The Sun. — London, England, 1854-02-01 00:00:00

Prince so near the throne ; but, recollect, lam now speak- such an awful conjuncture, such an indefinite combina tion which they must be prepared to encounter under such circumstances—l cannot believe that any body of statesmen so placed would have asked us not only to reform the whole of our civil service, not only to reform the ecclesiastical courts , not only to reform the poor law, but even to reform the House of Commons. (Cheers and laughter.) Sir, I came down here to-day with the same fear as many of us had, of some awful disclo sures, of some terrible announcements that were about to be made to us. I thought we were to make war with the Emperor of Russia. I find we are only to make war upon ourselves. (Laughter.) I agree with my honourable friend the member for Liverpool (Mr. Liddell)lin the abstract ob servations he made as .to the very inopportune season in which the Government is about to bring forward their measure of Parliamentary reform. Certainly if we are about to go to war, when all the energies of the nation should be collected and absorbed in a struggle which con cerns so nearly our honour and our interests, it appears to me in the hthest degree. unwise and unstatesmanlike that we should dissipate our energi es —that we should di vert our feelings to another quarter, and to a question of an entirely different character. In the general and ab stract character of his observations therefore I agree with my honourable friend the member for Liverpool. I agree with him that a period of war is not favourable to the ar rangement of a great commercial change. But I cannot agree with my honourable friend the member for Liver pool that his observations apply to the position of the pre sent, Government. Think that the present Government have done only that which they ought to have done in meeting this question of Parliamentary reform. Let us look at the relations of the Government to that question. We have had two Prime Ministers, both of them members of the present Cabinet, who have formed their Admini strations on the principle of the necesity of such a change —that being their great political dogma. We have them maintaining the same opinions and taking the same course under circumstances of various kinds. hen two Prime Ministers have given their opinions on a subject of great public policy—one which ought to engage public attention —and when they have announced a measure with respect to it, I feel that it is utterly impossible that such a ques tion can be laid aside. The noble lord, three or four years ago, after anxious meditation on the subje ct, came down to this house, and not only gave his opinion that there should be a measure of Parliamentary reform, but in the year after he produced such a measure, he being then the Prime Minister of the country. Little more than a year ago a colleague of the noble lord, now Prime Minister, formed his Administration on the clear understanding that there should be a large measure of Parliamentary re form • and we know that another member of the Cabinet, a distinguished colleague of the two noble lords, made Par liamentary reform the condition of his a ccepting office. It is clear, therefore, whether we have re g ard to the public character, or to our belief in the political truth of the statesmen who have taken this decided and matured course we cannot believe—not because I believe it is inconvenient to them to fulfil the most solemn pledges of their public life, but because I believe it will be felt as inconvenient by their followers and partisans—that they will now take a different course, and maintain that the principl e which the y have so repeatedly, formally, and politically recom mended, is one that is unwise and impolitic to be pursued.. They cannot avow that but, at the expense of all :their sa gacity as public men—with the confession of how little prescience that they have foreseen what was required for the honour and the interests of the country—if they now come forward and 'say—" True, four years ago I announced Parliamentary reform on the principle on which my Go vernment was to be carried on—true, the year after I brought forward a highly finished and comprehensive mea sure in unison with that declaration—true, that I quitted office and, on unexpectedly returning to it, I renewed all the pledges and repeated all the recommendations which I had given to Parliament and to the country—true, that I am now acting with those who more formally and solemnly reiterated the same declaration," and, having placed themselves in this satiation I ask what will be thought of them as statesmen and men of sagacity if they now come forward and say, We spoke idly—we thoughtlessly gave in to the cry of the day—we me: nt little, though we said much—(cheers)—we agitated the public mind by holding out to them fallacious hopes ; but now we are placed in a grave and responsible position—some of our own followers do not agree with us ; and, even at the risk of destroying our character as public men for ever, we now tell you that Parliamentary reform is not necessary—that it is not de sirable to consider the question, much less to legislate upon it ; and that there should be a tabula rosa of all those principles on which two eminent statesmen founded their declarations and formed their Governments. But it may be said, and has been said to-night by my hon. friend the member for Liverpool, " Look at the case of Mr. Pitt." Mr. Pitt was a great statesman, though a young man—he was pledged to Parliamentary reform at least as much as those men who, though eminent, yet they will forgive me for saying, are not so eminent as Mr. Pitt. Mr. Pitt was pressed with a foreign war before he had fulfilled his pledges with respect to Parliamentary reform ;. and though I believe he was quite sincere in first making them, yet, in the consequences which followed, he discarded them. But I venture to remark that that illustrious in stance will not apply to the present advisers of the Crown. It was only last year that the present Administration was formed on the principle of a large measure of Parliament - ary reform. It is a very shot% time since the noble lord chose to renew and to reiterate all the pledges, and to repeat all the measures on this most important sub ject, which he had previously expressed to the coun try, and he was wise in so doing. But look at the circumstances of the case. You—l do not say the noble lord —I know that he will not attempt to excuse himself—l speak to his friends who wish to find an excuse for him—you are about to embark in a war which, in your opinion, ought to change your views of pressing a measure of Parliamentary reform. But you thought of Parliamentary reform last year. Were you not then in danger of a war— nay, of worse than a war—were you not in danger of invasion ? Yes, it was then that you founded your Government on this principle, and you ap pealed to the electors on this very ground of Parliamentary reform ; and yet at that time you thought, - not only war was impending, but that invasion was immediate, instant, and urgent, was the doom of this country, (Cries of " Oh, oh.") Why is it not notorious ? Ido not wish to dwell upon the topic ; I passed it over lightly, but their was one Cabinet Minister who, the moment he was appointed, left the Cabinet Council, and went down to the hustings, where he told the people that we were not only to be in vaded, but invaded in a peculiar way—by bodies of about 10,000 men, who, without any previous notice, were pirati cally to be thrown upon our shores. Did he not say to them, how are you to answer for your wives and daughters under these circumstances ? (Laughter.) This is the posi tion of the Government of which I am a member;; we are about to take steps to protect you, and not only to protect you, but to give you a measure of Parliamentary reform. (La - tighter and cheers.) I 'think, theiefore, the house will agree with me that there is no possible -excuse-fbr the noble lord, or the right honourable gentleman, or the Prime Minister who founds his Government on a large measure of Parliamentary reform, in the circumstances of the case as they read circumstances—to evade their selemn. pledge. Do I suppose that the noble lord contemplates evading his pledge? I know that he will honestly attempt to fulfil it. Ido not speak of the noble lord or of his col leagues, but I speak of the devoted and ingenious friends of the noble lord who are so interested in his position that they are quite willing that he should retain it at the ex pense of his personal honour and his political sagacity. I dare say that on the 13th of next month we shall have that large measure of Parliamentary reform which has been so long promised introduced to our notice. I say that the present Ministry, in the present circumstances of the country, have no excuse for not introducing a large measure of Parliamentary reform. It may be unwise that Parliamentary reform should be introduced under any circumstances ; it may be madness to introduce it under the present circumstances ; but the present Ministers must bring in a large measure of Parliamentary reform. (Cheers.) When that large measure of Parliamentary reform is proposed to us, I and my friends after di gesting it, as we shall digest the blue-books—(laughter) —, will take leave to offer our humble opinions upon it. And here I must be permitted to say at the outset, that I entirely protest against the adroit arrangement which would of necessity connect a measure for the purification of the Parliamentary constituency with a measure for a reconstruction of our electoral system. (Cheers.) I hold that there is no necessary connection whatever between them. We all know that long before the great measure of 1832, in all cases of delinquent boroughs, where boroughs were proved guilty of organised and absolute corruption, you disfrancised them, and gave the seats thus vacated to other constituencies. That happened ftequently before the bill of 1832, but you gave those seats to other electoral bodies formed on the known principles of the constitution. You took the seats from the places so punished, and you gave them to other bodies ; but whether you gave them to co unties, or enlarged the area of the boroughs themsel ves, you still conferred the right of sending members to Parlia ment upon constituencies framed in the recognised spirit and in the ancient forms of the constitution. (Hear, hear.) I shall be as ready as any man in this house to support the most comprehensive and the most stringent measures to put an end to bribery and corruption. (Cheers.) Ido not say, indeed, that any man can intro duce a measure that will of itself put an end to bribery and corruption. I know that, for that end, you must look to influences higher than mere Acts of Parliament. You have put an end to the vice in classes higher than the constituent body, not by Acts of Parliament merely, but by giving them a higher tone of feeling, by educating the, minds of those classes, by evoking in them a sense of pub lic duty, and by a system which cherished and cultivated a feeling of self-respect. The same influence which pre vents judges and statesmen, and members of this house, from being bribed, and flagrantly bribed, will in' time, if it be cherished, beneficially act upon constituent bodies too. But I also agree that by legislative measures we may do something to check bribery and corruption, and I will support any law, however stringent, which is at the same time wise and practical for that purpose. It may be in the recollection of my honourable friends that only last session I introduced a measure, in conjunction with my right honourable friend the member for Midhurst, for this very purpose. I must here repeat what I have often stated, that there is no class in the country less interested etea f a o n r d loe c a o l rru ie p a t u io e n nee ar in bribery and corruption than the landed proprietors. Briberystiwwhhoichhavaree great local influences those local influence are exactly the class who ought to look with the greatest jealousy on every measure which would substitute illegitimate influences for that local in fluence which they may II prom y exercise. I do not say that there is not an instance where local influence has not been abused, as everything has been abused ; but there is no class who have less abused the exercise of their local influence than the landed proprietors on both sides of the house. (Cheers.) Local influence has its source in the spirit of neighbourhood, in the principles of good feeling and kindness ; and those influences are sufficient to place them in their eminent position without having recourse to those influences which were originally directed against themselves, and from which, from the days of Sir Robert Walpole to the present, they have been the greatest suf ferers. (Cheers.) I say, then, in the first place, that I will not connect a measure efficiently to check bribery and corruption with a measure for the reconstruction of the electoral body. There is no necessary connection between the two subjects ; they are put together to confuse our ideas, and to prevent us from seeing those measures which ought to accompany them. We have been told that re cent experience has shown how necessary it is to take effi cient precautions against the evils of bribery and corrupt practices at elections. But why are we to limit our eximid er- a tions to bribery and corruptio n only? Why i int tion to be passed over ? (Cheers and counter-cheers.) I want that question to be answered. Great complaints have reached me as to intimidation at elections. I have had many cases brought before me of intimidation —I will not inquire now in which kingdom they took place. (Hear.) But if we are in the spirit of purity, to put down bribery and corruption, I protest beforehand against this limita tion of our labours, and I would suggest the introduction of the word " intimidation." Ido not mean formally to m ove it—(laughter)—but I make the suggestion to the noble mover, and I trust he may avail himself 'of it. I shall for a moment suppose that we have a lamp measure of Parliamentary reform before us, and that ie1.13 not con- occasion, that the arrangements, which might be considered virtually to have been concluded, were arrangements which With many other advantages he referred to, had this pecu liarity that they contained no condition derogatory to the interests or to the honour of the Ottoman Porte. (Hear, hear.) Sir, I need not remind the house that a few days after Parliament was prorogued the arrangement which the Government had referred to made its appearance, and that appearance took the form of the famous Vienna note. (Rear.) That note has since been recognised to have been a proposition identical in spirit, and in many parts of it even in language, with that celebrated ultimatum of Prince Menechikoff which has occasioned so much disaster and dismay to Europe. Now, sir, remembering the tone in Which her Majesty's Ministers addressed Parliament at the end of last session, and the confident hopes which they held out on that occasion of an immediate conclusion of this important controversy, I cannot but refer with some hesitation to the language in which we are now addressed in the present speech. I am not going on this occasion to enter at all into the conduct of the Government dur ing all these prolonged negotiations. The documents which they may place before us will have all the attention they deserve, and I shall not presume at this instant offer any opinion of my own upon any of these transactions, even in cases in which we have been furnished with docu ments by other Governments; or in that one instance in which we have received a very important paper from her Majesty's Ministers, namely, the despatch of my Lord Clarendon. All I wish now is to remind the house of the tone adopted by the Government when Parliament was last prorogued, and the expectation that was then held out to Parliament of an immediate and satisfactory conclusion of this question, and to contrast the language used on that occasion with the language which is now under our notice. Sir, I think the house will not fail to observe that we are addressed now much in the same terms as we were then. We are still told that negotiations are going on, a hope is still held out that these negotiations may be successful ; but I think her Majesty's Government, after the complete failure of the expectations which they held out to us six months ago, after it having eventually been proved that the plan which they protected was a plan which they themselves now would not for a moment sanction—l think her Majesty's Government, while they told the house that negotiations are still proceeding, and that they do not en tirely despair of these negotiations effecting their object, ought to have assured us that the object of these negotia- I tions is not one in the spirit of the Vienna note, which, six months ago, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in. I another place, held out to us as an arrangement not dero gatory to the interests or to the honour of the Ottoman Porte. (Hear, hear.) I think, sir, it would have been More satisfactory to the house if the Government on this occasion had advised her Majesty to use words which would have assured the country that if the question can be settled 'without the fatal arbitrement of which we have of late been accustomed to speak, and to speak too familarly, the settle ment would be one which would maintain not only the inte grity but the independence of the Ottoman Porte, and not one similar to the Vienna note, which, if carried into effect, would in fact only operate as a ruse, giving to Russia an opportunity of effecting those objects which all unnecessary delay and precaution can only aid and serve. (Hear, hear.) Although I shall not on an occasion like this, with so impor tant a discussion of the whole question before us, propose any alteration in the Address to her M a j est y , I feel it to be my duty to express my conviction that the language held in this Address is not sufficiently expressive, is not sufficiently firm, and it not Ise explicit as, I think, the circumstances of the case require. (Cheers.) There is a timidity of tone, I think, in this Address which appears to me not only unwise but also unnecessary. (Cheers.) I think that if we still feel it our duty to support her Majesty's Government in that attempt at.negotiation which they may not yet con sider altogether desperate —and I am sure there is no mem ber in this house that will blame her Majesty's Govern ment for still clinging to negotiations if they themselves have a conviction that there is still a chance of accomplish ing the desired end by such means—(hear, hear)—we must yet be convinced that the tone taken in the Speech and Address with regard to these transactions between the Ottoman Porte and Russia should have been of a higher character than that which seems to pervade the documents before us. (Hear, hear.) Sir, I cannot say, with regard to our foreign relations, that the language of this Address is in other respects altogether satisfactory. We hear—and I, for one, hear , with pleasure—of the cordial co-operation of her Majesty with the Emperor of the French. I cannot fail, sir, to remember, though I have no inclination to dwell upon - the circumstance at this moment, that little more than twelve months ago I felt it my duty to call the attention of the house to the relations that then were sub sisting between this country and France. I thought it my duty to attempt to call the attention of Parliament and of the country to certain expressions and certain conduct of eminent personages who, from their abilities and their sta tion, were able to influence public opinion—which expres sions I was convinced had a tendency to weaken that good feeling between England and France which, under all cir cumstances, should be cherished, but which, under the then and present aspect of affairs, was doubly desirable and important. (Hear, hear.) I remember that. I was told then that my observations were factious observations ; but I appeal for my vindication to the language which is now held in her Majesty's Speech. (Hear, hear.) I am grati fied to find that her Majesty is in cordial co-operation with the Emperor of the French ; and I have no wish, or need, to say any more upon that subject. But, sir, there is a suspicious omission in this Speech, which I think the house ought to notice. Her Majesty is in cordial co-operation with the Emperor of the French ; but so far as the Speech from the Throne is concerned, and so far as our Address in answer to that gracious Speech is concerned, there is not the clear and manifest evidence that I for one could have desired—that her Majesty is in cordial co-operation with other powers of very great interest and importance in this question. (Hear, hear.) I wish we could be assured by the noble lord opposite that there is no ground for any suspi cion of that kind. A statement to that effect wouldibe very satisfactory to the house and the country. I should hope that upon this question her Majesty is not only acting in cordial co-operation with t he Em p eror of the French, but also with the Emperor of Austria and with the King of Prussia-s-(cheers) —and if her Majesty is in so satisfactory a position, then I think the language of the Speech and the Address should have been of a bolder and firmer character and one more calculated to cheer the heart of the country at a moment when it may be entering into a trial of so se vere a character. Sir, the whole manner indeed, in which our foreign relations are treated in the Speech from the Throne is very peculiar. One would suppose, for example, that in consequence of the absorbing interest of this unfor - tuna.te struggle between the Porte and Russia, all conside ration for other great Powers - wed for other allies of Tier Majesty was entirely overlooked and forgotten. I observed the other day that, in that part of the address of the President of the United States in which he touches on the external relations of the great Republic, he particularly no tices that there are three great questions of policy connected with the Government of Great Britain which are yet unsettled. Now, sir, it does not appear to me that it would have been an unusual, an unwise, or an unreasonable thing if there had been some reference in her Majesty's speech on this occasion to those three unsettled questions of foreign policy with the - United States, to which the President had so particularly and so formally referred. (Hear.) There have also been other incidents connected with our foreign affairs, not unworthy I think of being notices} in an Address to her Majesty or in a Speech from the Throne. I remem ber about two or three years ago one paragraph of her Ma jesty's speech informed the Parliament that a treaty had been effected with the State of Equador for the abolition 'of the slave trade. There were a great many gentlemen in the house—not, I think, much to their discredit—who were aiot quite aware where the state of Equador was (a laugh) —but the paragraph which the noble lord the Secretary for the Home Department, who was then Foreign Secretary, contributed to the Speech from the throneon that occasion was the important announcement of a treaty having been successfully negotiated and ratified by her Majesty for the abolition of the slave trade in the state of Equador. Now sir, there have been treaties this year of still more import ance than that with the state of Equador, negotiated and ratified by her Majesty, referring also to that part of the world, or at least that quarter of the globe; treaties in which the mercantile interests of this country are interested, in the successful accomplishment of which they have taken great pride, and which I believe are of more real value than many diplomatic arrangements of greater pretensions. Why, is there not that important treaty which has opened to us she navigation of all the great rivers of South Ame rica? (Cheers.) If you want to know what is the opinion of the merchants of England of the importance of thnd at treaty, go to the Roya l Exchange, go to Liverpool, a there you will hear men, whose opinions ought to influence ;the House of Commons. Speak of that successful diplo nuttic arrangement as not inferior, at all events to the Vienna note. Why was that not noticed in her Majesty's Speech ? Why was not the house and the great mercantile community of Great Britain gratified 1 y an announcement in her Majesty's Speech of that important treaty having been concluded ? I will not believe for a moment that it was because the neeotiations had been mainly ca rried on, and the policy had ° been entirely recommended, by the predeCtessors of the present Ministry. That I cannot for a moment. believe ; but no one will deny that it is a most important arrangement—no one will deny that it is highly appreciated in this country—and allow me, sir, to tell the house—allow me to impress upon the merchants of our great manufacturing and commercial towns that they ought to be very thankful that that important treaty was success fully concluded ; because, unless 1 am misinformed,when the despatch of th e distinguished officer who unsuccessfully ne gotiated that treaty, announcing the completion of his mis sion, was transmitted to this country, it crossed instruc- tions coming from the Secretary of Stateat home, recalling fom his post, and telling him no longer to waste the pubicc time and money upon so fruitless an enterprise. (Cheers.) Now, sir, having obtained such .t success under such hazardous circumstances, I think that is an addi tional reason why we should have been informed in her Majesty's Speech of such - a treaty having been successfully concluded. (Hear.) Sir, I shall not, as I have already said, attempt to touch upon the important question which ,said, will soon engage all our consideration. I amtpeorr ?ectly prepared to give her Majesty's Ministers credi f t the most sincere desire to avert from this county the grea calamity of war. (Cheers.) That is an admission which I • am sure requires no affectatio n of candour on any man's part to make. It must be so clearly their inter est certa as well as their duty to maintain peace, that I am in now no considerations but those of that paramount cha racter which should influence statesmen c will ever induce • them to take a step so vast in its haracter, enorm ous in its results. ( Hear, hear.) But, Sir, although I am ready to give them that credit I shall expect to find —and I am sure every member of the house will agree with me in this—that they have been the faithful guar . dians of the honour of the country. (Cheers.) I say the s faithful guardians of the honour of the country, because I c snot dissever the idea of the honour of the country from to interests of the country. I utterly deny that in his eat question, which concern s the balance of ptb ower n e East—which, I think, has been unwisely sneered at t o- night—l deny that there is what has been called a sen tl'rtiental portion and a political portion. I deny that there • al a things which are impolitic to be done, but which our ho sicr:tr requires us to accomplish. I say, on the contrary, the every instance it can be made manifest that what our honour requires us to do you will find the interest of the State sternly demands. (Hear.) If there is one thing moi a th a n another which, notwithstanding the gloomy pros pects • of the country on this important matter, still in cline me it able bole that there is some chance of an honour is the ample means which her Majesty's provided for the occupation of the time of srs has" Parliae lent at the very commencement of the session. Ind laughter.) I can hardly conceive that a body (Hear of men w ho are about to embark in -I will not say a great Europa an strugg ) o —though that is the com mon p hrase — which ; in fact is not only a European question, but an Asiatic question—which in fact may stretch into a third quarter of the globe, for Russia has not only European and Asiati e. .bnis American territories--.I say I cannot conceive th a t a 1 ) . 0 dy of statesmen , who believe that we are about to emb pry - an such a conflict, wile are Preparing to meet netted with a measure for checking bribery, corruption, and intimidation ; and let me observe in what spiral shall consider this large measure, which has been so long pro mised, and which is now about to be produced. It is, in my opinion, most unwise, especially at the present time, to introduce any measure of Parliamentary reform. Under any circumstances, I should perhaps be disposed to rest upon the great measure of 1832—which, however, I think was in many instances most unjust in its arrangements with re gard to the influence of the party that was opposed to the Government which introduced it. But the remedial agency of time has remedied a great deal of that injustice, and I should be disposed to place against the advantages of an equitable arrangement of the claims of that party for redress, the immense advantages of tampering with the constitution, and of perpetually disturbing that which, above all, ought to be hallowed by prescription. But if that famous bill—the whole bill, and nothing but the bill —is again to be brought before us, and placed on that table for execution by those who were its prime projectors, and who sailed into power and authority on the heady current of its agitation, then I shall analyse the parties of which this house and the country is composed, with the view of attempting to effect an adjustment among the various classes in the country and their representatives in this house. (Cheers.) I have taken occasion before to point out to the house, when a large measure of Parliamen tary reform was proposed by the hon. member for Mont rose, the extraordinary injustice with which the landed proprietors of the country have been treated with respect to the representation in the house, and all classes connec ted with the land. I have placed before the house statis tics of property and population, and I have shown that the greatest anomalies brought forward by hon. gentlemen op posite in a thougAless vein are equalled—nay, they are not equalled, but they are infinitely surpassed—if you ap ply these principles and test by these dogmas -- the arrangements for the representation of the inhabitants of the counties of England in the Commons House of Parlia ment. We have lately had some important returns ordered by the late Government, and I am not now going into de tails with reference to them. They only illustrate, by fresh and still more striking evidence, the principles which I have placed before the house with reference to this sub ject, and the facts which I have before stated. But this is not to be denied—that at the present moment more than one half the population of the country is represented in the House of Commons by a body of 160 or 170 county mem bers, while a population of more than 71; millions are re presented by nearly 400 gentlemen, who are called bo rough members. So much for the facts at the present moment. These are not considerations which would have induced us, especially at the present moment, to come for ward and ask for Parliamentary reform, though we think that great injustice has been done us by the present arrangement. You appeal to the passions, and you dwell upon the importance of what you call the large towns while the fact is that there are vast populations, still larger than the largest towns which a re represented only in a most imperfect manner, and who have not nearly the number of members which, according to your principles, they are en titled to. When we come to this large measure—when we come to this bold proposition, as we have been informed, of disfranchisement--when we have to add them to that horde of forfeited seats which the noble lord has been so long and so sedulously accumulating—we shall come for ward not with clamour—not with that organised arrange ment which is brought into play whenever anything is de manded by what are called the large towns, but we shall I come down to. the House of Commons and appeal to facts —we shall appeal to principles—we shall ask you to do us justice, but remembering at the same time that if you award to us that which we supplicate you to grant us, you will at the same time add strength and reverance to the constitution of England. (Cheers.) Lord J. RUSSELL—Sir, the Government have no rea son to complain of the manner in which the Speeeh from the Throne and the Address this evening have been treated by the house. On the contrary, I have to thank the house in the name of the Government for the general spirit of moderation which prevailed' in the way in which hon. members have declared, with respect to the great Eastern question, on which opinions are so divided, that they are ready to wait to consult the papers which have been laid upon the table of the house, and that not till they have examined them will they be prepared to give their judg ment upon them. If there was anything in the beginning of the debate which may have been considered to criticise the policy of the Government, I am quite ready to rest the answer to those observations on the speech of the hon. baronet the member for Tamworth, who spoke with great eloquence and ability on our foreign relations. (Cheers.) The right hon. gentleman who has just sat down has made some philological observations on the Speech from the Throne, rather than found fault with the policy which it embodies. Of that policy I have only to say that I think it has been carried on with a view to preferve, if possible, the blessings of peace for England and the world, and that it has been directed, in any event, either in a peaceful or in a warlike termination of our negotiations, to preserving the honour and interests of this kingdom. That honour and those interests would not have been preserved if, when we saw the aggressions of Russia on her unoffending neigh bour, we refrained from lifting up our voice in her support, and by demonstratinglhat, if necessary, we were ready to take other means to prevent the success of what appeared to us to be an unprincipled and an unjust invasion. The right hon. gentleman has alluded to the terms of the Vienna note. That note, as I stated in the former session, was framed not by the English Government, but by the Government of the Emperor of the French. Some addi tions and alterations were made to it by the Austrian Go vernment, and we accepted the note as a means which we hoed would prove for the benefit of Turkey and conci liatpe her claims with those pretensions which the Emperor of Russia had put footh. It is quite true, I readily ad mit, that when that netts arrived at Constantinople, and when the Turkish Government showed that, not in the plain sense, not in the sense affixed to it by the re presentatives of the four Powers, but in the sense that might be affixed to it by her hostile and jealous neighbour, the note might infringe upon her independence, we had then no hesitation in recommending the modifications pro posed by the Turkish Government to the consideration of the Emperor of Russia. The answer that was made, above all the explanaiions that were given by Count Nesselrode as to the sense in which the Vienna note was understood by the Government of St. Petersburg, proved not only that the Government of Russia was not prepared to recede from any of its pretensions, but that to its unprincipled and unjust aggression it added something which I cannot designate otherwise than fraudulent in the manner in which it pursued its policy. (Loud and, long-continued cheers.) I should be misleading:the house if I were to ex press any confident expectation that the offer now made will be acceded to by the Emperor of Russia. But this I may say in reference to the remark of the right hon. gen tleman that he hoped there was nothing contrary to the integrity and independence of Turkey in the terms pro posed—that the terms now proposed are terms agreed to by the representatives of the four Powers and of the Turkish Government, and that the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs himself framed and signed the note in which the propositions were conveyed ; so that in advising the Government of St. Petersburg to accept that note, we cannot suppose that we are in any way trenching upon the integrity or the independence of Turkey. (Cheers.) I think it is very obvious from the terms of the Speech that whilst the British Government is most anxious, if possible to effect a pacific settlement of the question, we are not disposed to let the Government of Russia so far take ad vantage of the time that may elapse as that, while she is making warlike preparations, when the end of the negotia tions should arrive, we should be found totally unpre pared. (Hear.) I know no injury—l see, on the contrary, very great advantage—in protracted negotiations, as long as there is a hope that peace may be the result, if we do not allow the consequence to follow that an advantage may be gained by Russia during that time, which an ear lier termination of the negotiations would prevent. (Hear, hear.) When the papers are laid upon the table, I shall have no objection, on any motion that may be made, or discussion that may arise, to go fully into these questions. (Hear.) One thing I may say—that, considering the posi tion of Russia in regard to Turkey, and the frontier which divides them, and that. England and France have taken the most active part in opposing the designs of Russia, we have thought that it would be an immense advantage in every point of view, if Austria and Prussia would combine with us for the purpose of preventing a war from ensuing in consequence of the aggression that has been made by Russia. Our endeavours in that respect have not been fruitless. There has been a protocol signed by the Minis ters of the Four Powers, in which they all declare that it is a satisfaction to them to be able to announce that no di minution of the integrity of the Turkish empire will ensue from the war that now exists between Russia and her neighbour. (Cheers.) That declaration, no doubt, is not I complete, that declaration does not fully meet the views of the Government of Great Britain ; but still it is a great advantage that, so far as we can, we shall act together : and when the Government of Austria shall perceive hat war is at length near, that the negotiations in which she has willingly taken part will not be successful in inducing the Emperor of Russia to desist from his efforts, and that no thing but bolder measures and a stronger tone would in duce him to do so—l say Lhave great hopes that the Go vernment of Austria, seeing her own interest—an interest much greater than that of England and France on this question—(hear. hear) —seeing likewise that the interest of Europe is involved in the settlement of this question—will, with the Government of Prussia, act generally with us, and I have no doubt of the immediate result. (Hear, 1 1 hear.) I say, considering all these things, that our time has not been lost in our efforts for conciliation, and in doing everything that we could consistently for our honour and interest for that purpose, and in endeavouring to per suade the Government of Austria to take what we think a more enlightened and more successful course. (Hear.) In the course of the debate there have been remarks made upon various subjects—upon some foreign subjects by the right honourable gentleman opposite ; upon some domestic subjects by others—which have been omitted in the Speech. I quite agree in the importance of the treaty to which the right- honourable gentlemen refers, and I have had the honour to present this evening, by command of her Majesty, papers connected with that treaty. (Hear, hear.) But really . considering the import ance of some of the principal topics touched upon, there were so many topics contained in the Speech that unless the right hon. gentleman would recommend us to depart from all former precedents, and to frame the Royal Speech of the length of the message of the President of the United States—(a laugh)—we should not be able to include all the various topics to be referred to. (Hear.) A most impor tant subject has been mentioned by the right hon. baronet the member for Tamworth—the subject of education ; and the hon. member for Montrose has also spoken on that sub ject. There is not one, I believe, more anxious to see a good system of education extended and established in this country than lam myself. But it is necessary to consider the means by which that object may be accomplished. With regard to one part of this great subject, taken as a whole —namely, the question of the English universities — we have taken that subject into consideration, and I hope that during the course of the month of February—in the middle or towards the end of it—we shall introduce a mea sure for the improvement and reform of the University of Oxford. (Hear, hear.) With respect to another depart ment of this subject, namely, education in Scotland, my right hon, friend the Lord Advocate has prepared a bill on the subject, and when it is finally approved of by the Go vernment he will introduce it. Now, with respect to va rious measures relating to education, I would rather that we should wait at all events to see the progress of the nu merous measures we have to introduce before we say any thing respecting them. The right hon. gentleman has spoken of the question of reform in Parliament, and he seemed partly to agree and partly to disagree with his hon. friend the member for Liverpool. The hon. member for Liverpool told us that Mr. Pitt, in the year 1793, declared that he was no supporter of a measure of Parliamentary reform in consequence of the war to which the country was engaged. Now, however great may be the authority re ferred to, for my part I had much rather that Mr. Pitt had at that time refrained from entering into the war, and pro. ing in defence of one, who has been injured by anony mous slander—(hear, hear)—and this is the first opportu nity on which he has authorised any communication to be made in reply to those slanders. (Hear,'hear.) His Royal Highness, therefore, continued in this position, giving advice to her Majesty when it was expedient to do so, and stating to her his opinion when he thought assistance was necessary, but the most constitutional deference was paid to the advice of the Ministers—(hear, hear)—and be it ob served, that though it may have been the case during the reigg of the House of Hanover that Ministers may have been obliged to resign because they could not a g ree to something which the Sovereign proposed , or because they were willing to propose advice that was not acceptable to the Sovereign, the administrations of the Queen have always ceased in con sequence of a vote of this house. (Cheers.) Well, sir, during my administration there occurred a case in which his Royal Highness had to consider his position, and to determine what he should do with respect to a proposal that was made. (Hear.) I had some correspondence with the Duke of Wel lington at a time when the office of adjutant-general was „vacant. The Duke of Wellington went to Windsor, and he there informed Prince Albert that it was his opinion that it would be of great advantage to the army if after his death his Royal Highness were placed by her Majesty in the po sition of Commander-in-Chief. His grace said that he had thought much upon it—that all his feelings and wishes were for the good administration of the army—that the army peculiarly belonged to the Crown—and that he did not think its interest would in any way he so well cared for, as by Prince Albert consenting to be his successor. (Hear, hear.) He said he wished to have a decision upon the subject, because he would make such arrangements with respect to the office of adjutant-general and other offices at the Horse Guards as would give his Royal High ness all the assistance that he could give him. (Hear, hear.) Prince Albert could not but feel that it was a very great compliment to be told by the Duke of Wellington that he was a fit person to succeed him in the command of the army, but after some reflection he informed the Duke of ! Wellington that he considered that his place was to be always near the Queen—(cheers) —that he thought he ought to identify himself with the Queen— with her position and. with her interests—and that he would depart froth that po _ . ceeded with the Parliamentary reform. (Cheers.) But I do not think the precedent is applicable to the present time. If it were so, indeed, it would be no slight post ponement of the question of reform, because that reform which Mr. Pitt postponed in 1793 was not adopted by Par liament until nearly forty years afterwards, and I certainly cannot consent to postpone reform for that length of time. (Hear, hear.) But, sir, it is to be considered whether the excuse was a good or a bad one. What Mr. Pitt was engaged in resisting, or counteracting, was the spirit of republicanism and democracy, and he thought it unwise to allow that spirit to display itself by supporting any measure of Parliamentary reform. (Hear, hear.) That was, in fact, the tendency, spirit, and object of his war. At pre sent we are in a totally different position. Whatever complaint we may have to make of the Emperor of Russia, it is not that which Mr. Pitt made, namely, that he is engaged in supporting the pestilent doctrines of democracy abroad. (Hear, hear.) We cannot say that'the Emperor of Russia has issued any decree of fraternisation by which he hopes to support republicanism. (Hear, hear.) Thera is, therefore, no likeness between the cases, but I own, for my part, I do not agree in the cogency of the argument, even without the precedent which my hon. friend (if he will allow me so to call him) the hon. member for Liver pool has used. It does not appear to me that this is at all an unfit or improper time for introducing the ques tion of Parliamentary reform. (Hear.) I know to those who do not like the measure a fit time is always wanting. Mr. Wyndham; who was a great master of illustration and delusion, when a measure was introduced in a time of public quiet and peace, said, " You are like the man in the Spfctator, who had every symptom of the gout except the pain (laughter) ; you are going to deal with a disease that causes you no inconvenience." Times changed, and there was a vast deal of commotion, and agitation, and exci ment, and Mr. Wyndham ;till opposed reform, sayi!g " Surely you will not repair your house in the hunting season." (Laughter.) On both occasions he was ready with an illustration, and so it is with many of those who now say that this is not the time to introduce a measure of Parliamentary reform. I cannot but refer to a pledge which I gave ou this subject in the year 1848, a time evi dently when a great democratic revolution was flying through Europe. I thought when the honourable member for Montrose then proposed a measure of reform that it was not advisable to introduce a measure of that kind at that period. I said " Although I cannot concur with your pro posal at this time, or with the exact grounds of your pro posal at any time, yet my opinion is that when this fit has passed away, and when Europe shall be tranquil, so far as regards those democratic movements, that will be the time to consider further improvements in our representative system." I cannot think that there is any danger in discus sing the question of reform during the excitement of a foreign war, but the time that really is dangerous for such a discussion is the time of great popular excitement and dis sension at home. (Hear.) It is said there ie no feeling on the subject—that there is a complete apathy about reform. If that be the case, is it not the proper time to discuss the question of reform ? (Hear.) Lest in the course of war there should be times and periods of distress, when the people should , become excited, and large meetings should be assembled in every town, partly crying out for more wages and cheaper fool, and partly crying out for an in crease of political power—is it not wise to forestall any demand of that sort? (Hear.) Supposing we have the calamity of war, and have with it the necessity for in creasing the public burdens, is it not a fitting time to en large the privileges of the people when you are imposing upon them froth taxes (hear),. so that the House of Com mons, in imposing taxes upon the people, may, as far as possible, impose them upon those who have elected them ? (Hear.) When the bill shall be introduced, the right hon. gentleman opposite will have an opportunity of making his criticisms upon its character. I own the right hon. gentleman somewhat surprised me. After saying that it was unwise to introduce a reform bill at the present time, he ended by suggesting that perhaps he should have a reform bill of his own. (Laughter.) If that is in troduced, I shall listen to the right honourable gentleman's proposal, and see if •we can borrow anything from the stile —(a laugh)—which he has no doubt given to his bill. (Hear, hear.) I remember about two years ago, when the right hon. gentleman held the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer, he, spoke then of the expediency and propriety of giving the franchise to the working men. (Hear, hear.) That was his doctrine at that time, and we shall see when this bill is introduced whether he has departed from or maintained that doctrine. (Hear.) After having stated generally the views which I entertain with regard to the several topics of the Address, I have to call the attention of the house to a subject of very great importance, but one in speaking of which I hope I may not overpass the bounds of due discretion. (Hear, hear.) I rejoice that I have not been wrong in supposing that no member of this house would in any way adopt or countenance the calumnies that have been spread abroad with respect to a royal per sonage—(loud cries of hear, hear, and cheers) the Prince Consort. (Hear, hear.) And, sir, if those calum nies were like ordinary calumnies, I might be disposed to leave them without notice to pass away in the course of time ; but they affect so much the highest interest of the State, and there has been so much of honest delusion, as well as of violent calumny, that I do feel it is necessary to make some statement with regard to the position of that illustrious Prince. (Hear, hear.) I may just say, that while the charge is generally one of unconstitutional inter ference on the part of his Royal Highness, it is generally admitted—admitted throughout the country, and by all parties, that there never was a Sovereign who has acted, more strictly than her Majesty in the spirit of the consti tution and in the exercise of her h i g h prerogative. (Loud cheers.) Her Majesty has accepted the Ministers whom she found were approved of by the House of Commons, and she has given them her whole and entire c onfidence. (Hear, hear.) On her accession she found Lord Melbourne Prime Minister, and he had her entire confidence. (Hear, hear.) Lord Melbourne was succeeded by Sir Robert Peel, and Sir Robert Peel had the entire confidence of her Ma jesty. (Hear, hear.) It was my destiny to succeed Sir Robert Peel, and during more than five years, in which T held the honourable position which I then held, I can Say most truly that I received from her Majesty every support—(cheers)—and every mark of confidence that a Minister could expect. (Cheers.) I cannot but express towards her Majesty my gratitude for the kindness with which I was treated, and for the attention with which all my representations were listened to by her Majesty. (Cheers.) Well, then, is it not strange that it should be said—is it not incredible that her Majesty, during a great part of that time, should have her consort by her side, and that while the whole of the conduct of her Government has been most constitutional, it should be possible that the Prince Consort during that time should have been acting in an unconstitutional manner. (Hear, hear.) There is something absurd and contradictory on the face of it — (cheers) —but Ido feel it is necessary, owing to the honest delusion which I have said has prevailed, to enter some what, into what is the position (not much defined in any of the law books or by precedents) of a Prince Consort in this country. (,ltar, hear.) When her Majesty came to the throne, being then only eighteen years of age, and of ' course inexperienced, Lord Melbourne considered what it became him to do when her Majesty was pleased to say that he should continue in the post of First Lord of the Treasury. (Hear, hear.) It seemed to Lord Melbourne that it was his duty to advise her Majesty on all subjects with regard to matters of domestic interest— with regard to the arrangements of the palace, as well as to perform the ordinary duties of Prime Minister. (Hear, hear.) But, doubtful as to whether he had come to a right opi nion, he resorted for advice to the highest authority he could obtain ; he went to the Duke of Wellington. (Cheer) The Duke of Wellington entirely agreed with him, and said that i f he held the office of Prime Minister , " Great Stanhope-street, Jan. 20. he would take exactly the course that Lord Melbourne had " Lord Hardinge presents his compliments to Sir George pointed out. (Cheers.) Three years after her Majesty's Brown, and requests his attention to an article in the accession her Majesty espoused Prince Albert, the present Morning Advertiser of the 18th of January, which des- Prince Consort. The position i n w hich Prince Albert cribesGeorge Brown as having onione occasion replied should stand was likewise a matter for'consideration. He with great emphasis to Lord Hardinge that he was aware was, as the house knows, na t ura li se d by Parliament, and that he had sworn allegiance to her Majesty, but that he naturalised in such a manner that he could be a member could not recognise the authority of the Prince in any of the Privy Council. (Hear.) Some doubts have been matter connected with his office at the Horse Guards.' stated on this subject, but an yb o dy w ho looks into the Lord Hardinge desires to be informed whether, in the subject will see that he was no t only enabled but transaction of the official business of the Adjutant-Gene fully, authorised to sit in the p r i v y Council. (Hear, hear.) ral's department, any such conversation as that described Lord Melbourne asked me what was my opinion as to the ever took place between them ?" course that should be pursued with respectto the despatches The reply to this letter was as foll Eato- uare, Jan. 20. that shoul I a rrive, and all the secret communications of the " 61, sq . Minister ; I said th at I had no doubt whatever that her ~ Sir George Brown presents his compliments to Lord Majesty should communicate them as she thought fit to Hardinge, and in reply to his note this moment received, the Prince-Consort—(cheers)—and that I did not think, in begs to assure his lordship thathe has no recollection what his relation to her Majesty, it would be fair to have any ever of ever having received orders from him as emanating concealment on the subject. (Loud cries of hear, hear, from Prince Albert, and that consequently he never could and cheers.) lam not sure from recollection, and do not have expressed himself in the terms, he is represented to very distinctly recollect, w h e th er L or d Melbourne at that have done in the article extracted from the Morning Ad time mentionel the subject, but lam sure that Lord Mel- vertiser, transmitted with his lordship's note." bourne and I thought it our d u ty to advise that that With regard to the other statements respecting the Horse should be the conduct with regard to public despatches Guards, the same contradiction could be given if it were and communications. (Hear.) I think that any other ad- worth while. I believe I have described accurately the state vice would be foolish and u n b ecom i ng . (Cheers.) It could of the case, and of the relations which do exist between not but happen that the Prince, after his marriage, should Prince Albert a n d the commander-in-chief. When the discuss public ev ents with her s a j es s y —(h ea r, hear)—and Duke of Wellington was commander-in-chief, these cora that he should only gather hi s inf orma tion from the news- munications were frequent. They have been less frequent papers or publiceo a s o t ffi at e e i m ai e i n n t i s o , nn w a h t i i l oen b h e e f r or M eh aj e e r s , t w y o h u a ld d n a o l t l o a f rm la y t, T bu h t er t e h i e s y e a e ll ot r h el e a r t s e u t h o je t c h t e , w ge i n th er r a e l s e p ffi ee c t ie to ne w y h o i f eh th a e a b su rdity, bat it w ou ld be impracticable. specific assertion was likew ise made. It was said that upon t o h e e ly des h p e at o c e hes (Cheers.' Well, then, sir, such being the position of the Prince, it is quite evident that there is no truth whatever I questions of foreign policy, and more especial upon that Eastern question which at , present absorbs ta l ly (Teat a de in the colour which has been attempted to be placed upon gree the attention of the country, Prince Alberthad taken his Royal Highness's relation t o h er Majesty in this re - a course to thwart the advice of her Majesty's responsible spect, on nt he statement that Lord Melbourne constitu tionally Ministers, and that in the attempt so to thwart their ad tionally debarred the Prince f rom a k now l e d ge of those vice he was in the habit of writing to foreign ministers on State affairs, and that Sir Robert P ee l wa s the first person th es e subjects. Now, on tha t p oint I will read the who introduced t he p ractice. (Hear, h ear .) Why, sir, I 1 following letter fro m the Earl of Westmoreland : b e li e ve it is true, that in Sir Robert Peel's time, it first " TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING ADVERTISER. happened that his Royal Highness was present during the that if his Royal Highness, according to the advice of Lord t ea :—c interview with Ministers, but the house will at once see, attention has been called this day to a pars of (Lord the l4t hStratford in st. , d eR which ed- Moun was informed of all that was going on, and states : i -- 11 t ‘ h T e ha M t or if n t i h ng ese A n d o v b e r t ent er en Red knewas well as her Majesty all that was taking place, his cliffe and Lord Westmoreland) were called on to state what mere introduction into the closet when the Ministers had has passed in writing between an illustrious personage nothing hea r . their communications with her Majesty, was merely a con- and themselves, relative to the Eastern question, and to ) be lrth n e d cures would be made which would startle the people of thaty h e e n r i Majestye h n a c l, h aeen been adopted. oulwould establishedhave(Hear, been present when the Ministers were with her Majesty, England from their propriety.' Prince eeephriandcinpolet produce the correspondence, we have no doubt that disclo communicated with him. That , ' I lose no time in informing you that there is not the would be a circuitous report of .what the Ministers had 1 slightest foundation for the supposition therein contained. said, and would be a less convenient mode o f p roce eding I have not had any communication, directly or indirectly, than if his Royal Hig hness had been pr esen t ; for in the one 1 with the `illustrious p ersona g e' alluded to since I first case, as in the othe r, his Royal Highness having, I need came to Vienna. I never received a letter from the Prince The m o only y h l a e v t e t letters related with t which hi ch mattershi s of Royal hardly say, the intellect—(cheers)--the i n f orma tion, and • containing one word upon politics, public men, or public i th t ewgoeunledralhlAowhleeedngezui(hteearim, h po et— hle wh t i h c a h t be h l o o r ng m to a j h o i s m ty , h afi rt . s ai h rs' onou T r h e would not have spoken to him on every matter of great valence. importance that would arise. (Hear, h ear .) l am now " I feel satisfied that you will take an early opportunity speaking generally of their relations, without any refer- of giving publicity to this contradiction of the report cir art and rii gh b bene fit. es Highness to the constitutional relations whi c h su b s i s t between ciliaed in your paper. "Your obedient servant, the Sovereign and her Ministers, because, as I have stated " t Vienna, Jan. 22, 1854." " WESTMORELAND." at the commencement, there has ne ver b een an y co m. Thug, whenever these allegations took a specific shape, it is plaint that those relations have not been properly recog- I obvious they could be at once contradicted, and that in a nised.. (Hear, hear.) It was Lord M e lb ourne an d I who manner the most decided. His Royal Highness has never advised it, and we thought we were acting en ti r ely and in been in the habit of corresponding with foreign ministers. the spirit of the constitution in giving th a t a d v i ce , that There was one instance, and I believe one only, in which it his Royal Highness should be fully informed w ith respect happened that a minister at a foreign Court wrote to him, to all that had passed. (Hear, hear.) But did Lord Mel- undesired and unrequested by him, and his Royal High bourne consider that there was no advant age i n h er Ma. nem immediately sent the letter to the Secretary of State jesty taking that counsel. (Hear, hear.) B e it remem b e red for Foreign Affairs, and desired to know what answer he that he had taken upon himself on her a cces sion, during ; advised him I o return. With respect tocommuni the C cations that ourt of St. the youth of the Queen , to g ive her advice u p on ever y sub- I Petersburg, b e lieve that ject. At the time that Sir Robert Peel assum ed the reins have passed have bee on some time matters of ordinary ok praisecouesy o f Government her Maje st y had been alread y mar- , and civility, a nd that n i s since that tied. It was in the beginning of September, 1841; and on lOn another occasio n, when a near relation of her Majesty, the 30th of August in that y ear Lord Melbourne wrote in being the representative ted by of Austri dangerous i a at the C o llurt of S Sirt. those terms to her Majes t y — " Lord Melbourne cannot ! Petersburg, was a ness, satisfy himself without again stating to your Majesty in Hamilton Seymour, our Minister at that Court, wrote writing, what he had the honour of saying to your Majesty I repeated accounts from day to day of the health of that respecting his Royal Highness the Prince. Lord Melbourne ' relation. I have thus gone through these variou! al eg a ai has formed the highest opinion of his Royal Highness's , gations quite as far as it is _proper and becosmiongseth judgment, temper, and discretion, and he cannot but feel I should do so. I need hardly *Peal to ti c h on u sider, a great consolation and security in the reflection, that he consider, but I hope that the country w ill female sovereigns be has the inestimable advantage of such advice and assist- to her Majesty. We have had two eat . leaves your Majesty in a situation in which your Majesty what must be the position of the Pence as . relates ' doubt,feeling that she cannot do better than to have recourse to it when it is glish history. Queen Elizabeth, no and that her mind and ante. Lord Melbourne feels certain that your Majesty I fore, both of whose reigns were grea and glorious an En needed, and to rely upon it with confidence." That was would not to divide her . pi:ow e er w , he affairs of this realm, never marne Royal Highness's ability, and I may say that no one who conduct of all t Queen Anne was married to a prince the opinion which Lord Melbourne had formed of his her fortitude and her ambition ere_fully equal to til d e had any intercourse with his Royal Highness could form as the house knows Q . any other opinion —(hear, hear)—but must appreciate the of no very distinguished intelligence, and we all know that be sorry, without necessity, to refer to the affairs of a were gained ; that, but owing to a change of influence at judgment and the ability of this amiable prince. I should while the policy of Marlborough. prevailed great victories sition if he had any separate office of his own, more espe cially an office of the importance of Commander-in-Chief, and thereby became responsible for other duties, and for the exercise of other powers beyond those which her Ma jesty had to exercise or perform. (Hear, hear.) Imme diately after having given that an swer, I had the honour of an interview with his Royal Highness, when he read the letter he had written to the duke, and it appeared to me, and I immediately expressed my opinion, that his Royal Highness had judged most rightly—(hear, hear), — and that he had exactly viewed his own position. (Hear.) I think there were other reasons why his Royal Highness should not take the 'office of commander-in-chief ; it is quite unnecessary to state those reasons—those which his Royal Highness himself stated were quite sufficient, and they showed that, while he considered that he ought not to be commander-in-chief, he likewise considered that, when ever he could be of any aid or assistance to the Queen — whatever difficulty she might feel—whatever decision, she might have come to—he was bound to give the whole of his intelligence, and zeal, and wisdom to the cousidera lion of that question. (Hear, hear.) I regret that there should be charges made against his Royal Highness. (Cheers.) Many of them are too frivolous to notice ; many of them are mere stories, which disappear the next day ; but having explainefl now the general constitutional position of the Prince—a position of the greatest import ance—l shall menticn with regard to two different branches of the public service the sort of charges that have been made. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the array, in par ticular, it has been said that his Royal Highness is in the habit of constantly interfering. Now, I would say that when the Duke of Wellington acquiesced in the decision of the Prince, he said at the same time that as it was not likely that the Queen would again personally enter into details of the military service, he hoped his Royal High ness would always give his attention to anything that af fected the state and efficiency of the army. This his Royal Highness has done with regard to any general question which he thought affected that state andefficiency. (Hear, hear, hear.) With regard to the ordinary business of the Horse Guards, he has never in any way interfered ; with respect to patronage, he has never at all interfered—(hear, hear) —and I think the house will agree that, having had this request from the Duke of Wellington, and seeing that it was not likely that her Majesty would attend to those points which the Kings, her predecessors, had attended to, it is but right that his Royal Highness, with respect to general questions that might effect the army, should pay attention to those questions. (Hear, hear.) Sir, it so happens that a short time ago a circumstance occurred which was so perverted that I must take the liberty of stating what were the real facts of the case. The adjutant general and quarter-master-general are appointed by the Sovereign, and not by the commander-in-chief. But the Sovereign, as it may be supposed, usually takes the advice of the commander-in-chief in making those appointments. A difference of opinion occurred between Lord Hardinge and Sir George Brown with respect to the weight that the soldier should carry, and with regard to other points of Military detail and arrangement. Sir George Brown, whose correspondence has been shown to me by Lord Hardinge, wrote a letter in exceedingly suitable terms, saying that as there was a considerable difference between Lord Hardinge and himself, and as his own opinion, formed upon what he had heard from the Duke of Wellington, was' unshaken, he thought it was better that he should resign the office of adjutant-general, and he, therefore, begged Lord Har ding() to place , his resignation before the Queen. Now, it has been represented that this resi g nation was somehow produced by the interference of Prince Albert. That story is totally false. It arose entirely from the difference of opinion I have stated. Lord Hardinge immediately laid Sir George Brown's resignation before her Majesty, and reeommended that Sir George Cathcart should bi appointed the successor to Sir George Brown, as he considered him a very distinguished officer, and of an age that would enable him to perform actively the duties of that situation. Her Majesty acquiesced in the advice that Lord Hardinge gave, but she said she hoped that General Wetherell, who was next in that office of adjutant-general to Sir George Brown, would meet with every consideration from Lord Hardinge. Now, it should be mentioned that General Wetherell was the son of one who was in constant attendance upon the Duke of Kent, and I am sure that the house will not think it wrong that her 'Majesty—recollecting the services of General Wetherell's father to her father — should wish that every consideration and kindness should be shown to that distinguished officer. Lord Har dingo said that he was quite ready to pay every conside ration to the merits of General Wetherell, that he thought very highly of them himself, that he performed his duties in Canada very well, but that he (Lord Har dinge) did not think he would be so efficient an adjutant general as. Sir George Cathcart; that he was, however, quite ready to propose some method by which it should be shown that no disapprobation was shown towards General Wetherell. Upon this an equerry of her Majesty, who was likewise in attendance upon his Royal Highness, came to London to express to General Wetherell the Queen's sense of his services, and that it was not from any slig ht to him that she had taken the advice of Lord Hardinge. General Wetherell, as mi ;ht be expected, expressed his grateful sense of this mark of her Majesty's condescension and kindness, and made no Complaint of the appointment which was made to the office of adjutant-general. Pre sently, however, it was said that General Brown had been spoken to by Lord Hardinge, and had said—but perhaps I had better read the letter in which this assertion is con tained : Mr.. WALPOLE—Sir, I am sure that the house and the country are indebted to the noble lord for the manly, honourable, and able manner in which he has vindicated the Pr ince Consort from charges as calumnious and, in my opinion, as extravagant as ever were urged against any man. It would be presumption in me to add much to the state ment of l`the noble lord ; for, with regard to the specific charges br, ought against that illstrious personage, they are disposed of ' completely; and, with regard to the constitu tional positi on occupied by his Royal Highness, I have no hesitation in saying publicly what I have often before ex pressed in pri Tate with reference to these calumnies—that I conceive there is, according to the constitution, not only no reason why every public and private matter should not be communicated to the Prince Consort by the Queen, but that it would be contrary to all good feeling to suppose that such communications should not take place. The only point which I wish to add to the statement of the noble lord is this;—the noble lord has assured the house that her Majesty the Queen has, according to the constitu tion, invariably reposed the utmost confidence in the ministers of her choice, beginning with Lord Melbourne, going on with Sir R. Teel, and ending with himself. I hope I may be allowed to supply the only omission in the noble lord's statement. On my honour, I positively assert, on behalf of Lord Derby and his colleagues, that the same confidence was as frankly and as fully confided to them by her Majesty. I will add no more' on this point, because the noble lord has so completely disposed of the whole of this case. I will not be supposed to flatter the Prince ; but still less will I, from fear of stating what I believe to be the truth, detract one iota from the high and just praise which the noble lord has given to the consort of the Queen, whose intelligence, capacity, and conduct since he has been in this country, entitle Irina to every possible respect and esteem from all her Majest Y's subjects. (Hear.) Having disposed of that part of the speech of the noble lord, perhaps the house will allow me to recall its attention to the commencing passages of his speech. The p art of his speech to which I refer related to our foreign po.licy. In these passages the noble lord has to my mind sup plied a great omission, which would otherwise have been recuarked upon in the country, with respect to certain matters' connected with Russia and Turkey. In the first place he has assured the house, and I think it will be satisfactory to ti'e coun try to hear the assurance, that the last efforts at n egotia tion which have been going on between this country , and foreign powers have now brought the matter to an unani mous expression of opinion on the part of the four great powers, and as I understood the noble lord, with the assent of Turkey. (Hear.) I conclude he refers to what is calle d the collective note, which, to my mind, whatever may be my opinion of the former parts of the transaction, has put the matter on a proper basis—the vindication of the inde pendence and integrity of Turkey. Another satisfactory part of the noble lord's speech appeared to me that in which he supplied an omission in the Speech from the Throne. I mean the passage in which he referred to the disposition of the other powers. I understand from his statement, that we may now expect, if not as certain, at least as possible, that the Emperor of Austria and the King of Prussia are concurring or likely to concur, with France and England in the views they take on this question. That also was a communication which I was glad to hear from the noble lord. The noble lord made a third observation equally important, though I cannot agree with him on the conclusions which he drew from it. He told us that he thought it was not only not detrimental, but that it was advantageous to this country and to Europe to protract negotiations as long as possible, if by these protracted ne gotiations peace could be secured, and the interests of the parties were not in the meantime impaired. I hope the noble lord will forgive me for reminding him, in connection with this part of his speech, that it was while former nego tiations were going on that the Pruth was crossed, in order to obtain " a material guarantee for peace"—a new term, I believe, in European diplomacy. And we should not shut our eyes to the fact, that it was while these negotiations were proceeding that the principalities have been occupied, that contributions have been levied, and that martial law has been proclaimed there. Now I Agree with the noble lord that negotiations should be continued so long as there is a chance of peace being preserved, consistently with the security due to Turkey. And I hope that negotiations will not be continued if no better protection can be secured to Turkey than she has met with in the occupation of the principalities and the disaster of Sinope. (Hear, hear.) And now, sir, I cannot refrain from making a passing ob servation with reference to the remarks which fell from the noble lord on the subject of the Reform Bill. My right hon. friend (Mr. Disraeli) pointed out to the noble lord the extreme inconvenience of discussing a measure of this kind which may give rise to great difference of opinion while we should be endeavouring to unite every person in this country, hand and heart, to stand by an ally unjustly at tacked, and to prevent any further injustice being wrought against Turkey. I think the observation of my hon. friend was a just one ; but at any rate I hope that the noble lord, on proposing his Reform Bill, will take the advice given him by my hon. friend in a previous observation—that he will not confound electoral purification with Parliamen tary reform or the reconstruction of the Commons House of Parliament ; and that in the bill to be introduced care will be taken not to give to any class in this country an undue share of the representation. In my opinion, the noble lord has hazarded a great deallin introducing this Reform Bill ; and I should have thought it would have been safer, notwithstanding the pledges which the Minis ters of the Crown have given to propose some reform, not to have proposed it in the present state of affairs. And I must say that I have considerable doubts, and always have entertained considerable doubts, as to whether any further reform in the representation of the people is either desired, or is likely to be bene ficial. Nay, more, I will go on and say that if you pro pose a reform bill, you must prove two propositions before you can expect the Parliament of this country to adopt it. One is, that you do not make any unnecessary changes, and that you do not make any unless you are convinced that there are grievances and abuses which cannot be re dressed without a material alteration in the constitution of the State. The second proposition is, that when you make that representative alteration, you do not by the change introduce greater evils than those that you propose to re form. But as I have already said, Ido not wish to anti cipate the discussion of this question. lam sure that when it is laid on the table of the house, it will have the consideration which it deserves ; but I frankly own that I neither think the time convenient for the proposition of such a measure, nor do I think that the measure itsJf is at all required. I must say that I doubt very much whe ther the constitution of the Commons House of Parliament will be improved by further tampering with the distribu tion of the franchise. (Hear, hear.) The Address was then agreed to. The SPEAKER informed the house that he had received from the Parliamentary agent a communication, stating that the petition against the return of the present members for the borough of Liverpool would not be further pro ceeded with. The house then adjourned at ten minutes before eleven o'clock. THE MURDER AT ACTON. VERDICT OF THE JURY. Yesterday Mr. Wakely resumed, at the Goldsmiths' Arms, East Acton, the thrice adjourned inquiry touching the death of Richard Medhurst, aged 14, who was found murdered in a ditch in Friar's-lane. The facts of this barbarous case are so fresh upon tha public mind that they need no recapitulation. The inquiry was adjourned on the last occasion, in order that the coroner might apply to the Secretary of State for the production before the jury of a person named Wildbore, who had been arrested, charged with the murder ; but in consequence of the subsequent acquittal of that person by the police court, the coroner did not consider it necessary to apply to Lord Palmerston. It being expected that Mr. Wildbore would appear before the coroner yesterday, much excitement prevailed in the neighbourhood, and a number of persons collected outside the Goldsmiths' Arms, in the expectation of catching a glimpse of him. On the re-assembling of the jury, the summoning officer having, in answer to the coroner, said there was no fresh evidence forthcoming, the coroner, after making same cursory remarks as to the extraordinary nature of the case, proceeded to charge the jury. He said he felt that it would be useless to adjourn again, as, although he considered the guilty parties would be eventually discovered, yet that would not be in all probabi lity for some time to come. He hoped, in conclusion, that the police would use their utmost endeavours to dis cover the guilty parties, for it was a fearful and frightful thing for the public to feel that their children could not go abroad without being kidnapped and used for some abominable purposes. Sergeant Earthy said the police were using their utmost endeavours to discover the guilty persons. The Coroner remarked that he was sure the perpetrators of the diabolical deed would not long eseeP° the punish ment which their crime demanded. The jury then retired, and after a brief consultation, returned a verdict of " Wilful Murder a gainst some person or persons unknown." . Mr. Fairman, soli- After the verdict had been recorded , ted himself on behalf of citor, of Bishop Stortford, presen borne Mr.Wildbore, and said that his client was so down therefore wart most wholly 01l anxious .by the groundless charge brought against him, that he was yconfined to a bed of un able to attend the inq uiry, a a rth d o w ug as h to have done so. But if the coroner would adjourn the investigation, Mr. Wildbore would be enabled to attend on a future day. r said that not a tittle of evidence The Coroner implicating Mr. Wildbore had been adduced before him. He thought that the police ought not to be too hasty in making an ar rest, where the evidence was . so slight against the accused. The jury fully acquiesced m the coroner's observations ; after which the witnesses were bound over in the usual recognizances to appear if required to prosecute in the matter, and the inquiry terminated. SCHOOLS FOR DESTI TUTE AND CRIMINAL CHILDREN.— A memorial has been presented to Viscount Palmerston by a number of inhabitants of Hull, urging the necessity for immediate legislation to provide at the public ex pense, in all populous districts, industrial and reforma tory establishments, where all destitute and neglected children shall be educated and trained in useful habits, and where in a separate ward or establishment, and un der classification, those convicted of crime may he like wise trained until of an age to earn their own subsist ence, the parents of all such children in the meantime being liable for the expenses incurred. The Duke and Duchess of Roxburgh have arrived at the Clarendon Hotel, Bond-street, from Brighton. Lord 1 and Lady Falmouth have also arrived at the Clarendon, from Mereworth Castle, Maidstone. t ountry th ports in th e . ve been re iment ought ice that no this. rialf urmese war , urkish war ? ed to advise issia, ought an efficient sure whether instance, to afford to part of securing might corn° p, would be ae assistance action. But discussed in nness of the would insist in their ope' g the discus' !c1 to protest the Govern s foreign Po' ipeech, which Speech of the . ontniunt 9 61.. served up by Vll iniquitoq was no opP9 - e Address 10 ho was pre sty's Goverr• )xpression to Lt the people ?parent delay itederence of uestion, with ty, had give l wise diserin 3l ' their capacitY vernment, by inducting the ion, had not lie believed ; public they ipport in the, y recommend military esta• aken to earl mentary cow' i nisterin g the that the Go re Parliament question, M' 4 pportunity of n the subject. ;chilly for the ) Speech from e in the navy it the Govern' amending the conceive coed consideration• of coals in the xt measure votive for the led to recom• hich had been happily been red in the coal e which might is the reties' ng to any per sea-board, on our coasting he could 1 0 member for ,ly takeltipinn e Lf nothing but vil or inconve' ily performing :all the atten' / the grievous lipping trade , 3h we had se He (the WI iiverpool that he writers the subject of p, the Tayleu r vas caused bY y in a merely iption of the Lascars, and the orders 01 r :ecuting them• asserted that es which had hem with the, ils, which ha d heir crews. In t add he ws s the Tayleur nce of it er h an inefficien t from events when her 10' e to the con" coasting trade , ;entations and of commerce, dom. (Hear. , ntative of the I he was pr e " consideratiok . )11 the Speeoll hat moment , ) which it NvaS believed at n° 15 had Parlia h gravity, and consequences , I him to find over n men t for e might regr e ! ,ble settlemen t whose colossal nxious to Pro" gigantic fore, ear, hear.) - 1 -* n of the house , to the power he time of the ng him to call 'ed to the caw Le to bring int o , Sir Archibald Russian argil 0,000 cavalrY , tme to refer to rpose, first, t° Etussia to bring ld be delay by )f this country hat they maY, (Hear s hear./ had done ; but he was merely oped her Mir was even now Ley had fallen- to disturb the tiddresi moved vas glad to see ninced, but 1r what he cone; in the Roll"' illusion to Ire' hon. baro.ne t me assurance• warned gentle" talon that her , asure of lantil -3 basis of their L. and learned rer hesitate? entitled. Joi e h great caret 11 to the into' I of the right ruse of LordSl Ind he trusted Arned gentle' , ention of pro' ial, legielatioo c the Govern' it intention t° n. When the 30 dom of men As marine • O f table not only esent, but to press of ship' lclerland were niand having those of Nov; dation tended d' their s hips. the Wear in vessels in the the inference o give an Ira. and to attract istead of the till called out ty these shipe natural pro' the manage" them in a Pc" far as shirr otection bad ie auspices of Nerving the spire abroad, as well as an ?au,Limong, tion to which eussion with y which novi rnment have Ao, is a veil attempt in ame time it sty makes a pass unno• r, sir, I rnaY s prorogued id reason to rnment Were )ss, and even ary of State um, the ohs ,uld achieve ore the pro ler that the rsy between td so much was in fact ;mory of the , but I think ou th&t THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNE'S'DAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 1, 1854. the ?.lace, to one lady supplanting another, these victories gave place to the convention of Utrecht. Her present Maje sty is in a different position to either of these sove reigr Is. Her Majesty is married to a prince of singular attainments, ant their domestic life is as good an example to all the Queen's subjects as her constitutional conduct is m odel for all sovereigns. (Cheers.) Would any man belie :ve me if I were to say that, while thus united, the Quo 'n never consulted with the Prince Consort—whose emit tent qualifications I have described—with respect to affairs that nearly interest her Majesty, that interest her fortunes, and the fortunes of her crown, the welfare of her 1 people, the happiness of her interior life, and her rela tionk I with many of those who are dear to her? No one woul d believe me if I made such an assertion. I say, then, that .1 hope in future there will be no delusion upon the sub ject. There is no harm in telling the whole truth withregard to th is matter ; in saying that her Majesty andthe Prince are insepnrablynnited, and that with regard to public counsels as wl:-th regard to private affairs, they have no greater com fort than to communicate with one another. (Hear, hear.) And • when the people of this country, always just in the end, have reflected upon these matters, I think that the result of these calumnies, base a, they are, and of these delue ions, blind as they have been, will be to attach the peopt a of this country still more strongly Co the Queen of these realms, and to give a firmer and a stronger founda tion t 4 )the throne. (Loud cheers.) -•- THE LONDON LAST NIGHT. DOWNING-STREET, JAN. 30. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Anthony Mus grave, Esq., to be Colonial Secretary and Clerk of the Crown for the Island of Antigua. Her Majesty has also been pleased to make the following appointments for the Island of Malta, viz. :—Doctor Paolo Dingli, to be President of the Court of Appeal ; Doctor Antonio Micallef, to be one of her Majesty's Judges; and Doctor Adriano Dingli, to be Crown Advo cate. vV WHITEHALL, JAN. 31. The Queen has been pleased to direct letters patent to be passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, granting unto Wm. Courthope, Esquire, Rouge Croix Pursuivant of Arms, the office of Somerset Herald, vacant by the decease of James Cathrow Disney, Esquire, late Somerset. OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, JAN. 30. Royal Regiment of Artillery—Colonel Richard Jones, to be Colonel Commandant, vice Major-General" Oliver, deceased ; Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Haultain, to be Colonel, vice Jones ; Brevet-Major Henry Joseph Morris, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Haultain ; Second Captain Arnold Thompson, to be Captain, vice Morris ; First Lieu tenant Armine Dew to be Second Captain, vice Thompson ; Second Lieutenant Raynsford Cytherus Longley to be First Lieutenant, vice Dew, Jan. 12. Corps of Royal Engineers— Second Lieutenants with temporary rank to be Second Lieutenants with permanent rank—Charles Nassau Martin ; Francis Edward Pratt, June 18, 1851. - - ADMIRALTY, JAN. 30. In consequence of the death,' on the 26th instant, of Rear-Admiral of the Red Charles Sotheby, the following promotions, dated the 27th instant, have taken place : Rear-Admiral of the White Robert Wauchope to be ear-Admiral of the Red ; Rerr-Admiral of the Blue Sir William Edward Parry to be Rear-Admiral of the White ; Captain Alexander Thomas Emeric Vidal to be Rear-Ad miral of the Blue ; Captain John George Graham, on the Retired List, has also been promoted to be Retired Rear- Admiral, on the terms proposed in the London Gazette of tat September, 1846, without increase of pay. COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORD LIEUTENANTS. County of Worcester—The Honourable Frederick Lygon to be Deputy Lieutenant, Jan. 24. County of Cornwall—The Honourable Edward John Cornwallis Eliot, commonly called Lord Eliot, to be Deputy Lieutenant, Jan. 24. Ist Cornwall Rifles—Second Lieutenant Ernest F. Peel, to be Lieutenant, vice Trick, promoted ; Richard H. S. Vyvyan, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant, vice Sole, resigned, Jan. 24. County of Gloucester—The Hon 'Wm. Middleton Noel to be Deputy Lieutenant, Jan. 26. BANKRUPTCY ANNULLED. David Farrar Bower, flax scutcher, Ra*cliffe, Yorkshire. BANKRUPTS. Henry Chancellor, tailor, Great Yarmouth, to surrender, F e b. 7, at eleven, and March 9, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street-build ings ; Storey, Southampton-buildings ; Chamberlin, Great Yarmouth. William Charlton, grocer, Basingstoke, Feb. 13, at one, and March 14, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Lee, official assignee, Moorgate-street ; Lamb, Brooks, Son, and Challis, Basingstoke ; Johnson, Weatherall, and Son, Inner Temple. Louisa Matilda Rachel Smith, dealer and chapman, Strand, Feb. 10, and March 17, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Canaan, official assignee, Aldermanbury ; Linklater, Size-lane. Francis Paxon, scrivener, Bloomsbury-square, Middle sex, Feb. 7, at one, and March 16, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall street ; Linklater, Sise-lane. Thomas Watts, cattle-dealer, Cassington, Feb. 10, at half-past twelve, and March 17, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall ,street ; Field, Smithfield. John Bennett, licensed victualler, Manchester, Feb. 10 and March 3, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Pott, official assignee, Manchester; Wilson, Manchester. Janes McColm, rope manufacturer, Manchester, Feb. 13 and March 8, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Fraser, official assignee, Manchester; Whitworth, Manchester. Henry Preston Goodwin, tallow and chandler, Solihull, Warwickshire, Feb. 13, and March 4, at ten, at the Dis trict Court of Bankruptcy. Bittleston, official assignee, Birmingham ; Thomas, Ely-place, Holborn; Hawkes, Cherry-street, Birmingham. John Pointon, inn-keeper, Monks, Coppenhall, Cheshire, Feb. 15 and March 6. at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Cazenove, official assignee, Liverpool ; Broughton, Nantwich. Joseph Vince, boot and shoe maker, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, Feb. 8, at two, and March 22, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee, Guild hall-chambers ; Andrew, Featherstone-buildings, Holborn, Chamberlain, Great Yarmouth. W.m Chesworth, merchant, Manchester, Feb. 16, and March 9. at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Pott, official assignee, Manchester ; Sale, Worthington, and Shipman, Manchaster. Henry Purcell, hosier and laceman, Dudley, Worcester shire, Feb. 11 and March 4, at ten, at the Birmingham District Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birming ham ; Coldicott and Canning, Dudley ; Hodgson, Bir mingham. Mier Levy, clothier and tailor, Little Alie-street, Good man's Fields, Feb. 8, at half-past twelve, and March 22, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official as signee, Guildhall-chambers; Linklater and Linklater, Sise lane. DECLARATION OF DIVIDENDS. Joseph Beaumont, formerly of 6, Lemon-street, White chapel, engineer, third dividend of 2s. 6d. in the pound, payable at 76A, Basinghall-street, on Thursday, February 2, and three following Thursdays. Michael Canfield, of Basinghall-street, City, woollen warehouseman, first dividend of 6d. in the pound, payable et 76A. Basinghall-street, on Thursday, February 2, and three following Thursdays. John Earp, of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, brewer, first dividend of ss. Oid. in the pound, payable at 7, Waterloo street., Birmingham, on any Thursday. Thomas Davies, of Aberavon, Glamorganshire, grocer, first dividend of 3s. 4d. in the pound, payable at 19, St. Augustine's-place, Bristol, on any Wednesday. Joseph Craven Reeves, of Long Ashton. Somersetshire, paint manufacturer, second dividend of 6d. in the pound (together with the former dividend of 6s. Bd., upon new proofs), payable at 19, St. Augustine's-place, Bristol, on any Wednesday. Thomas Townsend, of Bath, hat-manufacturer, first di vidend of 6d. in the pound, payable at 19, St. Augustus place, Bristol, on any - Wednesday. Edward Emerson and Barnabus Fenwick, of Stella, Durham, ironfounders, final dividend of is. 4d. in the pound, payable at 21, Royal.arcade, Newcastle-upon- Tyne, on any Saturday. Matthew Davison, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, draper, final dividend of 10. in the pound, payable at 21, Royal-arcade, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on any Saturday. • Andrew Hall, of South Shields, upholsterer, aldividend of ss. in the pound, payable at the County CoUrt-office, South Shields, on or after Thursday, February 9. ' Hugh Doherty, late of 9, Melina-place, St. George's fields, Southwark, Surrey, cornet on half-pay, in her Ma ' j esty's late 23d Regiment of Light Dragoons, a dividend of 20s. in the pound, payable at 5 , Portugal-street, Lin- coin's-street. - Morris Paddon, late of 237, Albany-road, Camberwell, Surrey, clerk in the General Post-office, a dividend of ss. 6d. in the pound, payable at 5, Portugal-street, Lincoln's inn. John Smith, of 230, High-street, Poplar, inspector of coal ships in the Port of London, a dividend of ss. 9d. in ' the pound, payable at 5, Portugal-street, Lincoln's-inn. Godfrey Fothergill, of 8, Northampton-place, Old Bent road, Surrey, clerk to a corn chandler, a dividend of 3s. 10d. in the pound, papable at 5, Portugal•street, Lincoln's inn. Edward Firth, late of Oldham, Lancashire, licensed victualler, a dividend of 4s. 3d. in the pound, payable at 5, Portugal-street, Lincoln's•inn. COUNTRY MARKET& LIVERPOOL-JAN. 31. At this day's market their was a fair attendance of the town and country trade. Wheat a slow sale at a decline of Gd per 701 b., and 2s per barrel and sack on the prices of this day week. Oats and oatmeal were quite neglected, and ld per 451 b. and Gd to is per load lower. Barley and beans must be quoted 2d per 601 b. and is per qr. lower, with little doing. Indian corn in limited request at 50s 6d to 51s Gd per qr. IPSWICH-JAN. 31. The market was cheaper to-clay for Wheat, and the sup ply middling ; but the condition was so bad that millers would not buy it without the millers submitted to a reduc tion of 2s and 3s per qr. Barley may be written AT having experienced a similar decline ; and the samples appeared to be shown about more than we have noticed for some time past. Beans and peas maintain high prices. PER QUARTER. PER QUARTER. Wheat, red (old) 78s to B!3s Barley, grinding ... 36s to 40s Ditto (new) Ditto, white (new) 86s to 885 Peas Ditto (old) ......... 00s to 00s Ditto (white) Barley, malting ... 40 s to 43s Flour, p er sack Avsiteoas FOR TUE WEEK ENDING JAN. 31, 1854. Wheat Barley Oats 32 25s 7 Beans 48s Od Peas ~ 49s 8d HULL —JAN. 31. A very moderate supply of wheat to-day from our far mers, who were unwilling sellers at any reduction. Info nor sorts 2s to 3s lower. In foreign no alteration. Bar ley remains more sluggish than was expected. Oats are held firmly for the late advance, and comparatively cheap. Beans and peas are quiet. Indian corn supports the late advance. Linseed without alteration, but cakes in more demand. Nothing doing in rapeseed or cakes. Bones are reported as sold at 1265. 8 s Wheat, English, red 84 to 48 Ditto white 9O to 92 Dantzic and Konigs berg Pomeranian and Ham - 4. d Peas, gray and black 50 to 52 Linseed, Black Sea 60 to 62 Ditto Petersburgh 4B to 58 Ditto Riga and Arch angel Ditto Konigsberg and Memel . burgh Danish, Holstein, and Friesland 75 to SO Russian and Odessa 70 to 75 Oats, English Ditto Danish Ditto Friesland Ditto Russian 26 to 28 Barley, malting Ditto grinding 36 to 40 Beans Ditto foreign Peas, white and. yel. 54 to 60 42 to 46 Per Ton. Mils. c. ,Hull 101 15s Od toool Os Ditto fine for. 91 So Od 101 51 Ditto inf. for Ol Os Od to 0101 Rapeseed OOl Os to 001 Om Rape cakes Tares, English oos to 000 Ditto foreign Guano 4l 108 81 to 12/ Os Bones l26s Od to Os Od Rye Meal .................. nose RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, JAN. 31. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market to-day has been dull and quiet. Prices at the opening were about per cent. under last night's quotations, closing without animation, and with a downward tendency. Caledonian, 25i ; Lanca shire and Yorkshire, 614 • London and North-Western, 100 3 / 4 ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 21a ; Midland, 601; North British, 7i ; South-Eastern and Dover, 171. ■ ~.'; "~ r ;' ,' ■