The Sun. — London, England, 1850-02-01 00:00:00

avienibtr for Buckinghamshire said that though e e hod` land, aed 42 in Wales, on the Ist January, 1849, question as irrevocably fixed. Theeir sera cutlegisle ,tion for the 3 et th e p,,,, 5 a great amount e f goods from this country, 987,164 persons; and on the let January, 1850, the last 20 ea ars was exreriu eatal. Ifs sus not ,soto be re ' fitted . had fallen so much that we had seen- number relieved was 923,167, being a diminution of gar& d because it had the deliberate ear' 'Jtion ( f ,. bo . th lust a vast amount of Bt .t sh industry by t.e 63,997 persons, or 6 4.10 per cent. The number of Houses of Parliamen'. Tt e Mernhes fer•th e West . holing h ir c p a r r i: -_' c . which hid arisen from the f• e '-trade able-bodied persons relieved in 590 unions in England ' state I, in a spi esh i f his, that the may Sri tY- ist wh th i e r l s l '!Ple. li . 'odd in his hand •' Burn's Circular," and Wales on the Ist January, 1849, was 201,644; and tied the repeal of the corn-laws, voted eget, inoltlveirnhigg that t h e pr i ce of cotton goods exported was on the Ist Jaluary, 1830, the number was 170,562, being 1 v a t e conv i c ti ons . I n th a t sen ti n . ea t h e e ail sly concur than the average prices which ru l e d i n 1848 an d a diminution of 31,142 persons, or 15 4-10 per cent, 1 red. It was well known that ;the deciei. in 1 gas against 1859 . The price of every article of export was higher The statements he had made showed a diminution on the opinions of the majority cf tie coast ituen cies, t Who, ta tiliadti in 1848, Consequently there were i ncrease d p r i ce the expenditure of the poor-rate, in the number of poor 'ii was well known had returned Member s4O tba House, yurti ety. His Bon Friend who bad moved the relieved, and also in the number of able-bodied persons he would not say pleds eI, but certainl:T with at .' under- Address, and his Hon. Friend who had seconded the receiving I el, f —(Hear.) H e would now state the total , standing that they would support protect ion. motion, ha d gore into the question i f f ree t ra d e a nd the number e f paupers relieved on the Ist January, 1850, as Mr. G. BERKELEY move d th e sad:dournment e f the repeal o f t h e navigation-lawe. Then again "it as antic"- compared with the number relieved on the Ist Jennary , debate; but, finding that there was ss. general deeire Pined tee • by ......se who were iLt2rested in this branch • of 1849. In fourteen counties there had been an incr. ate that the discussion should go on, Wind •ew his motion, , productive industry, th•it the repeal of the navigation- but there had he-n a decrease in twenty-e . nht- [The •cand Proceeded to address the House. F.e. regretted that Ins would utterly dest - oy our ship ing and our trade; Right Hon. Gentleman here read the names ( f the re- - one gr.( at. portion of the British empire hi td been Vitally a nd next, that no foreign countries would meet us in a ale - give couutiee, and the p ro p or te ena l i ncrease or de- ,1. ft out if consideratior, just as if the col cities of Greet spirit .e of reciprocity. He put it to HOD. Gentlemen crease.] These twenty 'eight counties ineludel a ma- : Britain were no longer of importance to • :he State. A ,w,b e It .r tl.e,e predictions La i not been falsified. With jority of the agricultural counties. The state a the 1 Right Hon. Gentleman, indeed, who ha d once held a 1 2 1 ixeeption of one port alone, that of King's Lynn, case with respect to able-bodied paupers was all more I conspicuous place on the Treasury bench, had said, in a .where there had been a diminution of this trade, in all important, for there were only seven counties in which speech he made at Manchester, that it would le a bless -I°)tehil l'. ship-building ports he believed that the ship • an increase had taken place, while there had been adi - ing to this country if the colonies of this mighty empire Tlie ( 1"g trade was equal to what it had been previously, crease in no less arta 35 counties. There certainly was were swamped.—(Hear andH (Mr. Ber eloy) read thar. re itateunt of shipping in the ports which e ere th .an increase i n some of theeagriculturalecountieps, agricultural counties, but it statement with suprise; it was wi :h astonishment tgiuntidt, emporiums of that branch of teaie—namely, was more than compensated by the decrease in others.— he found t h e lion. Member for the W est Biding (Mr. . rlasa, Liverpool, and in the ports on the and Clyde (Hear.) In the agricultural counties in the south there Cobden)—that disciple of pane—pre aching to the worthy Sectlend—the work doing was far greater than was a diminution of able-bodied relief in every ea s e, people in (if words could be understood ) absolutely the it hadin been for many years; and a fact which was The total diminution of relief of that description in Eng - words of revolution — (Cheers from the Opposition • h ttn of ,attention was that they w e r e no w building land and Wal es wa s 15 4-10 per cent ,—( Hear .) Now benches.) Having turned his clot - pence, his "unadorned e "1. elms t f ships, calculated f u r th e t ong he would ask lion. Gentlemen whether agricultural eloquence," to almost the abolition of a standing army .oy eee re it ei • ' 1 * Honourable Gentlemen would r e coll ec t th a t labourers h a d mot eerivud equal benefit with other person s and navy, he could, when it suit e d his purpose, preach be . its predicted the lon g vo y age was w h ere we were to f rom t h e cheapness ef food?—(Hear.) The best pod - up disaffection and war.—(Renewed eh cers from the Oe whicieu e d• There were two other r emar k a bl e f acts sible t e st of the ameliora , ion of the co n diti o n o f th e l a - position bench es ,) He talked of the dead body of pro were i ndisputable—first, that parties who has! bourers , was the diminution in the nunite- of persons faction being dug up and galvanized. 'The fact was tint gene i fro h . they' In this country to the Baltic t o asc e rt a i n whether relieved .—( Hear , hear.) On this state of facts, he con- the country, which had caused it to Lie exhumed, as he could build ships cheaper there than in England, tended be was justified in coming to the conclusion that termed it, pronounced it to have been foully and most tie came. hick with ' eh: the conviction that they could build the ch e apn e ss o f f c od had proved a signal benefit, and constitutionally murdered.—(Laughter.) It was said Cl i 'de °caper hire th an th e r e; and next, that on the en that groun d a l one he was prepared t i say it was this was a question of rent; in his own country the far- A ) . 'they were building ships fir foreign countries , not expedient or wise to reconsider the recent legislative mer could not farm profitably now if they paid no rent. An ,Ttirnivion had been made that foreign countries enactments. His lion. Friend had alluded to the num- (" Hear, hear,"from the Opposition.) It st . -as very well fur 0 7 r ula relax greatly their laws which militated against ber of persons receiving relief in Ireland. The num- the Manchester school to attempt to rai se an ill-feeling t. esa " nnn erce- Next, as to th e a d m t t t e d s t ate of din- ber receiving in-door relief on the 30th December, between landlord and tenant; it was jitst as they did amongst the agriculturists of the country. The 1848, was 192,009, and in December, 1849, the upon the game-law question.—(A laugh.) The mover Wtphieostdiotn betwi en the advocates of free trade and those number was 194,323, showing a slight increase. But ot the Address had alluded to a tenant in .bia (Mr. Ber show +mended protection was only one of degree. He the number receiving out-door relief at the same pe- keley's) own county; and who was this model of Glo _ d incleed deceive the House if he did not admit that riods had decreased from 393,421 to 95,403, showing oestershire farmers? Mr. Josiah Hunt, a Quaker—(A i l u oi lert ti i f the country , to some extent, amongst the a diminution of more than 297,000.—(Htar, hear.) He laugh)—wbose word was not valued at a Earthing. He esi tern of land, a considerable degree of distress did was happy to find from the statement of the Earl cf was employed at the last election to bribe voters against Ilona The statement which had been made by his Chichester that greater activity was beginning to pr e . him (Mr. Berkeley)—(Loud laughter)—by a rich man, the The the Member for Warwickshire was, that vail in many portions of the agricultural districts, not who now could get no account ef the money-he intrusted 'e Government did not admit the existence of this die- only on the tart of the owr. ers, but of the occupiers, in to him to bribe with. He (Mr. Berkeley) had never tress. /NI "w* the course to be taken as to that distress draining and other improvements, with a view to the in- read such intolerent speeches as had lately been '. w il a n s the only difference between them. Now, he 'denied crease of production; and be never entertained the least addressed to the public; he referred particularly to the tent, , . the expediency or wisdom of retracing the steps apprehension that the British farmir would allow hi s speeches at Manchester. It seemed as if 'we had not from had taken. He believed that to a certain ex- energies to be overcome, but felt confident that he would lefire learned the true meaning of the word. " tyranny." arisen' the change of the law, some difficulty h a d ri se superior to any pressure under which he might la- —(Cheers.) Free trade had been hurried upon the farmer, but he relied upon the energy and skill of the bour.—(H ea r, h ear .) He was quite certain that the emu try, when it was no more in a fit state to receive it L he! to overcome that difficulty. The fa'l of pri ces agriculturists had nu reason to despair. As a test of than the colonies were to receive the abolition of sla iaole,:n surmounted by them in former years. He the prosperity of the country he might re'er to the in- very. The farmer ought to be relieved from the malt regr.utbeel the distress of the smaller holders of land—he creased consumption of various . articles. With th e ex - tax and other burdens.—(Hear.) Let Hon. Members laae that in some places a number of agricultural ception of coffee, tt e receipt e f revenue from almost divest their minds of fear of the threats held sect, that if Ras should be placed in that distress, but still he every article of consumption had increased. The con- they attempted to go back 'to protection, or remedy the "aa glad to think I , imp ro hi,, ' , r ed by the reduction of prices, He admitted with 3,200,0001b5. The consumption of brandy had increased pect the most serious riots. The threats were such that „.. . lon. Fri en d , t h at in L i ncolnshire there had been from 1,600,000 to 2,187,000 gallons. There had also i t seemed we m i ght look upon ourselves as almost on the 'fia-o c rease in th e poor - rates; b ut , ta ki ng the ma j or i ty t een an i ncrease i n t h e consumption of prov i s i on . , such eve o f a c i v il war .— ( H ear, hear.) lie must say h e di sh ! a g r icultural counties, there was a di m i nu t ion of as salt beef and pork. H e wou ld no w r e f e r t o ano th er thought the country was now th rea t ene d w i t L t more se ah ou p -- portie o Prevail, h e had never thought or said that some remarkable manner the failure of many predictions (Opposition cheers.) The tenant-f armers cou ld not eh au -"cif the community would not be affect e d by th e which bad been uttered on the subject—he meant the even meet in peace to discuss a constitutional, questi on k„ n _ge which had been made in the law. He had never article of sugar. Although it had fallen off to some without the interference of free-traderea—(Hear, ea 'e of any great improvement being made in trade or extent, the difference was owing to an extraordinary hear.) People were sent in. paid and bribed ,—( Hear, hear.) In many places, as at Bedford, a mob was sent 41:fnerce, or in any branch whatever, where they did eat importation during file days in the preceding year. The in composed of persons with no stake in the country, to tp:itiMlately find it cause difficulty or pressure in some import of sugar from the West Indies had increased from it biter,., or were it did not cause partial suffering; but 2,771,000 cwt. to 3,070,000 cwt.; the import from Ma- interfere with the meeting, and then we were told that nano means followed that therefire such improvement nilla had increased from 812,000 cwt. to 997,000 cwt.; it had been constitutionally disturbed by that rabble.— Hear.) Tbe agriculturists, from whom our chief pros tnigentnot totake place. The Government and theLegisla. and from the East Indies the import had risen from ( had sprung, had been ill-used. For nearly seven *or_ w ere bound to relieve the distress of as many as they 1,352,000 cwt. to 1,356,000 cwt.; whilst the import of perity in tieliable to succour, but at the same time, he thought foreign sugar had decreased from 1,200,000 cwt. to teen years be had been a supporter of the present Mi tt' i n l ea lle fir more was to be done through th e e ff or t s 497,000 cwt .—( Hear, bear.) He held in his hand car- sisters , but he felt bound , to say that " free trade," as itt ,,_ ,p.tviduals than any legislation could effect. He fain returns relative to the raw material used in various it now stood, was a most faulty and disgraceful measure. —(" Hear, hear," from the Prot( ctioeiste.) It had le m th uileht that the alarm which had been raised among trades, in every one of which an increase had taken place. a wrong footing. There had been too much pi:capgrieulturists was not warranted by what had taken The consumption of indigo had increased from 56,000 placed upon haste used ; and, unless something was done for the pri ces . Ile Hon. Gentleman bad referred to the f a ll of Cwt. to 79,000 cwt.; of hemp, from 698,000 cwt. to agricultural interest, the tenant-farmers must go to t aro , ,M former years in this country, and he had pic- 911,000 cwt.; of raw silk, from 3,645,000 lbs. to hit - u - Pl° distress of his own neighbourhood in a mann er 4,303,000 lbe. And although it was said that the alte- ruin ,—( Hear , hear.) Let the House do justice to that he_v.zeeeding anything else which had been stated. The ration ot the copper duty would operate injuriously, long oppressed and too quiet interest.—(Laughter.) On the motion of the Marquis Of GRANI3Y the wii'eun _ti.entlernan had reFerred to the year 1822, a period the fact was that the state of the mining districts of whi ch i neY were under the operation of the corn-law, Cornwall was most satisfactory, there being plenty of bate was then adjourned to the next (this) day. de- In 18 Ras intend e d t o k ee p w h eat at 80s. a quarter. emp l oyment an d high wage., and the export of Bri- Lord J. RUSSELL hoped it would be understood by tell 107, corn was 96 a. 111, and for five or ton years it fish copper had increased from 85,000 cwt. to the House that the debate would be concluded to mor . p er e '2. a quarter. I n 1822, i t b a d f a ll en more than 50 153,000 cwtr. The export of wrought copper had in- row (th i s day).—(Cries of " Hear, bear; " but one or th e ;int., and un d er a corn - law the average price of creased from 5,000 cwt. to 17,000 cwt.; and the export two gentlemen on the Opposition side exclaimed, " No; w es J t e h tr was 44a 7d. The Hon. Gentleman said th ere of brass manufactured b a d r i sen f rom 13 ,0 00 cwt . to no understandi ng .") P er h a p s th e H on . G en tl eman the prices 11 hope in the country that they would r e tu rn t o 23,000 cwt. Ther e was h ar dl y an i tem o f any one opposite (Mr. Di s r ae li) cou ld s t a t e t h a t as the under t, the ces which the Legislature had proposed to insure sort or description with respect to which ruin and din- standing. le 1 8 29 r iculturist., but no such return had t a k en pl ace . tress had b een p re di c t e d f rom t h e i mportat i on o f f ore i gn M r . DISRAELI h o p e d hi mse lf , an d expecte d , t h at . fromttle a corn-l aw was p asse d w i t h some oppos i t i on manu f actures , wh i ch had not' been utterly falsified by the division would be taken to-m o rr ow ( t hi s d a y) ; b ut th e , agriculturists—and, indeed, great opposition— the increase of production at ho me , an d t h e incr ease o f he could not have the presumption to give any pledge to ' tlearte"ed obje c t o f w hich w a s t o i nsu r e 64 5 , p er employment amongst the labouring population.—(Hear, that extent. It must depend not only upon gentlemen that .r to the agriculturists. What happened under hear.) The statements with respect ti the shipping i n - who sat on his aide of the House, but on gentlemen on if "393 In the other; and he was sorry to say he had found from -t se " lB3l the price was 665. 4d.; in 1835 terest affordel testimony of the same description. The e t fn . 4d. It fell at the rate of 6s. 9d. per annum aumber of ships entered inwards in the year ending experience that the Noble Lord had not been able to We t 70 "nr consecutive year ?. In 1839 the price December 1848, was 24,959, the tonnage being ex , rcise that influence upon his own side which he now fes s i e 11 - 81 .; in 1845, 50e. 10(1.; still under a law pro- 5,095,000 •; the returns fur the corresponding period in wished him (Mr. Disraeli) to exercise upon his. 69.. 9 g,. t o secure them 84 s- In 1847 the price was 1849 showed the number of ships to be 28,946, and the The House then, shortly after Twelve o'clock, ad tonnage 5,678,000. The ncmbor cf ships cleared out fee., f , , a price not greater than they had had hereto• rec over which, by indu s try and energy, the farmers wards in 1848 Has 23,394, and the tonnage 4,678,000 ; journed. ladle red and were no wort° off- It did not necessarily in 1849 the number of ships had increased to 25,665, re °vr that the :. the .. tier ed enrn law solely; he believed it was not. He be- hear.") With respect to the revenue, he was happy to but to) had had a large harvest at home. It was not say that the improvement in every branch had been -at he L kn ow what was the produce of different years, greater than he expected. The result for the year V et ) w rew one of the greatest cornfactors in Liver- (partly caused by the increased revenue, and partly by ° took great pains to ascertain the result of the reduced expenditure) would have an excess of income beenlrvest 3 „ 8, had stated the'. the produce of this. year had over expenditure on the sth January of 2,098,000/. • rou st u Per cent, m ire tb - an that if lust year, and that (Hear, hear.) It had been said that a large importation oei g h i e 3 n ntribut e t i reduce the price of corn. But in a of corn would invariably cause a diminution of the pre -110 re°nring country (France), where there had been cious metals, but the amount of bulli on i n th e B an k was tier h,,Pf-al t•f th e corn -l a w, th e y hail the benefit of a sufficient answer to that assertion .—( Hear.) Be Pe e , i n sveat, and yet the prices had fallen more. Th e trusted tbat th e result of t h e measures now un d er dis -4,694.7d this country in 1847. was 695. 9ft., in Fr a n ce cussion would be the impr ovemen t o f t h e con di t i on o f tali i n *, lliey had sent us 700,000 quarters, and yet the the country, and that Parliament would not, by any rash cottr er ,!," Price of wheat had been more than in this legislation, disturb the present improving condition of T The quantity i f corn catered for home con- affairs. He believed the country bad now entered on . a Al e t 'i for the year exce-de 1 the quantity import id. steady course of improvement, and his firm conviction in 1 rlttintity c . ~, e 4dt, f ail kinds f grain importedlast , i nere d eg wheat and barley, eels 5,673,040; meal im- terest would participate in the general irnprovetnena He f or 11 0 of- all kinds, 3,703,000; the qualtity entered trusted that when it did arise from the stet I of partial aZir s k -ir re consumptio was upwards of 4,000,000. The distress under which it was now labouring, it would be Ci entl e e Express , which would I e relied on by Hon, based not on the delusive foundation of protection, but Port s „n l n Opposite at ited that prices I f the Baltic on a solid foundation which could never tail.—((sheers.) Pai n t 'lr t e so high that it would rit,t pay to send Mr. HERBERT expressed his satisfaction that the rarto,ll,lnis country; and he di I not think that the Honourable Member fur Wolverhampton had said very Pri,„B ha d le ason to fear that ruin which his Hon. little about Ireland, and what he had said indicated the Pric e Wethought inevitable at 40 3 . a quarter. What the fact that he really knew very little of that country. It But it was -ticip a . e ld be hei e titer it would be rash in him to an- had been said that the number of persons applying fur Potie tnin, not a little remarkable that all those relief in Ireland had very much decreased of late, and it 14 efe.. which were imp n - ting countries had hardly vas argued that this showed an improved state in re- Arty ere their shipments upon the reduction of duty in spect to the condition of the poor in that country. Now the ,ere at ..., 3 t . .. a l , i a ,,. n 'iu n ales, from which, before the repeal of while he admitted the fact that the number of persons e rie bad " one anticipated great imports. His Hon. applying for relief had decreased, he yet denied that le oat b talked o'_ the average price of 44e. Now, he this was a proof of an improvement of the condition cf ° nee th oti e n,eve the agriculturists would be ruined. They the people. The fact was, that this result arose from 4 1 /1 , 4 %tete got 80s, would be necessary until it went down various causes. First, many had been struck off the eraz e i ne d 8 4-s.; then the price came to 565., till the list who had no right to poor relief. Next, many of the e l len f ro the three years shoe ed a fall in the price of Irish poor had come over to this country, and were to th ad t al l : 58 3. to 50s. In 1846 the price was 545. Bd. be found in its highways and byeways ; and lastly, e am, gone out of cultivation since 1845? Were death had done its work in Ireland, and many portions rte tther 11,iturists ruined? He would appeal to the Hon. of that country were depopulated. The Honourable iil l ii t e . ew t or South Lincolnshire, who had stated what Gentleman than referred to the speech of the Right I t e g o ing on in that county. He would tell them Honourable Member for Tamworth, which he mi en, ea ti n h d ated, , a been largely laid out, production was in- dressed to the House last year in reference to Ireland, a nd wh :"" pasture had been ennrerted into wheat land. and he contended that this speech, by which the House r 4 14' 1 his Hon. Friend talked of abandoning the had been led away, was not justified by the then state h i lt ,. n liOrt fro `t_ef the Incormat ix Bill, when the price had of Ireland, and only indicated the way in which that re 'reas ed, `_" 80 3. to 50e.. and that since 1815 rentals had douse was influenced as regarded Ireland generally. Ho _at l ow and that only in one county s f England was the contended that the whole policy of this country was cal "attsrn'htivr•than it ras in 1815, although the price of eulated to injure Ireland, and therefore damage the in ei,diel r anged from 80s. to 505.,—if the energy, skill, terests of the empire generally. gre at , p astry a the British farmer enabled him to pay Mr. W. FAGAN said, that although the friends of Aria, • rent at the price of 50s. than he did when the protection had claimed that the cause of Ireland was the 0 1 7 11 e a t i f e l a t l pos., what was to prevent the same industry cause of protection, he would challenge them to say • of 40a, or to Meet the demands upon him at the prices what would have become of that unfortunate country if' tn es by i n rs, they having overcome a fall of 305.? It measures of free trade had not been introduced, and to aou l neat th e r ',"ed produce that he expected the farmer disprove, if' they could disprove it, that protection was belirlttn. the ec r ulty. He should be too glad to see this the cause of many cf the evils which afflicted her. He a . t'vrd tt Populaion by home-grown corn. He denied that the fact of his Hon. Colleague having been th •niet s w ; ,w(uld be most desirable to do so, if the selected to second the amendment was to be taken as an t o e cheap es n t l d do it. lle said the people had a right to indication that his constituents were favourable t) pro th_go to or , rPassible food, and they had the best right teetion. The election of his Hon. and Gallant colleague hir.tre,,,,a`ii,e_ countries for that which their comfort and was not in any degree owing to protection. Indeed he arw ? dei:,: A l t_y .. of the country and their permagent sta- might say that it was owing rather to the influential th a Nit a ] , wa "e°• An increase of productive skill, energy, labours of a free trade member of bis corn ithis.yld. rust be brought into play, and applied to mittee. The tenant farmers of Ireland had taken a 1 4 1 _4 try , la , nose who had not capital, or who had net totally different view of the question from that which i t the es ignt suffer distress, and be unable to con- it had obtained amongst the tenant-farmers of Ifilttatag elir,7upatien of the land; but the welfare ef the England. They were most anxious for it, but were hee l when bas was not to be sacrifice lon this account. more inclined for the free-trade system ; and he con-. l it , t " at t h ose looked at the language which had been ecientiously believed that if it had a fair trial in Ireland, t attd a 3t te tt : Meetings in the country, he had stated it would do much towards paving the way for a re-ad bs t) rent tit watt possible an attempt would be justment of the relations between landlord and tenant. th„ t r aised a w ,the demand for protection—it might The very agitation which was going forward - on this the „ l ihell e d 3 question of rect. Who was it subject would itself be of considerable advantage to the Of r t ; t rtie s ? 1 5 1 7 33 ) landlor le cf England? Who were Irish people. He would ask in what condition Ireland a a tioth: ag r i en , t the Free-traders, but the leaders would have been during the past six months, if it had "tlet," , who represent - n t ur pty quest one meeting after not been for free trade? He would ask them what their , !WI,: of ret.d that qion as one of a re- rates and national burdens would have been, if it had it ‘latt tii. of ' Qu i n . Ile found by a northern paper on the not been for its opera - ion ? These were points which ;'1,4 b a it r ent f ar ms 9 e in Scotland, that it was not true ought to be considered in estimating the advantages or lI N to n b ear d th farms in Scotland had been reduced. disadvantages of a financial system ; and he was sure t e ll beli e e le t m at offers were made t f farmhouses which that, with reference to such a test, the landlords of Ire ,•.alt tte:N i t t _ 4 higher rent than was formerly given. land would mistake their true interests if they were to highe ja qns ?be true as a general position, that at decide against free trade.—(Hear, hear.) au t s t as r.„ 1 , 11 Scotland which were out ot lease, let Sir J. WALSH said be quite admitted that protec- Il ti tl i _dre ss t g a e,ti . ti , "‘ . l ,Sl formerly. He saw a paper from a tion was essentially an Irish question, and he felt that a :adr am nia te :ne High Sheriff of Norfolk, being an it was one of great importance. Ho thought it would r ,"'erth ei lt ges to ents, which stated that in spite of the have been more fitting to the occasion if the House had n 2t ~,, ~., f, o _vshich his property was subject, he concurred in a loyal address to her Majesty, indepen- Z'ap ati f hi s fl ud himself able to make a very good dently of those political considerations,: and bad after he fit; ;r 1 58 8 a r ill. He said that he held in his own wards proceeded to the consideration of moment a° l al 1 : 1, th o er ea, ef which 100 acres yielded him no ous questions like the present. But if they were to 1 1 Ji ro r ad e up, u gh he estimated a loss at Michaelmas, go into the great points involved in this debate, they t e ller a ii`,' ° ek, ,4 1 ,uhi rent, and had invested ten per cent. ought at lea t to be careful as to the exact effect of the n a o t k oor t_ Ist ow l?n was more than was to be expected opinions the expressed. For his own part . he was at a "a of ''' wh y ,tr one gentleman had done this , he did loss to lnn t „ ectu m; enother should • ei t4 " ee qb - -on of rent , that discover all the prosperity which the Speech not. But if it was a ques- from the Throne congratulated the House upon; but he h 5 ‘, B; p etiti ___ . sti pee and h "n with the demalds of the labour:ng might materialy assist the successful operations of the eer' ~,eleee the maintained that the labouring classes farmers . The ' main argument of the Chancellor of the 4 e R. most- signal benefit from the present Exchequer rested upon improvements which might . be . v e nt --, 'Plat sr " I "`e 'Wre ' 1101 ). Gentleman then aluded to the made in farming. H© was satisfied that farming in this the t '' '4" ` - 'f Lord - R .._ a _ Chichester to the graud jury at country was capable of improvement. It was . a . mistake n t';,....`" tf thin given by the Earl of Chichester of - te a in g 4 i ,to represent the English farmer as deficient in industry ~,r h o t , a en sim a bussex, no: call) as to the number and eat , rprise; but in order to effect these improve "srieu-enPierr, "Yed, but as to the exert i ons of h g e li *andthose merits a large es, ploy * wae most creditable to ? them, in pro- subsoilin, or manuring.—(Bear, outlay an uri was ng._ n ( e i ci e s a s r a , r t h e e whether tr. In ithe c o draining ni p e. ..4 0 ,, _ . naant for h • Y, is'. vnaint a i. t eir labourers. Now, the ex- tition in which they were called upon to engage, they, 44 id .) 18 and t as ' un g the poor in th e -ears endin Lad -- within apply all the resources of science, and to compete 11,11 s ay, i -49 , was as fellows;— ) In the year g endirig deer , "ding L ii i the amount was 6 180 0004 The ex- eithe r science or captil. In this struggle the ins Pe er c e se of 3 38 „Y'day, 1 849 , was e'e ' • IN ior t h mica, , r , Jo 92,0001, b e i ng a dustry of the English farmer would be overburtheeed. It e t nns,. 4 half—, "e expense of m a i nta i n i ng the was assumed that this was a landlord's question and a 4 %4.1 wile e 7 ,• i sr ending Michaelmas, 1848, in 558 landlord's atr'tetion. Such was not the case. The yec vras 1,6530" Of g 74 1 04 5.18 4 19 " P' °° ° l for ' ba'f-year ending Mi- men and middle-class formers, on the a t , it . 0 01. acre not sufficiently energetic in ad -18445 i ts A be nutuberof 0 1., making a diminution pheined that they contrary, corn- I e ,., s ., . gland , persons relieved in 538 vocating their cause. It was not a factitious agitation, itt 414127f10:, ebteitdaonthe 1s v ia Q 92, 65 ' and 42 in Wales, on the Ist July, but one e ell founded, and one which would besersevered t July, 1849, the num- in; so much so e that if they wish e 1 they could not avoid uis b diminution of 65,505 ur 7 3-10 b iogiug this question were n u i epeatedly,unde r the consideration eyed in 860 unions in Eug- of the House. It was most unreasonable to regard this HOUSE OF LORDS, Jan. 31. The eventful session of 1850 was opened to-day, not by her Majesty i❑ person, but by her Royal Commission. Long before the hour appointed fur opening the Com mission the House of Lords ana the strangers' gallery was partly filled with ladies and visitors anxious to witness the ceremony of the opening of the Great Council of the nation. The assemb'age thus drasur together formed a pleasing group, though its appearance faded into almost insignificance, when put in comparison with the splendid tout ensemble of the House of Lords when her Majesty is present, and when the beauty, the noble, and wealthy of the land ♦ie with each other in their endeavours to show their loyalty to tFe!r Sovereign, by being present when she ',nears in the upper branch of the Legislature to open or prorogue her Par liament. Among the Peers present we noticed the Earl of Sheffield, Viscount Strangford, Lord Colburne, Lord Campbell, Earl Mountcashel, Lord Lucan, the Marquis f Salisbury, the Bishop of Worcester, the Bishop cf Hereford, Lord Say and Sele, Lord Monteagle, the Duke of Wellington, the Duke cf Norfolk, and Viscount Bar dinge. Shortly after two o'clock the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Lansdowne, tl:e Marquis of Bread albanr, Earl Minto, and the Bishop of London, robed as the Lords Commissioners for opening the Par liament, entered the House and took their seats below the throne. Having done so, their Lordships coot wandel Mr. Pulman, the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod (who officiated in tE e unavoidable absence of Sir Augustus Clifford), to summon the Commons to the bar, to hear the Royal Commission read her Majesty's most gracious Speech to both Houses on opening the present session. A Ler the lapse of a few minutes, the Speaker of the Howe of Commons, attended by a great number of Members, appeared at the Lae. Among the members present we noticed Mr. Brotberton, Mr. Locke, Colocel Thompsor, Mr. F. O'Connor, Mr, Spooner, Lord Dualey Stuart, Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Ellictt, and several others. On the Speaker appearing at the bar the Commission for opening the Parliament was read by Mr. Edmunds, after which, The LORD CHANCELLOR read, in a clear and distinct voice her Majesty's most gracious Speech, as follows: "Mr LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, " We are commanded by her Majesty to assure you that her Majesty has great satisfaction in again having recourse to the advice and assistance of her Parliament. " The decease of her Majesty Queen Adelaide has caused her Majesty deep affliction. The extensive charity and exem plary virtues of her late Majesty will always render her memory dear to the nation. " Her Majesty happily continues in peace and amity with Foreign Powers. " In the course of the autumn, differences of a serious character arose between the Governments of Austria and Russia on the one hand, and the Sublime Porte on the .other, in regard to the treat ment of a considerable number of persons who, after the termination of the civil war in Hungary, had taken refuge in the Turkish Territory. " Explanations which took place between the Turkish and Imperial Governments have fortunately removed any danger to the Peace of Europe which might have arisen out of these differences. " Her Majesty having been appealed to on this: occasion by the Sultan, united her efforts with those of the Government of France, to which a similar appeal had been made, in order to assist by the employment of her good offices in effecting an amicable settlement of those differences, in a manner consistent with the dignity and indepen dence of the Porte. " Her Majesty has been engaged in communica tions with Foreign States, upon the measures which might be rendered necessary by the relaxation of the restrictions formerly imposed by the navigation laws of this country. "The Governments of the United States of America and of Sweden have promptly taken steps to secure to British ships in the ports of their re spective countries, advantages similar to those which their own ships now enjoy in British ports. " With regard to those Foreign States whose navigation laws have hitherto been of a restrictive character, her 111.jesty has received from nearly all of them assurances which induce her to hope that our example will speedily lead to a great and general diqd nution of those obstacles which previously existed to a free intercourse by sea between the nations of the world. "In the summer and autumn of the past year the United Kingdom was again visited by the ravages of the Cholera, but Almighty God, in His mercy, was pleased to arrest the progress of mortality, and to stay this fearful pestilence. Her Ma jesty is persuaded that we shall best evince our gratitude, by vigilant precautions against the more obvious causes of sickness, and an enlightened consideration for those who are most exposed to its attack!. whole that were under the Poor-law Commissior, and which were bound to send returns to that board. He wished, however, to say that he did not desire to carry the inference from the frets of that return too far. lie was well aware that, notwithstanding the difficulties with which many proprietors of the lund had to struggle, they had most laudably and nobly exerted ttemselves for the purpose of giving employment t i the labourers, who might otherwise have been thrown upon the rates. He was bound to do them this justice; but still, looking at the whole country, he thought he had a right to say that the average amount of pauperism bad been considerably diminished. Taking, thee, the 602 unions and parishes in England, and cowering the number of paupers who were maintained from the funds raised for the relief a the poor on the let of January, 1849, and the Ist of January, 1850, he found the re was a decrease of above 7 per cent. as com pared with 1849. That, perhaps, was not so great a de crease as be should like to see, but still it was a very decided improvement. Nor was it confined to the ma nuf suturing districts or towns. He admitted that these towns and their neighbourhoods had most largely bene fitted, but even in the agricultural districts there was a decrease. In Bedfordshire the decrease was 11 per cent. Even in purely egricultural ,Backinel - arnshire the de crease was more than 6 per cent. In Cumberland 11 per cent., and in Derbyshire, which had oft,en been pointed to at one of our worst rural districts, there was an improvement of 6 per cent. In Durham alone, from peculiar causer, there had been no decrease. In the East Riding of Yorkshire, which was an agricul tural district, there was a diminution of 7 per cent., and in Nottingham, •which was a mixed district, the reduction was 13 per cent.—(Hear, hear.) With respect to Ireland, though they could not congratulate themselves on any material reduction of ,the dis tress in that= country, there were many symrtoms of improvement making their appearance, and the cost of maintaining these who were in the workhouses had been reduced from 2s. Id. a head per week to Is. Id. per week, in consequence of the cheapness of provisions. He said then in the face of such facts as these, the general pros perity which marked our manufactures and our corn merce, the great and increasing command over the com forts and the necessaries of lire, and the decrease of paupers in the agricultural districts themselves, he was Justified in repeating his belief that we were not in a situation to return to protection. Nay further, his de termination was under no circumstances to do so. Eves were the prospects of agriculture worse than he admitted them to be, he could not be a party to any measure for taxing the great article of human subsistence. Af er all, when the complaints of the Protectionists against cheapness were reduced to their real elements, they simply resolved themselves into this, that there was too much to eat in this country.—(lronical Opposifon cheers.) Why, if they did not mean that, what was it they complained of ? They com plained that the increase cf exports cheapened their produce, and they claimed that these exports should be checked, in order that they might get higher prices, at the cost ef decreasing our trade, and lessening our leaves.—(Hear, hear.) It was sometimes said that free trade would have the tendency to throw the land out of cultivation, and that with the imports from abroad we should not have more to eat at home. But Noble Lords opposite could net say this at present. On the contrary, he was informed that there had this year been a greater breadth of wheat sown than in any former year.—(liear, hear.) Besides this, they had already seventy-two al - plications for enclosures—a greater number than had be fore been made at one time—thus showing that although the demand for corn grown at home was not diminished, their predictions as to the result of free trade had not been verified. Manufactures had increased, pauperisn had diminished, and the bullion had not been taken out of the country to pay for foreign imports. He said, there fore, they ought not to change a policy which Lai worked so advantageously. He did not charge the landed pro prietors with any selfish motives in raising this com plaint of there being too much to eat. There might be abundance on the well-managed estates cf their Lord ships, and in the well-ordered villages under their care, but in the by-lanes of the country, and in the courts and alleys of our towns—even in the immediate neighbour hood of that gorgeous chamber, there were to be found hundreds of persons living in a state of misery which gave the most flat denial to such an assumption. Sooner than he would be a party to any proposition to restore taxation upon the food of the people, he would rather forfeit his position and estates, and the honour he en joyed in their Lordships' House. He believed and hoped, however, that their L or d s hi ps wou l d not reverse their policy, but that on the.contrary, they would, by a large and overwhelming majority, give a decided refusal to the amendment.—(Cheers.) The Duke of RICHMOND offered the Noble Earl opposite his hearty thanks for the admission he had made, as to the motives and objects of the free-traders. He understood formerly, that free trade was founded on the principle that it would promote the interests of all classes, but now it was avowed that the agri cultural interest must be sacrificed to maintain it. The Noble Lord told them that he was prepared to give up his rank, his estates, and the office he held, rather than go back to protection. He would tell his Noble Friend, that if he persisted in free trade, it was the best chance for him to get rid a all he possessed.— (Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord did not care whether this measure entsi!ed misery and ruin upon thousands of farmers, so long as the manufacturers filled their pockets with money, and the Member for the West Meting was satisfied. lie consid , red the sentence in the Queen's Speech, with reference to the complaints from the owners and occupiers of land, as a direct insult to the agricultural community. The Noble Earl had brought forward returns to prove that, comparing one day with another, there ear h ss pauperism in the coun try. But it a-a.t worse than idle to compare one day with another in this nay, when suck vast interests were at st tke.—(llear.) The Noble Earl talked of cheap ness and plenty, but he had not tcld them one word about wages. lie did nn t tell them that the honest hard working labourers were reduced to maintain them- sites and families upon 65., is., and Bs. a week. Of hat use aa , cheapness and plei,ty to t/ k.n? Besides, with reference to the returns as to !sag erism, it was well known that the overseers in many cases went t) tl e way-wardens, and induced them to give men work on the roads rather than take them into the workhouse; and the farmers instead of employing them the whole week gave them two or three days' work, sufficient to prevent them from going Wore the guardians. The Noble Mover of the Address told them that it was rot the abundance of foreign imports, but the r anic which had paralysed the'energies of the farmers; but in ano ther part of his speech he took credit to free trade for lowering the prices. lie was not surprisei that the Noble Lord had contradicted himself, and spoken on both sides of the question, because he had sat on both sides of the House—(A laugh). The Noble Lord had rebuked the protectionist agitation. He objected to these meetings and the exciting speeches that were delivered at them. Why, who set the example of agitsfon? He told the Noble Lord that he would never cease to urge the farmers of England to avail themselves of their constitutional privileges . as Englishmen to meet and demand redress c f their griev ances. Ile would advise them to make every town-hall and hustings their battle-field, and never cease till they had obtai: od a kr , t protection. The Noble Duke, after repeating his determination never to rest satisfied until the farmers of the country regained that protection ef which they had been unjustly deprived, in conclusion begged to express his gratification at tearing the manu facturing districts were in a fl mrishing condition, as it must ever be a sourer) of pleasure to the farmer to know that those who were their great consumers were well 4f. The Err! f ESSEX explained. He repudiated the idea that his vote on the subject cf protection bad been other than a sincere and conscientious one, the result of a sincere conviction r f the error of his former opinions. Earl FITZWILLIAM commenced by taking a re view of the circumstances under which the corn-law of 1815 was passed, and of the alterations which took place in subsequent enactments, but the Noble Earl was throughout very indistinctly heard in the gallery. He begged to remind their Lordships that all the great manufscturing interests were exposed to very great competition. For himself lie felt no despondency whatever with reference to the agricultural interest. His Noble Friend at the head of the Woods and Forests had referred to a paper, showing the stet) of the unions throughout England, on the Ist of January, 1849, as compared with the let of January. 1850. It bad been complained of on the opposite side, that his Noble Friend had selected that particular day, the Ist of January; but he (Earl Fitzwilliam) could not perceive that it made the slightest difference whether his Noble Friend selected the first of the montb, any more than if he had fixed upon the second. It appeared from the do cument so quoted, that there had been a degrease throughout the unions in England, not only as regarded the manufacturing, but also as regarded the agricultural districts. This being the case, he could not agree with Noble Lords who drew such a picture of the state of the agricultural interest throughout England. He was not aware of any district in the North of England in which there was any reason to fear an abandonment of land. He would ask them to look to the effect of Sir Robert Peel's law of 1842. The argument used by the Right Hon. Baronet in introducing the measure was, that ho wished to take off the superfluity of protection. The price of corn was then above 565. per quarter, and it was perfectly true that if in the bargains made be tween landlords and tenants, from the years 1142 to 1846, a price of 56.. per quarter was assumed as a basis for rents, and if the prices be now reduced, they must com pound for the difference. The present price cf grain was owing to a variety cf circumstances, among others to a superabundant harvest. The Duke of CLEVELAND—Not an average. _ Earl FITZWILLIAM cou ld re f er to cases i n proo f of his statement. I n one part i cu l ar par i s h, as 't a n s informed insa in answer to inqui r i es h e h a d trade, h that the produce last year bad been quarters fi o ve w acre, whereas in the year preceding it had been only three quarters. marks ar said, his re The Duke of CLEVELAND per plied to an entire county. In the county of Durham been three-quarters to ULM still considered be was justi- Earl FITZWILLIAM the A verage had only t t h h e is a ) C .e re a . ", creased importation, caused to a great eater t doubt an n Fed in the statement h e had mad ' . There had b e en no i by the gr e ic D u t i e t r u t r a tt in i e i d nte a interest, to the condi t ion distress which prevailed three years ago. How ever d t differences ion al.) ofd prospects opinion f might o be the o he would counsel them not to endeavour again to deceive the agricultural interest by attempting to carry arrange ments into effect which could not be sustained, because by passing protective laws already the agricultural in terests had been deceived into arrangements which they now found could not be sustained. Therefore, he hoped they would not in , roducelany words into the Address which would be calculated to excite delusive hopes. They might be assured, that in the present state of pub lic opinion it would be impossible to return t a protec tive law in favour, as people understood it, of the gen tlemen of England, for he believed it would be in vain for them to attempt 19 make the people of X 414144 in consequence.—(flear.) It was setisfactory t know that the measures which had last session teen passed with regard to Ireland, more particularly the &mute bored Estates Bill, bad worked well. No one could regret more than he did the distress under which the agricultural interests here euff.ring, but he was couvioced it was of a temporary nature.—(Cheering and counte -sheering.) He believed that those who bad kept up a protectionist agitatior, ,who called themselves farmers' friende, had acted most unwisely.—(Cheers and counter-cheers.) He had received a statement from the vestry-clerk cf Marylebone parish, terteirg that there had been a saving of 11,0001. in the retee, in consequence cf the cheapness of food; in another me tropolitan pariah the saving had been 7,0001., and the rates had been reduced 2d. in the pound.--(Loud cheers.) The repeal of the t avigation-laws had been followed by the most happy effects , . Shipbuilding had increased, and the re were now orders from f 'reign countries for the building of ships in this country.-- (Hear.) lie knew not whet might be the measure to be proposed with regard to the Auct - alian cote - nice, but he hoped that the tin e was not f.r dis tant when more I:liney as regards internal legislation would be g rested to all our colonies. The Noble Eerl thanked their Lordships for the j at'eet manner in which they had heard him, and concluded by moving the address, which was an eeho to tie Speech. Lord METHUEN, in seconding the address, said it must be matter of cengrs tilation to see that the efforts of the Government to prevent the occurrence t f hoe tilities between Russia and Turkey had been &articled with success. It was also meter of congratulation that the manufacturing and commercial interests we-c in a state of prosperity. He regretted that he could not say the MIDI* as regarded the agricul tural interest; that interest was suffering from panic on panic, excited by the Protectionist agitation. But it should be recollected that under protection, in 1822, the price of corn had been lower than it was at present, in consequence, he believed, of the want of money occasioned by the resumption of cash pay ments, and again in 1835. It should be recollected that a scarcity of money ex isted in consequence cf the immense sums locked up in railways. He could not, however, but depre cate the violence of language of those who endeavoured to set class against class, and who pandered to the worst feelings cf the multitude. The Noble Lord concluded by formally seconding the motion. The Earl of STRADBROOKE felt that he should be wanting in his duty, if he abstained from embracing this, the earliest opportunity, of declaring to their Lord ships the existence of deep and great agricultural dis tress, the existence of which was admitted in the Speech from the Throne, but which, as he gathered from the speech of the mover of the address', was merely of a temporary nature.—(Hear, hear.) He believed that the distress would be permanent so long as the present system of legislation should con tinue. In 1815 it was considered that the British agri culturist would be swamped by foreign importation, un less he had protection. Such was the opinion of Mr. Coke, and in consequence the corn-law measure of 1815 was in troduced. He admitted that under the protection corn fell in 1822. The Noble Earl concluded by moving the following amendment:—" That we regret that in many parts of the United Kingdom, but especially in Ireland, various classes connected with the cultivation of land,are labouring under severe distress in consequence of recent legislative enactments, the operation of which is aggra vated by excessive local taxation." The Earl of DESART said that as the agricultural interest had been passed over with so much apparent cot tempt in the Speech of her Majesty, and as their fore fathers always considered that interest the greatest and the most important, and the one on which, more than any other, the prosperity of the country depended, he would most cordially second the amendment.— (Hear, hear.) He had been for .some time in Ire land, and as chairman of the board of guardians of the Union of Callan, in which he resided, he bad had an opportunity of looking at the condition of the poorer and farming classes, and on that ac count was able to say that that class was, in consequence of their laws, going to utter annihilation. It was said that in order to meet f reign competition, it was neces sary to expend capital on the land, but he should say there was little inducement to do so under present cir cumstances. It could not be done even in England; for although the farmers were possibly able to weather the storm, it was not so in Ireland, of which so many me lancholy pictures were already drawn. Now, even as regarded the manufactures of England, see what the result was, by comparing them - within the last five years. In 1837, the consumption of English manufactures was three hundred millions, while in 1848 they were five hundred and sixty-six millions, but this should be borne in mind, that while that consumption had increased under restriction 38 per cent., they had cnly increased 13 per cent. under free trade.—(Hear, hear.) The Earl of CARLISLE was willing to admit the considerate and able manner in which the amendment was brought forward by the Noble Earl. The question be f ire their Lordships was, whether they would alter the Address which had been so ab'y moved by his Noble Friend behind him, and adopt an amendment which did not even in terms controver the words used in her Majesty's Speech. Her Majesty congratulated her people on the improving state cif commerce and maul- Isetures, which as the Noble Earl who had just sat down would admit, was connected with the most enduring in terests of this mighty empire. TI e Speech of her Ma jery admits the distress which the Noble Earl allte'e i to as existing among the agricultural classes. That distress existed her Majesty did nut deny, and then fore there was no great cliff: twice between the amendment 3rd the Address proposed for the adoption of their Lordships. The amendment no doubt na .de :elusion to local burthen., but only as a re.lommendation, and their Lordships well knew that such bunt', ns can only he conveniently considered when tho question came properly be fire their Lordships' House.—(bear, hear.) Braider, it P as an et:erly mistaken and di•seerous con clusion to arrive at, that the country was prepared to reconsider the question of protection; such an idea only .gave rise t ) a delusion, which was most disastrous to the parties more immediately concerned. He did not un derrate, tar be it from him, the distress which prevailed throughout the United Kingdom, particularly in Ireland; but the horrible state c f destitution in that country was principally get through by the plenty an i cheapness of corn from abroad.—(Elear, hear.) They could not, therefore, condemn free trade, in connexion with that country. Ho (the Earl of Carlisle) would not follow the Noble Earl who moved the amendment in the historical review he gave of the corn-law, but he would remind him, that in 1815, as well as in 1828, when corn was protected arid ranged at a very high price, the same forebodings of distress were indulged in, as the present day. A great deal of nice calculation had been entered into, as to what corn could , be grown a t, an d at h ow much remunerative prices lend I could be cultivated. Like most of their Lordships, moat he possessed in the world was derived from laid, and he therefore could hardly be expected to be insensible or in different to the sufferings which that interest now la boured under. Agriculture was only undergoing-, with every other pursuit, profession, or branch of industry, that change which the laws of the universe imposed on all, and from which, whether unprotected or not, it could never to exempt. When the agriculturists were basking under the sunshine of protection, in 1835, they com plained c f their distress. That which then existed arose from a too great abundance—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear ")—and if ho referred to the speeches then made in Parliament by Noble Lords op posite, he would find them fillel with similar lamen t &lions to those they now heard. What ho wanted their Lordships to recollect was, that considering they bad, after serious discussion, adopted the present commercial policy by way of experiment, they ought to give it a fair trial, and in that conclusion all parties agreed. It had been now in operation not one whole year, and there never was a period in the history of the world in which so many extraordinary causes were leagued together, to prevent its fair development. There was the famine in Ireland, the extensive failure of the potato crop, and a series of revolutions on the continent of Europe, which were without a parallel. He said, therefore, that in our present situation, we were not in a position to say what would be the permanent result of that great experiment. It n as impossible to say at what price corn could be per manently produced in this country, or imported into it from abroad. His own feeling on the subject was, not that f despondency, though he was not prepared to give a positive opinion on these points. But he would not be acting honestly if he did not tell their Lordships that he did not stop there. He was bound to state to their Lordships, that even if he was convinced that the price of corn would never ascend higher than it now was, he was not prepared to revert to the system of protection, and he would state the reason why. It seemed to him that any attempt to square such matters by any fixed and uniform plan would be falla cious. Every case must stand on its own merits. Every farm must be a specialty. Its situation, its peculiar soil, the amount of skill and capital applied to it, and the in finite variety of circumstances which marked the rela tions of landlords and their tenantry, must always be taken into consideration.—(Hear, hear.) If these cir cumstances should in future be found to be of such a character as to prescribe and require a different arrange ment Letween landlords and tenants, it was between themselves that such differences must be adjusted. The sentence of her Majesty's Speech in which she lamented the distress which existed in some parts of the country, and especially referred to the complaints of the owners and occupiers, was followed by another, in which her Majesty expressed the satisfaction with which she wit nessed tie comfort which cheapness and plenty had besteived on the great body of her people. Landlords and farmers might recognize in that sentence the ex istence of a far higher, extensive, and more important interest than their own—an interest to which all others must bow—namely, the great body of the people. The Speech of her Majesty assumed, and he thought rightly, the superior importance of the general diffusion of em ployment and comfort caused by cheapness and plenty, and he fiarlessly asserted the truth of that assumption.— (Hear.) Her Majesty's Ministers had received accounts from all parts of the country showing the advantage arising from the increased import of articles required fur the comforts and necessaries of life. These accounts came not only from the great marts of industry and commerce, from which they were naturally to be ex• pected, but also from quarters not to be anticipated. In acme of these marts, indeed, peculiar causes had led to tt e supposition that a permanent decline had taken place. hef _ . He might mention th e great towns o f L ee d s an d field, which from so me cause h a d l ost t h e i r f ormer prospe. rity,;but from whi c h th e y now h a d accou nts of greater But as improvement th an b a d b een k nown f or many years. he bad said it was not on ly f rom these crowded marts of industry that th e y h a d t he se accounts; her Majesty , s Ministers had proc u r e d a return showing the number of paupers of all classes receiving relief on the Ist of January, 1850, as compared with the number who were receiving relief on the Ist c f January, 1849. These re single pari s he s —th e turns were from 602 unious and . "Her M a j es t y i n her late visit to Ireland de rived the highest gratification from the loyalty and attachment manifested by all classes of her subjects. Although the effect: of former years of scarcity are painfully felt in that part of the United Kingdom they are mitigated by the present abundance of food. and the tranquillity Which prevails. "Her M a jesty has great satisfaction in con gratulating you on the improved condition cf com merce and manteactures. It is with regret that her Tfajesty has observed the complaints which in many parts of the kingdom have proceeded from the owners and occupiers of land. Her Majesty greatly laments that any portion of her sub jects should be suffering distress. But it is a source of sincere gratification to her Majesty to witness the increased enjoyment of the necessa ries and comforts of life, which cheapness and plenty have bestowed upon the great body of her people. " GENTLEMEN OF THE HOME or COMMONS, "Her Majesty has directed the Estimates for the year to be laid before you. They have been framed with a strict regard to Economy, while the efficiency of the various branches of the Public Service has not been neglected. " Her Majesty has seen with satisfaction the present state of the Revenue. " MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, " Some of the measures which were postponed at the end of the last session, for want of time for their consideration, will be again laid before you. Among the most important of these is one for the better Government of the Australian Colonies. " Her Alajesty has directed various measures to be prepared for the improvement of the condition of Ireland. The mischiefs arising from party processions; the defects of the laws regulatin g the relations of landlord and tenant; the imperfect state of the Grand Jury Acts ; and the diminished number of elec tors for Members to serve in Parliament - will, together with other matters of serious conse quence, form the subjects of measures to be sub. mitted for your consideration. " Her Majesty has learnt with satisfaction, that the measures which have been already passed for the promotion cf the public health are in a course of gradual adoption ; and her Majesty trusts that both in the metropolis and in various parts of the United Kingdom, you will be enabled to make further progress in the removal of evils which affect the health and well-being of her subjects. " The favour of Divine Providence has hitherto preserved this kingdom from the wars and convulsions which during the last two years have shaken so many of the States of the Continent of Europe. It is her Majesty's hope and belief that by combining liberty , with order, by preserving what is valuable, and amending what is defective, you will sustain the fabric of our institution', as the abode and the shelter of a free and happy people." At the conclusion of the reading of the Speech, the Lords Commi , sioners and the Speaker and Members of Vie House of Commons retiredruud their Lordships ad journed to Five o'clock. In the gallery deco el to Members of the House el Commons we noticed Sir James Graham, Mr. W Brown, Thornely, Mr. F. French, Mr. J. Wilson, Mr. B. Den:son, Mr. Greene, and several other lion Members. Their Lordships adjourned during pleasure. Their Lordships re-assembled at Five o'clock. LAW OF BANKRUPTCY. Lord BROUGHAM introduced a Bill to amend the Law of Bankruptcy. SCOTCH REPRESENTATIVE PEERS. The Duke of RICHMOND drew the atten tion of their Lordships to the fact that there were two vacancies in the Scotch R'presentative Peers. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was un derstood to say that he was not responsible for the vacancies not being filled up. The Earl of EGLINTON said it was evident that the Government could not be ignorant of the exist ence of the vacancies. They had appointed a new Lord-Lieutenant of Forfarshire, in the room of Lord Airlie, and promotion s had taken place in the navy in consequence of the death of Lord Colville, and there fore there was no excuse for not summoning the Peers of Scotland to fill up the vacancies. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE explained that the Governmant had no official information of the vacancies. The Duke of BUCCLEUGIT said that the con tinuance of these vacancies was a grievance to the Scotch Peers. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that it was a grievance which the Noble Duke might have re a repre sen t a ti on b y two Scotch medied, because, on Peers, the writ for the election would have issued. The Duke of ARGYLE asked if there was any rule binding the Scotch Peers to make the requisition ? Lord STANLEY denied that there was any ana logy between the rules of the House of Commons and those of this House in such cases. He acquitted the Noble Marquis of any intention to keep the Scotch Peers from their rights, but he considered that the Government should have issued the writ without waiting for any requisition from Scotch Peers, or for any notification from the representa tives of the Peers deceased. After some remarks from the Marquis of LANS DOWNE and Lord REDESDALP, the subject dropped. SELECT VESTRIES. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE introduced a Bill for regulating select vestries. TIIE ADDRESS. The Royal Speech having been read in the usual form, The Earl cf ESSEX rose to move the Address The Noble Earl claimed the indulgence of the House as he had very seldom had the honour of addressing their Lordships. Since they had met last the coun try had had the misfortune to lose the Dowager Queen Adelaide, and he was sure their Lordships, would sympathise with her Majesty in the grief. which she felt for that great loss, for never had any foreign Princess secured the good opinion of this country to a greater degree than Queen Adelaide. The interference of her Majesty's Government on behalf of Turkey, in the differences which had arisen between that country and Russia, was a legitimate exercise of the influence of this country, and had been attended with the most happy effects. He could not but recollect that during the last two years the whole of Europe had been in a state of disorder ; scarcely a post arrived that did not bring the intel ligence of the overthrow of some ancient dynasty. During the whole of these convulsions this country had remained undisturbed, and he attributed that state of tranquillity mainly to the manner in which the Legislature had given way to public opinion. The artisan and operative clas.e3 had to their honour shown themselves superior to the temptations held out to them.. A tribute of gratitude was due to the public press, the members of which, however they might differ as to the means, had but one object in view, to secure the prosperity and the tranquillity of the country._(Bear, hear.) When he looked back to the events of the last few years, he could not but consider that it was a most fortunate circumstance that they had had at the head of anirs, :uring the time which preceded the Continental revolu tion., men who had had the sagacity to repeal the laws which prohibi , ed the importation of food. Of all the votes he had ever given, there was none to Which he looked hitAt with greater satis`a ton, than to the vote he had given in favour of the repel of the laws preventing the frr e importation of food. The late pestilence bad drawn the attention of the public to the state of the sanitary laws, and every one was convinced that those laws must be amended. The improved state of the commerce and trade of the country proved the soundness of the alterations which had recently been made in the laws regulatir.g the imports of this country, and completely fal,ified the predictions of those who bad foretold that loss of re venue would be the constqueneo of the alterations. Duri❑g the last year the import of food and the export of manufactures had Lean greater than had ever been known--(Hoar, hear)—aud the revenue bad prospered believe that a protective law would Le benefit of th e f armers and labourers mused f or a f Ennd. The Earl of WINCHILSEA supported gth e amen( meat. In c onsequence of the operation of hoe tried there had b een more corn imported into this ceuntr than ever th e r e h a d b een at any former period, and h felt very little hesitation in declaring that if matter went on as they are now doing next year corn would le imported from America at 30s. per quarter—(Hear hear)—and in such a case how was it possible for the English agriculturist to compete? Nothing could be Tuita o m fh o e r yt e h uhi this f de a o i ru laid n th t r( a y, n u t t „11 1 i,hee their p ier o srei placedioonn ey i n buy v v p h ot ihncohts the h ef e rue s ne g t r er i ra o tes l t n u l dar ws. n s fo t o b ri a . t hthe t a h ht e a y dp wrnoeotr protection hesitationtt i o receive n w a s ai nn p r sa o ac : t tl i e no t gr i 0 Itch, that tngd atr t deprive hs et ip j ue prices st h i : he m °. bnaodt restored of Engli shcon tenttermercould i vta)tehim i n thatthis h g t e o n er w al c n h t, r h e set owfasthiesnetiotulendt,ryahnod a ll h h o l u Ch ld it h w a a y s e. f4 of thinhear.) U nder the present state gs, should i t so happen that Providence w a dearth througho ut the world, be g posi tionebcyt h . e n? As t'to%, the et questionwould r m e :e . : I t o: f t h then, e cowou l du theirld p t a t, sa speak nir with experience. Ile let out his land, and IT tottlly dependent ou other countries in such aenyemer considerable ex ceitel his own rents tinned; and he could affirm that if any one took the troub!e to look at the rent received from land, as compared with the money invested in it such an one would find that th at i ndividual was exceed ingly fortunate who got three per cer.t, rental f r his money so invested.—(llear, hear.) Wae that the care with the manufacturers?—(ll• ar, bear.) Certainty not. They took care that they wore belt .1- lernunerated. If, then, that rate of rental was re d uced, how could the landlords be able to employ labourers to improve their properties, or even to pay interest on mortga;es? Ile would contend, however, that no Government had any right to pass laws which reduced to misery a large por tion of the population, and he could tell the present Government that the time was come when the Saxon blood would show itself in the English peasant, who would no t much longer submit to be trampled upon.—(Cheers) Earl GRANVILLE said it appeared to him, that the language which had been held in that House in the course of the debate differed considerably from that which had been held of late out of doors, in reference to this subject. At all the public meetings, called upon the subject it had been held that free trade had produced general depression; but to-night, and in the amend ment proposed, which he confessed was somewhat vague, as it mentioned no measures necessary for bringing about a better state of things, it was those connected with agriculture that were specially alluded to. Those classes were the landowners, the occupying tenants, la bourers engaged in agricultural pursuits, and some smaller towns situated in agricultural districts. In the latter he had no doubt that some distress existed. He did not wonder that some apprehensions should exist in there, when the shopkeepers were assured by the far mers, that they were on the brink of ruin; but what he was informed was, the greater complaint on the part of these was, that now the farmer came and bought what he wanted, and then went away ; where as formerly, when times were better, he stopped and spent the evening amongst them. Now he held that to be one of those instances cf economy which free trade inculcated, and which, if practised, would in the long run be far from detrimental t the agricultural interest. But to come to the most important part of the questiov, viz., that affecting labour. It was right and proper every one admitted that the labourer should have food and clothing, and other comfort., as cheap as possible, but then it was said by the Protectionist party, what is the use of all these being cheap if you give the labourer no wages to purchase them? There was one fact which ought not to be lost sight of, and it was this, that the increase of population in the agricultural districts was greater than the number employed in agricultural pur suits, and hence the influx of those into the manufac turing districts. That being the case, therefore, any step taken to injure those large manufacturing interests must bear upon the labourer. With regard to the farmer, no doubt the present in respect to him was a moment of tran sition. A change was going on, and a stimulus was being applied, and should he take advantage of the lat ter, he would be the more able to stand his ground. No one could say that the state of agriculture at the present time, by many degrees approximated to per fee tion ; and in his opinion the stimulus now being applied would make the farmer exert himself so as to work his farm cheaper, and to 'rester advantage. As to the agitation ; which the landlords were at present carrying on, ho did not wish to quarrel with them so far as their right to agitate was concerned. That right no one would deny them. The only question was, whether their meeting together has be en for the purpose of obtaining a practical object, or whether they were not following a course discouraging to the farmer, and calculated to prevent him from mak ing those efforts which it is most desirable he should do. Ile considered that the land at present was over-rented, and that there was no cause for a re duction. Since 1815 the general land rental of the country lad been raised about five millions in value. The remuneration price settled at that time for the ad mission of foreign corn was 80s. At the change in the law in 1822 it was 705.; and in 1842 it was redlle.d to 545., while he believed under the operation of II at law it never averaged 50t. If, then, the rental had risen five millions, he did not think the fall in price was so great as to justify any charge of unreasoneb!enrss so far as rent was concerned, lie believed taat 40e. was at that moment en unnaturally low price of corn, but that low ness did not arise entirely from tree trade. %Vile n lately in France bee had seen some e f tt e farmers there, and they were suffering tar vrorre than those (.1 this country, a:though they had a protective duty f 4'. per quarter. It could not there f ,re be free trade that had done all the evil; and although Noble Lords coming up from the country, from amongst their-tenants, seeing the distress which in several districts existed, might feel warm on the subject, and press on Government t apply a remedy, yet he thought on re fluctien they would find it the better course to give this free trade a fair t' la% They could not judge of its c fleet from its of eration during one year; but he had a sanguine hope that it would be the means of ultimately benefiting the general community. Hardware was 50 per cent. lees in Inc.i now than it was in 1815, and cotton yarn was one-filth less; yet thero bad not been one of these productions which bad been cheapened by compet tton, hut of which the trade had been immensely increased.—(Hear, hear.) Ho firmly believed it would be the same with land. Lord BROUGHAM said he would not delay the House long, but there were a few points to which he mast refer. That a very great amount of distress existed at the present time among the agricultural classes of the community he took to be a proposition too clear to adm't of doubt; and he was one of those who would not ascribe that distress to agitation, on. the part of ono party or another, or to a panic created by one party or another. He should, therefore, to most slow to deny the existence of this distress, or to diminish its amount, for the reason tl te% he knew from long experience that there was no one thing gave greater offence and real ra'n, than to endeavour to persuade anybody that he a as less ill off tlan he was, or any class of the community that they were less ill off or better off thee they were. No doubt, then, distress did exist, and in defence of his own doctrine he felt called upon to examine into its cause. The change which had taken ;place was an experiment, as all great changes were. If the experi meat failed, no doubt those who tried it would be ready to retrace their steps, butt f himself he must say that ho had seen no reason to alter his opinions ; and that ho held as firmly the doc trines of free-trade now, as ho did in 1846. This distress, complained of by some of their Lord hip', was by no me ans confined within the limits of this island. He spoke with confidence, because ho spoke with know ledge, when be said that in their great neighbouring country—in France—with a populatien 4 f 33,090,000, for the most part agricultural, tt e very class who were p now most complaining in this co u ntry, t ho u gh resmal class as compared with tt : e re. tof th e population—he spoke a fact which came within his own kn ow l e d ge when he said they were suffering ar that h our , an d had been for months past su ff ering a deep distr ess , as much as ever this country had suffered in its worst moment, and very considerably more than we were suffering now. The Noble and Learned Lord then proceeded to etete that he would give them the results of his inquiry and knowledge as to agricultural districts in a corn growing region of France. lie might most truly say that it was now in the most complete state of agricultural suffering; the rents were reduced, but none were paid; the farms were being thrown up conetently, and there was no possibility of even finding successors to outgoing tenant, and the labourers, of course, in very many instances, remained unemployed, without the auxiliary aid of a poor-law to fall back upon. Now, to show them the cause of this, he might state to them that seeing corn down and inquired wh et h er th ey ever impo!te., any went at the port on e d a y near hi s residence, hedwent corn from Odessa, the granary (f the E f mcefrenrorthere Oh, could not bring them if they chose, no doubt, but theya rotected country, no," said they; " there was it into the country." France In trade, P and yet distress, and had nothing to do with free plenty o Lord then stated that, desirous of The Noble quarter. satisfactory information of the con ditionibtihmbsei . n2 f under the r t e h fu e ll t y utor obtaining the most f French people, and the amount of their bur agricultural distress, was found prevailing in every o the of an inspector of revenue for a district near Paris, ag e p an la d ce w d containing in spected the tax books and the last year's receipts. Of these 10,000 there were 2,600 proprietors of land, which dens to the l s o ta .o te o , o b s e o h u a ls d , they called their estates, submitting to the evils of sub division for the fiction which they hugged under the cause of " equality."—(Laughter.) The direct taxes were leve 1 in these cases on the rental; but as every proprietor w s his own tenant, the tax rens levied en the actual value of the laed. The land was valued on the books which he inspected at 136,000 f., yearly value, end the inspect >r showed him the receipts of last year for 40,000 f.; that was more than one-fourth, rend nearly one-third of the actual value t f the land. There was 11 per cent, of direct land-tax, 8 per cent, upon the doors and windows, and 8 per cent, on what was a curious speculation of the financial mind, on the amount f rent, be that rent r calved from the house or net for the tax.. gatherer said they ought to receive it.—(Laughter.) In other word, supposing the yearly valve of an estate to be 3,8001., 2,7001. au the amount which had to he paid. It was in the proportion of 12 to 19; so that if any one of their Lordships should have an estate cf 19,000/. a year, as many of them had estates worth tea times that amount, or bad tetore this distress—(Laughter)— then they would have to pay 12,0001. for the sup port of Government. The French people, • however, were quit., content to pay that am ount, so that they were allowed to have liberty, equality, and frater nity.—(Laughter.) In Germany the taxes amounted to 25 per cent.; and people who pointed to the United States es an exception seemed to forget that they died the texsll9laof Olt NMI G9Ternatnie 6174 DAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 1, 18E50 1 d r ,?.