The Sun. — London, England, 1844-02-02 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 1. The doors of the House of Lords were opened at twelve o'clock for the admission of those who had tickets from the Lord Chamberlain. The body of the House seas soon after Wards filled by peeresses and other ladies having the privilege of the entrée, who occupied ail the back benches on both sides of the House. The Strangers' Gallery and the Gallery of the Members of the /louse of Commons were also occupied by ladies. Plumes were generally worn by the ladies, but there was not such a display of jewels as we have sometimes seen. The first Peer who entered the House was the Earl of Shaftes bury. His Lordship arrived shortly before one o'clock. The Noble Earl was almost immediately followed by the Duke of Wellington. His Grace, who was dressed in a Field Marshal's uniform, and wore the riband of the Garter, appeared in 'excellent health and spirits. Lord Chief Justice '1 indal, accompanied by Mr. Baron Parke, Mr. Baron Alderson, Mr. Baron Gurney, Mr. Justice Coleridge, Mr. Baron Rolfe, Mr. Justice Erskine, Mr. Justice Maule, Mr. Justice Wight man, and Mr. Justice Cresswell, took their seats shortly after one o'clock. The Bishop of London arrived imme diately after the Judges. The side galleries were principally occupied by ladies. In that to the right of the throne, how ever, there were several illustrious foreigners, amongst whom we observed the late Regent of Spain, General Esparte.o, who appeared to take a deep interest in the proceedings. Among the earliest arrival of Peers were the Duke of Buccleuch, Lord Abinger, Lord Campbell, and the Marquis of Clanricarde. His Excellency the Count St. Au!aire, the French Ambassa dor, arrived at half-past one ; he was followed by the Turkish Ambassador, the splendour of whose costume attracted very general attention. 'I he Austrisn Ambassador, the Prussian Ambassador, the Russian Ambassador, and the Ministers of the other Foreign Powers, shortly afterwards entered the House, and took their places udder the gallery on the right of the throne. The Lord Chancellor entered the House at twenty minutes before two. His Lordship looked well, and walked firmly. He seemed to have recovered completely from the effects of his recent indisposition. At a quarter before two o'clock his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge arrived. At two o'clock the firing of the Park guns, and the flourish of trumpets, announced the arrival of her Majesty, and five minutes afterwards the Royal procession entered the House in the usual order, preceded by the heralds in their tabards ; the Duke of Buccleuch bore the Crown, and the Duke of Wellington the Sword of State. Her Majesty, who leant upon the arm of Prince Albert, looked extremely well. Her Majesty's train was borne by the Duchess of Buccleuch, the Mistress of the Robes, assisted by other Ladies the Household. Her Majesty took her seat, on the throne. The Duke of Wellington, bearing the Sword of State, stood immediately on her Majesty's left hand. Prince Albert sat on her Majesty's left hand. His Royal Highness's chair was placed on the first step of the throne. Her Majesty having desired all present to be seated, directed the Usher of the Black Rod to summon the House of Commons to the Bar. The Speaker, attended by several Members of the !louse of Commons, shortly afterwards made his appearance, when her Majesty, in a clear and distinct tone of voice, read the speech, which was handed to her by the Lord Chancellor with the usual ceremonies, as foliows : Mv LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, It affords me great satisfaction again to meet you in Parliament, and to have the opportunity of profiting by your assistance and advice. • I entertain a confident hope that the general peace so necessary AC the happiness and prosperity of all nations will continue unin terrupted. My friendly relations with the King of the French, and the good understanding happily established between my Government and that of his Majesty, with the continued assurances of the peaceful and amicable dispositions of all Prances and States, con. firm me in this expectation. • I have directed that the Treaty, which I have concluded with the Emperor of China, shall be laid before you, and I rejoice to think that it will, in its results, prove highly advantageous to the trade of this country. Throughout the whole course of my negotiations with the Go. vernment of China, I have uniformly disclaimed the wish for any exclusive advantages. It has been my desire that equal favour should be shown to the induatry and commercial enterprise of all nations. The hostilities which took place during the past year in Sinde have led to the annexation of a considerable portion of that country to the British possessions in the East. In all the military operations, and especially in the battles of Meanee and Hyderabad, the constancy and valour of the troops, Native and European•and the skill and gallantry of their distin guished Commander, have been most conspicuous. I have directed that additional information explvatoty of the transactions in Sinde, shall be forthwith communicated to you. GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF CommoNs, The estimates for the ensuing year will be immediately laid be- Ibre you. They have been prepared with a strict regard to eco nomy, and at the same time with a due consideration of those exigencies of the public service which are connected with the maintenance of our Maritime strength, and the multiplied de mands on the Naval and Military establishments from the various parts of a widely extended Empire. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, I congratulate you on the improved condition of several im portant branches of the trade and manufactures of the country. I trust that the increased demand for labour has relieved in a corresponding degree many classes of my faithful subjects from sufitrings and privations, which at former periods I have had oc easlon to deplore. For several successive years the annual produce of the revenue fell short of the public expenditure. I confidently trust that in the present year the public income will be amply sufficient to defray the charges upon it. - 1. tWI assured that in considering all matters connected with the financial concerns of the country, you will bear in mind the evil consequences of accumulating debt during the time of peace, and that you will firmly resolve to uphold the publiC credit, the maintenance of which concerns equally the permanent interests and the honour and reputation of a great country. In the course of the present year the opportunity will occur of giving notice to the Bank of England on the subject of the Revision of its Charter. It may be advisable that during this session of Parliament, and previously to the arrival of the period assigned for the giving of such notice, the state of the law with regard to the privileges of the Bank of England, and to other banking establishments, should be brought tinder your consideration. At the close of the last session of Parliament 1 declared to you my firm determination to maintain inviolate the Legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland. I expressed at the same time my earnest desire to co.operate with Parliament in the adoption of all such measures as might tend to improve the social condition of Ireland, and to develope the natural resources of that part of the United Kingdom. lam resolved to act in strict conformity with this declaration. I forbear from observations on events in Ireland, in respect to which proceedings are pending before the proper legal tribunal. My attention has been directed to the state of the law and practice with regard to the occupation of land in Ireland. I have deemed it advisable to institute extensive local inquiries into a subject of so much importance, and have appointed a Commis. sion, with ample authority, to conduct the requisite investigation. I recommend to ylur early consideration the enactments at present in force in Ireland concerning the registration of voters for Members of Parliament. You will probably find that a revision of the ►aw of re gistration, taken in conjunction with other causes at present in operation, would produce a material diminution of the number of county voters, and that it may be advisable, on that account, to consider the state of the law, with a view to an ex tension of the county franchise in Ireland. I commit to your deliberate consideration the various important questions of public policy, which will necessarily come under your review, with full confidence in your loyalty and wisdom, and with an earnest prayer to Almighty God to direct and favour your efforts to promote the welfare of all classes of my people. At the conclusion of the speeeh, the Speaker and Members Of the House of Commons withdrew, and her Majesty and her suite left the House in the same order in which they had bad entered it. Their Lordship% then adjourned during pleasure. The interior of the House was fitted up in the same manner as it was at the time of the prorogation. Her Majesty's chair of state was raised upon a dais. On the right of her Majesty's chair was that of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and on the. left that of his Royal Highness Prince Albert. The dais and the steps leading to the throne were covered with a magnificent Turkey carpet. Their Lordships met again at a quarter to five. There was an unusually large attendance of Peers. The Duke of Wel lington, as usual, was early in his seat. Lord Melbourne en tered at a few minutes after five ; he appeared to be in excellent health. 'the Duke of Cambridge sat on the cross benches. The Earl of Glasgow, the Marquis of Winchester, and Lord Suffield. took the oaths and their seats. The Duke of WELLINGTON laid on the table a Bill for the 'Better Regulation of Vestries. THE ADDRESS. The LORD CHANCELLOR then read her Majesty's. speech, from the woolsack. It having b een a g ain read b y the Clerk, at the table, • Lord ELDON ruse to move the address to her Majesty. He said—Your Lordships have been so habitually accustomed to extend your indulgence to those who, on such an occasion as the present, rise to address you, that I feel it to be super fluous on my part to request from you that which you always so kindly grant without its being required. My Lords, while I sincerely condole with you on the prospect of your having to listen to me for a few minutes, I aisure you that it is with great gratification I am enabled to ri,e to move an address in reply to such a gracious speech as that which her Majesty has made to you. My Lords, it has peen the fortune of those who have preceded me in former years, to rely on your kindness while they held out to you prospects which they trusted would be realised ; they therefore could only speak in that mariner in which that person must do, who has to ask a favour of those whom he is addressing. My Lords, it is my better fortune, though by no merit of my own, that the address which I now lay before you is one containing nothing—at least scarcely anything—excepting matters of congratulation both for the Sovereign and the coun try—it is a peculiar piece of good fortune for those who were present on former occasions, to find that the prophecies which they then made have been so amply realised. From the high character of your Lordships' House, even if any of those are now present who formerly expressed opinions contrary to the success of those measures—or who ven opsed them, while they wereoing through the House — -even they will not now hesitate to join me in approving the prudence of the mea sores which they at the time doubted, and that we shall have the gratification of giving an unanimo us vote, compii in mentary every way, to the Sovereign who receives it, and as gratifyi ng t o th e na ti o n as it can be to her Majesty. There is indeed one exception among these sources of gratification which I hold in my hand. Your Lordships will all feel as sincerely as I do, that we are .only doing credit to her Majesty's feelings, when we say that this subject, though menti one d last in her Majesty's Speech, must be one of the foremo s t, as we ll as one o f the deepest,' in her mind. It is, my Lords, unquestionable person, that the subject of Ireland roust be, to an y whther connected by local interest with that country or not, a subject causing the most s.ncere and anxious feeling, and the wish that the troubled waters which have so long, caused . confusion in that country should if possibl e b e calmed. II our Lordships need not fear that in alluding to this subject I am going to trespass on the bounds so judiciously laid down by her Majesty ; or that I am going to make any obser vations on those circumstances which are now under the consi deration of the legal tribunals of that country; but there is another part of her Majesty's speech which bears on this subject. Her Majesty states that she has the greatest gratification in being able to persist in the same course she has hitherto done, because she feels it right, in endeavouring by every mode to secure that justice, and strict justice, shall be done to Ireland. Her Majesty promised in a previous declara tion, that she would take every step to secure the peace and the prosperity of the people the tat . cou.ntry, U inn sl to maintain, in full force, the Legislative which she found established. Her Majesty also directed every step to be taken under the present laws, administered by the present executive, for the preservation of order. Her Majesty had adhered to that declaration, and her promises had been amply redeemed, and those things which have been done contrary to law have been brought before the legal tribunals to be there decided. My Lords, I am well aware that the result of these trials is a -matter with which I have nothing at all to do. Whether these trials, or any others, may terminate in an acquittal, or in a conviction, I am sure your Lordships will concur with me in the opinion, that we should support her '_Majesty in carrying out her intentions, and that if the present law of the land is in adequate to preserve the peace of that country—perfect u now THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 2, 1844. into which a State might enter was of great importance to the creditor, but it was of still greater importance to the State itself, and he was delighted to think that in return for what they ha& received from America, this passage would cross the At lantic, and be wafted over the same waves to that country, in which it appeared that precisely the came views were not taken of that important duty.—( Laughter. ) As the advocate of American interests for the last 30 or 40 years—an advocacy which Ind exposed him to mite hostility than M. Guizot in pari materia had had to undergo—he hoped this friendly remonstrance would have some effect on his clients, as they used to be called. He declared it was far more with a view - to their character and credit, it was far more with a view to the character of republican institutions that he said this. It was more for their interests than far the debt owing by rich men to poor ones,for thatseemed to be the case; the repudiating States said in effect, we are rich, our coffers are loaded with money, yet we are determined not to pay our debts. It was for the sake of America herself that he said this, far more than for any party in England to whom the debt was owed, and with whom, indeed, he had no acquaintance, with one ex ception, and he was very well able to plead his own case.—(Great laughter.) He would relate to their Lordships an anecdote which would illustrate this better than a long speech. He was lately in the neigh bourhood of one of those great works carrying on in the centre of France—the railway that was to join Paris with Orleans. On asking who the workmen were, he was told they were EngliSh and Irish. He asked if they found the Englishmen sober? The reply was, not at all. He then asked how they found the Irish? They said they were excellent people when thee didn't fight. He said this was very painful, that he could never hear of Irishmen but that they were quarrelsome. nor of Englishmen but that they were drunkards. Alas 1 said his informant, I am from Philadelphia, and at present an American is ashamed to avow his country. He could hardly think of a circumstance better calculated to sink deep into the spirit of the Americans, and rouse them to a sense of their duty. They would then find that, even putting it on no higher ground than on that of interest on both sides of the Atlantic, honesty was the best policy. The Marquis of NORNIANBY said he thought the Noble Lord bad misunderstood him in what he had stated with re ference to the relation between landlord and tenant in Ireland. Lord BROUGHAM briefly explained, and The Marquis of CL A N RICARDE said he could not take so cheerful a view of the speech as the . Noble Lord who spoke last. But, unfortunately, it had been said, that the speech contained nothing but topics for congratulation. That was because the most important topic to be considered had been in the speech passed over with slight observation. He alluded to the state of Ireland. With respect to the affairs of Sinde the speech was also well and wisely worded, and called for no observation. It would be necessary to look - closer into the papers that had been furnished before coming to an opinion. He perfectly agreed that, with regard to the trials now pending in Ireland, it would be in a high degree improper for any direct opinion to be expre•sed with regard to them. But this he must say, that in the speeches made to-night, and the speech made from the Throne itself, the fault he had to find was this—that they looked at these trials as if they were the only or main points of what was, in general parlance, called the Irish question. The It ish question did not consist of a struggle between the Government and the Repeal Association—the question was, how to improve and develope the resources of the country, and how to bring it into that happy state, in which it was the duty of a Government to bring every portion of her Majesty's subjects. He told them, and it was his duty to tell them plainly, that Ireland had listened too long to such language to be satisfied now with such assurances. But that was, as their Lordships knew, most vague language. Could they expect in the pressnt state of Ireland, he did not mean in regard to any particular associations, but the state of Ireland in the large sense of the word—the condition of the people, the condition of the public mind,—dil they suppose by such phrases as these, he said, that they would really ame liorate the condition of the country ? The people of Ireland would naturally ask by what means were these resources to be developed? He (the Marquis of Clanricarde) had unfortu nately learned from the speech of her Majesty, and from the speech of the Noble Mover of the address, that the Government had not in contemplation any measure whatever for the good of Ireland during the present session. The only measure which had been alluded to was that of the electoral franchise. That was a grand subject, and one which required the greatest consideration, but it was a measure which related only to poli tical liberty, but had nothing whatever to do with developing the resources of Ireland, and the immediate condition of the country. Another measure had been likewise alluded to in the royal speech. He meatat the Landlord and Tenant Com mission. _ _ to investigate the question and to suggest remedies ; but he much regretted the extent of time, during which public expectation was to be kept in excitement. He thought that some declaration ought to be made as to the specific points to which the attention of the Commission was to be directed, Something ought to be done to counteract impressions which when once made it would be dangerous to disappoint.— (Hear.) He was sorry to feel himself obliged to say so much. But he thought that it was most desirable that something specific should be announced upon a subject respecting which there was so much misapprehension. He thought that in such a country as Ireland, where the means of information were much within the reach of the Government, no step ought to have been taken which could have a tendency to mislead the public mind. He had risen solely because he felt thet from the situation which he had occupied in Ireland he ought to state the grounds upon which he did not, on the present oc casion, enter fully into the case of that unhappy country. He trusted that whatever evil might flow from present proceedings in that—he would repeat—unhappy country,it was accompanied with this good—that it turned the attention of the people of England to the manner in which the sister kingdom had been governed—( Hear, hear)—for he believed that up to this time the people of England were more ignorant of the actual condition of Ireland than of that of any other country in the world.—(Hear, hear.) He believed that there was no man of any country whatever who visited Ireland, but returned with the most friendly feelings ; and he therefore thought that the ignorance of this country respect ing Ireland was the more unfortunate, as it served to keep up those distinctions which were the cause of all the discontent, to allay which every expedient had been tried, except to do justice. He might differ with the Noble Lord as to the terms. Every other means had been tried, except that of doing strict justice to Ireland ; hut he hoped those who had hitherto supported the Catholic claims would now join in removing any invidious distinction, religious or political, and endeavour to place the two countries on the same footing. He had a little departed from the strict line he had laid down to himself, of not giving any opinion or raising any question in connection with Ireland that might cause any difference, till the proper opportunity should occur. He should, therefore, say no more on this subject ; but being on his legs, he should merely say, as to the other points of the address, that he was never one of those who despaired of the resources of the country, though he thought that the Noble Earl had rather unfortunately alluded to one explana tion of the source of the present excess of revenue over ex penditure. He should not venture on another question which the Noble Lord had introduced, and which called a cheer from some of their Lordships, and which subject had been carefully excluded from the royal speech—he meant the question of corn. On that question he differed from the Noble Lord, and therefore he should not enter into any discussion of it then. The speech, in reference to the affairs of Sinde, had been so judiclously and carefully worded that they might concur in it without expressing any opinion. He should only state that he should join with great pleasure in any vote of thanks to the officers engaged in some of the most distin guished feats of arms that !rad been performed in that part of the world. He should do so with the more pleasure from his personal acquaintance with the Gallant Commander, and with Colonel Pennefather, of the 22d Regiment, who was, unfor tunately, disabled by a wound at an early period of these events, He could not but feel gratified at the reference which was made in the royal speech to the late visit of Majesty to the King of the French. He woald yield to no man in his firm belief and conviction, that upon the good understanding between Great Britain and France depended the future well being of the relations of the various European nations. It was unnecessary for him to trouble their Lordships further on that occasion, but in conclusion he would intimate that he should, probably cn the 13th instant, call the attention of their Lordshlps to the sub ject of the present state of Ireland. Lord BROUGHAM rose to express his great satisfaction at the fact, as the Noble Lord the mover of the address had correctly stated, of this being the first time within the experience of their Lordships, that they had been called upon to present in the language of truth to the House, an address which, from the beginning to the end, contained nothing but congratula tion. He never recollected an instance when the state of the country was such as to justify the Parliament in con gratulating the Sovereign on the fact, that no point of the political horizon was at all obscured. He rejoiced that the speech, and the consonant to the speech, the address, abstained from entering minutely into a discussion of the affairs of Ireland. However great might be his wish to discuss that subject, he was restrained by his sense of justice—by a sense of justice towards the Crown—the party prosecuting on the one hand, and his sense, above all, of justice towards the defendants, whom he was bound to pre sume, until a ver diet of their countrymen should have pronounced them guilty, were innocent of the charge laid to them, from entering into that discussion, without violating that necessary principle of justice, which militated against all discussion of the subject while legal proceedings were pending. Those proceed ings were inevitable—those .proceedings were taken in the dis charge of duty on the part of the Crown. He would not enter into the question of whether it might be necessary for the Govern ment to take further steps, seeing that he could only do so hypo thetically. But that Parliament would do its duty, should the law be found insufficient to support the Constitution as by law established, he had no doubt—if the Government should be found at any time not sufficiently armed with powers to discharge their highest, their first; their most sacred duty to preserve the peace of the realm, and to maintain the Constitution committed to their care. In such ease, Parliament would discharge that high trust faithfully, and under such cir cumstances they would never be found wanting. Although Parliament would not hesitate to arm the Government with any power for the maintenance of the law, yet he would much rather see the Government armed with power, not for the purpose of displaying mere force and strength towards the people of Ireland ; not with a view of coercing, compelling, constraining, and forcing, but with a power and disposition to better the condition of the people of Ireland—to improve them in all those things in which they might be required to be bet tered—to gain them over, rather than force them to submission —to show a parental and kindly feeling which a good and beneficent Government ought to be inspired with towards all its subjects, and perhaps most of all ought to be inspired towards that part of its subjects who were in a state of comparative ignorance and distress. This was the power he would wish to see them armed with, and he trusted it would be seen that they would show pre ference of attraction over compulsion, and of a desire to be parental to all its subjects, of being " To all their faults a little blind, And to their virtues ever kind," A NOBLE Loan—That is not the Corami , sion. The Marquis of CLANRICA RDE— Yes, that was the name which had been given to it in the public newspapers, and that was the name which its nature entitled it to. On that Com mission he held very strong opinions. He thought it was the most mischievous and pitiable contrivance that ever a per plexed Ministry had recourse to. His conviction was, that the Government had recourse to it as a mere clap-trap for de laying the.moment of difficulty, and to save them from looking in the face the real grievances with which the country was afflicted. The Commission had its origin in the agitation in this country and in Ireland regarding the ,fixity of tenure. Until that. phrase came into common use there was not a word about a Landlord and Tenant Com mission. He would like to know what good this com mission would effect. All the information regarding the ldws of landlord and tenant, and their operations, would be found in their statutes and in their blue books. There was an inquisitorial system practised by this Commission, which could not be too jealously watched, nor too strongly declaimed against. There were branch committees connected with this Commission, which instituted the most rigid inquires of the landholders, and if landlord or tenant refused to answer their queries, they were pointed out to their neighbours in a manner which, in the present state of some Irish districts, must be any thing but safe or proper. He thought the Irish landlords had been most unjustly consisted, and if inquiries were made into their conduct, they would not be found worse than any other class of persons, placed under the same circumstances. The misery of the people, which had been caused by centuries of misgovernment was most ungenerously and most unfairly thrown upon the landlords. It did not require the Queen a Commission to take away civil bill process, or to specify how distraint should be made. It was in this respect perfectly absurd, but it was dangerous, inasmuch as it seemed to in terfere with the right of property; and many districts, which had been peaceable before the Commission was issued, have since then been disturbed by outrages of the most serious de scription.—( Hear, hear.) It was not quite right that Par liament should be left ignorant upon these subjects. He by no means blamed the Government, although, in doing their best to put down outrage, they had not taken the course which he might have considered the most wise. There were great questions which the Government must take up, and if not Par liament must take up, or it could never receive the confidence or the affection of the Irish people. Earl FITZ WILLIANI said that he found a great s dis crepancy between the words use d in her Majesty's speech, in referen o e f e th to e t d b o e cu L m a e n n d t lo i r t d se a l n f d by Te wh na i n c t Co h Commission mision, and the was the lan guageap- pointed. He begged to ask the Noble Earl at the head of that Commission on which of the authorities he might rely for the objects of the inquiry ? The Earl of DEVON was understood to say that he did not perceive the discrepancy. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said that the very terms in which the Commission was issued showed that it was a con cession to agitation, made by those who p re te n d e d to d es pi se ag itation.—( Hear, hear. Lord CAMPBELL did not rise to disturb the unanimity with which the House seemed disposed to receive the address; although there were many topics to which he was inclined to advert in relation to the perilous state of the country at this moment. He would abstain at present frern observing upon the manner in which the State trials in Dublin were insti tuted and conducted, but he thought it was necessary to refer to the subject, and to intimate that he might think it his duty to call their Lordships attention to it at another time. He had also to advert to an omission from the speech, which was to him discouraging. On former occasion,, it was usual, in the speech from the Throne, when improvements of the law were contemplated, to state what those improvements were. Last session, a Bill was introduced for the improvement of the Ec clesiastical Courts, and another for the improvement of County Courts, and these were dropped. He supposed that if there bad been any intention to bring forward any of those measures they would be mentioned in the speech. However, the speech of 1842, and that of 1843, were full of promises which the session did not realise. It might be the reverse in the present session, which might be one of performance, although it corn • menced without promise.—( Laughter.) The Noble Earl who moved the address, had expressed a hope that something would be done to put down the mischievous practice of duelling. He (Lord Campbell) must infer from that remark, that the Noble Earl had received an intimation that the Government intended to bring in a Bill upon the subject after the conclusion of the State trials in Ireland.—( Laughter. ) The LORD CHANCELLOR said that it was his intention early in the present session to renew the Bill for the Improve ment of Ecclesiastical Courts, and a Bill for facilitating the re covery of small debts. A Bill would also be introduced for the compensation of those who had been affected by the alterations in the Court of Chancery, but he was not aware of any inten tion to introduce a tneasure relative to duelling. Lord BROC GUAM said that his Noble Friend seemed to be disappointed at the performances of the Government falling short of their promise, but he would find that in this session the performance would very greatly exceed their promises. Lord CAMPBELL—That may easily be—the promises are none.—( A laugh.) Lord BROUGHAM said nothing could be more gratifying. The address was then agreed to. On the motion of the Duke of WELLINGTON the Earl of Shaftesbury was reappointed Chairman of Committees. Their Lordships then Adjourned at Eight o'Clock. And placing their padlocks on the mind, and not on the limbs of its subjects. This, lie felt, was the course by which the peace and tranquillity of the empire would be secured, and by which all parties in the empire would be conciliated, notwith standing public meetings, however numerous, or the arts of men devoid of principle, or the sordid agitators, or the designs of priests, who were alternately the dupes, and the tools, and the tyrants, now of the multitude, then of the leaders. With respect to that Commission to which his Noble Friend had re ferred, he must express his satisfaction. It was presided over by a nobleman worthy of the office, but a most difficult investi gation had been entrusted to him. He ( Lord Brougham) did not think there was any foundation for a hope which a portion of his Noble Friend's speech was likely to create in the minds of the inhabitants of the:sister country with respect to the re sult of the Commission. Property, it had been well said by his lamented friend, Mr. Drummond, had its duties, as well as its its rights. But the duties were imperfect obligations ; the rights were perfect obligations. However he might la ment when he saw persons not disposed to perform those duties of imperfect obligation, namely, kindness, long suffering towards the poor tenants, yet any attempt to enf orce their right would only lead to worse evils. However much he might lament seeing a rich man refuse to assist a person lying before him in a state of starvation, yet he could not compel that man to do so. It would unhinge society—it would destroy the sacred, inviolable, and absolute right of property. He there fore could not see that much hope was to be derived in this respect from the Commission to which he had referred, unless means were adopted which would only lead to worse results. He could not pass over in silence that part of her Majesty's speech which referred to her friendly relations with foreign Powers. Her Majesty justly expressed her confidence in the continued friendly assurances of foreign Powers, and before all, on the friendly intercourse and good understanding between this Government and that of the French, and he would add, between the people of this country and those of France. On this subject he must be permitted to make a few observations, because to improve that precious understanding tended to promote the great and blessed work of peace. He would begin by expressing, what he was sure all who were acquainted with the late proceedings in France must feel, his great admiration of the able, the honest, the virtuous, and above all the unshrinkingly firm conduct of the French Minister, M. Guizot. He was a man illustrious in letters and science, as well as politics, and who appeared fated in every year that passed over his head to add new claims to the respect and affection of his fellow-men in France, in Europe, and in the rest of the world—whose conduct was above all praise, especially his unshrinking determination of pur pose when assailed by a more unnatural union of factions, or the elements of factions, than had existed since the enormity of the French Convention in 1794. Against them he had nevertheless maintained his ground, and manfully and h ones tly dared his enemies to attack him; but if he was to go a step further and ask if this great Minister was also a great friend to England, if he was to inquire whether they, as Englishmen, had any particular reason to commend him or be grateful to him, excepting as a friend of peace, he coulcinot extend his panygeric to him by any manner of means. When he said he was said to be an able Minister, firm of purpose, of unshrinking determination, faithful to the French Crown that he served and the French people whom he loved, there he agreed with him, but if he was asked to add that he was a Minister devoted to this country and adopting our wishes, there he must demur. He knew not the. negociations that had taken place between M: Guizot and his Noble Friend opposite ( Lord Aberdeen), but he could form a pretty good conjecture that his Noble Friend had never had to deal with ally one Minister, either of France or any other country, with whom he had more difficulty to deal, he being perfectly a good Frenchman, zealously attached to the Crown and people, whom lie served; but what should be said of those enemies of peace who were seeking to stir up in the proud, the gallant. but sus ceptible people of France, or he should rather say of Paris than of France, every slumbering ember of hatred to this country which they could hope to fan into a flame. That people had suffered tee much, and felt too deeply from the events of the late war not to be susceptible. In those events they had no share ; they were not to blame ; in them they had shown no weak ness but in which they were led on by a tyrant and a conqueror almost to their ruin, though under that man they performed all but miracles. That they should be susceptible beyond all people of ancient or modern times was not surprising, but what was the duty of honest men if they pretended to be leaders? What was the duty of honest statesmen if they thought of their country, of truth, and of humanity, rather than of their own factious purposes? It would be to guide this susceptible people to a better state of feeling—to soothe and calm those susceptible emotions, and to inculcate every principle of peace, and to turn them away from all those exaggerated feelings of hostility. What did they do ? they did none of all this ; they even did the reverse of all this ; they stirred up every sore place, and inflamed every slumbering ember of hostility towards this country. They degraded themselves by every species of mis representation, both as to this country and France ; and all this did not arise out of hatred to peace or dis like of England —not from any ardent feeling of affection towards France, but from contempt for the people who coull be duped by such falsehoods, and out of hatred to the Govern meotif n tu n hGoe t edf Great oiwots glory h l miyak i c ueyo l g t rosh t hf hey Fs—d. England,ro i a d af nn n ocd o e Opposition out u f uob o tts r ui mtti of fromo a anann p iaanerahat ardent nt c l sytth t a w at nnha a dnde s y n az: o ed t , aee lr f nor honesttou p m sdal ianls c col d o ievk n deea - ; — no ( t zealous desire to be transplanted from that shade to the sunny eminence of power.—( Laughter.) These were the motives of that detestable party of intriguers, still more despicable agi tators, who had lately, for the thousandth time, endeavoured to disturb the good understanding between the two countries. But they did net know the people of France. That people had far too much acuteness and too much reflection to be duped and misled—that people knew its own glory, and felt proud of its ancient renown—it remembered its great achienements in arts, sciences, and letters—it knew that for ages it had counted by i t s c triumph i s t s ar years y a s o f l,i existence asc i a y s i l a g n l a o t r i. y o t h eFr Satiated, en eh people for would not suffer themselves to be led in search of new laurels, which to them would be as useless as to his Noble Friend the Illustrioas Duke opposite. As he passed much of his time amongst that people, he thought it his duty to give their Lord ships the opinions he had gathered from the public newspapers. He would then refer to the paragraph in her Majesty's speech referring to the importance and necessity of maintaining the na tional credit—it was a mostjust sentence that was so introduced in the royal speech. An exact performance of all engagements jesty, praying that her Majesty would be graciously pleased to dismiss Mr. Bonham from the situation which he held in the Ordniace-office.— (Laughter. ) EDUCATION IN IRELAND. Mr. M. MILNE.S gave notice, that on the Bth of February he should submit a resolution to the House, to the effect that t is just and expedient that a provision should be made by law towards the maintenance of secular Roman Catholics exercis ing religious functions in Ireland. COMMERCE WITH TURKEY. Dr. BOWRING gave notice that he should, on the 13th of February, call the attention of the House to the operation of the Turkish treaty of commerce upon the commercial interests of this country. POOR-LAWS (IRELAND). Mr. F. FRENCH gave notice that, on this day fortnight, he should move for leave to bring in a Bill for the more effec tual relief of the destitute poor in Ireland. RAILWAI S. _ _ _ Sir T. FRENIANTLE, on the part of his Right Hon. Friend, Mr. Gladstone, gave notice of a motion for a Select Committee to inquire into the Standing Orders relating to Railway Bills. (Hear, hear. ) There were 3,000 more people Majesty's Plenipotentiary. By this treaty every nation we employed than as the e onsmencement of lel2. with a prospect admitted to trade with our recent possessions in China. He: of employment tor 1,000 more in three months. There thought this must praiseworthy, and an honour to the country.. were several large cotton-mills at work, and several had Ile Cdr. Hume) had propo.es t an amendment to cue of the •. been enlarged. The empty cottages were occui.ied, and par graphs of tee addlem, mbich w a e to this . effect-7 the shop; which lied been closed for. years were re- " That whilst we acquiesce with your 'dliiesty in . opinnine, and the appearance of the people indicated increased the commendations bestowed on the °Steers and . men employed comfort. They we. e bets er clothed and better fed. There in our late military operation tin' Stride, we with was also a great increase in Ilse aliment of m iney deposited in hold any expression of opinion respecting the.. • the savings' banks.lie knew whaS observati ons we r e Ire- political negotiations pending with, amd the o. de s th in ror e .enz „ quently made when an increase of deposits in the savings' ment and im risonment of, the l e t :veers f . _ banks was spoken of, hut when taken in connection with He found that b e f ore he came into the Hon se, a notice had other circumstances which showed improvement, this in- been given, by which the subject would be breught beforerotest the , n ie crease was not altogether without its value . With re g ard to House on an earl y da y . For his own part he p the dmol trade there were signs of improvement, though from against the whole proceedings that had been trisen against the dearness of the raw artime the improvement vas more tardy. that unforeinate country.-( Ideate hear.) He thought Eng- The wages of the labourers were also increased. There were land had diseraced itself in the eyes of the world by the pro-- also improvements in the trace in flax, which was so closely ceedings they had adopted in Sinde. The lion. Conk conneeted with the linen trade ; and he trusted that the linen man who had seconded the adodess had talked of thet trade would als., advance, as it was the principal trade of peaceful progress of commerce; he hope . .1 in doing so he did note the enterprising population of the north of Ireland. i n clude India, where by armies conquests' had been effected in. He hoped the House would agree with him in total violation of every engagement this countr y had made. the hope that Ireland, in developing her great and ferti le re- The Right Honourable Baronet ought to ;:ave come forward sources, aided by the application o f B r i t i s h s kill and enter- ! w ith further information on this subject at the' close of the last• prise, would not fail to recognise the benefits of her session ; and if he had done so, he would have eemoved a gr t eats connexion with England. - (Cheers.) The t r ad e in ! deal of the strife and bloodshed that had takt'n place in hat iron he was afraid to speak of too sanguinely. The 1 eountry s -( Hear, hear.) Now it might be cm miou! for the c ome- excessive excitement of past years had produced a House to know the statements that had been mare in King's sponding and protracted depression, but he believed tha t even ' and Queen's sp e e ches for the last twenty-five ear ; for that there he could say that there were symp•oms of se- 1 time, both in war and peace, the same statement was mete turning health.-( Odes of No, no.") He did not 1 with respect to the estimates. They were always told deny that the patient was sorely diseased , but he 1 that they had been framed with strict economy, regard thought that symptoms appeared of the crisis of the I being had to the public service. Now he thought disease having passed He hoped and con fid en tly an ticipated the House ought not to take such a statement: from that the iron trade wo uld s till con ti nue t o improve 1 a Minister of the Crown, unless they had a comtrol over He held in his h an d an intelligent and impel-taut the estimates, which they hail not. It was impossible for the report from his friend Mr. Austin, in which he found that 1 House, or any other person, to believe that they would have able-bodied paupers were no longer a b ur d e n on th e p oor .rates suitable estimates laid before them while these thing's core of the unions of South Staffordshire. The furnaces which tinned, and, for the purpose of obviating such a state of ti.Ni!mse as had been blown out had been rekindled, and a dditional la- he should move an amendment.-( Laughter. Y. He han banners had been employed. C ould the y hesitate to I doubt the adoption of such a course would n et le every draw favourable anticipations from the appearence of i , pleasurable to many, for they thought, i o , eg as they the iron market, when they remembe red the g reat number ! got money, or money's worth, it was 811 right. of new railways for which plans had been deposited; or could 1 If once the money left the Exchequer it flowed through so they hesitate to find consolation, when they remembered many rivulets that there was no knowing how many persona that at the commencement of the present century this I enjoyed a share of the public money. It was the me tat im country imported i r on f rom ~- w ed e ri, w hit e now we were portant duty of Parliament-it was the only duty that it'arlia sending iron ourselves to the Baltic ? The necessary , ment was capable of executing efficiently-(A laugh 1) -to consequence of prosperity in regard to the market for cotton ke e p a guard upon the public expenditure. With regard tother wool had been also felt by the manufacturers. He was not 1 estimates they ought to adopt. the plan which was at. (opted able to trace any portion of that impro vement to the Bill which lin France and Belgium. There every estim ate was. s passed that House in the last session of Parliament, but he 'Pitted to a Committee. The Committee had the head had reason to believe that although that Bill had created 1 of the department before them, and called upon l,im for considerable excitement and jealousy amongst the manufac- 1 any ex planations they might r equire These explanations turers of machinery in this country, yet that excitement and were laid before the Chambers before the estimates were ap jealousy had now been proved to be unnecessary. Could a 1 p rove d o f o r rejected In this country we had erred in not more decisive test o f th e i mproveme nt an d return t o health of adopting a similar course. die was pleased to observe from the the trade of the country be found than in the increasing traffic nex t paragraph that there was an improvement in several of in railways ? That increase had not been counted by hun- the branches of the revenue. He admitted that' there had been deeds of thousands but by millions of money. He, therefore, an improvement in some articles of commerce, but he fear ed. said that he had good reason for antici p atin g that evert the th a t th a t i m p ro vement was only p ar ti a l. He bei'ieved of China, small pulses of the trade of the country unsold be g in p ended u p on the o p enin g of the p ort s to increase in vigour. He wou ld take the liberty of ad on the im p rovement in the trade c f America, referring to one or two circulars which usually but he could not see any prospect of its continu tn ce. Bute appeared at this season o f th e year f rom persons i n trade to , whatever might be the improvement, it was impossild e to deny their practical customers, from awn who c ould not be for a 1 the existence of g reat distress. and destitution. Caa it of the moment suspected to have prepared those circulars for any I causes to which he attributed the evils of the country., was the , party or political purpose. When he looked at those circulars, want of the means for the p e ople t o exc h an ge the pr's ducts et he could fancy that he held in his hand a manua l of g eo g ra p h y . their industry for the means of support. In short. h e First and and foremost, he would refer to China. She had t ken buted those evils to our restrictive commercial policy. The a great-a vast quantity of the products of this come- Right Hon. Baronet had very acutely left out of the ..sP ec " try.-( Cries of " Hear, hear.") He (Mr. Cardwell) seas all allu-icn to the corn-laws. Now when the Right Hon. rejoiced at that part of her Majesty's speech which Baronet, in bringing tome and the tariff , had so ably an clearly s h o wed the great line of policy she had, and intended to , expounded the doctrines on which the commercial polio Hof this s ue towards China. 1-Li was sure that they would afford couiery ought to be conducted, he was either right or wrong' a glorious example to that country, and would show to all He (Mr. Hume) believed that he was right, but he ask ed the that the best source of wealth and competence was unlimited Right Hon. Baronet why had he stopped short? The con competition in commerce. The Noble Lord who had moved duct which the Right Hen Baronet was pursuing in t loin( the address had reierred to what had taken place in France. so was sure to give general dissatisfaction. He was to gl 1d t° lie trusted that the time was not fa r is tant when t he trade see opposite se v e r a l eentienien who had taken pant in a r gt' between that country and England would I.e such as to be in g got up to oppose the Anti-Corn-law League. They worthy of each other,-( Hear.) It was of the utmo s t import- not be igeorant ef the operations and influence of the Lea t eSise* ance that commercial interests between different countries They now admitted that the League was a great fact, end 04 should be fully considered, but it eas necessary that the home got up meetings to oppose it. The Right lion. Baronet b ad market sh .aid he considered.-( Hear, hear.) All practical admitted that the time might Cottle when the principles of the men pointed at that as the only s afeguard of the itish manu- League might be carried out ;he had never said that free trael l e facture:. It the statements the Noble Lord and himself had in core should never be granted. He had acted unwisely its mede of the revised of trade were the r ght ot-es, which he he- thus leaving the subject in doubt and difficulty. Those lute keyed to be the case, the House would excuse him if he now , rested in support of the law got up meetings -to oppose the turned to matters of congratulation in other respects. L••ague. One of them had been held at Steyning ;it had beets lie was well aware that in all Gevernmen•s there called a meeting of tenant-farmers. Among the names of would be a difference of opinion. The present Govern- this present he read those of the Earl of Egmont, the Eerier nient had, in the late outbreaks that had taken place, been , Winchilsea, the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Gage, Sir C l e able, by a temperate severity, to vindicate tne majesty of Clifford, Sir C. Burrell, Colonel Wyndham ; there wa's the law, and had ensured the good teeing of the people. a whole page filled with the names of Noble Lords and Hose The House would be glad to learn that a Bill which bad Members, and these were all tenant-farmers.-( A laugh.) Whys. passed last session with their unanimous concurrrence, and ! had there ever before been exhibited such a farce 9-( A laugh.) from which the most beneficial results had been antici- He accused them, at these tenant-farmer meetines, of abuse tits' pated, had already produced tne most gratifying results. That 1 most foul, and of language the most discreditable. • Now, t it was not the place in which to speak of individual munificence, I would venture to say, that in all the Anti-Corn-law meeting s of the sacrifices which had been made by those who were 1 that had been held in England and Scotland-and t possessed of patronage, but the House would be glad to learn . numerous they had been was known to all-( Hear, hear) that there were already 150 applications from dif - - no language to be compared for its v u l g arit y an'• ferent dist r i c t s before the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, , discreditableness to that employed at the tenant-farmers' assess)" and that in consequence of the Bill of last i blages had ever been uttered. But what he had to maintsie session, means would be afforded to half a million of 1 was that the Right Hon. Bart. at the head of the Governmeett persons, to enjoy religious advantages in connection was doing great injustice to these tenant-farmers in leavil with the Established Church. There was another subject on 1 them in• the state of uncertainty which he did, an which their deliberations in that House had been less 1 not telling them of his determination to prer sB I unanimous, but he was happy to say that the earnest a total repeal.-( Laughter.) Why he hoped he would do tbstdr anxiety which had been exhibited by the House to for, from a proposal or an advocacy of a fixed duty he ; h a : grapple with the subject of education had called forth I entirely precluded himself , as well by his votes as his speecne ' a spirit and excited an energy on the subject in the He thought all classes, but more especially the t ena nt-farener a d : • minds of the people at large. If they had not been had a right to complain of the Right Honourable 13aroe, : - a bl e to make united effor s thay had at least made simultaneous for riot mentioning the subject of the corn-laws in w " ee efforts for the dispelling of igeora nce ; and from the cat.did speech from the Throne. The question was, did the Ri p s ' spirit with which the subject had been discussed in that House, Hon. Gentleman mean to do something this session in refer' and which had, he hoped, excited a corresponding spirit out ence to the corn-law, or did he not?-( Hear, and a laugh`) of doors, he trusted that the result would be the establishment of a He (Mr. Hume) believed that he did not intend system of education which might meet with the cordial concur- to do anything this session, for in the year 1841 be rence and support of all moderate and reflecting men. had broug ht to book the Noble Lord near him (Lora He believed that the people were sincerely grateful to the John Russell) because he had not introduced into Oil Giver of all good for the return of that prosperity , the bless - speec h from the throne the sub j ect of the corn-laws, an ings of which they appreciated still more from the yet, at a subsequent period of that session, he had brought it recent experience which they had had of adversity ; under their consideration. He said, why not put that into the and they looked upon that prosperity as but a type of that to speech from the throne as the advice tendered by Ministers, which Britain was destined to attain hereafter. They looked to and then broach the subject afterwards? and from this he (Sir the extent of her resources; they counted up the armies Robert Peel) had volunteered the expression of his cenvice and the fleets of her commerce, which was bounded only by the 1 tion that the subject of the corn-laws was an after-though habitable globe, and they felt that this anticipation of fortune of the then Ministers, and resolved suddenly upon by them• and greater prosperity eas something more than the mere Though, then, the Right Hon. Baronet might have no intentio m dream of an enthusiast. A century had scarcely of interfering with the corn-law, still the country had a righ t elapsed since the empire of the East had been opened to them to expect him to say something in reference to them and to th; by the . genius of one of the Noble Lord's ancestors.-(Loud Ministerial intentions. What said the Duke of Richmond. cheers.) In the lifetime of their fathers their manufactures He said that they were entitled to know distinctly the iota were yet struggling in their infancy. When they considered tions of the Government-that it was their duty to a s !, these things, and reflected on the accelerated motion which not in the language of threat, or even of reproach, what W.: progressive improvements gave to the wheels of time, they could meant by them, and that they were entitled to tell the Ali°, l 4 not but feel assured that there was a high destiny in store for ters of the Crown that suspense was the worst of all evils, tu g this country, the extent of which the boldest could not ven- cruellest of all punishments, and that they required to nee tune to predict, and which yet those even now living whether the protection they Low enjoyed was to be eontinti, e t might reasonably expect to see accomplished. This was no idle or not. -( Hear, hear.) Now his (Mr. Hume's) comp 0° dream ; it was merely an anticipation of what they might expect against the speech from the throne was, that in it ba " to see realised from that union of energy and prudence which they notice whatever was taken of that important lee; believed to be the fortunate peculiarity of the national character. rest. This course of conduct on the part of t" t By the charter enjoyed by Britons it was their birthright not Government was mere to the detriment of the landed inter 4 to be denied any of the advantages to he derived from their than of any other. If the landed interest thought itself t h e own well-directed industry and prudent conduct, and th ese g r eat interest which it did - and that it was a gr eat interest."„ were not to be hazarded by crude and precipitate legislation. was ready enough to concede-then it had a very J,,t r They desired to be guarded by the recol l ection of ! ground of complaint indeed. He would refer to ot`';, past successes against any rash and hasty interferences with 1 meetings of tenant-farmers-the one at Northae t P„ ' T s ik o ther interests, whose sympathy it was wise for all should " The Anti-Corn-law League," said Sir C. KniehtleY, ) be cultivated. They knew that when trade had b een ! among them the whole refuse of mankind."-•( Caug ht but brought to a happy meturity, as in this country, that to create ' The lleuse might suppose that that included everynhierd - ' differences between different interests was indiscreet such was not the case. " This League, called the Anti-Ctirt' soeie t / in the rx•reme-that from that inauspicious hour the de c li ne l aw L eague , i s , I think, the most pestiferous g u of one would begin, and assuredly prove the Marie of all. Pru- ' since the Jacobin Club, in the days_ of the Fr e° dent men, such as these, weults. edit hazsrd, by talacious views 1 Revolution." - (Great laughter.) " object e SP. and speculative theories, their well, rounded prospects of section of those gentlemen is to overthrow the prese nt g prosperity and suer-es. Adulation had likened the mer- vernment." He denied it.-(Laughter.) He did not het?.nize chant of England no the Princes of Tyr e ; but he w is e ly t o the Anti. Corn-law League, but he repelled that ella- ibe rejected the comparison, for Tyre was a deserted place, mid with indignatioe. Of another section, the RadicalsL, lie he had learned that purely co mmerc i a l pl ac es, how e ver th e y object is to overthrow the Constitutioe." He gave t",: see may have risen for a time i n t o we a lth and renown, direct. to that. --( Laughter. ) lie was a Radical, he ha d h e have soon su k again into poverty and de'olation. The a Radical, and lie still avowed himself one ; se" re sd merchant here knew he never could be better declared that any man who stated what he had jus t be off than under the advaetages he derived from the British Con- was a caiumniatiation of himself, and of all with wh en ', ivs stitution ; he liked far better that confidence and certainty acted-(Hear, hear.) He went on to say, " I CO , "e itol which steadiness and sobriety attached to his pursuits, and there is about as much affection between the one P e ,,, r *Akees, which were the sure signs that his efforts would be matured the other, as there was between Jonathan Wild and Jae' e t s tee into the full fruits a a great and widely-spread pros- Ilene"- (Great laughter.) What was the affective that "'i r ons parity.-(Cheers.) He could not but return his thanks to between the Right lion. Baronet and many of thos e ire , the House for the indulgence he had experienced a'ter trey- whom he received support he would not then • inqu of passing at so great a length, although he had precludee himself Sir Charles then went on to accuse the- . Leag ue meor from many subjects, to which, fortunately, the Noble Lord, in ' issuing blasphemous publications, • and indecent publi ea g - n tie his openieg - speech. had so ably alluded. The Hon. Member 1 and scattering them all round the country. Now th e - t el" formally seconded the address, and resumed his seat amidst l League he Corn-law contained, believed, many of tha ethe r loud cheers. 1 who we r e more ca reful of public morals than almost a n y t eie The SPEAKER having read the address, • class in the country.-- , (Cries of Oh, 'oh.") He tho u s ; Kiley' Mr. HUME, wino commenced in a very low tone, a n d was 1 attempt was highly discreditable to Sir Charles K ra ' bee scarcely audible in the gallery, said he could not quite unit e an d th ose w i t h w h om h e was connected. - There w ere ilia with the Honourable Gentlemen who had just addr esse d meet i ngs at w hi c h t h e used, and the mode of s p ec els the House in the glowing terms in which they had spoken of of p ar ti cu l ar individuals, were equally unjustifiabl e ' to the the removal of distress from the country-(Hear, hear)--but thought suc h thi ngs were i n a grea t measure attributable e bee at the same time he must acknowledge, and he did situation in which theot carrying ßiht Honourableuthis own o Bat enet i n t i ee: so with great satisfaction, that they met at that placed hi mse lf, y n time under more favourable auspices as regarded tions. He was not ignorant; indeed, of th e the state of the population than they did in the last session ; culties of the Right Honourable Baronet's P ° '" it lie" and he thought there was also ground to hope for continued lie recollected a speech made in that House by the ( 1 1 1 be. improvement. He could not but think that the present mode Hon. Baronet opposite, in which he told the of proceeding with respect to the address was extremely objec- low that if he knew any measures which he believedbeotto tionable ; it was impossible under the present arrangement essential to the prosperity and welfare of the c ountr/ ' oa th that there could be due deliberation.-( Hear.) The speech bound, as a Minister of the Crown, having token an fore consisted of twenty-three distinct passages, every one promote the interests of the country ,to bring ce o •` ; of them containing matter of considerable importance ; such measures ; and if he abstained from d ° ' i e t t t and yet they were called upon, without having for fear of not carrying them, he ought not Noble Lor I be even a copy of that speech in their hands, which they ought to hold his situation a moment. Let the Right Hon• IMO" have had before they came to the House, to vote an answer to a now do what he asked the Noble Lord to do. If th e th e speech containing such various and complicated topics. He had on lion. Baronet believes that the principles of fr ee trade s arie-' former occasions protested against the present course of proceed- proper principles for a free country-and who can dot le ft lag. Mary years ago, attempts had been made to alter it. It why . not propose them ?-( Hear, hear.) But "" .11 0 C, could net be supposed, a hasty effusion like the address, drawn the country in a state of excitement-league i°Blesi up by two Hon. Members, who knew as little of the subject league-while the country was torn in p ieces. ou, as themselves, could be looked upon by her Majesty in any it was the duty of the Right Hon. Baront to sp e c w ha t other light than as a farce. Twenty-two years ago, an Hon. and let the Duke of Richmond and Sir H. Verney Baronet, who had lately departed this life, stood forwa r d, in he intended to do. Commercial restrictions were the to re conjunction with his associate in the representation of the distress of the country, and every person was . b w o o u t u b tt iots ese , Westminster, and submitted to the Howe a most lieve that distress by contributing toremove them e _ e'derigm ant reasonable alteration in the existing practice, namely, done last session, it was a mere blank. FauF ithe that four and twenty hours. should be given to con- creased throughout t the - county, which was p eider her Majesty's speech, in order that the answer • relief. A recoil took place, hecause it was impolsesithelewtehttige: to it might be entitled to due estimation. But now could go on as they had been going Thin they were called oe to deliberate after two h b T *address a lltio in ours. etter. he Hon. Seconder of the a case o f He had no doubt that some parts of her Majesty's speech some instances of this improvement. One was n u mber to might have given offence to individuals. He would not dwell which a reduction had been made in the 112 : 1 2 00 0 , i t s ere no"' to however, on that which was omitted in the speech. There was persons receiving relief in one union, from se t' D 'enro m e'e one paragraph in it which gave him great satisfaction, namely, 4,000. But was - it not the duty Of . a _ e u t ? o v r .l- 4,° Uv pet .; that whialmeferred to the ex stence of friendlyrelationsbetween to take care and provide the means of velloorkt.iinegr preg g ?s t t u bst this country and France. He was aware how beneficial peace Being of opinion that the corn-laws, and a was to the manufacturing and commercial prosperity of every laws, ought to be considered and amended, he regr,e t t tel bu t country, and he would be therefore prepared i to go even farther the speech contained no notice on the . sulelfercoo; sctibthe than the words of the address with regard to the connection he trusted they would have a declaration ee between the two countries. The policy of her Majesty's Go Right Honourable Baronet, which -would do as" ) s yer° vernment in brineing about a good understanding etween . all doubt. He was confident that the cor , e • - t i t: 5 10 1 0 1 France and Zngland, was - lie • •ely to be more con- injurious to all classes in the community, even to re it ducive than any other to the interests of the country. proprietors themselves ; and that they would become • thAt he sato ere The prosperity of the country was more likely to be promoted more injurious, and it was upon that account re l c • by an intimate union with France ' than any other, and while was the common object of all to remove them. T to n g e trolsl, both those countries remained united the peace of ' the world institutions for relieving the distress of the there we, would be secured, and all the advantages which ought to be headed by Bishops and Mi • - ter of the Crown; ;beslo e , there were g i s tre," expected from peace-diminution of taxation and reduction 'of even two rival institutions for this purpose; sh t he e expenditure-would follow. lie was sorry to say they unions in every parish ; notwithstanding la , ' plac jo g did not enjoy all the advantages which a closer commercial in- continued. An increase of treble had tak e w n i t btrw, tercourse would confer ; but he, however, repeated the the cotton, woollen, and hardware trades, but not _„,. coati; eistre" ijg expression of his satisfaction with that part of her this, and all their charitable institutions, the ~„, o f hu 5 to Majesty's speech which related to the amicable rela- nued, and they had daily reports of persons (IS h" s m it it ir ister tions subsisting between those countries.-( Hear.) they ought, therefore, to call on her Majesty ,on but Nothiegoef The seconder of the address had painted in glowing terms the co-operate with them in removing all restriction advantages which we may derive, and were already deriving, portat ions of food and every article of industryde countr y. ages , from our commercial negotiations with China. When the ;sight employment would afford substantial relief to ti' „Id low er r Honourable Baronet and gentlemen behind him considered • had been told that therepealofthecorn -laws w ere 1 °::, of the tariff the Chinese had lately imposed, they could He considered that impossible, because wag ea r ig,--(C ri e t not but feel ashamed of themselves for having allowed the England than in any country in the we cou ld t he n / r ice? Chinese so far to have out-stepped them in enlightened min- "Oh o h ") Yes, h e re p ea ted it--wh er e e s b e same d ons to ciples of commerce. By the Chinese tariff, every article of a shirt made for lid. and a knife and fork for, been soil, t _ gou r• food was admitted free of duty. Let the Right Hon. Baronet So great had been the distress, that many bo os i h ' ings ? and his colleagues follow that example. We had been called get a paltry sum of three halfpence for e' tw ,h a state of t_. mg ; barbarians by the Chinese, and he thought the Was it possible, he would ask, to conceive summ wereill i,iog term was not misapplied when the principles of The truth was, in the country eluPe us , we re se w mires our tariff were considered. He would take that opportunity of the poor-rates, which hail been re duce , ci , , ira to thise t d a g rig referring to cue subject. which he thought was highly credita- rapidly, and paupers were increasing : ,tic oi en c if bit Isle In he character of this cuunory and honor .1 le to the in- 'were failing, :17,1fi V NO , ? why • • nr ;i i irel• to divitlual in whom it had originated. lie aliuded to the work by which they could get wit doing supplemental treaty which had been concluded by her opinion the House of Commons Wos 'is my confidence and reliance upon the present laws in this country to maintain the public peace, and to protect the liberty of the subject—l would, under" present circum stances, feel no hesitation in supporting her Majesty's Ministers, or any Noble Lord, on either side of the House, in giving to her Majesty increased powers for the preservation of the peace and integrity of the empire. lam sure that every Member of your Lordships' House will concur in any measure which may be necessary for the happiness and prosperity of Ireland. Her Majesty has this day pointed out to us one or two of the subjects to which it is desirable that we should direct our attention. The registration of voters is one of which, I am sure, your Lordships acknowledge the import ance. Her Majesty has referred to that subject in her speech, and I trust that when it is brought forward your Lordships will give it every consideration, and do everything in your power to promote the happiness of that country. Her Majesty has also called our attention to the laws relating to landlord and tenant. On that subject, a Commission of Inquiry has been appointed, and your Lordships will agree with me, that the utmost reliance may be placed in the sagacity, justice, and ability of my Noble Friend at the head of the Commission, and of the gentlemen who are associated with him in the inquiry. 1 am sure they will spare no pains in thoroughly investigating the subject, and bringing before you all the information which it may be in their power to collect. Her Majesty has told us now, as on former occasions, that the most amicable relations continue to subsist between her Government and foreign nations. In her recent visits to the Sovereigns of neighbouring countries, she has had opportunities of confirming that friendship. It had been the source of great gratification to their Lordships to see two of the greatest warriors of this age con ferring happiness upon their country by social in tercourse ; and much greater was it now to see the Sovereigns of the countries meeting in the same manner, and with the same friendly feelings. But he was not, when he said this, at all throwing any other nation into the back ground. He had only to notice the French in a more more prominent point. Circumstances had thrown this great nation into a situation in which they had occasion to act upon nearly similar principles by which England was guided. The subject which her Majesty next mentioned was tne subject of our intercom se with China. The circumstances connected with the whole of the war, and the consequent negotiations in that country, could not fail to strike their Lordships as being most ad vantageous to this country. But the liberality of her Majesty was such, that she was anxious that other nations should also share in those advantages, and the conduct of this country in that instance, was marked by the most kindly feelings, even towards those nations who had acted in such a manner as to call for no forbearance on the part of this country. With re spect to that part of her Majesty's speech, in which she alludes to Sinde, he should abstain from saying more than that he was sure their Lordships must feel sincere gratification at the bravery and conduct of the military engaged in the operations there. He should not refer to the policy of that country, because he understood it was her Majesty's intention to older certain papers in connection with this subject to be laid before their Lordships. The subject of the estimates came more properly under the consideration of the House of Commons, and he should therefore only say that her Majesty had directed that the strictest economy should be observed under this head. But this expen diture, it should be remembered, must depend very much upon the state of the country ; and it had been necessary, during the last season, to keep a large force in Ireland, dering the disturbances and agitaton there. These dis turbances were most painful to contemplate, but he should read a letter from a young lady, the daughter of a clergyman in that country, descriptive of the state of the country. He felt bound to state that that letter was never intended to be read before their Lordships, when it was written. He would read in a few words the contents of a letter which was of a very different character from those usually quoted in that House. It was not written for the purpose of answering any questions which had been put in that House, in order to make up a case, but it was simply a narrative of dis • tress that cannot be pictured in words. The writer mentioned that in the part of the country in which he lived there was the most peaceful tranquillity, but that it was not the case in the neighbouring district, where many people nightly fortified tHeir houses in expectation of a nightly mas sacre. She stated that her father frequently received bless ings from the poor people in walking along the roads pro nounced in a very striking manner, and these too from persons with whom he was totally unacquainted, almost seeming as if they thought that something dreadful was about to happen to him, and that he needed those blessings. Such was the description of a clergyman among his own parishioners. It was not the actual evil of which he complained, but the apprehen sion that evils were about to ensue, from the alarming state of the country ; the real source of the misery was that he could not receive blessings from his own parish ioners, without an apprehension in the minds of himself and of his family being created that there was too much reason for those blessings, and for invoking Providence to protect them. He would now proceed to speak of the other subjects in her Majesty's speech. Her Majesty spoke of the improved state of trade, and of the manufacturing districts—that they were in a considerably better state than they had been some time ago. He felt the truth of these observations though there might be some few exceptions which be was un willing to notice specifically. Among the blessings for which they had reason to thank Providence, and which had been men tioned by her Majesty, was the improved condition of the people and the increased demand for labour : that was a cir cumstance which would give them the greatest possible satis faction. A great blessing had been conferred upon them by Pro vidence in the very favourable harvest of last year. There was another subject, which, though not distinctly mentioned in the speech, he would say a few words upon. Her Majesty had not alluded to the corn-laws, and it was not therefore neces sary for him to enter upon the question at any length, but he hoped and believed that the protection which the agriculturists now received would be long continued to them.—( Cheers and " Hear," from the Ministerial benches.) For several successive years the annual produce was falling short, and it was ex tremely gratifying to find that the prospects which had been held out by her Majesty's Ministers last year had been realised. Another very gratifying circumstance was, that the revenue had increased during the last quarter, and during the last year, and from this beneficial results might be hoped and expected. Among other sources which had added esonsiderably to the revenue was the income tax, whick had been :nost successful in operation. Their Lordships had great reason to feel that the country fully appre ciated the sacrifice which their Lordships had made in consent ing to this tax. Their Lordships had shown an interest in the welfare of the country, and a desire not to oppress the working classes, which must secure for them the gratitude and affection of the country. This tax had enabled the Government to go on without con tracting any further debts during peace—to make the necessary financial arrangements. The Bank Charter was then renewable, and their Lordships should devote as much of their attention as possible to those financial questions which had come more immediately under the attention of the House of Commons. Among the measures which were passed last year, and which may be considered as tending greatly to the happiness of this country were these measures connected with Church endowment, and other questions bearing on that subject. Her Majesty called upon their Lordships to unite with her in thank ing Divine Providence for the blessings which the Church had conferred upon the country. The Church had made all the exertions that it could have made, and it was gratifying to perceive that in those matters upon which the Legislature had interfered—that in terference had been eminently successful. Within the last few days it had come to his knowledge that a gen tleman from the North (Dr. Hook), the vicar of Leeds, who had been his own school-fellow, had done all he could to carry out, in the full spirit, every wish their Lordships could enter tain. He had given up one half of his income, and retired into a smaller house than he before occupied. He had engaged to do everything by which a district, so large as Leeds, might be formed into twenty or thirty different parishes. He proposed to make such exertions, that every poor man might have his pastor, atd every poor child his school—this was highly creditable in itself, and must draw down blessings on his head. There were other circumstances connected with national education which were highly gratifying. Within three months 114,0001. had been raised, a circumstance which spoke highly for the people of this country, and which must draw down the blessings of Providence. There was another subject which had not been mentioned in the speech from the throne, but which was of so important a nature that he was unwilling to pass it over. Their Lordships would recollect the dreadful occurrence which took place last year, of an officer, high in her Majesty's service, falling by the hand of his brother officer, who was nearly related to him. He feared there was little prospect of any measure being carried to prevent a recurrence of this evil. He perceived that the officer was obliged to leave her Majesty's service—or what was tanta mount to it. He was sure that if any measure could be brought into that House to prevent the recurrence of such a calamity as that which he had alluded to, it would be thankfully received by the country, and the service would not be deprived of many excellent officers. It was hardly possible to conceive anything more distressing than the condition of a man returning to his own home—to the sister of the woman whom he had made a widow. Eve,, if their Lordships would not pass any measure, the expression of their dissatisfacti on wou ld be very thankfully received by all classes. He should not trouble them with further observations, and would conclude by moving that an humb'e address be presented to her Majesty, in conformity with the address which had been read to their Lordships. Lord HILL felt great gratification in seconding the address. It must be very pleasing to their Lordships that her Majesty had received assurances of continued peace from foreign Powers. His Lordship then alluded to the state of 'lreland. He said he hoped the landed proprietors of that country would assist the Government, in probing to the bottom the hidden grievances which now afflict it. After a few further observations, his Lordship concluded by expressing his sincere hope that the union between the two countries might be preserved inviolate —that the Protestant institutions might be strengthened in Ireland, to restore tranquillity. Lord NORNIANBY said that the Noble Mover of the ad dress had not confined himself to the mention of Ireland which had been made in the speech from the throne, but had ex pressed himself with what he feared must be termed an indis cretion in reference to the present trials going on in that country. As he ( Lord Normanby) was of opinion that it was the wisest, most becoming, and most dignified course to preserve silence on the subject, he would not at tempt to follow the Noble Earl, although he felt the deepest interest in the condition of the people of Ireland. His former connexion with that country had endeared them to him as warmly as if the accident of birth had strengthened the ties of affection which bound them to him. [The Noble Marquis then ma le some allusion to the conduct of the Noble Earl's grandfather, in respect to the claims of the Roman Catholics, which was not distinctly heard in the gal lery, but excited considerable laughter in the House. ]—He was happy to say that although he differed from no man more in his political opinions than from the great-grandfather of the Noble Earl—(Laughter)—he begged pardon, the grandfather— in whom the Noble Duke opposite had found so in convenient an ally in the campaign of emancipa tion—( Loud cheers)—yet there was no person from whom he had experienced greater respect, or inva riably grea'er personal kindness.—(Hear, hear.) There were some topics connected with Ireland, upon which the speech did not touch, and upon which he did not intend to detain their Lordships, although he should have wished that they hail not been altogether omitted. There was one subject, however, which was referred to rather more freely than usual in a speech from the throne, he meant the registra tion of voters, which was mentioned in connexion with its effect upon the limitation of the franchise. If the Government brought forward in relation to that subject the measures which the exigencies of the case, and the circumstances of the country, required, no one would more cordially I support such measures than he. There was an other subject on which he wished to say one word, and which he still felt considerable difficulty in approach ing. It was the appointment of the Commission to inquire into the laws relating to landlord and tenant. There was no one who attended to the proceedings of that House but would ad mit that he (the Marquis of Normanby) took no light view of the subject of that inquiry, and that he was the person who wrote a letter to the magistrates of Tipperary, in which more than one of their Lordships had charged him with taking erroneous views: • Yet the opinions which he expressed in that letter were echoed in the last session of Parliament by the highest member of her Majesty's Government. He would, however, have much preferred that the Government had in formed itself upon the points in which it was necessary to alter the relation of landlord and tenant, and had then brought in a Bill to effect a specific remedy. The speech told them that the Commission had full authority HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 1. -- - The SPEAKER entered the House at a quarter l afore Two o'Clock, at which time about two hundred Members were present. Shortly after two, Sir Augustus Clifford, the Usher of the Black Rod, summoned the Members to the bar of the House of Lords, by command of her Majesty. The Speaker, accompanied by the greater part of those pre sent, then left the House, and returned after an absence of about 20 minutes. • The House then adjourned to a Quarter before Four o'Clock. Four o'Clock. The House resumed at a Quarter before NEW MEMBERS. The following gentlemen took the oaths and their seats as new Members : H. Warburton, for Kendal ; Campbell, for Salisbury ; James Pattison, for the City of London ; Dun can M'Neil, for Argyllshire ; P. Butler, for Kilkenny. THANKS OF THE HOUSE. The SPEAKER informed the House that he had received letters of acknowledgment of the thanks of the House voted to the officers and army engaged in the war in China. The letters were from Major- General Parker and Sir Hugh Gough, and were respectively dated from Flung-Kong. ELECTION PETITION. The SPEAKER informed the House that the sureties given for the prosecution of the petition against the return for the borough of Athlone, ware approved of. NEW WRITS. On the motion of Sir T. FREMANTLE, new writs were ordered for North Wiltshire. in the room of Sir Francis Bur dett, Bart., deceased ; and for the borough of Devizes, in the room of G. H. Sotherton, Esq., deceased. NOTICES OF MOTION.—SINDE. Lord ASHLEY gave notice that on the 7th of February, he would move that an humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying that her Majesty would be graciously pleased to take into her consideration the situation and treatment of the Ameers of Sinde, and directing their immediate restora tion to liberty and the enjoyment of their estates ; also a notice of motion for the 15th of February, for the appointment of a Select Committee to consider the state of medical relief afforded to the sick poor. STATE OF IRELAND. Lord JOHN RUSSELL gave notice that he would move, on the 13th of February, that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House to consider the state of Ireland. —(Cheers.) PRISON DISCIPLINE. Mr. LINDSAY (on behalf of the Hon. Member for Lea mington) gave notice that, on the 15th of February, he would move for a Select Committee to consider the Report of the Inspectors of Prison Discipline, the evils of a uniform system of punishment, and the adoption of such amendments as might be deemed advisable. ORDNANCE OFFICE.-7411 BONHAM. Mr. DIVE FT gave notice that on the titn . of February he would move, that an humble address be presented to her Ala- FACTORY ACT. The RICHT HoN. AiiMBER gave notice, on the part of the Home Secretary, of his intention to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Factory Act. SINDE. The RIGHT HON. MEstezn also gave notice that, on the 12th February, his Right Hon. Friend, Sir IL Peel would move that the thanks of the House be given to Sir Charles Napier, the officers, and men engaged in the late military ope rations in Sinde. PETITIONS. Mr. WALLACE gave notice of his intention to move that the practice of that House respecting the petitions of the people, he altered, so that petitions complaining of grievances may be discussed as formerly, upon presentation, ant that the order restricting such discussion be rescinded. SINDE. Mr. ROEBUCK gave notice that on Tuesday, the 13th Feb. inst., he would move fur a Select Committee to inquire into the circuun.tances out of which arose the aggressive war in Sincle, with a view, as we understand, of taking further msasures to check the grasping policy which placed the armies of Great Britain in such a disgraceful position. Mr. W. WILLIAMS gave notice that on an early day he would move a resolulion to the effect that no public business should be commenced after midnight. The Hon. Member gave notice also of several motions relating to the Bank of England, the precise terms of which were not heard in the gallery. THE ADDRESS. The SPEAKER said he bad to inform the House that the House of Commons had been to the House of Lords, when her Majesty was graciously pleased to deliver the following speech from the Throne— [ See our Lord's report.] Lord CLIVE, in rising to move the address to her Majesty, said, as the topics involved in her Majesty's speech were, in many respects, of great importance, he trusted the House would excuse him, under the circumstances. In the first place, he rejoiced that her Majesty had been gra ciously pleased to refer, in such satisfactory terms, to the relations of this country with Foreign Powers, and their continued assurance of their wishes for the continuance of peace. The maintainanre of peace throughout Europe was of such paramount importance and necessity to the prosperity of the country, that unless they could look forward to it with certainty, they could have no security for the ultimate welfare of the country. Amongst the magnitude and variety of the topics to which her Majesty had directed the attention of Parliament, there was one which was most to be desired and that was the gratifying declaration of the prospects of continued it ace remaining unelouded—( Hea , hear ) the more so when to this was added a similar declaration with respect to France, as it was essential to the interests of those two great and powerful countries that t rey should go hand in hand in the peaceful career of national intercourse.—( Cheers.) l'he situation of those countries was so similar, that any injury in flicted upon the one, would affect the other. But he could conceive no assurance so strong ae that conveyed by her Majesty's vise to France, and the cordial reception she there received, of the friendly feeling existing between the two nations. Although future historians might not record so gorgeous an array as in the last instance when a chivalrous Sovereign of this country visited than country in former days, yet neither in the present instance could any manif .ration of ill-feeling or rivalry be re corded. The visit of Queen Victoria to France would be handed down to posterity as an assurance of international peace and amity between the two countries.—( Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) The peace with China remained unbroken, and the negotiations which followed the termination of the war in that country had been brought to a successful termina tion. In consequence of that the commercial intercourse would increase between this country and that great empire.—( Hear, hear.) While this event offered great benefit to this country, it was not to be forgotten that it freed this country from great and expensive wars and negotiations. He thought that the House and the country were greatly indebted to Sir H. Put finger. It was no difficult task to obtain such an end with a Power that held itself aloof from all foreign Powers. Sir H. Pottinger had been the means of opening the commerce of that extensive country not only to England but teethe whole of Europe—( Hear, hear)—and he had shown ,consummate skill in establishing a most intimate acquaintance with the character and inhabitants of China. If they turned to their Indian empire, the results had been most satisfactory, and her Majesty had informed them that the results of the operation of her armies there had led to the annexation of Sinde to the British possessions in the east. Her Majesty had also stated that she had directed additional information, explanatory of the tran sactions in Sinde, to be forthwith communicated to the House. He could not refrain from expressing his great gratification at the gallantry of Sir Charles Napier and the men under his command, nor could he restrain his praise from the sepoys or native troops, who had shown themselves worthy of standing by English soldiers.—( Hear, hear.) If they looked to their domestic affairs, they were matter of great congratulation. He rejoiced at the improvement that had taken place in trade, and he was glad that, owing to the improvements that had taken place in trade, much of the misery and distress that existed last winter had been removed. It was also satisfactory to know that improvement in the con dition of the people had been attended with an increase in the revenue. —(Cheers.) Ile rejoiced to be - able to state that that increase afforded a certainty that the revenue for the present year would be more than suf ficient to meet the expenditure, and that there would consequently be a surplus, which might be applied to the reduction of the national debt.—( Hear, hear.) Thus that insprovement which her Majesty had stated at the commencement of the last session she confidently expected would take place in the revenue, had actually taken place ; so that that revenue was now found fully adequate to meet the exigencies of the public service. —(Hear.) Passing over the financial topics to which her Majesty had directed their attention, and which, owing to their own importance, would, of themselves, sufficiently attract the attentions of the House, he felt assured that all would cordially concur with him in expressing a wish for the welfare of her Majesty's Irish subjects, to which her Majesty had assured them that she had directed her most anxious attention. He was sure that the House would concur• with him in expressing to her Majesty the anxous desire of Parliament to do everything in their power to ensure the improvement and the development of the resources of that country. —( Loud cheers.) Under ordinary circumstances, and on ordinary occasions, in moving an address to her Majesty, he should have felt anxious to avoid all topics which might tend to create a differ ence of opinion, and on the present occasion he wished, more especially, to guard himself against alluding to those subjects which were under the consideration of the courts of justice ie that country. He would, therefore, content himself with moving that they should uniteto thank her Majesty for having especially directed their attention to the improvement of the condition of Ireland.—( Hear, hear.) He was happy to say that the reception which had been experienced by her Majesty's Commissioners in Ireland appointed to consider the subject of the occupation of land had been most gratifying, and afforded every hope that the labours of that Commission would be attended with the most beneficial results. That Commission had investi gated all matters affecting local interests, and had derived every possible advantage and assistauce from parties re siding in Ireland—persons of all parties and of every shade of political opinion, had come forward to give evidence, and to assist the Commissioners with local information without which it would be impossible that their labours could be attended with success.—(Cheers.) Having touChed Upon the principal topics to which her Majesty bad directed their consi deration, he would not detain them longer, but would content himself with thanking the House for the kind attention with which they had heard him —( Cheers)—and with expressing a fervent hope, that in addressing them selves to the subjects laid before them by her Majesty, the issue of their councils might tend to promote the prosperity of all classes of her Majesty's subjects.—(Cheers.) The Noble Lord concluded by moving the address, which was, as usual, an echo of the speech. Mr. CARDWELL said, in rising to second the able address which the Noble Lord had submitted to the House, he must throw himself on the never-failing indulgence extended to Members in his situation, before venturing to touch upon the topics contained in her Majesty's most gracious speech from the throne.—(Hear, hear.) He should not tres pass on the time of the House, by following the Noble Lord ever all the topics in the speech, for they had been handled by him with the ability due to matters of historical association and national interest. He regarded with peculiar satisfaction . . . and pride all the observations which had falle❑ from the Noble Lord, intending to congratulate the Crown on the renewed encouragement given to commercial enter prise and manufacturing industry and prosperity, stimu lating and encouraging the energies and the comforts of the masses of the population, and assured in its permanency, as it was by an exchequer more than fully ade quate to the necessities of the nation.—( Cheers.) His con nexion with the north of England permitted him to form acquaintance in person with this subject, and to speak with a peculiarly strong feeling in regard to it. He need not desire the House to revert to those tales of sorrow and distress which last year had been too familiar to all. His heart must have been insensible, indeed, that could have contemplated them without the most poignant feelings, and which might have led them to despair, if English men knew such a word. Now a renewed demand and renewed confidence were spreading comfort around, for they could not look to the returns in the customs, and the large imports, without feeling that a corresponding amount of British goods found their way in return to other countries. He would not prosecute this subject further, but simply say, that every thing tended to show the symptoms of returning health. If they turned to the cotton trade they would find that the stimulus which began with the low prices of last year had steadily maintained itself, that notwithstanding some in crease in the price of the raw material, and some groundless alarm with regard to the future, the demand had been brisk and continued brisk, the stocks were low, and all the indications of healthy trade presented themselves. He had no intention of trespassing upon the time and indulgence of the House by reading to them detailed statements, because he felt that the present was not the time or the occasion to present state ments which from their nature challenged dispute, and because he felt that unless he could establish a case upon bread grounds which commended themselves to the judgment of Hon. Members on both sides of the House, con versant with the subject, he had no case at all to substantiate. The House would, however, allow him to refer, in detail, to two particular subjects which la ad frequently engaged their attention. He held in his hand a paper emanating from the guardians of a poor-law union. It stated that there had been a great improvement in the condition of the lower orders since 1841 ; that on a comparison of the Michaelmas quarter now last past with the previous quarter, it had been found that the number of applications for relief had been diminished from 12,600 to 5,000, and the amount ex pended from 4,0001. to 2,800/. Besides this upwards of 10,000/. had been received from the manufacturers' re lief fund. There had been a great improvement in the cot ton trade, and consequently in all the businesses which were dependent upon it. Thiec new mills were on the point of being erected ; several lately unoccupied mills were now let, and a corn-mill and a woollen-mill were being fitted up for cotton manufactories. Everything wore an im proved aspect.—( Cheers. ) He thought it must he agreeable to the feelings of the House to learn, that improvement had also taken place among the hand-loom weavers.—( Hear, hear.) He would also refer to a letter which he had received as to the state of Stockport. The poor-rates last year were 4s. in the pound. in the pre ceding year they were (' In he workhouse there wet e not halt the number of ihni4Les there w era in the preceding year, and there was not a single able-bodied pauper there.— It►