The Sun. — London, England, 1842-02-04 00:00:00

Wr - ENING SUN LAW INTELLIGENCE. CO UR T OF COMMON PLEAS, Feb. 3. DANIELS v. CRUSSLEY. This was an action for &Ise imprisonment. The plaintiff is a carpenter, and having been employed by the defendant, a publican in the Oval•road, St. Pancras, to make some benches and tables, he took away a quantity of the defendant's timber, which remained after the job was completed. The defendant thereupon gave him into custody for robbery, and prosecuted him for felony at the Old Bailey, where he was acquitted. These were the grounds of the action ; but it was proved for the de fence, that when the plaintiff was charged with robbery, he said it was his first offence, and prayed the publican to forgive him. Verdict fur the defendant —The Court ruse at one o'clock. COURT OE BANKRUPTCY, Feb. 3. IN AK WM. HITCHCOCK. 'This case was resumed this morning, and the examination of Mr. Gladstone, of the firm of Cook and Gladstone, was proeeeded with by Mr. Butt. You stated yesterday that the 7,0001. was not advanced to pay an old account ?—Yee ; I can now explain the circum stances. On the 2d Nov., 1839, w discounted various bills for the bankrupt amounting to 2,2341. 16s. 7d. Amongst other hills was one drawn by George Hitchcock upon the bankrupt for 2,0001., which kill due on the 4th May, the cash for which was given to the bankrupt on the 2d of Nov., and formed no part of 7,0004 advanced in May. Have you got that bill for 2,0001. in your possession now We haoe not. What•hat become of it ?. .given-up to the party. Was time. hill presented in due course ?—I do not know. New, just look at this account, and look out the bill for 2,000/. Was not that bill of 2,000/. part of the 7,oool?—Certainly not. Will you swear that you ever had a bill drawn by George Hitchcock for 2,0001. ? Now be cautious.—l do ; here is the entry of it in my book. Would that be due on the 4th May ?—Yes, it is so shown in the book. Then does not that sum of the 2,000/. stated in your accoun to be advanced on the 7th May, form part of the 7,0001. ? - does. '—When it was paid it was of course And was it not to take up the bill due on that day ?-1 don't kaaw onything at all about that. The 2,0001. might have been applied to take up t h at bill . Will you swear it was not advanced to take up that bill ?—I won't swear. We advanced the money ; but I don't know for what purpose it was advanced. At the time of the advance did you not know the bill for 2,000/. was due ?—I have no recollection. Will you look at your book, and see whether that does not show you that the bill was due on that day ?—We never think of looking at the bill books. Was not that bill payable at Barclay's ?—No; at the London and Westminster Bank. Did you discount that bill with Messrs. Overy and Co ?—I cannot tell. Is this the cheque you advanced to the bankrupt on the day the bill became due ?—I am not sure. You say you don't know the purpose for which the money was advanced. Is it your usual practice to advance so large a sum of money without inquiring the purpose to which it was to be applied ?—Thq bankrupt wished it for the purposes of his trade. What would be the gross profits of such a trade as the bank rupt)?—l can't tell. What would be a fair profit to mark on his goods ?—Fifteen per cent. Have you stated that you made an offer to the bankrupt of 2,5001., provided he got some respectable person to take your account?—We did offer to write off that amount. In what way was that affair to be managed ?—I have already given the explanation fully: In the presence of the bankrupt's brother we told him, provided he got a party to be security, we would write off sums on his account. In what manner was the party to take your unsecured debt ? —We did not point out any manner. The bankrupt told us he had no doubt he could get a party to take it. Again, in what manner did you understand that was to be done ?—That was left entirely to the bankrupt. COMMISSIONE a—What did you mean by taking your unse cured debt?—That is to say they should become creditors to the bankrupt in our stead. Mr. Boort —What benefit was the party to derive for taking the debt ?—That was a matter entirely between the bankrupt and the party, which we had nothing to de with. Then, do I understand that if any body else could have been fixed upon as the creditor instead of yourself, it was immaterial the way in which it was managed?—Certainly, we should have expected the money to have been paid as security for the party. When you were examined before did you say anything about si party taking the unsecured debt ?—I have no doubt I did at the time, but it does not appear that I did ; but we were satis fied with our security for a portion of the debt, and it was said in the presence of the security, " of course you have security to the other amount?" You allude to the bankrupt's brother. Do you mean to say that ho was security for all the unsecured debt ?—I believe he was. Now, you have stated in your examination something relating to the bankrupt paying 10s. in the pound. Did you say one word of tkat in your private examination ?—I believe not, be cause I was not asked the question. Were you not asked to give a specific amount of the transac tion?—The question applied to the 2,500/. Will you fix the time when the conversation to which I have referred took place ?—The 3d July. Referring to the bill of 2,0001. due on the 4th May, can you now by reference to your book, say with whom you dis counted it? —y.=, with Overy and Co., through Barclay and Co., on tlips ISth of January, 1841. As that 2,0001. cheque was paid through Barclay and Co., +have you any doubt that it was given by you to take up that was not given by me at all, it was given 'by our tense, and I. personally, cannot speak of it. 'Have ,you any doubt that it was so given ?—I have no know. ledge of it, I think it very likely it was so applied. You know the distinction between given and applied—do you know whether it was so given?—l cannot tell; 1 have no knowledge of its being so given. Mr. Cook signed the cheque. Barclay is written across the cheque, who wrote that ? Mr. Parkinson. Were Barclay and Co. the bankrupt's broker?—No. Produce your cheque-book ?—The book was not in Court. Examined by Mr. HCMEREY—You said in your examina tion that you advanced to the bankrupt the 7,0001. in various sums; when had he first applied to you to make that loan?— In May. Was it before the first sum was advanced ?—I should think on the same day the first sum was advanced. 7,0001. was advanced on the Ist of May. Do you keep the books ?—I take the direction of the books, but I dun'( keep any. Mr. Cook was then called. Mr. Hum FRET said he should not ask him any question, as it was the same transaction. Mr. Cook was ready to answer any question from the other side. Mr. Herr said it was a very unfair trick to play.—(Several persons in Court here expressed their approbation by clapping their hands. ) Mr. H u :NUR EY said this was a most unwarrantable assertion, and appealed to the Learned Commissioner. The COMMISSIONER said it was not a proper assertion. The examination would be the same as that of Mr. Gladstone, therefore it was unnecessary occupying the time of the Court to go over the same again. Mr. Ma anon said he was at a loss to know who was going on with the case, Mr. Humfrey or Mr. Butt. Mr. Hemline' said he had nothing to ask Mr. Cook. After a short and angry discussion between the Counsel, Mr. Cook was cross-examined by Mr. AIARDON. Did you on the 28th of December, 1840, apply to Mr. George Hitchcock for any and what security, and what sum ? —I did for 1,0001. ; I asked him for a guarantee, which he gave me. Why did you apply at that period to Mr. George Hitchcock for security for any part of the debt due to you by the bank rupt ?.--.I applied to him for security for the amount he wished us to lend him. 'Did you mean that the bankrupt applied to you for the 1,000/. 2—Of course I did Had you any reason at that period for taking Mr. George Hitchcock as security for the bankrupt ?—I do not recollect any particular reason that I had. Did )ou on the 29th December, 1840, see a Mr. Gubian, of Pa, is, and did any conversation take plate between you and him relating to the bankrupt ?—He asked me if I'd be kind enough to give him a letter of introduction to Mr. Hitchcock. Was the letter no x produced to you, marked C, written by you and given to Mr. Gubian.—lt was. Now long before that period had you known Mr. Gubian? —I had known him one or two years before, and he was recom mended to us by Williams and Sowerby, of Oxford-street. Did you make any statement to Mr. Gubian when you gave him that letter respecting the bankrupt or his circumstances?— I don't recollect that I did. Do you mean to say that you gave that letter to Mr. Gu bian without saying anything about the bankrupt or his cir cumstances ?...-He might have asked me the question, but I don't recollect, it is such a time since. Did you tell him that you had been applied to to lend the bankrupt 1,0001. without his brother's security ?—No. Do you know that in the month of July Mr. Hayward, one of the bankrupt's buyers, went to Paris to buy goods through that introduction?-1 know it from bearing Hayward's signature, but I did not know it before when he took this letter out of his pocket, and showed it to me and the other assignees ; he then offered to destroy it. I said. '" No, don't destroy it on any account, I am very much sotprised to find such aletter in your possession." Are. you e.ot aware that, in the months of Jan. and Feb. 1841, tl'..e bankrupt was making alterations in his premises?... I we.:rnot aware that he was about making alterations. I thought they were about finished at that time. Did you call at Regent-street on the 10th or 11th March in that year ?—Not to my recollection. Did you call at any time about that period to see the bank rupt, o l d express your , telf in terms of approbation at the alter ation of the premises, that being the first day of his opening ? I du not recollect the date, but. I expreesed myself to that effect. Do ynu not know that in February a large parcel was sent by your house to the bankrupt, on opening the new houses in March ?—Yes. Did you introduce bankrupt to the Birmingham Plate Glass Company ?---Yes. About what time was it ?—I do not recollect. Did Bankrupt call on you at any time in the year 1841, re specting the payment of his acceptance given to thatcompany . ? --Not to my recollection. Did you see him at all at any time, and did you state to him that though interested in the Plate Glass Company, yet you weremore interested in his estate ; and did you not then reeom end hint not to send into the Company the old plate g l ass w hi c h he was about to send in part discharge of a bill then overdue?— I r ecollect the b an k rup t as ki ng me if I wou ld recommen d him to sell his old plate-glass to the Company. I said No ; you i vt ! l g et a Touch bette r p r i ce f or it f rom y our b u ild er or g l az i er, did n ot advise him anything about the bill of the Company, nor do I believe he mentioneal any thing of the kind. Do you recoll ect having seen Mr. Warrick on the 16th March, 1841 ?—yes. Did any conversation take place between you and him on the occasion of his calling to the bankrupt's reference, and state what then took place ?—He call e d to ask my opinion of the matter. I said my opinion was very good on it, as to the large amount, and some thousandsbeyond his security. He then stated " I h I do notear, or berecol le lieve you hold th e l ease as security." I answered vet. recollect any more , Did Mr. Warrick ask you whether you examined into the affairs of the bankrupt in an action with Heeles and Co?-1 do not recollect. Did you not then tell him that you had Heeles' bill in the cash-box ?—I do not recollect. Do you believe you said anything to him on that occas i on in words to that eff e ct?-1 think' not. Did you say that the securities you held would not amount to one-third of your liabilities ?—No. I never used the word liabi lity in a reference to any one in nely life. Did you tell him what security jou held ?—No ; I might have said I held a lease for my own 3,000/., but do not recollect I di d. ~ 4./ost not inform him you held a joint-note of 1113 bank (_l- -- ri mibi.other for 7 060/. ?—I do not recollect ...0( . .4.',....5 ~,,' .the Ist of January, 1842, call upon Mr. Warrick, ..... r o ti. --. ...V.47,„"---t - F. ..i.....tizi g .h.-use' ?--Yes, about that time. ii,,,, a c s i x i . tho oke ,l l 4 ‘uldev .oc itood . he was suutononed to give 9Vi• j ' V! , • = . S:- - ffi rse: Iclitchcock?—.Yes. " `ti?l'' . :%4 , ‘ oiia 1,1 1 4;, ric 74 \ ~ 4 . ;.*.'.'•l'v,Lt‘ti:te) \~ < ~ gave Did i n y I li a e h theft ? ask_ lle him s a d a s he eo wast h su p tn urr e r n t e o fdo f fre a r r efe rence atrhdatapned ews you r Did he say that he must, if requ i r ed , g o _ s that it would be ve ry c t o h n a v t e w ni e en h t ad to , i h n a a v d e d s i t t a io t m ed t a o t t t h h e e le t o nn se e , the e reference was ma de, joint security of G. and W. Hitchcock?—Yes, or words to that effect. Did you assign any reason why you did not inform them that you held the security of G. Hitchcock ?—I said he must have misunderstood me, or I him, respecting that. In what way do you mean that he must have misunderstood you ?—Because he asked if I had any other security. Do you mean that by not disclosing to Mr. Warrick that you held the security of Mr. George Hitchcock, he misunderstood you ?—He never asked me the question. Did lie not ask if you held security, and the nature of that security, in March. He said he understood you held a lease ? —Yes ; I said we held a lease. That was at our house. Did Mr. Warrick, in January, say, Why did you not tell me in confidence that you held the joint note, and you replied, that if you had done so, Mr. Warrick would not have trusted him, or words to that effect ?—Yes; but I do not recollect his using the words as you repeat them. If he did, my reason would he not to injure Mr. George Hitchcock. If you told Mr. Warrick that you held the joint note of George Hitchcock and the bankrupt, do you believe, if it would injure Mr. G. Hitchcock in his estimation, it would have injured th e b an k ru pt a l so , an d that he would not have trusted the bankrupt 7-1 have no belief to give on it. A per son may judge for himself. Was not the reference to you respecting the credit of the bankrupt ?—Yes. Was it in any manner relating to the credit of G. Hitch cock ?—No. Is it usual when an inquiry is made respecting the credit of a person to disclose the nature of an account, aid what securities are held?—That depends on the questions put. It is not usual to put such searching ques ti)ns as Mr. Warrick said he put to me. I never recollect such a reference iii my life. Is it not usual when questions are put asking whether you hold security, to disclose what securities you hold ?—Mr. Warrick did not ask me concerning all the securities. He asked me if I held a lease. Did you see the bankrupt at any time in July at your count ing-house ?—Yes, I did. Did you ask him to send any goods to you ?—Certainly not. Did any conversation take place about the linens in your pre sence ?—Not any. Did any conversation take place about the redaction of your debt ?—The conversation that took place was in the presence of his brother George. It was on the 31st July, respecting a reduction to make to his brother, the bankrupt, and which had been spoken of by Messrs. Gladstone the day before. Do you recollect what that reduction was ?—I told his brother George, the bankrupt had complained of our not giving him sufficient support, and that he had not an swered the references so as to gain him good credit, or words to that effect; and that having so large an account with us was injurious to him, and said we had no wish to injure him, and not to lie under that opinion. We had therefore made up our minds to settle our account, and that we had taken a partner from a very respectable house for that purpose. Was that all that was said ?—I do not recollect anything more particular. He seemed to be pleased. Had you any other interview with him ?—The bankrupt returned the same day and wished to know how much we in tended to write off his account, and Mr. Gladstone replied 2,300/. The bankrupt said, that is very handsome, and that he would take 10 days to consider of it. Was there any calculation at that or any other interval in July gone into by the bankrupt, at which you were present ? Yes, about the 13th July. He called and said he could not find for any one to take the account, but he had a proposition to make from his brother George, that he felt very uncom fortable about the security of the 7,0001. ; that Mr. Rogers knew nothing about it. Did you ask the bankrupt if his estate would pay 10s. in the pound y ou ; the bankrupt called two or three times to in duce us to give up the brother's security, which we, on all oc casions declined doing ; and upon one occasion, towards the end of July, the bankrupt said if he were to be unfortunate and driven into the Gazette, his estate could not pay so little as 10s. in the pound, and therefore in any way we could not lose so much as we offered to take off his account, urging this as a reason why we should change securities with his brother George, and give up the 7,000/. security. On one occasion, being asked why he did not bring his brother George over, he said he was very unhappy about his wife's illness, and that she never would be setter, or words to that effect. _ _ Are you certain that this last interview occurred in the latter end of July, or beginning of August 7-1 believe it was in July. Did you call on the bankrupt or Mr. G. Hitchcock on 4th June, 1841, and obtain a renewal of the promissory-note for 7,0001. 7—Yes. I called on George. Did you obtain the renewal of that note ?—Yes. Did you give up the original note 2—l think I did. I think he would have required it. Did you require payment of the original note, or any part of it 7—No. Did you in Feb., 1841, give instructions to your clerk to ob tain the bankrupt's acceptance for 5251. 12s. 6d. as interest for the 7,000/.2—No. • Do you know if Mr. Gladstone or any person in your house gave such instructions?—No. _ - Do you know if you now hold beyond the pecuniary securities following, viz.: -1,0001., George Hitchcock's guarantee; Bs zecott's security for 500/.; and the note for 7,000/.;—Messrs. Heeles and Co.'s bill for 8631. odd, and the additional security of Heeles and Co.'s 2031. 17s. 10d., and Dobson's acceptance for 501. ?—I think we hold the two first, and that the last has been paid ; and that we also hold one of 5001., of which 3001. has been paid. Do you know if an action is pending against Heeles and Co. for the recovery of his securities ?—Yes, I think there is. Have you the cheque for 2,000/. ?—No. Did you take that cheque to Messrs. Overy ?—Yes, on the 4th May. On the occasion of your paying that cheque to Messrs. Overy and Co., did you obtain from them the bill of ex change for 2,0001. ?—No. The witness here corrected his answer as to taking the cheque to the Messrs. Overy. Did not know to whom it was taken. Do you believe that cheque was given to take up the bill of 2,0001. ?—I cannot tell. Has you firm received that bill due on the 4th of May from Messrs. Overy ?—I do not know. Have you received it from your own bankers ?—Not to my knowledge. Have you seen it since it became due?-Not to my recollec tion. The examination of the witness here concluded. The case of Messrs. Cook and Gladstone terminated here. Mr. MARDON addressed the Court on behalf of the bank rupt ; and regretted that a case so peculiar and so interesting to all commercial people was not confined to abler hands. Mr. Mardon went into the evidence as detailed, and which we have given at so much length; and contended that the bankrupt's balance-sheet was perfectly correct, and that he had given up all his estate to his credi tors. He did not intend to justify his conduct on the occasion of his giving up his linens to the Messrs. Cook and Gladstone. On that occasion he was wanting in moral courage, but he was not treated in the manner which his straightforward conduct merited. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD COURT. John Berry, 25, was indicted for feloniously stealing a cash box, several bills of exchange, some draughts upon Messrs. Glyn, Halifax, and Co., a quantity of gold and silver, and other moneys, amounting, in the whole, to the sum of 300/., the property of Mr. William Chaplin, of the Swan with Two Necks Inn, Lad-lane. The particulars of the robbery have already appeared in The Sun. The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty, and the prisoner was sentenced to ten years' transportation. Joseph Cherry was indicted for feloniously cutting and maiming John Raymond, with intent to do him some grievous bodily harm. Mr. Clarkson defended the prisoner. It appearod that. on Dec. 28, the prosecutor and the pri soner, who lodge in the same house in Whitechapel, had some altercation together ; and the prisoner, who was very drunk and violent, suddenly left the room, and shortly afterwards the prosecutor was told that he was coming to him with a knife, and he almost immediately entered the room with a knife in his hand. The prosecutor (old him to drop it, and he re- plied, " No, I mean it for you ;" and he immediately plunged the knife into his right arm. It appeared that the wound was very severe, and that the prosecutor was laid up for five weeks in the h )spital, The Jury found the prisoner guilty ; and Mr. Justice CRZSSWELL sentenced him to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for six calendar months. The Leirned Judges left the Court about one o'clock, for the purpose of attending the House of Lords. (Before the Riscoanaa.) The officer of the Court informed the Recorder that a wit ness, whose name was upon the back of a bill, refused to take the oath. The RECORDER directed the individual to stand forward, and he accordingly got into the witness-box. It was stated that he was the same person mentioned in the police report of Thursday. The RECORDER asked why he refused to be sworn. He answered that he had a conscientieus scruple to take an oath, believing it contrary to the dictates of Scripture. The RECORDER enquired whether he belonged to the So ciety of Friends, or to any other society that by Act of Parlia ment was excused from taking the ordinary oath ?—He replied that he did not think the law exempted him, but he must de- I cline to take the oath. The REcortEmit said if there was any particular form of oath which he considered binding upon his conscience, he was at liberty to make use of it; but otherwise the law required him to take the oath, and he was bound to obey the law, and he (the Recorder) could not release him from his liability. The individual said he could not take the oath. He felt so strong a scruple to doing it, that he had allowed property to be stolen from him without taking any proceedings against the parties. The RECORDER—That is to say, you acquiesce in a felony rather than perform a duty which the law casts upon you for the protection of society. The person remarked that he did not think his evidence was material. The RECORDER baid he could not go into the question of the materiality of his evidence.—(lt turned out that the per son was a pawnbroker, that some of the stolen property wes pledged with him, and his evidence was, therefore, very Im portant. ) The RECORDER observed that it appeared he was a material witnesss, and if he refused to be sworn he must take the con sequences. The Court was bound to obey the law, and to put it in force, The bo . ok was then tendered to him, when he refused to be sworn. The RECORDER endeavoured to induce the person to alter his determination, and pointed out to him the necessity of obeying the law, which was neceuary to be enforced for the protection of them all. He still, however, p ers i s t e d i n hi s re f usal. The COURT having held a brief consultation, said that the person was bound 4, a recognizance of 401. to attend ani give evidence, and if he did nut do so, that recognizance would be forfeited. The person said he was only bound over to produce the pro pert], and that he was ready to do. The RECORDER told him that he could not, legally, produce the property unless be was sworn in the usual way. If he re fused to take the oath, he would forfeit his recognizance. The usher of the Court then again inquired of the party whether he refused to be sworn. He replied, " Most decidedly." The Racoaoaa then said that the parties must go before the Grand Jury, and if he refused to take the oath, he would be considered as not having fulfilled his recognizance, and upon that fact being reported to the Court, orders would be given to entreat his recognizance. The person was about to leave the Court, when he stood still for a minute er so, apparently pondering up on t h e course he should pursue, and at length he exclaimed, " Well, I cannot consistently take the oath, and, therefore, I must submit to the consequence." The parties then left the Court for the purpose of going before the Grand Jury. The Queen and Madame Adelaide have each sent 500 f. to the families of come poor fishermen who were lost off La Teste, near Bordeaux, a short time since. The Duke of Orleans has sent 300 f., and the Duchess has given some beautiful obl ec t s o f work for prises in a lottery on their behalf. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1842 k OPENING of PARLIAMENT. THE ROYAL PROCESSION. The following only appeared in part of our impression of yesterday : Yesterday was the first gloomy, damp, and cheerless morning that has witnessed a Royal " Progress" since her Majesty's accession. On all other occasions the days have been nearly as bright and cheering as the prospects of her libe ral reign ; yet the Park, and the approaches to the Palace and the Houses of Parliament, were prodigiously crowded. About one o'clock the Horse Guards, Blues, and Grenadiers, took up their position, forming an avenue from the Mar ble Gate to the House of Lords, and the bands of the Coldstream and Grenadiers commenced playing on the lawn, first, several marches, then " Rule Britannia," and, lastly, "God Save the Queen," as the Procession commenced its pro gress, which was at half-past one precisely. The King of Prussia left the Palace in one of the Royal carriages, attended by four footmen, in the Royal State liveries, and a Guard of Honour from the Life Guards, shortly before the departure of her Majesty's cortege. His Majesty was recognised only in Whitehall and at the entrance to the House of Lords, in consequence of the rapid rate at which he was carried. The Queen was accompanied in the State car riage by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, and by the Master of the Horse and the Mis tress of the Robes. She looked remarkably well, and was greeted with continued cheering, along the route, by the vast assemblage, which perhaps outnumbered any that we have seen collected upon a similar occasion. It may be supposed that the great object of curiosity was to see the King of Prussia, which a very small number in deed of those whom it had brought together, were able to gratify. Her Majesty was also very much cheered upon her return to the Palace. On the arrival of the Royal Procession at the House of Peers, her Majesty was cheered most vociferously. The Duke of Wellington was likewise cheered, but the cheers for his Grace were not nearly so enthusiastic as those for her Majesty. The Duke of Cambridge was likewise very well received. When the King of Prussia and his suite arrived, Baron Von Humboldt, who was recognised by some one in the crowd, and was cheered by name, on alighting from his carriage to attend upon his Prussian Majesty, was received with loud cheering and clapping of hands. The King of Prussia was likewise received with loud cheer ing, but, with the exception of her Majesty, no one was cheered so heartily as Baron Von Humboldt. INTERIOR OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS. We have on many occasions witnessed the imposing ceremony of the opening of the Imperial Parliament by the Sovereign in person on the Throne, but we never recollect an occasion upon which greater anxiety was displayed to obtain admission to the House of Lords. Long before the hour of admission the passages connected with the House were crowded with ladies, in full dress, who most patiently waited the arrival of the hour of admission, nothing daunted by the cold and dampness of the day. The doors of the galleries, and those leading to the body of the House, were opened precisely at twelve o'clock, and very few places in the galleries appropriated to Members of the House of Commons and Strangers were unoccupied in a quarter of an hour from that time. All the seats were removed from these galleries, and the ladies by whom they were filled were obliged to stand from the hour of admission to the time of her Majesty leaving, an exertion which seemed to be thought nothing of in comparison with ob taining a sight of Royalty. The House, since the last Session, has undergone considerable alterations for the better, the dark red paper, with which the walls were then encumbered, has been removed, and in its place a warm stone-colour paint substituted, which gives the House a lighter and more pleasant appearance. The pannelling work on the ceiling is coloured in dark brown, which forms a very happy contrast with the stone colour in the interior of the pannels. The Throne has been newly gilt, and the velvet re-decorated ; and at the foot of the Throne a new carpet has been laid down. To the right of the Throne, and on a level with, it is placed a most splendid Chair of State for the Prince of Wales, the back of whit is magnificently ornamented with the plume of his Royal Highness. To the left of the Throne, and one step below it, a chair of state has also been placed for his Royal Highness Prince Albert ; and to the right of the Throne, on the floor of the House, in front of the Archbishops' Bench, two chairs were placed, one for the King of Prussia. and the other for the reigning Duke of Saxe Cobourg Gotha. Seats were reserved in the House for the Foreign Ambassadors, Peeresses, and those Ladies who had been fortunate enough to obtain numbered cards for them from the Lord Great Chamberlain. Those ladies who had not been successful in obtaining such tickets, were obliged to stand in places appropriated for them in the body of the House. The arrangements for the conve nience of the reporters were excellent, the front seats being reserved for them. Amongst the earliest arrival of Peers we noticed Lord Wy4ord and Lord Glenelg. Among the Peeresses we noticed the Countess of El don, Lady Bloomfield, the Duchess of Richmond, the Marchioness of Camden, Lady Redesd ale, Lady Dinorben , Lady Monteagle, Lady Campbell and Stratheden. Among the Peers present we observed the Earl of Chichester, Lord Glenelg, Lord Wynford, the Bishop of Norwich, the Earl of Redesdale, the Archbishop of Can terbury, the Earl of Camden, the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of Exeter, Lord Hatherton, the Duke of Richmond, the Earl of Roden, Lord Dinorben, the Bishop of - Worcester, the Earl of Sheffield, the Earl of Digby, Lord Forester, the Marquis of Thomend, Lord Lowther, Lord Monteagle, Lord Clifford of Chudelev. the Martinis of Clanricarde. Lord Vivian, Lord Hawarden, . - Lord Fitzgoralii and Vesci, Lord Campbell, the Marquis of Nor manby, the Dukes of Buceleugh and Buck ingham, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Duke of Sutherland, the Marquises of Lansdowne and Anglesea, Earl Fitzwilliam, and several others. At a quarter past one o'clock the Lord Chancellor, robed as a Peer, entered the House, and took his seat on the Woolsack. Shortly afterwards all the Judges entered and took their seats around the Lord Chancellor. At half-past one the Duke of Cambridge, dressed in a Field Marshal's uniform, with his Royal robes, entered the House. accompanied by Prince George. In a few minutes afterwards the reigning Duke of Saxe Gotha, dressed in the uniform of the Austrian Hus sars, entered the House, and was conducted by the Deputy Usher of the Black Rod to the Chair of State j provided for him on th e fl oor o f t h e H ouse. At 1 twenty minutes to two his Majesty the King of Prussia entered the House, dressed in the uniform of the Royal Prussian Guards, and wearing the collar of the Order of the Garter. His Majesty was preceded by the Duke of Wellington carrying the Sword of State and was conducted to the Chair of State appropriated for him, and immediately entered into conversation with the Duke of C am b r id ge an d P r i nce G eorge . His Majesty's suite followed immediately, and took their seats among the Foreign Ambassadors. On his Majesty entering the House all present rose, and continued standing until the arrival of the Queen. At seven mi nutes after two o'clock the approach of her Ma jesty was announced by the firing of cannon, and at a quarter past two her Majesty, preceded by her great Officers of State and accompanied by Prince Albert, entered the House, and took her seat on the Throne Her Majesty bowed graciously to the King of Prussia, and the Duke of Saxe Gotha, and after desiring their Lordships to be seated, commanded the Usher of the Black Rod to summon the Commons. Shortly afterwards the Speaker, attended by a great number of Members, appeared at the Bar, and her Majesty then read the Speech from the Throne, which will be found in another column. Her Majesty was dressed in a splendid white satin dress, beautifully embroidered with gold, and seemed in excellent health and spirits. The general appearance of the House was magnificent in the extreme, and the display of beauty was oalculated to impress the illustrious foreigners present with a high idea of the charms of our countrywomen. Her Majesty left the House at twenty-five minutes before three, and returned to Buckingham Palace, accompanied as before. _ _ _ The'King of Prussia left immediately after her Ma lesty, and the House adjourned during pleasure. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 3. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY took his seat on the Woolsack at Four o'Clock, I , hen the Earl of Mansfield and Earl of Westmoreland took the oaths and their seats. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack at five minutes after Five. Shortly after this time Lord Brougham, Lord Melbourne, and several of the Opposition Members entered the House. The Duke of WELLINGTON moved the first read ing of the Select Vestries Bill. MARRIAGE ACT. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE gave notice that be should, on Monday next, put a question to the Noble Duke opposite, with respect to the intentions of the Go vernment as to introducing a Marriage Act with regard to Ireland, more particularly as it affected the marriages of Dissenters. THE ROYAL SPEECH. The LORD CHANCELLOR then read the Speech delivered this day by her Majesty from the Throne: — MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, I cannot meet you in Parliament assembled without making a public acknowledgment of my gratitude to Almighty God, on account of the birth of the Prince, my son—an event which has completed the measure of my domestic happiness—and has been hailed with every demonstration of affectionate at tachment to my person and Government, by my faithful and loyal people. I am confident that you will participate in the satisfaction which I have derived from the pre sence in this King countryof of my go o d b ro th er an d allythe Prussia, who, a t m y reques t, undertook the office of Sponsor at the Christ ening of the Prince of Wales. I receive from all Princes and States the con tinued assurance of their earnest desire to main tain the most friendly relations with this country. It is with great satisfaction I inform you that I have concluded, with the Emperor of Austria, the King of the French, the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of Russia, a treaty for the more effectual suppression of the Slave-trade, which, when the ratifications shall have been exchanged, will be communicated to Parliament. There shall also be laid before you a Treaty which I have concluded with the same Powers, together with the Sultan, having for its object the security of the Turkish Empire, and the maintenance of the general tranquillity. The restoration of my diplomatic and friendly intercourse with the Court of Teheran has been followed by the completion of a Commercial Treaty with the King of Persia, which I have directed to be laid before you. I am engaged in negotiations with several Powers, which, I trust, by leading to conven tions, founded on the just principle of mutual advantage, may extend the trade and commerce of the country. I regret that I am not enabled to announce to you the re-establishment of peaceful relations with the Government of China. The uniform success which has attended the hostile operations against that Power, and my confidence in the skill and gallantry of my Naval and Military Forces, encourage the hope on my part that our differences with the Go vernment of China will be brought to an early termination, and our commercial relations with that country placed on a satisfactory basis. GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, The estimates of the year have been prepared, and will be laid before you• I rely, with entire confidence, on your disposi_ tion, while you enforce the principles of a wise economy, to make that provision for the service of the country which the public exigences re quire. You will have seen with regret that, for seve ral years past, the annual income has been ina dequate to bear the public charges; and I feel confident that, fully sensible of the evil which must result from a continued deficiency of this nature during peace, you will care fully consider the best means of averting it. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, I recommend to your immediate attention the State of the Finances, and of the Expenditure of the Country. I recommend also to your consideration the state of the Laws which affect the Import of Corn, and of other Articles, the produce of Foreign Countries. Measures will be submitted for your considera tion for the amendment of the law of bank ruptcy, and for the improvement of the juris• diction exercised by the Ecclesiastical Courts in England and Wales. It will also be desirable that you should con sider, with a view to their revision, the Laws which regulate the Registration of Electors of Members to serve hi Parliament. I have observed with deep regret the continued distress in the manufacturing districts of the country. The sufferings and privations which have resulted from it have been borne with exemplary patience and fortitude. I feel assured that your deliberations on the various important matters which will occupy your attention, will be directed by a comprehensive regard for the interests and permanent welfare of all classes of my subjects, and I fervently pray that they may tend in their result to improve the national resources, and to encourage the in dustry and promote the happiness of my people. THE ADDRESS. The Marquis of ABERCORN rose for the purpose of moving an humble Address in answer to the Speech. In doing so, he must beg of their Lordships for no ordinary share of indulgence. He must ask for more indulgence than was usually granted on such occasions; because, in addition to the important topics contained in the Speech, he conld not but feel that this was the first time he had had the honour of addressing their Lordships. He was fully sensible of the important duty he had to perform, and he was anxious that nothing he might state should interfere with a good understanding among their Lordships. He would occupy their Lord ships as shortly as possible, consistently with the im portant subjects contained in her Majesty's Speech, and the unusual interest taken in the topics it contained by the people generally. He considered the first topic was paramount to the rest. The announcement of the birth of an Heir to the Throne of England had been the subject of congratulation in all parts of the coun try, and among all classes of her Majesty's subjects. The most lively demonstrations had taken place in all p a rt s of the count r y, an d if suc h was the national joy on such an auspicious occasion, he w as sure th a t their Lord ships would most gratefully participate with her Majesty in the prayers that she offered up to the Almighty for his goodness. He was sure also that their Lordships would join with her Majesty in the satisfaction she had expressed at the presence in this country of her brother and ally the King of Prussia, in order that lie might stand sponsor to her Majesty's son, the Prince of Wales. Nothing, he was sure, had been wanting by the people to ex press the high gratification they felt at the presence of the illustrious stranger on the present auspicious occasion. His Majesty the King of Prussia had not only seen the tribute of respect paid to her Majesty by her devoted subjects, but also witnessed the affection of the people of England towards her Majesty displayed at a season when the happiness of the Queen was at its height.—(Hear, hear.) No other period of our history was so full of good promise for the future as was the present. It would not be becoming in him (the Marquis of Abercorn) to enter more into that subject at present ; but lie must say, that this moment, pregnant with domestic happiness to the Sovereign, was also important to the welfare and happiness of the country. He would congratulate their Lordships on that portion of her Majestys Speech, in which was mentioned the earnest desire of the great Powers of Europe to maintain the friendly state of relations with this country. Looking at the unsettled state of affairs in the East, and considering the disastrous results that must arise from a dismemberment of the Ottoman empire, they h a d r easo n to congratulate t h e mselves on the conclusion of the treaty which re f er red to that sub ject. With respec t t o th e Slave-trade, the announce ment of the su c ce ss f u l result of the trea t y whic h this country had conc l u d e d l a t e ly with the Powers of Europe on that question, would be received by their Lordships with all satisfaction. After the sacrifices which this coun• try had m a d e to effect the destructio n of that detest able trade, it must b e most gra tifying to find that this treaty had completely effected all those desirable objects which it had in view. The Powers of Europe were enlisted in the cause of humanity, and there could be no doubt that the extinction of that nefarious traffic would be ac complished. In there-establishment of our friendly relit- tions with the Court of Persia, their Lordships would see a guarantee of the extension of trade, and the mainte nance of tranquillity in that quarter of the globe. There were other matters respecting the exten sion of trade and commerce in foreign coup_ tries, which should be laid before Parliament in due time, and t o w hi c h, th e refore, it was not nece ssary for him to allude,. As to the subjec t of Ch ina, it was a matter of regr e t th a t it was not in the power of he r Ma jesty's Governm en t t o re - es t a blish our peaceful inter course with that empi re; b u t t h a t subject had been alre a d y dis cussed in Parlia men t, an d he would say no more upon i t than that the j us ti ce o f ou r claims upon that country had been recogni se d, an d the success of our arm s , th ere was every reaso n t o b e li eve , would lead to a s a ti s f actory settlement of matt ers i n such a way as would pl ace our commerce with th a t em pi r e in a most advant ageous posi ttiioo ja au then.lleh p addi n o c iwpbroughtmatters connected with o ur foreign before their Lordship s ' atten- relations. He would now advert to our domestic affairs. For some time past the revenue of this country had been exceeded by the expenditure to an extent which rendered it imperatively necessary that some means should be taken to remedy this 'eel It had beat thought practicable, by a former Government, to provide for this deficiency by continued reduction, and re trenchment- had accordingly been carried out to the utmost limit which was consistent with the proper maintenance of the State.—(Hear, hear.) Not withstanding those reductions the expenditure had still continued to exceed the revenue to an alarming extent ; and experience having proved that no such re duction could be made as would bring them to the neces sary level, it was expedient for. the public safety that the revenue itself should be raised to such an ex tent as would meet the exigencies of the case. He had no doubt that measures would be proposed which would meet with the concurrence of their Lord ships. There was another paragraph in her Majesty's Speech which would be regarded with deep interest by their Lordships, and by a great part of the country, he meant that which alluded to the law for regulating the importation of foreign corn.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") It was most desirable that a question of such serious importance—a question not only interest ing to the agricultural portion of the empire, but bearing such immediate relation to the commerce and manufac tures of the country—should be considered With the utmost caution ; and that no experiment should be hazarded which had not received the fullest and most serious attention.—(Hear, from the Duke of Wellington.) It was one of those questions which, from obvious causes, could only be brought forward, with advantage, by the Government of the country, and he was glad to see that it was likely to receive from her Majesty's Government that mature and profound consideration which the im portance of the interests affected by it and the present state of the country demanded.—(Hear, hear.) He (the Marquis of Abercorn) confidently anticipated, notwithstanding the difficulty which surrounded the question, that some satisfactory settlement would be made, that something , would be done to pre7ent too great a fluctuation in the price of corn, while the interests of the grower and consumer were equally protected and advanced. He must be allowed to express his sense of the great error which those persons had fallen into, who had thought fit, on this question, to set the manufacturing and agricultural portion of the community at variance. Nothing could be more untrue than the supposition that a due protection of the landed interest was incompatible with the success and advancement of the manufacturer ; on the contrary, the prosperity and success of the manufacturer depended in a great degree on the success of the agriculturist. This interest then being thus closely connected, any long continued depression upon the one, or ill-advised with drawal of protection from the other, would operate in the end with equal disadvantage to both parties.—(Hear, hear.) The distress which had prevailed to so alarming an extent in many parts of the coun try, and especially in the manufacturing districts, must be a subject of sincere regret to their Lordships, as it had been of feeling allusion in her Majesty's Speech. The occasional recurrence of distress in a country like this was one of those evils which the Government could not entirely prevent. He would not attempt to enter into the causes of the distress, or the propel measures of relief, but he was confident that whatever alleviations could be proposed consistent with the general interest of the country would not be withheld. There were just grounds for hoping that the negotiations by which our commerci a l relations with foreign countries had been extended, and the measures to be brought for ward, would have the effect of restoring the manu factures of this country to that state of prosperity from which they had fallen.—(Cheers.) If anything were required to enhance the desire for alleviating the sufferings of the people, it would be found in the exemplary patience with which those suffer ings had been borne, and the total absence of disturbance throughout the country.—(Hear, hear.) Whatever might be the worth of the measures now about to be submitted to the consideration of Parlia ment—whatever might be the degree of beneficial change that might arise, he would venture to remind their Lordships that all ill-considered changes, that all rash and hazardous experiments, bearing, indeed, a semblance of expediency, but full of unsoundness within, were much to be avoided in the settlement of this important question, and that though a transitory appearance of relief might be obtained from such sources, yet in the end they might be found to aggravate the evils they were intended to remedy.—(Hear, hear.) He would not now detain their Lordships longer, but should conclude by thanking them for the attention and patience with which they had heard him.—(Hear, hear.) He begged to move that a humble address be presented to her Majesty, thanking her Majesty for her most gracious speech. His Lordship then proceeeded to read the Address, which was, as usual, an eeho of the Speech from the Throne. Earl DALHOUSIE said that he felt great pleasur, in rising to second the Address in answer to her Ma jesty's most gracious Speech from the Throne. Its various topics had been already so fully alluded to, and the ground before him had been traversed by his Noble Friend with so much more skill and ability than he could pretend to, that he felt himself relieved from the necessity of occupying very much of their Lordships' time upon that occasion. It was'perhaps the less necessary that he should enter at any length int' the topics alluded to in the Address, because li flattered himself with the belief that there was nothing contained in it which could necessarily cause that division of opinion which it was always held as desirable. should be absent on an occasion of the kind. He hoped the Address would carry with it to the throne the ad ditional recommendation of having been adopted with the unanimous approval and the entire concurrence of their Lordships' House. But if he should be mistaken in that opinion, he would nevertheless enter with the most perfect confidence and tranquillity upon the considera tion of the first topic which presented itself in the Ad dress—a topic upon which there could be but one opi nion—upon which there was but one unanimous feel ing in the House and the country.—(Loud cheer ing.) Their Lordships would anticipate that he alluded to the congratulations to her Majesty upon the birth of a Prince of Wales.--(Cheers.) It was very true that the time had long since passed by when the blrtk of an heir to the Throne was a subject of anxiety as much as of congratulation to the country, inasmuch as then depended upon the event the future destinies of th e Crown, and the happiness and tranquillity of the people. The birth of the present Prince was a most conspicuous event, and-worthy of all congratulation, inasmuch as it secured the continuance of the regal power in a direct and unbroken line in the hands of that illustrious family who had so long and so prosperously swayed the sceptre of these realms. Their Lordships would find matter for still farther congratulation, in seeing that the Royal Prince was sprung from parents who, in their public and private life, had hitherto ear ne d th e respect an d attach ment of the people of this country.(Hear.) One of those Illustrious personages, though placed upon the Throne in early life, had discharged the duties of a high station with an integrity and impartiality, and an adherence to this strict line, which must have entitled he to the gratitude and approval of all:—(Cheers.) The other was a Prince who, during the time he had lived among us had displayed such unspotted purity of cha ; racter, and such consummate judgment, that no breath of slander, subtle and penetrating as it was, had ventured to tarnish his name even with a sin gle whisper.—(Cheers.) He (Earl Dalhousie) was well aware that any man who ventured to pay a compli ment to persons of such exalted station was open to un favourable suspicions. He knew that many would be ready to say that conpliments paid to persons in such a position meant little or nothing, or that they were in a greater or lesser degree intended as flatteries. He, however, had no intention of the kind. In adverting to the birth of the Prince of Wales he had ventured to allude to the character and conduct of his Royal parents ; and he did so because lie sincerely believed that their example would have an influence upon the youthful Prince, which would render his life a blessing to those over whom he reigned, instead of a subject of regret. He was so confident of the circumstances that had made an impression on his mind, that he looked with the utmost confidence to their Lordships' hailing with the highest satisfaction the birth of the Prince of Wales as a sub ject of the highest importance to the country in every point of view. —(Hear.) He knew that their Lordships looked upon the Sovereign not as a mere machine for the purpose of carrying on the Government, but as a per son for whose domestic comfort they felt the greatest anxiety, and such being the case he was sure that their Lordships would have heard, with the greatest pleasure, the statement of her Majesty, that the birth of a son had filled up her domestic happiness.—(llear, hear.) If any thing wore wanting to convince their Lordships of the pleasure her Majesty felt in the auspicious event that had taken place, it would be found in the statement of her Majesty herself. The presence of the King ofPr ussia in this country, who had travelled a great distance, and had left his own dominions for the purpose of standing as sponsor to the young Prince, was a circumstance of great congratulation ; the conduct of that Sovereign during his stay in this country had only increased the high opinion that had hitherto been entertained of him in this country, and had confirmed the high attachment which had been ever felt in this country to their oldest Protes tant ally. In these circumstances he was sure their Lordships would find abundant cause of joy, and they would with the utmost sincerity join in the words of the Address, and express their gratitude to Almighty God for the birth of a Prince.—(Loud cheers.) He was sure their Lordships would adopt those terms, not on any official ground, but because they sincerely and truly desired it.—(Hear, hear.) He trusted that the young Prince, when he arrived at manhood, would prove a blessing to the empire. —(Hear.) He was sure their Lordships would receive with satisfaction the assurances her Majesty stated she had received from all Foreign Powers of their desire to maintain the most friendly relations with this country; and he thought their Lordships in the ensuing paragraphs in the Address, had practical evidence of the surety of the maintenance of those friendly relations, because he there found that her Majesty stated she had entered into seve-, ral important treaties with Foreign Powers, especially the treaty with respect to the slave-trade, the object of which was to effect its abolitiop.—(Hear.) It was on these principles that a treaty had been con cluded between the Great Powers of Europe, which, it was hoped, would have the effect of repressing that traffic which England had made such great exertions and sacrifices to destroy. Their Lordships would recognise as a result of the friendly feeling between these Great Powers, a treaty, which had for its object the placing the command of the Black Sea in the hands of its natural guardian, the Sultan, by which means the Powers had settled a question w hich, at one period, threatened the peace of Europe. Their Lordships would be gratified to hear that there would be laid on their Lord ships' table, a commercial treaty between this country and the Shah of Persia, and with regard to the general state of affairs between the two countries, there were reasons to hope that all things would return inte r that peaceful channel and pacifie state that existed pre vious to the late dissensions. The success of the nego tiations, which had been carried on in that part of the world, justified the confidence expressed in that portion of her Mojesty's Speech, wherein she trusted that affairs would be settled to the mutual advantage. With respect to trade and commerce, of that part of out foreign possessions. In the midst of all this, your Lord 'ships will naturally regret that her Majesty is unable to announce the conclusion of the war in China. It was not his business, nor did he mean to enter into an examination of previous questions con nected with that war, nor of the measures that would probably be adopted with respect to it by the present Government. He should confine himself to his pro per task, which was to express his sentiments o: .:ongratulation at the uniform success that had attended the, British arms, and the gallantry mad skill of the British forces. lie did not mean to say hat the conduct of those forces placed them in all re pects, as to the brilliancy and importance of their ope •ations, equal to operations of a former period. He would :lot venture on so extravagant an assertion ; but h, night say that they bad done their duty in the face of „he enemy, both with gallantry and skill. They had lone it too in the face of such disheartening things as sickness and suffering, and in spite of such temptations o disorder, as were quite as formidable as any enemy. It would be impossible to conjecture what the success o' he n"gotiations with China might be; but he trusted with wrfect confidence that, as far as human efforts can avail, .he conduct of affairs in Chiria would be distinguished )3 , gallantry and guided by the skill and experience of he officers her Majesty had selected to command in hat country. Their Lordships would be able para. •ularly to assure her Majesty that they would enter on he consideration of those matters of grave moment par ticularly recommended to their deliberation "on points :onnected with the finances. It was in vain for their Lordships to shut their eyes to the fact that for several years past the annual revenue had not been aifficient to meet the annual demands upon it, ‘ Hear, hear.) It would be perfectly preposterous o dwell on points of detail for the purpose of showing he danger of such a state of things. He was sure their Lordships would turn their instant attention to a remedy, trid while they enforced the most rigid 'economy con sistent with the perfect efficiency of the public service, .hat they would institute an inquiry into the state of he finances and the mode of their application, and that their Lordships would be prepared with such measures as t'arliament in its wisdom might think proper to accept. [heir Lordships would also have to take into their consi dderation the state of the laws affecting our imports. the question of a duty on foreign corn had for Kern time excited much and warm discussion, and lie was oath to introduce it on this occasion lest it might pro loke that discussion which it was so desirable, on an oc oasion of this kind, to avoid. He was unwilling to in `rude his poor opinion on their Lordships on a question ,f such magnitude and importance, in which all were interested. At all events he would not venture to do so on the present occasion, in the absence of all know ledge on the subject. But he might express his satisfac tion that a measure was to be proposed on this subject from the only quarter from which such a measure would prove effectual, from the Government the country. When the details of that measure were unfolded, every Nlember of that House would he prepared to giveit a calm tad impartial considerat;on, and view the measure both in itself and in the bearings which it had on every class of her Majesty's subjects. Their Lordships would also pay the closest attention to a measure proposed to tje intro duced with regard to the law of marriage, and to a mea sure affecting the registration. He trusted that every class would be enabled to have the full exercise of their privileges without delay and without distinction. In the whole range of topics contained in her Majesty's speech, there was not one in which their Lordships would more cordially agree than with the statements referring to the distress prevailing in the manufacturing districts, except the expression of admiration of the fortitude with which that distress had been borne. Notwithstand ing all the temptations which . poverty and suf ferings held out to crime, their privations had been borne with the greatest patience. Their Lordships asked earnestly whether there could be devised any measure which would have the effect of mitigating and preventing the recurrence of those scenes which he (the Earl of Dalhousie) thought, that, while the world remained as it is, could never be by any human sagacity foreseen, nor by any amount of human wisdom be altogether pre vented. He (the Earl of Dalhousie) had endeavoured to discharge the duty with which he had the honour to be entrusted, and no man was more sensible than he was of the deficient manner in which he had acquitted himself. He trusted, however, that their Lordships would excuse him if in the insufficient manner in which he had treated those impollant sub jects he had unnecessarily wasted their Lordships, time.—(Hear, hear.) V i s rdd un r t e Address , M d OU the RN d'e L h e Nobleori who Lord bad wlaobad e seconded moved the him, had properly stated that there were- occasions on which it was most difficult to acquit. oneself, and that such an occasion was the present. He ( Viscount Melbourne) ex pressed his entire concurrence both in the Speech which her Majesty had been advised to deliver from the Throne, and also in the Address which had been moved by the Noble Lord opposite ; and unquestionably if there was nothing in that Speech or in the Address, which should excite opposition, there was certainly nothing either in the speech of the Noble Lord who had moved it, nor of the Noble Lord who had seconded it, to warrant opposition. Upon no occasion had he (Viscount Melbourne) heard a speech of more ability and propriety than that in which the Address had been moved on the present occasion. The Noble Lord who seconded the Address had already given to their Lordships specimens of great ability on former occasions, and he ( Viscount Melbourne) was sure that their Lord ships had heard, with satisfaction, the manner in which he acquitted himself on the present occasion. With respect to those matters which formed the first part of the Speech, there could be but one feeling in joining in that voice of gratulation to her Majesty on the joyous event which had recently occurred. Connected with that event was the arrival in this country of that Illustrious Monarch whose coming and whose character had been treated with so much just and proper eulogy. Not treating othercountries with dis respect, he ( Viscount 111. ) must be allowed to say, that he always looked with peculiar interest to the kingdom of Prussia. Never did he feel more regret than when causes of difference and alienation had arisen to prevent any concurrence of our country with that kingdom, with which, by simila rity of religion, and by most intimate ties of blood, and by considerations of public interest, we were united. He ( Viscount Melbourne) thought that what had happened on the present occasion would be an additional guarantee for the future union of the two nations upon all occasions, for the purpose of advancing the benefit of the human race, and the preservation of the peace of Europe. It was for the good of human affairs that those entrusted with the Govern ment of a country should hold a good opinion of the state of af fairs entrusted to them, and upon the present occasion it was impossible not to congratulate Ministers upon the more com fortable view which they took of affairs now than on the 24th of August last.--(Hear, hear, and cheers.) It was impos sible for him (Viscount Melbourne) not to rejoice that upon a more intimate acquaintance with the transactions which had been and were still going on, Ministers, had found that affairs were not so desperate nor so hopeless as had been supposed. He particularly congratulated the Noble Lord the the President of the Board of Trade, who took perhaps the most melancholy view of any person, knowing as he did that Noble Lord's anxiety for the public welfare ; he could not but congratulate him at finding affairs in many . quarters of the globe in a better situ ation than he had anticipated. That Noble Lord had talked of the strange and anomalous war in China, which he (the Noble Lord) had seen no hope of bringing to a conclusion. Now his Noble Friend was so far changed in opinion on that subject, that he now joined in that Speech which stated that what had taken place encouraged a hope that the skill and gallantry of our naval and military forces would soon put an early termination to that war. He would next refer to the Corn law. He supposed there were measures intended to be introduced on this subject ; he begged leave to say that he hoped her Ma jesty's Ministers would reconsider the sliding scale. He hoped they would re-consider the sliding scale—( Cheers and hear) — that measure which they had brought forward with so much formality and solemnity, but he would remind them that no so lemnity could sanction such an absurdity as that was. He did hope they would re-consider the sliding scale.—(Loud cheers.) It was all that was ridiculous in romance—such things might be read of in Rabelais ; he knew there was nothing to which men might not be driven by absurdity—( Hear, hear)__ but he did think that this was the greatest absurdity that he had ever heard of—an absurdity which made it necessary for the leaders of the great Conservative party—great and pow erful as it was, to declare their opinions on the Corn-laws.— ( Loud cheers.) They had laid their heads together, and they had come down to the House of Parliament—the leader of their party and his Honourable Friends, Lord Stanley and Sir James Graham—and they could not say one word on the subject; but one thing they did say, that they would still stand by the sliding scale. They never would do anything with the sliding scale, or the average system —(Hear, hear)—with a scale rising with the fall, and sinking with the rise in the price of corn.—( Hear, hear.) With that system they never would do anything, but add to the uncertainty, insecurity, and instability of a trade already in its own nature uncertain, insecure, and un stable.—( Cries of " Hear, hear.") He agreed with the the Noble Lord who moved the address, that it was not the time to go into the detail of those topics; but he would express his hope that the Noble Lords opposite, before they introduced their measures, would re-consider that point of the slid ing scale, and that they would not be governed in dealing with it by any engagements which they might have made.—( Hear, and laughter.) The last topic on which he would make any remark was that in which her Majesty was advised to express her sympathy for the deep distress which pre vailed. Whatever could be done by prudent measures to alleviate that distress, or to prevent its recurrence, should be done with the utmost promptitude. But it was decidedly his opinion that no measure could altogether prevent the recurrence of such distress. He fully concurred with the Noble Lord opposite (the Marquis of Abercorn) that in a manufacturing country like this, having a large mass of population depending upon taste and fashion, and the uncertain demand of foreign countries, it would be a delu sion to hold out any promise of measures which could prevent the recurrence of distress—of great fluctuation in employment, and in the wages of the working people.— ( Hear, hear.) When such distress recurred it was, at dif ferent periods, attributed to various causes, to which he never thought they could be referred. Thus it was now attributed to the Corn-laws, which he did not be lieve to be the cause, but the uncertain nature of the employment, or its being inevitably subject to periodical depression.—( Hear, hear.) He would never consent to hold out the expectation that such distress would be alleviated by great and organic changes in the Constitution, or by change of the persons by whom the Government of the country was administered. If that were once admitted there would no longer be any stability in the institutions of the country.— ( Hear, hear.) We had passed through times of much change and reparation of the Constitution, and it was said that those who supported those measures had lost their popularity. But if those changes had fallen into discredit, it was not on account of their own demerits, but on account of time disappointment occasioned by their not having effected all that was expected from them. If Catholic emancipation disap pointed the people in its effects, it was because it did not produce all the good that was expected from it. The Reform Bill also had not fulfilled all the good that was expected from it. But with respect to those mea sures, their failure to give satisfaction was not because they had not worked well—he believed they had worked well—but it was on account of the wild, unmeasured, and exaggerated expectations held out from them.—( Hear, hear.) He never was a party to raising those EVENING SUN r ..seeseeeeeere ss-seeeseeeeeseewee—__ expectations,i c i o n u fo ra u e nd m e i d g , 6t ticipated than what the measure of the Noble Lards . 0 1 7_,,, be taken a andp resent , he might be calculated to effect, or otherwise the same disapp "" ment would follow.—( Hear. , speeda of his Noble Friend (Lord Melbourne), would I'e , a ble h n o o p h e d i n :b in .). tor:bmati g h w ot h pb a pe te r_ v iiat e ; The Earl of RIPON said that any one who listened to,th_ea 1 that he bad nothing to oppose to the observations of the ~ 1 „°_,, Lords who moved and seconded the Address ; for he coo d 0 1. " nothing to .hang his remarks upon but what fell fro.h.ten; (the Earl of Kipon) inthe last Session of Parliament. 11 —(Hear, hear, avd a laugh)-and still more so if he ba 'further sorry tl'at on that occasion he did not please his Noble Fr!c,%(l his Noble Friend offence, than which nothing could be er,to from his mind. But if the effect of that motion hadbe,...,i.. place them (the Ministers) in a situation to meet the d t t o ln a u" af ties of the country, ana to obtain the calm consideara e bad both Houses of ParliMneni, he could not regret th (_ttt i sa id ( clear, that Ministers had found di!' Jlifficulties of the counl . r a f , e an d brought it forward,— r hear.) His Noble Frl 'a so very dangerous as they thou that what he (Lord Ripon) had called a ridiculouas.,,.etnry China was likely to be brought to an early e nd s tl . :_, no t conclusion. Now he (Lord Ripon) I ,:ever said that it . _a atien. thought they were in August 1 st ..r je likely to be brought to an early and satisfactewy tcr° l ; • t i s a il What he had said was that it was a peculiar war , "w a n it n e other 1 ( I not an extraordinary war, with a people like no :WO O enemy that would not fight.—( Hear, and a laugh. in t he world ?—and when proceedings, which were, oh one with certain results in other countries were att,--ndeo , e was no in that.--( Hear.) Neither bad he ever said thlat t i .h, er i . he ar.) prospect of a friendly settlement with Persia.—(: u e ,, a c ' e h a rac He had said the reverse. He had said that from 1 ' 1 (64 and ter of the Envoy that settlement was likely to be efft e ! p oi t° such had been the case. It was not neces-ary for er , 0111 go into the various topics of the Address, which bacihfer-cero) discussed by his Noble Friend (the Marquis a i , w ia i te ,- - as was acknowledged by the Noble Viscount. orinbject, ( Hear.) Ministersble Viscount, in reference to one l ie ad advised thers to re-consider their measures. to or vised them not to regard the opinions which ha d ell) ot t ° or to redeem the pledges they had made. He told then': t he care if the existence of their Government depended n.P . u a d v ice measure in question--not to mind that, but to take hi' a t he and act in opposition to their own arowed opi.eion', l s 7)l3at painciples of their Administration.—( Hear, and a lane, g reat no; they hail an example for that.—(Cheers a.eue or de laughter.) . ) Ho would not then go into any explamit'? net fect tail of the course which would be taken, for . a" w /ifear. ) , explanation could only produce misapprehension- - ,"' s oul' He agreed with the Noble Viscount that 't,_ t ail be a fatal error to hold out expectations tlasnciety measure could, in the complicated machinery °f legir which England presents,—that it would be possible by ant otie lative enactment to prevent that occasional distress whi e tuations in trade inevitably produce.—( Hear, hear.) , t og Lord BE AUMONT said, that having expressed a very co uld opinion in favour of theexistingeorn-lawslastsession,l7atos• not allow this occasion to pass without making a few oh.er t alig ht We understood the Noble Lord to say that he thought 1 jot es , be possible to make some such improvement in th e „ „ r oeli t would enable the agriculturist to know better than t" r a that what he had to depend upon, anti he would even ad ea 00 the present mode of taking the averages was atten ue f ear° fraud ; for he knew of an instance of 3,00 quarter s ° so t t° being nominally sold to a factor at Hull, and thin , r icer Wakefield, and there again nominally sold at another, Lief without a single quarter ever being delivered, the objec t ' only toa ffect the averages. de b a te . Lord BROUGHAM did not rise to go into any long nu t ,1° on the various topics of the Address, but he wou ld i t heei' his duty if he did not observe upon one or two (": is re: The most important was the severe distress whL.C.,55 s( ' vailed, and which, though far from universal , %fly is severe that its severity could not be exaggerated, es i r c he - fere_ A u the West Riding of Yorkshire and in Lancashire. 1, - ,. fea red that the distress was in its present extent transitory,but 'l' per.' he must agree with his noble Friend that in this coant r i en sitl e odical distress and reverse of fortune was almost indliP as , fl to the highly artificial state of society. For centuries, niself, ages, this country had been manufacturing. n ot only W ho a I bet for the world, and such a country might well appr e n ool ° gradual decline of some branches in which other natioln wen take to supply themselves. But that was n e t f,e do' for not making every practical effort to stay 0 0; dine of such manufactures, and to open other In noi re` It was with most especial satisfaction that he had li t it es s in her Majesty's most gracious Speech an indication tht e coro' the intention of Ministers to undertake a revision of that thel laws—of which the worst operation was, in his opinion, t , .„, the had a tendency to stunt the manufacturing industry i sear , country, by obstructing the channels of foreign trade. --- !„100 hear.) He had always considered that the only e ffeet°7 00-: of dealing with this subject, indeed the only safe w R ) ; e' to legislate for a total and complete 'l%O Ol the Corn-laws—gradual and progressive, but entire and of the ditional in its ultimate result. This was the charactereorreet' measure he thought would alone do any good; but t l s eeog ht ; the conjectures or alarms of those who, on the one hand' loser " that the consequence of such a measure would be t° re nt the price of food, or, on the other ha n d, t o r educe the piell lend, he begged to refer to the authority of a Noble, 1 who he regretted was not here now, co nnected (9 the counties of Nottingham and Hampshir e d rib ° Spencer), who moved the Address last August, alt, 4 hit, in advocating the entire repeal of the Corn-laws, ad r ace 0; conviction that such a measure would neither lower the t - a tom food nor reduce the rent of land. But his Noble Friend ', re ed , and in this view, at least, he (Lord B.) fully 7 0 .' r eig° that it would have the effect of opening new channels of ce -i trade—of . staying the decline of our COrmaertares, of arresting the downfal of our ntan a tioli b That those effects would be the result, he had no tne i r- ha vis! than that he was at that moment standing there an d 1 sa' a the "honour of addressing their Lordships. Until I , eor what measures his Noble Friend was about to propose, h e ll `, ab' B.) would only say he hoped his Noble Friend saw t. 00,00, solute necessity of relieving commerce, not by regular! ,etbo Corn-laws alone, but by regulating generally those dub bea'''d pressed upon consumption and production.—(Hear , 3 0, 'That his Noble Friend felt this necessity, he 'TO Brougham) most earnestly and fervently hoped- gtee' 1) passage in her Majesty's Speech, which spoke f our 714, ment with the various Powers with w hi c h we are neg° tl },jectl held forth very cheering prospects. In respect of one :; 1 taw the slave trade,• it was necessary, in consequence of " fi ', o te? recently passed, thate;ie (Lord Brougham) should for a , lis - I ‘ ° ' solicit their Lordships'attention—partieulaqy that °' o'i.g. to blo Friend on the Woolsack, as he (Lord B.) w 3 ',, t g slac er , Yh t allude to a matter of very great importance—he inca" - t a oll' e " and an occurrence which had recently taken place, 5 . 1. 0 II 1 at first sight might seem to have an untoward aspe c t hoe gotiation about to be commenced, and which P ' t tbe would be carried on with success—he nle a f i neri ej i ; proposed negotiation with the United States of aabetwee4 He purposely abstained from entering on the cpseatint! 4 , segs„ r e her Majesty's Government and the United States 0 1 "asti' l l to the right of search. He thought, if the law of the 5 to a were perfectly understood, it would at once put au en it fia t ' negotiations on :the subject, and show how sightsimpossibl e haf e ', whatever disposition her Majesty's Government lll of which, of course, he -knew nothing, and w a llege he could predicate nothing for them to do, for it alas i PI; it was about to be demanded of them, f o r the law ~,iio6:6 land clearly precluded the impossibility o f their acre rd "', such a demand. The case was thus, th e s l a ves on. o ; o isg'; plu v a e pewr s t s ffo e et icllt,thi perfectly from ol question hemgo uaolrll according eec opc h aor a r 4 i noirsfgie recognised A e t n oams o t eh n arei l t ce h l aag e wtao c l saaop another state.oati h n e a r n Adw Americacrewwl Fil i a l: : te af ; ea Jo e .: i 0 1 : „. , e, a cargo of slaves ; and we had no right so fastidiouslY„' n - f nif, plain of the horrors of slavery, since it was only eig h ,l d t ',' years ago that we, by our own laws, must have en " f' same persons on board the same ship; the° t ort English ship, a cargo of slaves. It did not become tta t t ° t li9 round upon them, and express our horror a; no r ; terms which we, within the last few years, would h al- o°- selves employed. But with this cargo of slaves frouipata; American port to another, the slaves had exercised t hat 0 0 1 ral right which they were entitled to use, and whie, b ar ed t; human being had a right to use, if a human being ° ag ain,, oppress them contrary to human nature. They aril!. too . i ; the Captain, they seize the vessel, and they bring-he' 00'5 English port ; in the course of the scuffle a human land` ; unfortunately lost ; on arriving at the port 120 slaves were ' tis , on and the remaining 18 of the crew were taken into cus, t , ° , k tie: s charge, partly of murder and partly of piracy. Now, if ' t e „ i;7 manded to have the slaves given up, every one must il i a wf a . compliance with such a demand would be wholly to ,be By the laws of this country if a slave come to our shores , oeo slavery does not exist, or to the Vest Indian colonies, by tb: slavery has not existed since the 31st of August, 1 834 ,sore e „ law of England, when he comes there he instantly w: a oo . '" free, and whether he may have come there at 11 the re, desire, whether he may have been forcibly broug b e s bi Ra 1 t ho or even if he had run away from his master, he vil,,• ce • e f the law of the land, and could not be demanded ; and a rt 0 Treaty of 1772 there existed no power by law in the e t ho s Nassau by which the. Government could give up one ° si t siti- a° slaves, or deal with them otherwise than if they ife r ' 3 v O re ho l e subjects. A question then arises as to the eighteen wed isle'. said to be the wrong doers, and who were chaj,g(l ,° ,l the offence, incident to this loss of life. He that Brougham) ventured to state that it was quite certa l- fro ing de any person, whether he were a British subject return ene t . a abroad, or whether he were an alien come into tbis e t 1 0 . , were charged with having committed an offence c t hß o tef e '' jurisdiction of this country, there was no power "';,., 01; either to seize, detain, or to give him up to any f,°, re 47011 1 d vernment whatever. For example, if an Engnt..---a ce France should have committed an offence—even olor,'„ - fraa, h a should escape to this country—or if a Frenchman ' -- t jr ''.- 0 should commit a like offence, and escape into this COO ; iial ti French Government might in vain apply to this count r i,,, e tri t a .;# that alleged murderer given up for the purpose of he l 7 e ' e ti n':a cps c sooo o t nm u wa si r i mee t cra r oh, y nattr a hogl n eaer d wdet h F hwoea r fi France, with Government Eoe e offe , nveng a en e lrt a, rn, d enemsad b te : i ntekbwta knows j e fot e owt n rtosht t for the offence in that country. It was true that bete veer hehgre: there ov m , v c e o u ap u t so u n tni a h t , l o r ee v ra is law u a r s n r I "P' diej the sa :Il i e owt l a , e s i f :l B , sec .. ir e which could make the Government - give „ r ea n .. It was necessary to pass special Acts of I a ed s 0 to enable the Government to perform that obligation ;. Iv a el cordingly, the Act of the 42d Geo. 111., commonlY `alp IV" Alien Act, not satisfied with the usual clause of the it i b l t seeT had a clause, in the case of the American and Fre, nr , arre st arming the Government with the power to surrender, 00 0 01 and detain parties. He (Lord Brougham) hoped i :, ;e st, 5 , be excused for entering at so great length into this OK , nue ° t th e ' eff he had not said niore than he deemed the urgencY ° be oho 0 tion demanded.—( Hear, hear. ) The surrender of t .vg fr e of the persons charged with felony, the murder ha /j , s aa 1° ... „' committed beyond the territory of the British Crown,iiingal.,.., tally unallowed by law, and was consequently totallY ebt tvig`,: e ( Hear, hear.) Supposing a piracy takes placebo thed' /wort., arise whether it was a piracy or not, and n t he Ely course would be to have a judicial investigation , fq d, l b pose of having the facts and the law determlneeted sei be trusted that this accidental occurrence COo ° of the the capture, and seizure,:and bringing into have Pe tot Creole, when rightly considered, would not , tap orte ‘t question, putting aside the consideration q, which his Noble Friend, to his honour , ,_ t he o io of tha t ita 'd erour t i, forward, and which he believed would tend g reatl! nt t e t ' ree te ,;f d- ) vantage of the two countries who were so highb r fes r, h i p5O the perpetuation of these friendly relations• —( . is , to t" 0 1 Before he sat down, he would add his congratulatinot that bin which had already been given upon the happy ev e coit trY , ) been announced that day to th e House and th,fiear, hee r At i, the introductory part of her M a j es ty's Speech."' ( e t. the I t y He entirely agreed with th e mover and secon der the lays a , dress in all they had said, both with r espect t° i or dshiP.',,,,, shown through the country, and tt,e joy c o verelb... o the ' increased domestic happiness of their Illustrious . 00 , w i r b i e —( Hear, hear.) He believed there never was aP e than • had shown their loyalty in a more ardent mari ne of Wal e '' people of England had done on the birth of the Princ e H e k 0 „., and he (Lord Brougham) would even go furthering and ~tics of no people—and he had had opportunities of se t n c „n or ~, ciating much with the inhabitants of almost all en h e :,,.' friend:_ of Europe—he hail had the happiness of experi i_ i f 'l, s ag th . _ i r t ship and friendly intercourse with the inhabitants °, o / Is fortoo a m ore countries, and in no country which it was his ~ an , had he ever known a people more fond of loyalty, enu otiii; devoted to the throne, than were the people et . tots . o n ? of theiruta..... n ett's' - e gy How did he (Lord Brougham) fortify that co a,jan i t jaj ov. did it by referring to the past. When his . P 4 we it retn e .4 l was in this country in 1814, there was, lie wig'. __.,, n t ho i e j e, ber, the same overflowing loyally and affection. co r'_"__`,, n i,a a e " . the Allied Sovereigns whom his Majesty then c . rri_ri tnse f ir er returned triumphant with the illustrious warriorb ir l ,,T vg 8 . h ' serite he (Lord Brougham) had the honour of Pe4"