflicting taxation. He had stated also to the House another objection to the refe rence to Committees; he had stated that it was uncon stitutional as regarded Members, because it de prived them of their constitutional privileges of investigating the justice of the estimates in a Committee of Supply.—(lfear, hear.) Now, what did the Noble Lord at the head of the Government say to that ? Why, that his (Mr. Disraeli's) observations were futile, and that it was absurd to say that Members were deprived of their constitutional privileges, for they had the power to consider all that had been done by the Committee when in Supply ; but what he would ask was the result ? Why, the Estimates did not come down from the Committee till a few weeks ago, and they had been discussed at a time when half the Members were away from the House. He asserted, then, that the House of Commons had not been guilty of delay on the question of finance, but the Ministry had; nothing had been done before the end of July, and the Prime Minister, with a sublime coolness, stated, in the latter end of the month, that his Bight Honourable Friend the Chaticellor of the Exchequer would, before the end of the session, make his financial statement. They had then e fourth budget ; they had had a Ministry con taining all the talents, and they had now a Ministry containing all the budgets.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) The fourth budget came late, and at a momeut when they waited glad tidings, but it had no sunny aspect — (Laughter)—it was brought forward in a thin House, and when that House was full of gloom. The position of the Chancellor of the Exchequer on that oc casion put him in mind of the hero of Cervantes and his faithful servant, Sancho Panza, on their return from the fourth expedition of the redoubtable knight. His friends were aware of his weakness, and they treated him eith respect, but the wife of Sancho Panza told him to never mind his kicks and cuffs so that he had brought home some money.—(Laughter.) Such was the state of the present Chancellor of the Ex chequer on bringing forward his fourth budget. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, it might be truly said, had concluded his second year of office with a second loan instead of a tax. He would ask the House whether it was the discussion of Members, or the forms of the House, that had caused the delay in bringing for ward the fourth budget? So much for that part of the subject. He would now refer to another. Her Ma jesty, at the commencement of the session, had recom mended to Parliament to adopt two important measures, but he regretted that they had not complied with her Ma jesty's command. The adoption of such a course was an apparent stain doubtless upon her Majesty's faithful Commons.—(Hear, hear.) But the question with him was, whether the House of Commons had discbeyed her Majesty's commands, and he thought he should be a bl e to show that th e y h a d not. The first measure to which her Majesty had called their attention was for improving the health of the metropolis, and the second related to the laws regulating the navigation of the United Kingdom. Now, with regard to the sanit a ry l aw , it was i ntro d uce d on the 10th of February, and ordered to be printed, as amended, by the Lords, on the 27th of July. Now, it might be thought the House of Commons had been guilty of wasting five months with respect to the mea sure, but what was the fact. Why, a cursory glance over statistics of the session would show, that the measure had been so frequently altered, and such batches of clauses had been added to and taken from it; that it was quite clear that such was its inefficiency when first introduced, that discussion with respect to it was not only profitable but a public benefit.—(Hear, hear.) Such were the difficulties that beset the Bill, that he believed, that had it not been for the fine disposition and the kindly feeling of the Noble Lord who had had the management of it, he doubted much whether it would ever have reached its goal. What had taken placed on that Bill could not be blamed on the House of Commons. Then, with respect to the Naviga tion-laws, they had been Introduced on the 15th of May. There were then two nights' discussion on that propo sition. On the 9th of June there were four nights' dis cussion, and, except the formal introduction of the Bill, that was all the time that was expended in the discussion of the most important alterations that any Minister could propose in that House or the country iu any measure. He would ask were six nights' discussion too much with respect to such a vast and comprehensive measure ? He asked the House what its Members would have been thought of by their constituents and the country if they had not devoted themselves with a proper spirit to the discussion of so important a subject. He asserted that the discussions on the measure were called for, and could not be considered frivolous or vexatious.—(Hear.) He, therefore, made it as a charge against the Govern ment as far as the conducting of the business of the House was concerned that they had not carried the Navigation Laws. Then with respect to the repeal of the Jewish Disabilities Bill, he had supported that measure at no ordinary sacrifice, but he could not approve of the conduct of the Noble Lord as the mana ger of the business of the House of Commons, and as a Minister bringing forward a project of change, unless he was sure that he could carry it, believing that a Minister failing in carry ing such a measure was attended with results the consequences of which no one could foresee. It was an imprudent and improper course with respect to those whose interests the Government advocated. It was quite clear to his mind that the urging on of the Jewish Disabilities Bill was one of the causes that had led to the Noble Lord's withdrawing the Navigation Bill. At the time of the progress of the Bill the House would recol lect that one of the most remarkable eircumstances took place that had occurred during the present session. He (Mr. Disraeli) had said that the progress of the Bill had been arrested by a most remarkable circum stance—an event that gave a totally different colour to our legislation, and which changed altogether our policy with respect to the colonies—an event which altered the whole tune of our debates—which influenced, in fact, the financial statement of the Ministry; and which in one shape or another has engrossed a large portion of the attention of the whole cuuntry.—(Hear, hear.) When Parliament met our sugar growing colonies were beginning to experience the effects of the measure of 18 46—(Hear, hear)—the first and most fell citous effort of her Majesty's Ministers.—(Hear, hear.) But what were the hopes held out to the colonists ? They were recommended to exercise a little more competition, a little more energy, and a little more enterprise—(Hear)—only to exert themselves a little more, and they would do in time.—(Laughter.) Nevertheless, packet after packet arrived with the intelligence that the planters were be coming more end more distressed—the gloom black ened, and at last our colonies assumed the aspect of despair.—(llear, hear.) One Honourable Member, whose intrepidity could not be conquered, and whose perseverance could not be got over—the Noble Lord the Member for King's Lynn—(Cheers) —told the Govern ment and the House, that if they intended to keep and preserve our colonial empire, that the time had arrived when they must seriously consider what ought to be done for them. Be said, "if you will not give them up, at least inquire into their condition, as they have alleged that their lamentable condition has been mainly aggravated by our recent legislation." On the 6th of February that Noble Lord brought before the House the state of our West Indian colonies in moving the appoint ment of a Committee. At first the Go vernment would not comply with his request, and my Noble Friend knew that if he pressed his mo tion to a division, that it would be defeated by the ready , legions of the Government.—(Hear, hear.) But ac counts arrived which made even Downing -street listen to the plaints of these islands, and they were then told that the Government had no objection to grant such an inquiry. Lord J. RUSSELL intimated that the Committee was nominated in February, but that he had agreed to it as far back as December.—(Hear.) Mr. DISRAELI said, yet, on the 6th of February, the Noble Lord declared " that he would not alter his policy."—(Protectionist cheers.) That Committee re ported on the 20th of May. Its labours were little heeded at first, except by persons immediately interested in the colonies to which its investigations had reference. With the exception of these persons, none knew what was taking place. The Com mittee was impartially chosen, looking at the opinions entertained by the Noble Lord the Member for King's Lynn, yet the favourites of the new commercial sys tem preponderated.—(Hear, hear.) Rumours in a few months began to creep about in the House, and despair ing West Indians were seen in the lobbies.—(Laughter.) It was found that men who entered the Committee with preconceived opinions began to waver. —(Hear.) They heard, moreover, the other day, of a gentleman being knighted and paid—(Cries of "Hear, hear")— because he laboured 18 hours a day . upon the matter, but his Noble Friend (Lord G. Bentenck) laboured so many hours, and not only on the West Indian questicru, but upon many others.—(Protectionist cheers.) On the 21 1 th of May a majority of the Committee containing as way of those favourable to the new commercial principles recommended that duties on a scale which would have givon a differential duty of 10s. to the colonies—(hear) —but on the same the Noble Lord at the head of the Government stated his firm determination —the firm deter mination of the Government—to maintain thedaties at the rates agreed upon iu 1846. Why, if the Government bad been firm, if they had not indulged in useless dis cussio.u, they might have passed the repeal of the Navigation Laws.—(Hear, hear.) Yet, notwithstanding this determination on the part of the Government on Ist of June, the period was not very remote — (Hear, ar, hear)—how many Cabinet Councils were there between the 29th of May and the Ist of June? —(Laughter.) Although he had made a dili gentsearch for what was done for this co ndemned e pi tome of their proceedings during the last ten at oaths he could not find any account of these councils—eyet the same Prime Minister, who w unalterabl e and firm, came down t o the House,us and volunteered a statement to the effect that some Umber of the Government would inform the Horse w h at was to be done with the sugar colonies— (Protectionist cheers)—and accordingly on the 16th of the same month the.natvre of the Govern ment measure was stated to the House. Of the details of that measure he would not speak; it would be sufficient for him to say of it generally, that it was an absolute departure from the Act of 1846, to which they had been since told the Government was unalterably devoted. --(Protectionist cheers.) Why did it . not strike the Government—he thought it could not fail to strike the House and the country—if they had been more firm and had not been instrumental in intro ducing long discussion t l I public business would have been proceeded with mo it ralbeitntly than it had been.— (Hear.) That measure a it e ) e: l some respects the dif ferential duties, and provide t : e til e loan of a large sum of money for the purpose of promoting emi gration and the cultivation of tho colonies. The resolutions introduced were fully discussed by the Ilouse, as the discussion consumed ten de) s, but consi dering the importance of the question—considering the principles which it was expedient to apply to the whole of our colonial empire acre to be discussed, he did not think that the time was improperly eccupied.—(Hear.) Yet four days out of the Dumber were consumed by two episodes which had nothing to do with the Government question before the House. Then the third budget of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the speeches of the Hon. Members for Manchester and 'the West Riding. occupied two days, and two were absorbed by that incident which was known by the name of the " Missing Despatch " (Roars of laughter, and Protectionist cheers)—and which was styled in that House a " petty per sonality," but which was pretty well recog nised by the country as 2. great Ministerial blunder.—(Laughter.) Ile could not but regret that such a state of things prevailed in this country that they could not depend upon the dispatch of . it Colonial Go• vex nor being laid with certainty upon the table of the House. —(Protectionist cheers.) He thought be had shoe n that the House of Commons was not responsible far all the discussions upon the sugar question.—(llear, hear.) Had they, however, occu pied sixteen hours, the importance of the subject would have justified such an expenditure of the public time.—(Hear, hear.) At length they got into Committee, and he held the Bill as amended in that ordeal in his hand. Let us see how the Chancellor of the Exchequer —already experienced in the expenci ture of time by the length of his budgets—(Laughter)— got on. The fish dinner of the Government was put off be cause they had wasted time.--(Loud lauthte r.) During the week, when the Government fish dinner should have taken place, and when the house should have gene into Committee—the 16th of July—the Noble Lord discovered that they were unfairly dealt with, and the subject of refining in bond was intro duced by his Noble Friend—(Lord G. Bentirck) He would say nothing about Englishman not enjo)ing the same privileges as foreigners, but be wished to state that the Chancellor of the Exchequer promised to introduce a measure to remedy the inequalities that existed. In reply to the Hon. Gentleman the Member for the Tower Hamlets, the Right Honourable Gentleman stated that he intendea to bring in a Bill with respect to refining for home consumption. Subse quently the Noble Lurd reminded the Government of their " broken promise"—(Hear, hear)—and on the 21st of June he opened his "masked battery." of twenty-three arithmetical blunders in the Bill.— (Laughter.) But the measure with respect to refining in bond was never carried, it was withdrawn.—(Hear, hear.) When the Government came forward in Committee to introduce a Bill more satisfactory to the trade; and, on another occasion, came forward to withdraw it, they must expect that such conduct must elicit discussion and remark in a free assembly. What were they there for but to attend to the interests ef the colonists and others, many of whom were their constituents? A second Bill was intro duced in which the twenty-three blunders were dealt with, seven of them were corrected, and two new blunders were added to the nuinber—(Laughter)—six teen of which were reprinted in the Bill.—(Laughter.) It was, therefore, found necessary to withdraw the second and to introduce a third, in which the Government confessed to the former sixteen blunders— (Laughter)—making altogether twenty-five acknow ledged blunders—(Continued laughter) —yet leaving seven still unacknowledged.—(Renewed laughter.) It was surprising that such errors could have occurred when the figures might have been as easily calculated, as that three: vroats made a shilling. (Hear.) After four days and six nights' discussion, and 7 divisions in Committee, solely, caused by the imper fect preparation of these measure s—these three grace ful emanations of Ministerial genius—the measure was at length adopted. He asked the House if it was possible for the people to have confidence in a House of Parlia ment, which legislated in this way. Saying that two days had been taken up by episodes, and two by the missing dispatch ; it reminded him of the time that had been occupied in moving new writs—(Laughter) —and dealing with delinquent boroughs.—(Laughter.) Let us contrast the time wasted upon delinquent boroughs, and let us see how ar the House was responsible. The subject bad engaged much of the attention of the Noble Lord.—(Laughter.) The Government got into a mess at the beginning of the session with re spect to these delinquent boroughs. Nobody knew what to do with then,. When Honourable Gentlemen were turned out for treating and bribery, it was thought that the constituencies should all be disfranchised. Some thought not—and some were disfranchised and some were not.—(Hear. bear.) It he found a man of great historical attaiments like the Noble Lord, and not deficient in courage, finding difficulty in the matter, be confessed that their must be more diffi culty in the matter than appeared on the surface. The House had neglected the issue of writs in several instances, and discussion after discussion was carried on upon these delays. But during these discussions there was a vast deal of legislation going on. An Hon. Gen tleman who was not present brought in two Bills, which were ultimately withdrawn, although the Hon. Baronet the Member for the Flint Burghs was an extreme powerist ; and then came the Corrupt Practices Bill, which, after passing that House, was withdrawn in the Lords. Now all this waste of time and discussion arose from the neglect of the Government to establish a principle for the guidance of themselves and the Legis lature. Now after this, could the Noble Lord at the head of the Government get up in his place, and in the face of the House attribute the length of the session to the propensity for discussion ? He came new to the Sugar Duties : that was forced upon their attention, but he would pass over that and the Navigation Laws, and just remind them that during the last few months there had been sedition in England and rebellion in Ireland. He should like to have seen the Whigs in opposition in such a state of things.—(Hear, hear, and cheers) But what had they done in office?—(llear, hear.) They nad not been severely pressed upon. Their foreign po licy had been lightly passed over, while there had been no discussions on the state of England question in the house of Commons. There had, perhaps, been a good that of discussion on Ireland, but with an insurrection foere he , doubted whether the discussions on the erms of the House had proved inconvenient to the dispatch of public business. He now tested the ten causes which had been alleged for the unsatisfactory state of affairs, and he thought he had shown, that it time had been wasted, it had not been in consequence oi the discussions or the forms of the House. He would now just admit what the country had lost in consequence of the waste of time. He held in his baud a list of the Bills of Mortality for the session of 1848, and it appeared that the waste of time had inflicted the loss of 47 Bill, upon the country. If then there bad been a waste of time, it there had been vascillation, if there bad been defects, it was attributable to the conduct of the House of Com. mons. It was attributable rather to the policy of her Majesty's Government. The cause of all these evils was to be traced to the Treasury Bench. There he saw a body of men who acceded to power, without a Parlia mentary majority, and though they might have been justified in taking that course, they were not justified 'in persevering in that course. It was cobbled and altered until it had not one feature left which it had when proposed. But they could not expect from a Ministry in such a situation as matured, finished, and complete a measure which under other circumstances they had a right to expect. The course taken by the Government was such that the House of Commons, instead of being a legislative, was an a d m i nis trative body. The House of Commons was nothing but a great Committee. He traced all these evils to the disorganization of party, and when they denounced party opposition, they were striking at the root of that scheme of government which, ia his opi nion, had made the country, and which he hoped would keep it in its present greatness. He pretested against, and he denounced the system, even at the eleventh hour, and he called upon the country to brand it with its in dignant reprobation. He has had the satisfaction of calling the attention of the House to the existence of this great national evil; and he had done more—he had had the consolation in that great assembly, wherein it was his highest boast to hold a seat, of justifying, in the face of England, the character and conduct of the House of Commons.—(Cheers.) Lord J. RUSSELL thaukeu the Hon. Member for the diverting speech which he had made, but how it origi nated he was at a loss to know. The Hon. Gentleman read an extract from a,Sunday paper about a fish dinner — (Laughter)—but he (Lord J. Russell) believed that the statement which it contained, that the fish dinner had been postponed from the 19th until the 26th of August was altogether fabulous. But that formed the whole foundation of the Hon. Member's speech. The Government were not the persons who assailed the House of Commons which the Hon. Member had un dertaken to patronize and vindicate. The Hon. Gen tleman had alluded to sedition in this country. to inci• pient rebellion in Ireland, and to the revolutions in Europe. But he would observe, that the Ministers of the Crown were 'chiefly appointed to administer the affairs of the country, and therefore this was the reply to the accusation—that sedition in England had been dealt with by the vigorous arm of the law, the rebellion in Ireland had been suppressed by the energy of the Lord - Lieutenant, and that the revolutions oa the continent had not affected the character of our institutions. Sedition had been quelled, rebellion in Ireland had been suppressed, end the institutions of the country maintained, and peace preserved by those as sailed by the Hon. Gentleman.—(Cheers.) He should remind the Hon. Gentleman that, although it was not the principle duty of the Government to introduce legis lative measures, and to carry them into effect, out of 125 Bills which had been introduced by them as many as 105 had been passed, or received so much sanction as to enable them to receive the Royal assent this session. The Ministers had been accused of taking an unprece dented step with regard to the Bank of England, but a resolution bad been proposed in the House by ono of the Hon. Gentleman's party (Mr. Herries) approving of the course they had taken. The Honourable anti Learned Gentleman then entertained the House with an Act, of what ho called the F our B udgets ; that might be all very well, it might b e very witty, but he believed that the Nobl e Lord opposite (Lord George every George Bentitick) was the aut h or of iv financial statement that bad been made by his Right Hon. Friend the title of budget.—(Hear, hear.) It was exceedingly witty and everybody laughed at it as well as the Noble Lord. Lord G. BENTLNCIi—I laughed at you. Lord J. RUSSELL continued—The present Govern ment were not the only Government that had brought forward measures that did not meet with the approba tion of the House and who afterwards withdrew them. The Hon. Gentleman then found fault with the Govern ment fur.referrin g the estimates to a Committee, and he had attempted to draw a distinction between the Committees appointed by Mr. Pitt and the Duke of Wellington, and the Committee appointed by the present Govern ment ; but the fact was, that there was no dif ference between them whatevex. 7.1 e only dif- NEWRY AND ENNISKILLEN RAILWAY. —(THIS DAY.) A general meeting of the shareholders was held thi s afternoon at the Guildhall Coffee•house, when Yr' Chubbock took the chair. The reported submitted stated that the 11. allowing the company to ,make arrangements with other OW panies for the more profiftable Construction' of the wor ks and carrying the traffic on the line had received th. royal assent, and the directors were now therefotp empowered to enter into arrangements with the Dublin and Belfast Junction, the Ulster, the Newry, Warren' point, and Rostrevor Railway Companies. r The dire' tors had come to the resolution not to purchase the land between Gorah and Armagh as authorised by 'tin general meeting in 1847, int en d ing, if possible to .o°l' the construction of the lin e a l together, and bad accor d ' ingly avoided the purchase. The report having been adopted unanimously, it Wass decided that 4,805 shares, on which the shares bad 11 °' been duly paid, should be forfeited. Mr. Talbot Moore and Captain Hamilton having been elected directors resolutions were adopted, suapendif.F the works until prop er arrangement bad been made.wi"^ other companies, and restraining the directors from making any calls without the express sanction of the shareholders. Thanks having been passed to the chairman directors the meeting sepersted. a nd S. • .ra On the 21 s t inst., in Uppe r Se W ymour-street, Somers - to' — ' the lady of W. Lawday, Esq., of a daughter. On the 25th inst., at the Rectory, Fen Ditton, near Cam bridge, the wife of the Rev. W. B. James, fir of a son. On the 25th i nst., at the Vine, Hants, the lady of W. Wiggett Chute, Esq , of a daughter. On the 25th inst ,at Lansdowne-road, Notting-hill , th e lady of H. Tindal Atkinson, Esq., of a son. On the 26th inst., at Lady Bateman's, Portman-s4 e' the Hon. Mrs. Whyte Melville, of a daughter. of O a n da th o e gh l e t r h . inst., at Lorn-road, Brixton, Mrs. Mombert On the 27th inst., at Duncan-terrace, Islington, Mrs* J. Tucker, of a daughter. At Brighton, Pre,ol a son. o on the 27th inst., the lady of the Rev. W•: M. DIED. On the 24th inst., Eliza, wife of H. Bright, Esq., of Ealing, late of Dudley-villa, Paddington. On the 26th inst., at the Rectory, Hemingford Abbots, Huntingdonshire, aged 57,:Fanny, the wife of thej Rev. Eft Selwyn. On the 29th inst., at Wem, Shropshire, Thomas L. Diclu t h aged 2i, youngest son of 181 r. George Dickin, of Queen-stree t, Cheapside. At D.rttord, Kent, on the 27th inst., Mr. C. Huggett. On the 27th inst., at Hyde-park-street, John Cox, EN- 6 On the 27th at Princes-street, Hanover-square, CaPi• John Campbell, Esq., late of the Royal Marines, aged 63. ---- - - - London: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, at No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, .Ne. 11 2 ! Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy. in the cotter! of lktiddloses, Wednesday, August 30, 1848. DUBLIN POLICE COURTS BILL On the motion of the Marquis of CLANRICARDE this Bill was passed through Committee. FEVER (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was passed through Committee. CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS BILL. This Bill was passed through Committee. TRANSFER OF LANDED PROPERTY (IRE- LAND) BILL. This Bill was passed through Committee. NUISANCES ;AND CONTAGIOUS DISEASES BILL. This Bill was passed through Committee, certain ver bal amendments having been agreed to on the motion of the Marquis of LANSDOWNE. COMMONS ENCLOSURE ACT AMENDMENT BILL This Bill was passed through Committee. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ROME BILL. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE gave notice that he should to-morrow move that the Commons amendments in this Bill should be taken into consideration. MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS. Messengers from the Commons brought up several Bills, which were respectively read a first time, after which their Lordships adjourned. ference was that they were appointed by a message from the C rown . The lion. Gentleman bad spoken of the appoint ment o f the Committee as dangerou s ; : ac d o innovation of the privilege of Parliament, and coutriy to the Con s tit ut i on. N ow he (Lord J. Russell) eeulds'ene no dang er at a ll except in leaving it to the Committ e to say (whi c h t h ey h ad not done) how many men w‘Fe necessary for the arm y an d navy. He l oo k e d u p o n Al, that the Hon oura bl e G entleman had sa id en this subje c t as a delusion, and as ' having no solid f oun d at i on . O ne good thing that k occurred for the appointment of the Committee, was n , report with r es p ect to the Navy Estimates that w ould be most useful to the-House. The precedent, therefore , instead of being itjurious Ives most useful.—(Hear.) The Honourabl e G ent l eman had then gone at great length into th e quest i on of public health. Now, "i respect to th a t h e must confess that the Hea l t h d . , Towns Bill w as a measure that instead o f bone ashamed of it was his boast, that the Govern mentc of whi c h h e was the head bad passed such a measure during the present session, es it a" ! likely to m a k e great charges in the laws and a d m i n : tratem of the count r y. Th e H on. Gentleman h , then stated that measures had been altered In that House. Now he (Lord John Russell) should hard thought that an Hon. Gi rifleman who stood up so crush for the H ou s e o f C ommons would hardly have w i s h e d , that the opini ons o f t h e h ouse of COIDIROnS show' not have been imported into the measure. (dear, ll hear.) The enourable Gentl emen h a d ye k ii referred to th e navigation-laws. With respect to tua t t the present Gov ernment h ad obtained the ass ° of the House to the principle of the change proposed of the measure, but the discussiottt that had taken place on other subjects ba n prevented Govern ment go i ng on with it. The lion. Gentleman then passed to the subjec of the Sugar Duties* Now in reviewing them he should, in his (Lord J. Bus' sell's) opi n i on , h ave stated what had been the charge et! those duties. The Noble Lord, after referring to whi n had been done on the subject, and commenting upon On 'mighty debates that had taken place on the subject, dented that the distress in the West Indies had been. caused by the measure adopted by the Government. The Houourable Gentleman had then commented upon all course adopted by the Government with respect to th e Corrupt Practi ces Bill . N ow he (Lord ' John Russe ll ) denied that it was the duty of the Government to take up the subject ; added to which, a Noble Duke, in another place, bad said it was not 6 Bill that ought to pass in the present session. He (Lord J. Russell) bad now met several of tb ° statements made by the Hon. Member with respect to some of the measures brought forward by the , Go vernment during the p resent session ; he eon'', not, however, answer him with respect le what he called the plague spot of the HOW' He (Lord John Russell) was connected *with party who, he believed, Were anxious to do all ut their power for the public good, and it was-not-to then i that complaint should be directed that no • WV . ' could be found in that House in opposition - He did not see, because some persons could not tall a party in opp os i t i on , t h at Ministers were to be blame d for it. He thought, however, if the party with,wOul the Hon. Gentleman was acting . were- • endeavouring to form a party to renew high protective duties, they were striving to effect that which they never would se . complish—(Hear, hear)—and if they could not form n party the country would look up to it was for them to . . explain it and not hi m. —(Hear, hear.) He. ha' given them the hint, and they must make the best of it they could. (L aug h ter.) The Hon. Gentleman had : said that h e rose to d e f end the House. Now be (Lora John Russell) thought that the House were th e complaining parties in the present instance, -be cause nineteen-twentieths of the Members ca' plained of the other fraction of the House causing the delay that had taken place.—(ilen t ' hear.) Upon the labours of the whole ses sion, he (Lord John Russell) would only milt that out of the 125 Bills introduced by the Govern: ment, they expected to pass 1 05.—(Hear, hear.) lie thought that, looking to the regulations of the,Hous e, and looking to the fact that in the earlier period of the session the Government had only two days 111 weeek, or ei g h t a month devoted to them, h e . . did not think t h ey were to blame for the workthat had been ac c o m pli s h e d by them—(H ear , hear)—an "1 d , felt bound to maintain that with sedition at 1101110'.; (Hear, hear)—with i nc i p i ent rebellion in Ireland .0" convulsion in Europe, the work of administration wa n the chief business to which they were bound to devote their attention.—(H ear , h ear. ) In the present state of Europe the slightest indication might have pitted foreign nations against England, and the want of watchful' ness on the part of the Government or th e • House would have given to miscreants Si; at home the means sedition.—(He ar , h ear. ) I w ishe' (continued the Noble Lord) to maintain peace in Europa f • —(Hear, hear)—and .1' estimate it beyond all price. e lament that which I think unnecessary —the war in 179 3 ' I can assure the House that we shall devote our beat energies, and cur constant labours to the preservation ut peace.—(Hear, hear.) Feeling that our inatitutions -- • believing that those institutions are the best that were ever formed for preserving the liberty of the-communiti in which they prevail, and wishing to preserve those institutions against such innovations I shall always re flect with satisfaction that during the present year we have preserved those institutions unimpaired, and who ever may suc cee d us i n futur e sessions will, I trust, have to defend, and not to restore the constitution of the cone• try.—(Much cheering.) Mr. HUME said the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. D'lsraeli) had been prolific in complaints. He was justified, therefore, in asking him what he had to propose better? The bane of this country was party and aris tocratic legislation, directed with the sole• view of their aggrandisement at the expense of the welfare of the people. He lamented the breaking up of that:part/ which had prevented the passing of measures inimical t° the interests of the people. Until a party of theioinr, arose the same s y stem o f misgovernment would '1" pursued. • Mr. OSBORNE said the debate was not unlike!" to go off like many moderate duels—with satisfaction to all parties; but he did not think the apeet il of the Honourable Gentleman would induce the country to' believe that the Noble Lord was ao blameable as he had tried to make him.—(hear, hear.). His speech might not inaptly be taken as a defence of his Hon. Friends tbe Metnbers for Youghal and Stafford. —(Laughter.) Why, a friend of his had calculated the amount of time they had consumed; it was no less then five weeks of the session, and would occupy as witch % print and paper as fiv e wee k s ' debating.—(Laughter./ Certainly, the Government were in some respects to blame. It was true they bad made arithmetical mistakes which a child would be ashamed of —(ilear.) net had four financial statements, and depend upon it•the), would have a filth before the session closed.—(Laughter.) Ile attributed much of the satisfaction and distress in the country to aristocractic misrule.—(gear,) The Noble Lord was going to Ireland. Do not lei Me l nu to the Castl e and eat a trumpet dinner' uniform, and then come back, like some gen tlemen, and say h e k new all about Ireland. Let hi m really ttv vestigate the real evils of Ireland, and give the Roma? C his long - promised measure of se lf- govern mee" If he really investi.rated the want s o f the people of both countries he would' not - find .any such panic ho woul d not dignify i t w i t h the name of a rebellion-which recently broke Out in Ireland; nor would he find able vagabonds, wretched Chartists, without a penny in their pockets, plotting in public-houses for what?--- [Mr. F. O'Connor raised his hat in acknowledgment.] Ile believed the Hon: Gentleman was the only red Re publican in that-House.—(Laughter.) He trusted the Government would not govern on the state principles which had been laid down in Downing -street froine time immemorial, as the proper way to.govern a people. Atter a few observations from kr. HUDSON and gr. DISRAELI, in explanation, the Bill was read a third time , and the House adjo urne d at Quarter past Four t i ll a Quarter past Six. '4l ONDON, WEDNESDA. Y EVIMING, AUGUST 30, 1848.