The Express.
London, England, 1852-06-15 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JLfNE 15, 1852.

would gather have end, " Here is a most unprovoked
smash, according to the declarations of Mr. Slather and
the Tuscan w inmate," or " This seems to have been an
accidental encounter, partly uccasioned by Mr. Mother's
placing himself in a threatening attitude." Now, I have
found, to my astonishment, in looking through the papers,
that Lord Malniesbury adopts both views—(laughter)—
that he adopts the story that the affair was an
unprovoked and wanton outrage, and that he also
adopts the story that it was accidental and for-
tuitous. In the one case he says that the evidence
which had been obtained conclusively established the fact
that there had been an unprovoked outrage WI a British
subject; whet' he writes afterwards to Lord Westmoreland
ho assumes that the affair was " caused by a concourse of
fortuitous and unfortunate circumstances ;" and then he
proceeds altogether on that suppueition, setting aside the
statement that there was en unprovoked end wanton out-
rage. What is most remarkable in this matter is that when
a despatch has to be addressed to Tureany the affair is a
" wanton end unprovoked insult," and when one has to be
addressed to Vienna it is nothing more than an unfortunate
accident. (Hear, hear.) In what wee written to thin:nee
there occurs a yeomen which I find P. quite imposable to
understand. Lord Malmesbury gam " My determination is
that Mr. Mather shall get what he could obtain from
an English court had he been cut down by a dragoon
in ilyde Park by accidentally hustling a soldier." I cannot
understand how a man could be cut down by hustling a
soldier. (Laughter.) His hustling the soldier might induce
the soldier to cut him down, but how his accidentally
hustling a soldier could cut him down I cannot understand.
(Laughter.) Mr. Addington, writing by the desire of Lord
Malmesbury to Mr. Mather, see., says, " Mr. Scarlett has
succeeded in obtaining for your son a practical acknowledg-
ment fur the unmerited and brutal treatment which he se-
ceived." (Hear, hear.) Now, an accident occurring by
mistake is not unmerited sad brutal treatment. (Rear,
hear.) It may be vary violent, but the moment it is ad-
mitted to be an accident, the brutality ceases and cannot he
maintained. So that it appears that with regard to the very
first question, namely, what was the character of the injury,
Lord Malmesbury was never able to make up his mind.
lie talks two languages. (Hear, hear.) Ile %sites to
Florence that it was au unprovoked outrage, and to Vienna
that it was fortuitous. (liter, hear.) Well, then, it is not
surprising that her Majesty's government, having taken no
steps whatever to ascertain the truth with respect to this
matter, having never made up their mind whether they
would believe Mr. Mather end his brother, who seemed to
mo unexceptionably plain, straightforward, and trust-
worthy, and whether they would take the corroboration of
that story by all the Florentines who happened to he un the
spot, or whether, on the contrary, they would take the
word of ;Marshal itailetnky as to his having instituted a
military inquiry, and that the result was to show that
the Austrian officer was not blameable in the transaction ;
it in no wonder, I say, that being in such:doubt as to the
character of the transaction, her dolujesty'a government
should not have behaved very consistently with regard to
the reparation to be made. I have said already that Lord
Granville asked for ample reparation from the government
of Tuscany, considering that government responsible in the
first icatauce for the act, though he likewise said that if the
inquiry did not produce the desired effect ho should hold
the Austrian government aisu bound to make reparation.
I hat, I think, was the right manner of placing the case. I
think both governments were responsible. Now, I must say
that I think Mr. blather placed the case in the hands
of Lcrd Granville, and of course, also, in the hands of Lord
Granville's successor, in as fair a manner as he possibly
could. lie took certain objections—very reasonable objec-
tions—to placing the case before a Tuscan court of law ;
but he said that he and his sou were entirely in the bands
of the government, and if the government deemed it best,
for reasons of state, to take such a course, he did not object.
Now, nothing could be more honourable than that posi-
tion. His son had suffered a great deal ; lie himself had
gone through great anxiety at Florence, where 1110 found
his eon suffering seriously from the injury. But he
claims nothing for himself ; he says, " Do you pre-
scribe a wane, and though it may not be that
which I think desirable, I shall be willing to submit; your
course will be my course." Now, I say no one could stand
in a better position than Mr. blather. Lord Malmesbury,
however, has contrived that Mr. Mather, who was the ob-
ject of the inquiry, and Mr. Scarlett, the person who en-
deavoured to obtain justice for him, should be the only
persons to suffer. (Hear, hear.) Ile has so contrived mat-
ters that, while the Austrian officer gets off with some i
Mr. blather's character is injured, and Mr. &afloat lieu a
very cruel censure passed upon him. (Ikar, hear.) Now,
with regard to Mr. blather I will show what happened.
Ile is invited to a conference with Lord Malmesbury, and
at that conference he is told that Lord MAMCS.,
bury having been obliged to indicate that he
thought personal reparation shoeld he obtained,
wished to have his opinion upon the subject.
Nothing can be more clear than that, as to his obtaining a
sum of money, Mr. Mather did not wish to press it Being
tasked, however, to name a sum, he names 5,0001., saying,
at the same time, " This I consider to be the sum which is
due for my son's anxiety, and for his wound, and likewise
for the injury that has been done to the honour of this
country." Now, whether that demand were right or not,
it is quite clear that Mr. Mather had no business to fix a
sum to be given, under international law. (Hear, hear.)
That was not a question for him, and he had always telt
that it was not. When he blanked again to fix a sum, he
says it is with the greatest reluctance that he names it,
but, considering that the offence was committed
against all laws, civil and international, he can-
not name less than 5,0001. Well, he might have
named 50,0001. or 100,000/. But Lord Malmesbury was
evidently the person to fix the sum. (Hear, hear.) I think
he was quite wrong in asking Mr. blather to name a sum ;
but having done so, he should have said to him if he
thought the amount too large, I do not think the injury
to international law requires the sum of 4,0001.; I will in-
qure of the Queen's Advocate what is s proper sum in this
ease; I will inform you of his opinion, and I shall ask for
that sum and no ether. I remember a case in which the
noble lord, the member for Tiverton, was called upon to
make a demand. A British merchant in South America
had been imprisoned ; the noble lord asked the Queen's
Advocate what ought to be given to him as com-
pensation. The Queen's Advocate said that twenty
pounds a day was the sum which ought to be paid.
The noble lord wrote immediately to the American govern-
ment and asked for that sum. The merchant himself
thought the sum should be much greater ; but the noble ,
lord, who understood the business of his department—'
(cheers)—did not say, " You, a private merchant, should
tell me exactly what reparation you require," bet ke said,
" I will settle the matter after consulting permute sompin
toot to eve me an opinion upon the subject. Well, Lead
Yalwbury having committed this great mistake, still had
11 in Ids power to repakit so far u to say, " I will put that
tar said.; I think 1,0001. or 6001. is the sum which omen
le be demanded ; I think the reparation ought to be be
inettayk" a sea of money being, as the noble lord aye In
NW el Ida " tv nsible," (Laughter.) I think this
eon end I shall ask for it." Can say man doubt
OW Mt. would in that case have said " 1 shall be
suite euythisg which the Reverential ei niff
ilise,
ant coma, Mike fit ; if they think that remak" ern.
dent, let them ask for it; the responsibility as disks. net
aloe ?" All that Mr. Mather amid to Lotd Granville ism
very clearly that such was the view which he took ef Me
nature of the offence. But what does Lord Maknedury
do? He does not fix a sum ; he does not tell Mr. Noire
what he thinks it ought to be; but he writes • general di-
rection to Mr. Scarlett to obtain a sum of money, and
tells him that Mr. Mather has asked the sum of
4,0001., which he (Lord Malmesbury) considers exorbitant.
(Hear.) Now, look at the injury which is thus done to
Mr. Mather. Mr. Mather stood in the position of • man
saying, " My son has suffered a cruel injury ; I have suf.
kted a cruel injury, and I have put the cue in the hands of
the government of my country to do what they think fit."
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has no better
means of obtaining redress than by asking him how much
'be thinks his son's wound is worth; and, having obtained
Ike mention of a sum, he sends to Florence to proclaim that
Mr. Mather is a man who has asked an exorbitant sum for
Ms briery which he has received. (Hear, hear.) Acerrd-
bey we have since seen a despatch from Mr. Scarlett,
declaring that the Tuscan government thinks the sum ex-
Orbitant ; that it is well known that an exorbitant sum has
Men asked, and that the sympathy which has been felt for
Mr. Mather is very much abated by that know.
ledge. (Hear, bear.) And this is the way in
which the Foreign Secretary obtains redress for a
man who has been evidently and undoubtedly in-
jured. (Hear, hear.) A man who has made • complaint
ea Ma of an undoubted injury is put by hint in the situa-
tion of a person who is greedy of money, and whose only
object is to obtain a large sum from the Tuscan government.
The Tuscan government say, " Here is a man asking for
as exorbitant sum ;" the public of Florence say the same;
sad eke character of Mr. blather is injured by the very
penes who ought to have defended him. The whole
owe was left to be understood at Florence as that of
an unreasonable demand on the part of Mr.
I Mather. Indeed in the note to Mr. Scarlett I
find these words, " I have received from Mr. Mather a
statement that he will he satisfied with the sum of 5,01,0/.
Her Majesty's government, however, consider that aunt to
he greater than they ought to demand from the Tuscan
government." Well, then, the question arises, what di-
rections were given to Mr. Scarlett as to the sum which he
should demand ? It having been settled that there should not
be any inquiry, it would have been far betterto ascertain the
entire of the injury, and then to determine what public and
maternal reparathe should lie made. But Lord Malmesbury,
haring decided in favour of pecuniary redress, does not lay
down no, sum that the Tuscan' government ought to
take. What he says is, that her Majesty's government
',expect and require that a sum proportionate to the sue.
and indignity inflicted on Mr. Mather, junior, should
lib= sea compensation for the outrage inflicted on his
OM" Ausedingly Mr. *erten wrote a note, in which lie
and, " I have asked for a pecuniary sum, proportionate to
his sufferings and indignities." (Ilest, hear.) In another
despatch Lord Malmesbury says, " A sum of money should
be demanded," and " if the principle is admitted, we shall
mot be very long in agreeing about the terms." Again, oe
the oth of April, hr said, " You must, if pomible, getlool.
fur Mr. Mather; or be should have such a sum as would
buy him an annuity: that is what he would have gut is
England." Ilow Lord Malmesbury knew what
sum *could have been given in England, I
cannot say ; but mind, Lord fitilmesbury'a words
are, " If possible, get hoot. for Mr. Mother."
All. Scarlett hinds that he cannot get 5001. ; hut at length
he comes to an agreement with the Tuscan government
which I must say in not a very satisfrctory one, and which
it appears to me he ought never to have consented to
sign without sending home for further instruction". (Ilea,
hear.) But, be it observed, up to that time Lord Matinee-
bury had never told Mr. Scarlett precisely what it was that
he was to ask for. lie had laid, " You must, if possible,
get 5001.;" but those words left • latitude of discretion to

Mr. Scarlet,. If he had said, " You must obtain 500 f. (or
any other sum), Ind no less will be receives:," Mr. Scarlett
would have understood that instruction ; but he gays,
" You must, if possible, get 6001. " and Mr. Scarlett, being
in great anxiety, makes, as I daink, a very unbecoming
agreement; he agrees to bike 2'201., and he very
strangely says that lie will be satisfied with that sum
peovided the Messrs. Stratford are liberated. (Laughter.)
No doubt Mr. Searlett is to blame for having finally made
such on agreement; but it is a great palliation of Mr. Sear
lett's conduct that he had never received any specific in-
struction as to what ho was to ask for. (Hear, hear.)
Well, then, Lad Maloneebury turns round upan Mr. Scar-
lett, and expresays his regret that, exercising Ow best of his
judgment, he should have accepted a settlement so much at
variance with hie instructions, and with sound reason and
equity. What Mr. Scarlett could have done worse, if he
had exercised the worst of his judgment, 1 cannot imagine.
(Laughter.) The result, however, is a very disagreeable
one for this country. And do not tell me that Mr. Scarlett
was not capable of properly carrying out his in-
structions. (lieu, hear.) Ile has had considerable excell-
ence, and, had ho been properly instructed, 1 have no doubt
he would have acted properly. The case reminds one of
the old story of the bad workman who with the best tools
made only a shapeless mass. (" Hear, hear," and
laughter.) Be it observed, that all this time the Austrian
government were professing the most conciliator" disponi-
thin and showing a wish to gratify her Majesty's govern-
anent in all reasonable demands. They were not asked to
take any steps on the subject : and this after the communi-
cation which was made by the Tuscan government to her
Majesty's governimnt. I have said already that Use
Tuscan government being an independent one, 1 think the
first demand for reparation should have been made to
them; but when they said, "'This Austrian army is
beyond our power ; we have signed a convention with
the Austrian government, and under that no Austrian
officer can he punished for an offence committed
against a civilian," I think that in that case
the Austrian government had become responsible for
tho conduct of their military, and that to them a
proper request for reparation should have b...en made, If
it had been determined in consequence that the Austrian
military should not have been indulged in future with the
tame, of cutting down persona merely because they con-
ceived that an insult was offered to them, that would have
been some satisfaction and some security. As it is, every
Englishman who goes into any part of Italy where there
are Austrian troops—and, unfortunately, those troops are
to be found in the states of the church, iu Tus-
cany, and in many other party--every Englishman
who goes into :Italy is exposed to the risk of injury from
an Austrian officer. Why, 1 am told that a non-commis-
sioned officer of marines has been severely punished under
the Austrian code, and that that case is one in which (as
was understood) there is as yet no redress. Well now, 1
say again that although this Cale of Mr. Mather's was, in
itself, simple enough, although neither the Austrian our
the Tuscan government seem to have been ready to resist
any reasonable demand, yet such has been the mode in
which Lord Malmo-bury has conducted the transac-
tion, that it cannot but lead to ridicule and contempt
on the part of these foreign governments. (Hear.)
I will only say a few words with respect to the latter part
of this transaction. On the 2lst of May, Lord Malmeabury
said, that although her Majesty's government dees not ap-
prove of the reparation offered, they will, of course, not
refuse to accept it. But, it appears that though this
despatch was signed and sent on the 21st of May,
on the 22nd of May there arrived at the Foreign-
office a despatch which totally changed Lord Malmes-
bury's views of the whole transaction. But this
despatch had not been read before the de-patch of the 24th
was sent away. it events very extraordinary, considering
the regularity with which the business is conducted at the
Foreign-office, considering, especially, the regularity with
which Mr. Addington, the Under-Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, is accustomed to transmit all de-
spatches of importance, I say again, it does appear
to me most extraordinary that Lord Malmeshury did not
receive that dispatch until after the 24th. (Hear, hear.)
But not having seen it until after the 24th, it would have
been much better if he had been satisfied with what he
had already done, and not gone back from his own dein-
, 'ion. But having preelmmed and announced to Mr.
Mather and thereby to the Tuscan government, through
his dispatch of the '24th, the fact that her Majesty's govern-
' ment would not refuse to recognise the settlement,
there (ewes another dispatch desiring Sir H. Bulwer to
leave Florence and to break off all diplomatic relations
with the Tuscan government unless some more efficient
reparation is granted. What will be the consequences of
that dispatch I know not. All I can any is,
if Sir 11. Bulwer is ordered to leave Florence
that the character of this transaction will not be
at all improved, but that the only consequence will be that
British residents and British travellers will not have ar. able
and energetic minister to protect them in case of any wrong
being done to them. (Hear, hear.) As to anything that
can be done to make our interference effective, after the
manner in which this transaction has been managed, I can-
not imagine what can be done. (Hear, hear.) I have had
a letter to-day from a gentleman, stating that he has boss
very much wronged ; that he was arrested at Berlin, gad
kept in confinement for 21 hours; that he at first referred
his cue to the noble lord the member for Tiverton; that
it was afterwards taken up by Lord Grenville,
who, when at the head of the Foreign-office,
remonstrated with the I'rassian government on the
subject, but that the present government have taken no
notice of his claim fur redress. £he only advice I can give
that gentleman, and I give it thus publicly, is to ask the
present government not to interfere in his case at all.
(Laughter.) But if he has a grievance to complain of, let
him remember what was said by the Captain Gonzales di
Cordova, who, when he was offered by toe King the city of
Lucca as reparation for a grievance, replied, "I like my
grievance better than the city of Lucca." (Renewed
laughter.) I say, I think the gentleman had better be
contented with his grievance, rather then seek any
redrew at the hands of the present government. (Hear,
beer.) As for Mr. Mather, he seems to have been offered
100 fritsconi, which he has rejected with disdain, and
his character as a man of independent mind has been
blasted by the interference of the Foreign-office on behalf of,
his son and himself. All I can say, then, upon this sub-
s, that I certainly shall not take the step taken by the
Earl of Derby when lie saw reason for censure in the con-
duct of the late government with respect to the affairs of
Greece, but 1 shall at least enter my protest in terms simi-
lar to those which the noble lord then used. The noble
lard then said—" Surely itbecomes the British legislature
to step forward ard to say that the Foreigsuffice of Eng-
land is not England—that the high-minded generous
English feeling of this great people is opposed to measures
each as been taken by the government of the country—
that we separate our actions from theirs, our
lettings from theirs, our views of political mat-
hers, our views of justice and good faith, from theirs:,
110, sir, do I beg leave to separate my feelings of honour,
of justice, and good faith from tho conduct that fir Ms;
jesty's government have pursued in the case of Mr. Mabee.
(Loud cheers.) I be* leave to enter my protest against
viaduct which seems to me to degrade the government Is
the eyes of the world, which will not degrade this, country
because it takes a far better and far higher view than the
government of what is due to its character, and this I trust
will be recollected before the government interfere
again to obtain redress for a British subject. I
tenet they will consider that in the present state',
et sentimental Europe this is almost the only country
shame Awe can be any free expressions of opinion, where
• hes prow and free discussions in the legislature can be
freely allowed. Because, though there are the forms of
constitutional government in several couatries of Europe, I
these forms are in some countries so perverted, and, in
other instances, whets they are not perverted and where
there is some real liberty, yet these countries themselves
are so small and so dependant on their greater neighbours
that so bold and open expressionof opinion can be tolerated.
Is such territories as theme no such pamphlets as that
which, to his immortal honour, came last year from the
eight hon. gentleman, the member for the university of
Oxford—(cheers)—could, I believe, be made public at
the present time in any other country in Europe.
If this is the cue it behoves us more especially
to keep our character untainted and our honour un-
touched: it behoves us if we are to come forward
asking for redress to ask it mildly. to ask it with temper,
bat at the same time to insist upon that which we believe to
be our due. (Hear, hear.) It would be an inestimable less
sot only to this country but to the world, if our character
en a great and independent nation should in any degree be
hasened. (Cheers.) I trust, therefore, before the noble
bed at the head of the Foreign-office writes any such de-
eran these again, he will consider how great is the
r:e:hat is entrusted to him, and that he will not lightly
endanger those great interests and this high character by
such heedlessexpressions. (Loud cheers.) I have stated
that, in addition to the few observations which I have made
in the case of Mr. Mather, I should call the attention of the
house to the present state of public business, and I shall do
so as shortly AS I can. The house will recollect that imme-
diately after the accession to office of the present govern-
ment, we who sat on this side of the house having
heard the declaration of the present administration that
they could not bring forward those measures which the
thought essential to replace, in some degree, the ruin which
the measures of 1840, and he subsequent measures of com-
mercial policy, had indicted in the present parliament, and
that being unable to do so, they would look to the next
parliament with the view of' submitting to them those mea-
sures by which such calamity and ruin may, in some degree,
be averted—we who sat on this side of the house contended
that if no measures which the government thought essen-
tial for the prosperity of the country were to be submitted
to the present parliament that in that case it behoved them,
in the first instance, to make the session as short as they
consistently could with regard to the measures of organised
public burliness, and then to declare what the nature of
their policy was to be. (Hear, hear.) I cannot say, with
regard to the first of these demo s, that we obtained very
full satisfaction. (Laughter.) But at least on that subject
there was some admission made of their intention to go
through • regular session, and of summoning parliament
again in the beginning of next year. Afterwards that course
was abandoned, and the principle was conceded that none
but necessary measures should be proceeded with. It was
likewise conceded that there should be a short session of par.
liniment before the close of the autumn, and that the measures
which her Majesty's government thought necessary should
the n be submitted. With respect to that arrangement, al-
though we did not get from the government what we de-
mand. d and what the government for their own makes
ought to have granted, we accepted it, and made no further
objection to its being carried into effect. But, with respect
to the second request that we made, I may say we have
been totally and entirely disappointed. Let us see what
has been done by other ministers. If we refer to the disso-
lution of parliament under Lord Grey in 1832 it was quite
clear that the measure of the Reform Bill was before par-
liament, and that the dissolution took place on that ground.

When Sir Robert Peel aatvised the dassolution of parietal. t
in 11431 he mule a statement of his policy very air .aa n-
Illicit with respect to what his course would he, 111ift,.1%4D 'ut's
the principles he laid down was not consietent with., Suje.j4
the house, he immediately resigned office. A. 2.10 .1;
Lord Melbourne advised a dissolution of par:lament to 11
he stated Cearly what tlw measures of COllll/leittUl 110j' -;
were that he should propose, and the country refusing
confidence to Lord Melbourne's ministry le. saa„,1;„,:112
resigned. But the present government, from the lira
moment they came into office until the present day,. I„
front proclaiming, aunouncing, or declaring a Hay, they
-;
sea in to Save been only studious to conceal elm' 004 in
teatime, and policy are. (Cheese) With respece to tf,;t
great question by which this country has ae,.
agitated for the last six years—the great apostle:
of the abolition of the corn-laws, a.• were (j.,:4
in the beginning of February by the mad., lent at the
head of the government, who wale not then au adiias shit
it was desirable to impose a duty on the majoatanaa of
corn. When he came into office the rigst Ism. gar,haat,
opposite said it was the must desirable measure of all. 14
degrees we heard that that measure wes ao ats,.;,
Boned. But at the same time what the .-eurai
ought to be taken is left neatly as obscure as it was a,.
lore. (Hear, heat.) It appears to me the' tee quase.,
is do )uu intend or not to pursue that palmy r lha you
adopt the financial and commercial policy which WS prevail. e
from Iril2 to 11162 ? Is that polity of tie lAA tell years
beneficial to the country, or is it use slosh
ought to be followed anal carried out, is it ese
which ought to be taken as the weal., or s„,
conduct—a, it has been during the government all Sar It.
Peel, and during that which has lately biro ala•piacel,
is it an injurious anal mischievous policy, anal one el ',lase
the effects ought to be averted by alterd:on (Cha a )
Now to this question the louse anal the country laais usa.
had anything like an answer. (Cheers.) At time we 11.1.%
have been told, anal the belief inculcated, that a tours, ws
about to be taken. When the right hon. genitalia., ~/,;„,.
site made his remarkable speech on the opening of t...,
budget, we, on tide side of the house, thought that it ea.
conclusive prof that the free-trail, pokey iies•
• useful policy for the country, and that in future it ...ma
be the rule of our proceedings. Every one was delighta .1,
anal nobody thought of taunting the right hon. genthrs,„
or any of his colleagues with inconsistency. (Hear, Lear
But the right hon. gentleman laud a critic—he had u
mentator—he had an adversary. Who was that adversary a
Ito appeared at the Mangiest House, in the pereun et 0
noble lord the Find Loral of the Treasury. (Laughter
cheers.) The First Lord of the Treasury corrected his ear
Chancellor of the Exchequer. lie poi t cal nut that ti.
was an omiesiou in that Newel., and he supplied it by ea,.
thing not so real, lucid, nor clear us the 'Twee of the ea.;
hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequa r, but ay
something eminently obscure and ambiguous. (R. mead
laughter and cheering.) 1 contras that this is a Lee t,
me. Though I have had occasion, as menthe, for the t sty,
to make a great many speeches in the City of Louden;
it never occurred to me to censure mV owe
Chancellor of the Exclequer, or to comer. at as
any course which he had pursued. Thuegh we hat. Ise
nothing explanatory from the made lord at the header as,
government, or from the right lean. gentleman oho j„,s,
the 110411.1 of Commons, we have hail all seats all e11...5-tem.
tem. from members and suppei ter. of tl.•• rniu,,,t.
We have had addresses from the Chancellor of ti. Lusby
of Lancaster and from the Solicitor-General, who are
anxious to reverse the commercial policy of the last tea
years. Then we have a number of gentlemen, NUiID9II.
of the government, who go down to the country and •ay
that they wish above all things that no new COM laM,
be imposed ; and a gentleman who stood the ether dee before
the electors at Maidstone as a Derlayite, said hi rejoiced that
we have at length got an honest govern', cut, anal that Ware
is no chance of an imposition of a tax upon bread, or of that
blessing being in any way token front the people. (lb a,
hear.) I am reminded by an honourable 'need rear me,
that the present candidate for Greenwich—a Derbyee too_
scorches about the town with the big load Irefun him_
(laughter)—premising that the present government is to
eve a large loaf and cheap bread. (Continual laugher)
That certainly was most ambiguous. It dial seem ta Vat
that we had something like light, when the nett
hon. gentleman the Chancelaor of the Ex, helper .sle
dressed his constituents, and told them that the time
fur the restorathm of the protective elutin of
1846 was past, that the spirit of the ago was
=lto them, and that no minister could safely oppse
tof the epoch in which lie lire.. (Cheers.) 'that
la a wise maxim. (Laughter.) Tho only thing which
astonishes us is that time light should have leen SU
reaching the right hon. gentleman. (Laughter) lu 1.17,
we had a general election, when this subject was agitated;
we have had ever since a great deal of discussion respecting
it, and I am sure it has been most obvious to nineteen eat
of twenty that the time for the corn laws has b• en passed
for the last three or four years. (Hear, hear.) Yet, it sal
not till the other day that the right lion. gesee-
man made this discovery. (A laugh.) But then 1
must say that what the right honouruble gentle:en
says now is not quite consistent. lie tells us that the rent
of land has fallen off five millions during the past year in
consequence et the repeal at the corn laws and of the in-
come tax. I shell not stop to inquire whether that to scot-
rect statement as to the amount or the origin of the failing
off in the rent of land, but this 1 must say, that if it is in-
tended that it is to form a ground for compenaation, or far
the imposition upon the general community of burdens for
the purpose of making good the lOUS of those five
nothing could be more preposterous or objections
able. (Cheering.) The case appears to me to be
like that of some nobleman who possesses a certain
income derived out of land, 604001. of which is claimed by
the,, parish in which he resides, as having been left him for
public purposes, and that it therefore belongs to the parish;
the case is tried before the Lord Chancellor, it goes by
appeal to the House of Lords, and the House of Died, says
it as quite clear that 5,0001. of that income was intended far
the inhabitants of the parish, and compel hint to resign it.
If Lord Derby had been concerned in such a case he would
have submitted, and would have been 6,11001. a year lea
rich on that account. But bow mach surprised would*.
Lord Chancellor be if the noble hard, instead of sub-
mitting to the award, was to nay, having diminished
his income it was the duty of the court to devise nests
by which that 6,0001. a year, of which he declared hinted
to have been wrongly deprived, might be restored to ham.
Be it observed that the corn laws never were defended by
any man on the grounds that they gave an additional in-
come to the landed gentry. The grounds on which they
wero,defended, and it it. a question on which a centime,
may still be held—were that it was to the adventage of the
country that it should have its supplies of keel grown as
the country, and should not depend on foreign countries
for ',impost; that it was a national advantage; that the
landed gentry might very fairly take advantage of the
profit which they derived from its being a national advan-
tage. 1 believe lam speaking in the interest of thu load-
owners, when I say, it is injurious to them to defend the
corn laws, not as a national benefit, but as a means of ad-
vancing their income, and that for the loss they had sus-
tained by their repeal, compensation must be provided. We
are told by the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Disraeli) that
there must ba a revision of taxation, and that there must
be a lightening of the burdens of taxation on the people.
I am afraid that will not give very great satisfaction ta
the farmers, who were assures by the Duke of
Richmond that they had only to get Lord Derby
into office to get protection restored. Such has beta the
language held to them. (Year, hear.) They ave hew
told, •• You have only to turn out the ministry, then ye
will have a dissolution, and you will get protection back—
(hear, hear)—but that the only way to get it is by tuner;
out the ministry." It will be little consolation to the farmers
to be told that all they can expect is some little lighteascs
of the burden of taxation. (Laughter.) With nap at ica
the benefit to be derived from lightening the bur& aof
taxation I must say there is a mode of lightening those but•
deem which we have supported from the first. That is me
system of policy which obtained in 1842, and which &skeet
pursued down to the present moment, without any
new policy, without any new scheme for lightening the
burdens of the community without injury to the Exchequer.
The right hon. gentleman, if I recollect rightly, as a suit-
ing instance of its benefits, stated, with regard to the sugar
duties, that although no less than 300,000 i. of duties had
been taken off that ankh in the last year the whole of the
Ices to the Exchequer was not more than 3001. (Heat)
Cia those be a better policy to pursae ? All I beg to say
is. that I hope the farmers, having been deceived fur
six yes', with the hope that they wall tiff
back protection, will not allow themselves to be
wain tempted, by being told that there is wee
ante's re in store which is to give them compensate)°, to
refrain from relying on their own skill and energy. (Cheer!)
Passing from that subject, the ministry claim crash' fa
what they have done and for the thinks which they
Militia Bill, which is entirely their own and from sleek
chid part grttoodfotheWir itmhereastresd.to.witilliatthteheyextypetidor:A,k.‘tathe:
they will derive all the credit such a measure des•rves-
-(a laugh) the other measures which they Ms,
brought forward, and which they are likely to
carry, are measures which are consequent on the
proceedings of the late administration. ()lear, hest)
Take the measure with regard to Chancery refers. (Hear,
hear.) It is not a party measure, and far from claiming
credit for it as a party measure, yet 1 must reamed the
house that the commission which recommended it wa• mate
luta' by the late government. They made their meal, and
it was announced in the Queen's epee& that a measure
would be introduced. It has been introduced, but even at
the last moment there were clauses in it so objectionable
that it was necessary for my right hon. friend tha• maw
her for Ripon, who was a member of the commis-ism to
Waist upon the report of the commiseiuncis beats; car-
ried into effect. There are other subjects with /".
pert to which the gore:emu, nt have, as I dank,
raised very needless questions, and made very flinsier°l
admission.. I will speak in the first instance withregam
to education in Ireland. The plan on which educating bad
boom settled has been settled minty ya.nrs, anal the P"ld
INlery are highly satisfied with it. (Hoar, have,/
i
elreeent government were no winner is "liu
than they said that they would make a 0.1,,,Wc
with reepect to that system of education, and !,,l1
would do something for the established church Le
l
by which that church might obtain a better portent 'IL'
grant. I cannot conceive anythiest more dangerous ta
Irt
land. (Hear, hear.) Because it is admitted, I. Weise
has teem mated by the Earl of Derby himself. end aLlij
stated only tho other day by the Bishop of Deane'
tahoiumerh,u,igtacuotlhict
tshpeirtkitriispftutrheiat
acescoetredminginwontt
.rai,oioeti,•4l
version, and according to the wishes of the ebun•h of 1101!:
land, you must at the same time give the aim- D4','"Ur.
c wp
oiLtoc.ohtlotryielile:oitcoh,4,homlrilcaedu..it(t4iiylktawtrh,holi, whoeaarur.) And hr fthue
lehmg to the lu,mw
mast oppns,d ti the'
mixed education are quite ready is mectita.
on this subject. I have seen today, to on