The Express.
London, England, 1849-02-02 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY RIMING, FEBRUARY 2. 1840." •

Ei:ity of this mailly has her it nine:bed ; that
1011/1 of the Pm* of We "SwWy. th k have bee
bee send tar Inn, whiled meal aelielis have boon
eeiniheil with leleablesemensiom—(ehten)—and I NOW
—eithengi then im oneisly a &gala expeseles lased et
the endellen of the open with raped to the " esaliened
whisk Is hoped few as therein* the a enster
ellePirdhiespeninee-1 Rejoin. that bere M pi
emeenne Ili
la= your lordships, nil I kne sluten
=Swill aid cheerfully roped to the eon, to
W sleety " is uptioldieg the hbrie of the sea-
alkali% headed es it is upon the peinelpies it freshet sad
allied's." Meat, beer.) My lads, in time ebesnatises
ilnd is
a thanoills upon in I am sun every ens of pee lee&
.v. ewer. I am patefel, deed y grateful, b her
il he lnothar anneassemest made la se early pert of
the Speris, net, indeed, that be lignite. reesived wen-
'WNW at Inenny rate'ion bon all powers, but that
It le her ° eimelent donna suntan wi all fangs stun"
nen Maim. I say I en deeply pitiful to her Mangy
Me Oh pesises deeleistien of h. r helloes, buena it re-
OMR Ida My mind, sad I hope it yid remove helm the
inheis of lordshi, a misarehessioe whisk etkerwire
night seise pie the con el tore win belt est to
the whines, bat to the endue*, of the advisers of the
boilo wiweely. that it was the esestant de-
srer irttirli 'advising, theseth not ef her ninety, sot to
amineis Moony Wain. with forego powers, bat by ent-
meselied-fee, mad misehievou isterneddling, to ma-
bill in tho sibisof every country of Europe. (Cheers).
I mem to esit the governmeat to tell me, in refer-
SIMI to what sentry la Swops would they venture to
ieneet in the Speech the dedustion that *At y could rely with
...edam- !apse the friendly feelings of its government?
. beer.) My lords, have you renewed your diplomstie
ninths curt et Spain ? Do you entertain friendly
animas win the King of Naples ? Do you entermln
*badly radian with the g men of Austria ? Have
yen r odiehe gevernmeet of that enustry reason to miter-
tim relations with you ? (Hear, hear.) Have you
nem to ve that the government of Austria doss Mgr-
ens Mendly ben ne towuds you ? A Ilea, hear.) An
yea se "nye. an the .sly power in Europe to whoa the
peasseas elfAnetria her not officially, by the miesioe of an
emiumy, Giggled the eon lee of the peeaeot sovereign
to the them t And are that thtt, by this om..stoo, ter
holt ees,beemmelempuminwith the intimation that the muse
4 that enderien se resents you, and you alone, was the un-
friendly attitude which the government of this a teal had
Acrid
*,t towards the empire of Ac*, t (Rear, hen) D '
y▪
ou entensio friendly relations with Nsples and with onto?
lily lord', Tau were in great haste list year to enter into
diplomatic relations with the court of R me ? Do you enter-
tain friendly rela'ions with the sovereign 0 the Roman
MUM ? Have you not, in reference to every country that I
have aaneed—havo you sot with regard to Itale-, to Naples,
eat to Nay—taken preeseely that atop which .n Sleet-ions
author, a mast able man sad a most upright minister, hat in
a lan work declared to be that whim', above all others a
goventment should not take ? Ran you sot fomented
underhand the spirit of distal. edam, so long as it
was in the shell, end have you not at last
vainly attempted to strangle that which was in fact the CMS-
sure of your own yroniediogs ? You have mischievously in-
terfered with regard t 3 the internal affairs of every country,
and what has been the result ? (Hsu, hear.) My lord',
is the course of the lest session I ventured so say, with all
respect far the amicable dispcsitic• and friendly feelings of
the sovereign poctiff, that I doubted whether he were
indeed a very wise and fareeeing ruler—whether
he would be abl, to check the proaess of the revolutionary
principle to e hide, no doubt from Ten pla'seworthy mo-
tives, II- had given encouragement. V.'. I not then sa-
wn , that, with regard to Sicily, Naples, and Rome,
the int rferimoe and advice of the nohl, earl hal
been cf initiate va'ue, and that the respective sovereigns
acting under his advice, would he able to prevent any noses
of bib feeling, II hi le the re was no one w hose j ad,/ mint and
were spoken of in higher terms of peen than
were used with regard to the sovereign pontiff/ Now, my
lords, what has been the result of the encouragement which
that sovereign gave to liberal :astitution, that encourage
meet being fostered and suppor.ed in this case both of
pion and of people, by a special mission from her Britan•
sic Mejeity ? Why, my lords, the result has been that the
head of he Roman Catholic church, the undoubted Fannin
of the Roman territory, has been unable to stem the torrent
of which he broke down the dam ; that lie is at this moment
an exile from his own dominions ; and that those dominions
are under the control, if, indeed, then be any regular and
systematic government, of the armed and open defenders of
a foul and atrocious murltr. (Hear, hear.) My lords,
want has been the result of your interference in the cue of
Naples and Sicily ? I am not going to follow the noble lord
who has jou sat d..wn (Lord Beaumont) in his historical
statement of the relation, b.tween this country and Sicily
and Naples, but I cannot help saying that I think it would
have been men to the purpose it the noble lord had com-
menced his researches at a somewhat later period, confining
himself to the present state of things. and to the existing
obligations of the government. In our treaties and
guarantees, Naples and Siely are not treated as
aspirate and independent states. We do not deal
with Naples ; we do not deal with Sicily. We have trea-
ties, we have alliances, with the King of the Two Sicilia,
sad with hiss alone ; and with him in that capacity alone is
it possible for England to treat. (Hear, hear.) My lords,
I took the liberty in the last session to ask her Majesty's
government whether or not it was their intention to interfere
is the aff eirs of Sicily ; there being at that time a prevalent
impression, though the government was very careful not to
commit itself by any expression of opinion, that the British
and French squadron would, by order of their
respective governments, interfere to prevent the
mailing of an expedition of the King of Naples
to recover his revolted Sicilian territory. No answer was
Riven to this question which I thought it my duty to put.
But in point of fact, no interference did take place. The
unwind sailed from Naples and was uninterrupted, al-
though it was followtd by the British fleet. Far better
would it have been, in my judgment, for the sake of that
humanity which is so prominently put forward in the
speech, if the government had interfered in defiance
of Nsples, and prevented the sailing of the Neapo-
litan squadron, than that they should have per-
mitted the departure of the expedition, and interfered
at the time end is the manner that they did. (Cheers.)
Ice the ems of every errantry with which they have
interfered they have alternately given support and en-
t to both of the contending puns. Those
:1711Liar prefemed and fought for liberal opinion., and
these who have advocated the maintenance of suthority,
have la tnn been led to believe that they might count on
the nowt, or at least on the neutrality, of the British
C.=t. The result has been, that each party in turn
itself deceived and betrayed by the government
is which it thought it eight safely trust. The horrors of
civil war have been prolmged and aggravated to a fearful
degree by the tacit coneurrenn cf the British government ;
mad at last the just, unfailing, inevitable, sad certain reward
hen been, that that government has been detested and
costumed by both parties. At the period when
interviedon took place with regard to Sicily, the
Sicilia. struggle was virtually over. The King
of Naples had obtained complete pessessica of Messina,
Ink It was the stronghold of the imemegente, Mann falls.,
a steeply revolt in Sicily was bigness • sad not any was
liall lephos, bet I venture to ray that the l would
ate hone benpotracted. The (epee soinr British
C=Sid ir.t, as the =Me lied eases., simply stop
eilieed. The eaten of the British govern-
nen eneeled Os Neapolitan sissy in the fell tkie it sue-
ale, smi pahliti from prcetentimg he senalems, eider
the pale el beigeinterfered nib by the &hie and
Frani 'gamines combined. My We, I her that
when the papers premien shall len been prodoenk
it will appear that even ease that intervention
W taken Oece, and that nweneetable prohibition
411. welts eparatioas had teen impend, the strict nee-
tesilly wheal by ha Majesty's gennumeet was set la lest
oheened ; I tear that it will oppose that the moral Wanes
of the Deitch same and power was throws in Skelly hale the
elate of the bleareents, sad turned against the awash
with when we lad a treaty of anon (Hear, ken) I
lege k will net be proved that erg Belie asuel Mien we
mime hrgettal of lus duty as to meninges:dim
trinleired flag, or that be email the eat is
came of Bich was the cans alike of lashed end
et Fand that they might rely upon Ih t.....T.:
tn a these eseateles. Hear. hea shall
Inn that no elbow( has heser.) so hmetta=if
his day esiadersel= fa public shiner eat in
vines fee the of Sicily. Mew, leer.) I con-
tr. I nerd with i r z been
I think he is the penes in this bum ham whom I
alil hear—ot he the laispemieneei Italy, that
=twhisk had believed to have hog sloes vanished
ab air ; least of all sled* I ban apnoea to hoar the
noble lord declare that the gefillanilla of Annie, is the
ease of the Milanese, was nes away an Ineerne genes-
meat, bat one which nen to be these ent lierAing aside
ell ear coasenees, all ear tin NM trt le the sees of
Austria, I venire to say that the admlelslc.Wa of the
Austrian presenseat in Lombardy willehallumge
with the administration of any govenmese.hownerreentitt
ling ace/ he the institutions establined, My hide, the
start frees the throne de:lues that bee Majesty has
nelied hasself of the interval chained to propose, in lOW
banes with France to the Kin of Naples, an
seen adentated to prOduce • pennant settlement an
I. SW i" and, in another penpugh.her Mforriat
en es,
" b s di in the north mad in the seal of the
rieeneming parties have consented le a Imp
.selliem arms
he Om porn of negotiating tame et peen New, my
livis, in that last paragraph I must my awe is the greatest
ihmenrity. Wbo are the " enter ling parties " who have
=a " aespension of arms" le net very clear from
rase to
nisi. Certainly then le no distinction drawn,
rie hem I to see, between the mane of separate nations
with seek la.. and those civil costae. which have been
mensal an le dliferent countries If ft bin true with regard
to Denmark that there is a suspeneion of hostilities with a
new to the settlement of the dbpete which led to them, it
is undeabbeelly Mete say that there is any suspension of hot-
lines in the can of the internal "fain of Austria ; it is
*he to say that time is any suspension of the hortilities
between Antra and Sardinia, although it be true that the
HIS et Illealhde has been altogether foiled in his most un-
roll:op to nest a part of her dominion from Austria.
is It awe that there is any suspension of hostilities
in the pore it the exiled pontiff and kis rebellious subjects
at loan lee, say lards, with regard to the negotiations in
=linbe ill. ink vls. what &nitwit', upon what prin.
/.._,_
_n_______lllot eight. are you into any nego-
toomm• www."'ll"7 be your object entering
g (Rear, hear- .) -As
espeis Amble sad Lombardy, what hi, '
sheet? Men, hem) Austria has e thele ner.in..tiate.
Whisk wore lin by undoubted right . r
, the King of Sar-
dine has boa Anna from those provinces. Axe ye going
te any yen km of liberal principles so far that havingn
tend aiding of the time when Austria was wil re.
tend
'emit to knew, when the sasses a Austria is pearyea see Maimed to update ; God knew" with w e'
Heel,

or for what, =lees, Week ft be le
ear.)
Mum lime by whisk..
the Fagg of &WM meg OM am shamble from his
cad ritttaaelitia the easetillipresi
w rE er , b
now
mien ? Dews he denim year assellatlea ?whited
ha
mated be /war assimease ? He has asked =thin bat
ON* le le let elm i be has mode so request bet Ma le
etay be 83111110 i Se settle the AIM of his ems deadaisse la
hit OM am want year meddles a= iatertmlag, sat
NOM "We mut stop the aids& et bleed, mad, them
Mee welpeide • Yea have as aim to de with the
Meese di/ail= them with the rewmpleee pmts of the wield
set under yaw Miles. Yet yea me vim te =gelid*
was aims efikwar tar the pewpme the tees
ea idea Os of Naples girl be pemlW to Mlle a
sham sic
et le his ewe imblees. (Hear leer.)
The Haag et Illeples &abase yeler
have =OM gte de with year asisdia. An yea, Ma.
goiag, without his eassente M dad& Ws that wW
yea thlek =aid be a jest and gullible adjustment
et the ? Are yea &eat tr mmilliale per-
igees es ipeuWl arbiter read b My lowa tit Imes ea
tibia Ils• Fig of Narks doll sMie. nandeaDy, a portico
et his demleiwes ? De Ma that /idly should be TO,
lailepentlent with be legisietlea sad Its laws, that
▪ sauce be by a OWN= erembly ad palmed
by aM= ray. ea will yea ban the eibent7 ear
sash teems es a Mewl ealleninst el die gawks I :wlil
set believe ell this milli I see IBM deemests. And whoa
yea have And the terms, do yea Weed te Imes those terms
equally apes both tit coatending !parties ? De
the
ma
to terse the Him of Naples to Inceept the tame
which you dictate, sad, as the ether band, if the
Sicilians vetoes to accept them. do you !stead
to impose Mee with a stroeg hand ? My lords, I say,
then, that ia my judgment On state of our foreign relations
is most unsatisfactory. There is hardly a sorneign or a
government with whom you are not invol if use quar-
rels, at all events in unfriendly relations • awl dr Amass sf
relations ore positively unfriendly =mister le dee net to
your moderation, but to the moderation sad the good saw
of other powers. My lords, there is certainly one gust.
one powerful, nadir all diflealties most powerful sad
te-
psrtant country with which, I believe you have mei*.
t Dined friendly relations. I believe that at this moment yea
have friendly !clubs' with France; end I would take this
opportunity of repeating what I have often said before, sad
what I am sere is the sentiment et every man in this bow who
mhos the peace of Europe, namely, that the mslatemeess
eta god understanding between this country and
le, at all times (it is especially so at the present period
miteatial to the maintenance of the peace of Europe
wader whatever government Francs mey be, sad Meek
may have better hops of her under one form of goverment
Ikea amber, I shall not enter into disunion', in which my
Mlle friend, having more hvonnation than slyest,. la-
dais= es largely. I hold it to be of the utmost impedes's,
that, with France especially, this country should mauls
the most friendly relations. Bet, my lords, how have the
friendly relations between France and England bees ads-
tained ? Is the case of France, there has bees ea the pert
of this country a meet mations abstinence from all later-
fauns. We have left France to choose her own govern-
ment, according to her owe inclination • we have not ob-
truded our advice or interference or negotiations, but have
pursued a course which we rightly deemed far more prudent.
Bat if we have new friendly relations with France, who
shall predict that the govaneasat of this country, by wing
the beet eadeavours, will be able to enure their main-
tenance for a single week or day ? (Hear.) Well then,
my lords, passing from the paragreph with regard to oar
(mien relation., what is the next statentaat
which I find in the Speech ? Why, that " a
rebellion of a formidable character has broken eat
In the Puniest')." My Inds, I think I ought
here to clement upon what appears to me to be an
incorrect expreeion. If I know anything of the force of
language, " rebelli .n" is a revolt of subjects against lawfully
constituted authorities. You exclude the Punjaub from
the denomination of British India. Yon have never claimed
it as a portion of your territory. There may be a difference
at opinion as to the policy or illlpolicy of connecting the
Pssjaub with the other parts of laths; but at the prima
mount it forms ao part of the British dominions. aid
slthoegh it is treethat there has beans rising in the Pt=
is it not true that a " rebellion "—and the word "re
is not an unimportant or Insignificant word, as bearing apse
our relations with the Punjaub—it is not true, I say, that "a
rebellion has broken cut " there. But, my lords, that a war
of a " formidable character," to use the words employed is
her Majesty's Speech, has broken out in the Punjaub, which
calls at this moment not only for tha exertions of the Indies
fortes, bnt ales for such aid as her Diejeety's government
can afford under the cirenasstaisou—the is an undeniable
sad lamentable fact. (Hear, hear.) My lords, I pass hem
that statement to the next which I find in the Speech,
namely, that, although " the insurrection in Ireland MY not
been renewed, a spirit of dissaffection still exists," whisk
oomph her Majesty, with whatever reluctance, to call see
the renewal of =me stringent coercive powers with
which you felt It mummy to entrust her gims
rat in the last semi= of parliament. I km,

not why ft is that one of my noble friends who opened this
debit., finds is the state Of Ireland • still( ct of congratula-
tion as compared with Its condition this time last sear.
" This time lest year," gays my noble friend, " we were In a
far leas favourable position than we are at present. Last
year the storm was gathering—now it has burst." My
lords, the storm was sot very formidable in its results. But
it did bunt; an outbreak did take plam,and it was rupproned
by the strong arm of military force, and by noticing else
The moment you withdraw or redoes that force, the moment
you take off the pressure, you may find the storm ready to
burst again. The spirit ot disaffection is still rife, and the
Speech of her Majesty authorises me to state that the
position of Inlaid at present differs only from its position
this time last year at lewd with regard to a large portion of
the people, inasmuch as • premature and an impotent at-
tempt at rebellion has been suppressed by force, bat without
i any mpression having been produced upon the minds of the
great body of the population, even of the hopeless:imps, still
less of the guilt and criminality, of the attempt itself. Well
then, my lords, this is the position in which you stand. With
regard to your foreign allianoss, you have friendly relations
with scarcely a single power. With one power you do at
present maintain friendly relations. That power is France ;
but with regard to that country, no men sea my that the
disposition of its government may not amide in a single
day. With respect to India, a formidable war has
broken out, calling for an augmentation of force.
In two or three of the colonies, insurrection has
already taken place; and this has rendered necessary the
despatching ot • considerable body of t . I
grieve to say that is many of your eolor.ial dependendse
there is at this moment a spirit of disaffection, which is the
result of the treatment they have received; and discontent
is ripeuiog so fast into insunietion, that, unless some felief
be afforded by the mother country, no man can predict
the result. Lastly, my kwile, yen have 'reload in a state of
avowed and almost universal disaffection ; and in that cone-
try it is necessary to enforce the law, in its ordinary pro-
ewes, by military aid. Yet, with nearly all Europe in a
hostile position—with war is India—with discontent in other
eolonise—with strife and disaffection in Ireland, her Ma-
jesty's ministers have the confidence to place in the mouth of
their sovereign the astounding declaration, that the aspect of '
affairs is such as to enable them to effect large redactions
in the expeadiemre of the country. (Hear, bear.)
My belief mad I state it openly, that it is not the aspect
of affairs dread ree at home which enables you to reduce
the estimate. beg that it le the aspect of affain in a very
ailment mon whisk leaves yen no alternative but to effect
mom redo/Odin My ink I do an doubt the possibility of
ellseting a ninths is seasn ofs
the sled deponents of the
▪ in orsineno, pai ia the dth &specimens of
the navy.thl de net Inn tins a hap redone. any be
dined by shoeing sail eineelling the abases in the
adminithatioa and memagsment ei the (Hear,
hear.) And here Ova am to my, that the greatest
iseponment that mold be Whole& .1a this depart-
ment would be a legnadve emagemen, that no
person employed in the dockyards Awn have the
privilege of voting for members of parliament. (Hear.) That
is set my 'piano slew. I have:heard at beet about twenty
meal gismo Mime disk opinion that so long as a large
peptides etas anthems in the dockyards were allowed to
vat he members of parliament, so long it was impossible for
the gevennest to exercise a due control over the week I
does, et le see that It was dose rightly. But whatever
reinulisse an be Mulled by abeekuig abuses, in God's
ame be ingn, We will rejoice at it, and we will give
our hang seeennindeliens to the merman which effects'
then Bat when the gentry is is a state which
toping the sondem of all its powers, sad requires to
how them all in nadinges, I cannot connive how perms
sea mender it a nee esenomy, though it may be crummy,
Wryly to &Wait the naval and military foram of the
sentry. (Chien) It is announced in the eyrie& tem the
*rose, that is Wended, in the course el the grand me
lion, to take woe step with 'nerd to the ainaminalst of
the law fa dr redsf of the poor is Ireland. st mire im-
portant or =ere dillies& question, cannot engage the Wigs-
don of bar government. If I rightly usilenieed
the eaneuntsmant, the state of the Irish pee law is to hem
the sables. of farther inquiry before parilentent. Now, I
mehm, that without undervaluing the labours ef ••
essmitne
Walther beam, it is my opinion that without • deer sad
dhdast onnonnesmeat of the views sad inentione of the
preennsat, and the is they entertna nip
ammedaseate of the law, nth • coons of
nig a
wise one. If the WOO be to threw the gonna on
the conidderatina parlientoney sesmilasse, without lay-
ratitat say pinolpie kir the guiders* of that eseemitese,
any Millement of the of the governmeat,
and mope_ as m there is • Oaths goverment
aenelly n* the *I the law, Omagh
which accuses Miami= seen be oblabod
then before • parliament, ream der. Aid as the govern-
ment had a lord-lienteaant, of whoa I eat glad to have
the opportunity of saying that be was most uncles to die.
charge properly the duties of his bilk statics, and most
accessible to men of all parties7(Hoss, beer.)—l say, my
lords, that the government haying those peculiar &domi-
nate, and having the means of obtain, information from
elf parts of the country, will not be acting fairly if they
throw the guides hose ea the enolderation of parliament,
and thus shriek boat the iimpodbility which belongs to the
government and whisk N is your bounden duty to the
country and to the senorita to undertake. (Hen, hear.)
It is also anammoed that it is the intestine of genes-
meat to submit • mosente to parliament for the rep al
or modification of the animtlisa hors. As this dtpeniei on
this condition, " if yen the Ind that these laws on, en M
whole or in art, entosomeray he the meislneoto of our
maritime power, whiisV Mar trade sad indeeft, you
will, no doubt, deem It t to repeal se rw,
visions." I as quite • 'lig with that, if .6" I give my
assent to the answer to her Mesty's zradisb:it at the
tame time I cannot give it without py aged
opinion, founded on all the invades I ban see
make, and aided by the patient investigation of
year lordship committee last year, that with se-

11 1114":"Asir. Vell'imes_nienr °IP 7//171hasiftsh- trafy
hat
the
' el the ---)ldaws the
del le the mabgename of the maritime
swomeseep his mettry--(iimar, loser)—ead that they did
not hawse hingede eseemene is say degree, to be plaud is
othatediehnes end ansierpsies to the imams coesidera-
eith at mietleining me maritime wapremsey. (Cheers.)
1 With them clew, whisk I do net thick it mossier, to as-
sent from the answer he *speeds from the throne, it io my
fins intrudes at thi mom time to mist any effort
that may be made materially to tauten with
the IMF,* sad Massey ef tha malaise laws. (Chun.)
disksome M the hi:4MM of he speech. I do mat
am co 'en as I Ahem frees ems of the
statements ineedmed is the epee* to offer say mead
meat to the tome ea erfilal ills preposed to snorer it. Bat,
my feeds, the hot reties of the epee* from the throne ap-
pears to meat= so satmrepo
nt and monism • view of
ctual of the eamory, thall ft important does it
seem to tae than a clear *Ma @Mad be expressed of the
view whisk pediment tame ef the sendition of the interests
referred be, that, minted es I am to interfere
with the unanimity of year lordship's adhere, I
yet hel it my duty to move an additioa by way
of ammdissent to the address. Her Masty states in
the speech from the throne that, "She has great
satisfaction in stating that commerce is reviving from those
shocks which, at the commencement of last session, I had to
deplore. The condition of the manufacturing districts is
likewise more encouraging than it has been fur • consider-
able period. It is also gratifying to me to observe that the
state of the rousse is one of prom, ire improvement" I
cannot joie is thinking that that statement conveys
a fair and accurate representation of the con-
lion of the commerc!al and manufacturing interests
and still less of the revenue. It may be true
that the panic of November, 1647, has passed by but that
the results of that panic have ceased to be felt, that the
commerce end manufactures of the country are in a state of
even comparative prosperity, you are mistaken in supposing,
and the few documents to which I csa refer will show your
lordships that too favourable • view has been taken of these
points in the speech from the throne. Fast, with regard to
finance. It is said that there is a progressive improve-
ment in the revenue. My noble friend who opened
the discussion congratulated the country on that point.
With due deference to my noble friend, that improvement
has not been progressive. It has been immediate, within a
limited period, and from a single cam, sad that cause you
are about to remove—that cause, with your eyes open, you
are about to check. (Cheers.) 'The ordinary revenue of the
country last year exceeded by something like 900,0001. the
revenue of the prectdng year. There is an excess of revenue
in the customs to the amount 0t900,0001. There are fallings
of in other branches. There is an apparent increase in the
excise of 1,100,00 W. But, on the other hand, there is
a falling off in the stamps and taxes to the amount
of between 800,0001. and 900,0001. There was, however, an
berme in the customs duties, which arose from the nth-
ration of the duties on foreign corn in 1848, which had
been removed in 1847, although in the fcrmer year wheat
was selling at a moderate price. The difference between the
returns 0(1847 and 1848 is precisely that which arose from
the duty on corn, and yet on this very day you are about to
remove the only source from which you have derived that
surplus. (Hear, hear.) But there is another and signifi-
cant matter in these figures to which I beg to call the atten-
tion of your lordships. It is a small decrease, but it is not
unimportant. In tee article of the property tax there is •
diminution of 103,0001. And that diminution went on from
quirt*, to quarter of 1848, and as compared wish 1847. The
amount was smell, in itself; but you must recollect that
every diminution under the heal of property-tax was indica-
tive of a lose of the capital, on which the tax was lest d, to
the amount of 33 times the loss to the revenue ; to that the
103,0001. was indicative that British capital had been lost to
the amount of near 3,500,0001. You have no reason, there-
fore, to boast of the manufacturing prosperity of the country.
(Hear, hear.) Referring, again to the only documents
within my reach, namely, the papers periodically pub-
lished by the Board of Trade, I find that there
has bun a diminution in the exports of the six
principal manufactures of the manufacturing districts,
namely, cotton, wool, linen, silk, hardware, and earthen-
ware. The diminution in the exports of these leading
articles in 1848 was as 4,000,000 in value to 6,200,0001. in
1846. Those articles of export, the produce of British in-
dustry, alone fell from 37,000,0001. to 32,600,0001. in
1848. Bat there is another very accurate test of the pro-
sperity of some of the middle and lower cluses of the coun-
try, the amount of withdrawal from the savings' banks
as compared with the deposits. I have slacken to
several persons on this point, and from one and all, without
exception, I have leaned that the withdrawal of depose
was greater last year than the amount invested. And with
regard to the savings banks of Manchester—that important
mar.ufacturing distrist--theamount of withdrawals exceeded
the deposits. by between 40,0501. and 60,0001. (Hear.)
I as unwilling to trespass on your lordships' time, but I
thought it right to enter into these details to prove that
which I feel very strongly, and in which I believe many of
your lordships concur with me, that the general tom and
character of the speech us, even with regard
to our manufacturing and commercial interests, and
the state and prospects of the revenue, given a
more favourable view of the condition of the coun-
try than the real state of the facts would warrant. It will
not be denied, I think, by her Majesty's government, or by
her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the
West India interest is labouring at this moment under deep
and serious depression. Why, when the government so
eagerly grasps at the slightest iadication of returning pre-
poetry in the manufecturu g districts, take no notice of
those which 1 cal the gust and fandamental interests of
every country, but especially of a great maritime country ?
(Hear, hear.) Why, having so readily adverted to what you
look on with something like a gleam of satisfaction, hesitate
to express what you cannot but feel ? Why pass by those
great interests in contemptuous silence and indifference?
I believe those interests to be essential to the prosperity of
this country. Nay, more, I will say this, that I fear the
measures of her Majesty's government are - going far
to perpetuate and incurs the ruin and distress impend-
ing over both those interests. (Hear, hear.) I believe
that with regard to both we have entered into a mistaken
muse of policy. (Hear.) I am glad that my noble and
loured friend is now going to give his powerful aid to the
landed interest as far as was just, seeing, es I anticipated
when you passed that unhappy own law, that thou who
promoted that mums would not be satisfied with what
was originally intended, but would continue their
onslaught is other vital interests of the mazy.
He will five me, if I express a regret that he was ever in
duped, egstnst his better judgment, to wink at the unconsti-
tutional and almost illegal promenings, adopted for the
carrying of that law. (Hear, hear.) I trust, that warned
by this experience, and by the honest confession of my
noble and learned friend, you will bear in mind, that for
the attainment of no object, however desirable in itself, is it
wise, prudent, honourable, or safe, to avail yourselves of the
aid of unconstitutional and almost illegal means.
(Cheers.) My noble and learned friend professes
himself to be • warm friend, of what he calls
free trade. Equally with my noble sad learned friend,
I am opposed to annoremery rearietimm es commerce ; but
I profess myself an umeommemising enemy of the *set,
one-sided, sad bastard lenalmile IVY oh bee been introduced
by her Majeley'spememest /mho bone& of the foreigner
and to the detriment of the Milk homer. (Cheers.) I do
declare myself to bean unensgessing adherent of that old
principle which felt it hobs wits sad just to give an equitable
protection—not a prehilhha—wet a assa voly--ase more
than a nemeary prolleeden * theaterbehme te
the disadvantages undue whisk year owe modem, >bee:
is this country. And to give your own constrymma that
protection wherever they may be hued throughout the
world. (Cheersalistuasere may my that the principle of free
trade has been , cad it must be followed oat—
othigis mita _ . From that principle and that
position I dissent. EhE I asthinue to believe that
on to British is a mewl eat rational
rwetirtinot comet to the paidea that the et
of free trade is smoothies be hen which we morieised
sad our future policy Ilse we soil labs it as a faifamfawgi,
end that protection to nolim Mihaly pest be abashes&
On the contrary, I =grew my deat belief—a belief
strengthened by my eamtime from day to day—that this
country will never pe, that you, will never be able to
*wait the dangerousdesgaa of mischievous men who will
am ibis moms se a laws to upheave and uproot the
foundetione of the essnataden—(Cheers)—until you re-
verse mar policy. My firm conviction is that you must
retrace mew steps, and that at no distant day—that you
must adept the principle of protection u the only sound and
wise policy, sad that to this principle and this system the
feeding and deliberate opinion of the country will compel '
yen. (Loud cheers ) I need hardly waste your lordship.'
tlme by detailing the present_ dweseed prime el agrieelearal
predate. finch of your ludships as are acquaiated with
the southern counties know that vegeuey and mendicancy
were never so frequent—(Hear, hear)—aad whe-
ther the pressers of able-bodied labourers on the
poor rates was not greater than in former year. (Hear.)
I believe that you have given an erroneous impression with
regard to the manufacturing and commercial conditions of
the country. There are other immmat inter-sta labouring
under distress approaching to ruin. I thesefore sentare to
submit an addition to the address, to correct the mks-state-
ments in the spesch,se as to give her Majesty, by the addition
of them, a more correct view of the seae of the country.
(Hear, hear.) I have to think your lordships for the pa-
thless with which you have listened tome, and will now con-
do& by seeing the addition of the following words at the
eswinelea of the paragraph which expresses her Majesty's
esibibedes at the state of the manufactures and commerie
and the progressive improvement of the revenue. "We
however, to be compelled humbly to represent to
Luezia that neither your Majesty's relations with
nor the state of the revenue, nor the condi.
colonial
dm of =dodo and commercial interests, are such
gs in ear opiates to jeti us in addressing tear Majesty in
the hingsege of am don ; and that a largo portion of
too ges,l colonial interests are labouring under a
urag=gressive durrion calculated tomtit* urines ap-
sad anxiety.' (Loud cheers.)
The agemehnent having been pat,
The Mande of LANSDOWIIE thought his noble
friend ealeakesd too sow en the assistame el Ms noble and
learned friend, Manes his noble Ma 1111ffelli Mad never
gave any assurance that he weed go Maws* to tbat pro-
tection which the noble led declared to be the great object
of kis policy. The noble lord commenced by attacking the
foreign polar of the governm e alludeent. Hd to the state
of Austria and Hungary. Her Majesty's government
never interfered between Austria and Hungary, be.
▪ they were not wanted to do so. They did
interim La the dispute between Austria and Lom-
:besida
lo beams they were invited to do so. With
ihe sibs of Austria generally, they contemplated
with interest the minis whisk he taken place there,
which lad mild he* imam= Omsk lofty and noble con-
duct, milt lie poem* woo So pima or the ocoodos, he

would bees ready as the slide lad in admiration of that
eminent mess who spewed to be in that part of tie world
the mast powerfal.iseemeet et restoring the glory of the
Austrian empire. Ho would *sly my that they had amicable
treaties wide Ammtkend no penes would wish less than he
see the onideables Medina whisk satebted for so lone a pe-
tied between Pas traesentries severed. (Hear.) The noble lord
allimited his noble Mead at the head of foreign offers for
aiming his asilitanee and mediates bewares other amen..
uaineited. The papas which would be laid on the table
setae be the het mower to that 'huge. From these it
would be men that in no estate had his noble friend
hearland in the Wain et ether countries, without being
first lashed and sailed upon by these powen to do so.
It was the ezprested wish of Austria to have a congress for
the settlement of the questions in dispute between her and
Lombardy in connexion with this country, and a direct
application was made to the British government for that
purpose. Could that fairly be called an uncalled for inter-
ference ? It was no swat praise to his noble friend to be en-
abled tosay that though almost every country was agitated to
the highest degree, and labouring under circumstances of the
most exciting character, the whole of Europe had remained
at peace. True, questions of nationality and of race had been
raised in some nations, and internal differences of the most
serious nature had prevailed, but so far as between country
and °sentry peas had been =settee& That result he
attributed mainly to the united exertions of France and
England, as adverted to in her Majesty. speech.
He ease now to another point the question of
our interference in the affairs of the Two Bicilies.
In the fint place the noble lord contended that mediation
on oar part in the 'Skin of Sicily and Naples had been un •
invited by the King of Naples. Lord Ninth had gone to
Naples at the invitation of the King. Lord Meth
had also been invited to go to Sicily, end if that was
refused, we were asked to send an ambassador, or Sir W.
Parker, to negotiate a academe nt of the differences between
Naples and that country. Sicily possessed certain rights,
which had been long recognised, and which she hal asserted
and all that was sought was to obtain a guarantee of those
rights for the future. As a matter of feeling, England bad
consented to use ber sacral influence in support of 'to ie rights.
It was Impossible to avoid fording a warm interest in
the wellies of the Sicilian people. In the present instance
the interference on the part of the British and French admi-
rals arose from motives of humenity,and with the view to put
a stop to the atrocities committed by the Neapolitan soldiers,
and in the hope that, ii a suspension of hostilities could be
obtained, the negotiations, which they bad. three times
brought all but to a successful issue, might be renewed with
a more fortunate result. The noble lord (Sthnley) had asked
whether the government held the British admiral responsible
for his interference ? He (the Marquis of Lansdowne) held
himself respoosible for it. He would have aced in the same
way under the same circumsences ; and so, he was sure,
would the noble lord. He must deny that the interference
had been, as the noble lord said, one-tided. 8, far from it,
when the garrison of Palermo was in dang-r of being
butchered, two regiments belonging to the King of Naples
were saved by the captain of an English man-of-war.
Ho was happy to say that our captains and
our admiral in thou seas had throughout distin-
guished themeolve. for humanity, as much as for their
personal efficiency and good conduct—(bear)—and that Sr
W. P.,ther, to whom had been entrusted not cnly the con-
duct of important naval operations, but of delicate and diffi-
cult diplomatic duties, had oa all occasions given the most
entire setiofactios to his country and to his sovereign.
(Hear, hear.) With regard to the Schleswig Hole-ein ques-
tion, he was happy to my that, by the instrumentality of her
Masty's government, in conjunction with whir powers—
with the assistance of Prussia, and by the partial interven-
tion of Sweden and &Mil, the difficulties of that question
bad, in a great measure, withdrawn themselves and dis-
appeared, and there was every reason to expect that
the negotiations would speedily be brought to a satisfact- ry
termination. With regard to Spain, undoubtedly there had
been a suspension of diplomatic iutercourse, which had ori-
ginated in the act of the Spannth government. He hoped
and believed that the time was not far (natant when that
government would be brought to acknowledge the injustice
which had been inflicted au our embossed., and the ground.
lessness of the charge which bad been made the pretext of
his expulsion from Madrid ; and when that time came he
enured thew fordable there would be no hesitation shown
by her Majesty's =enter. to resume those friendly relations
which had heretofore existed between the two countries
(Hear.) As to the Irish poor law he was undoubtedly of
opinion that it would require some revirion during the ses-
non, and cn an early day he should move fur certra papers
preparatory to proposing a comoshtee of inquiry on the sub-
ject. Previous to the adjournment of the house he we old
lay on the table a de-pitch from hie noble friend, the lord
lieutenant, containing his views as th the grounds on which
he recommended the continuance of those extraord inery powers ,
whi h parliament had confided to him, end in which recom-
mendation the government concurred. While he admitted the
duty et the government to advise or reccminend whatever mea-
sures were calculated—provided they were safe and appli-
cable—to smell rate the condition of Ireland, it was err-
tee that no remedial measures could be successful until you
could give security to life and property. With regard
to the paragraph in her Majesty's speech eels-
SITS to the revival of commerce, the fact of such
revival he ta might could not be denied. (Hear.)
The noble lord concluded by stating that, independent of
the corn duties, there was a substantial improvement in the
custom,. During the last year they had increased to the
extent of 200,0001. As to saving banks and the Provident
Institution of Westminster especially, he believed the depo-
sits would be found upon the increase, which was the best
test of their utility.
The Duke of RICHMOND observed that it had been ad-
mitted by noble lords opposite that the country was in deep
distress, indeed it could not be denied. Why was that
fact omitted in her Majesty's speech ? The agri-
cultural population were suffering from distress. Farmers
could not sell their barley, and they were not per-
mitted to malt it without paying a heavy duty. Barley
would not now produce 455. a quarter; how then coihd
farmers and their labourers live ? They were so taxed and
burthened that they could not compete with foreignen who
were exempted from almost all charges. The result would be,
that the honest industrious farmers and thole labourers would
inevitably be driven into the workhouses. The very day the
anti corn law memo was paned, he knew the agricultural
interests of all claws* were rained. As to the rumoured in-
duction of the army, he could not believe that the govern
meat could have been suck cowards as to yield to the threats
of such a despicable body as the anti-corn law agitators.
(Hear, hear.) The reduction in oar forma could not, how-
ever, be very large, for at this very moment both our army
and navy wore too low, and it would be necessary before long
to increase them oossiderably. Could the army in Ireland
be reduced ? No; foe the best incentives to order in that
country was to let the peasantry see and believe there were
handle& of red coats ready to come down upon them. At
the great insurrection which lately took place there—nobody
knew what they were not to have done ; but, after all the
boasting, they were thrashed by half-a-dozen policemen.
(Laughter.) The country had new had a trial of free trade,
and he had no doubt that government would, before long, be
compelled to yield to pressure from without, and again give
protection to the agricultural Interests.
The Earl FITZ WILLIAM believed his noble friend who
just sat down had quits mistaken the public opinion of this
country. Instead of nnivenslytrrosal of the repeal of
the corn laws, She aside duo find that that measure
we the subject of gees& approbation. It could not for a
moment be imagined that the Anti•Corn.law League, of
itself, could have effected thom changes which had taken
plea in the law as to the importation of foreign corn if the
effort' date body had not *mad a response amongst the
mama of the people. The peeaostr of public opinion would not,
therefore, erode* the etikoß antlepated by the noble duke.'
Ho agreed with his noble Mead apposite, that, with respect
to the Irish poor law, it would have been more desirable
that her Ms i (sty's ministers should have proposed a mea-
sure, instead of instituting a committee of inquiry. It was
obviously nesesary that a large alteration should be made in
that law, if they assent to benefit Ireland, more especially in
reaped of the area of taxation. Unless some change were
were made in the area of taxation, it was his decided opinion
that the law would prove a Mare.
The Bari of YARBOROUGH said that he was not
prepared to subject the agriculturist interest again to the
agitation diet lest three or lour years.
The Duke of ARGYLL felt bound to declare that he
would consider thtiaVtion of the amendment nothing short
great
of a public e
The Dabs of WELLINGTONt deprecated the adoption
of the amendment to the address.

Lord STANLEY Dri.9y npli d.
Their lordships then divided.
Contents—(or the cooties _ 52

Non-oontents—for the amendment bo-2
THE PENINSULAR MEDALS
Earl OBEY stated, in reply to a question put by the Duke
of Richmond, that the medals awarded to the veterans who
served in the Peninsular war were issued yesterday
(Thursday).
Their lordships adjourned at 12 o'clock, until Monday
nest.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-THURSDAY FEB. 1.

The Speaker entered the house at about half-past one, and
took his seat in the chair. At half-past two the Deputy
Usher of the Black Rod, Mr. Pula's, entered the house,
and advancing to the table summoned the Spanker to the
Rouse of Lrnds to hear her Majesty's speech.
The Speaker aessedingly, attended by a majority of the
members present, proceeded to the House of Lords. On his
return, the home adjourned.
The house resumed atNEW a quarter
WRITS. before 4 o'clock.

The SPEAKER iniiTneedtiiiionse that, during the
recess, he had directed the Clerk of the Crown to keine new
writs for the West Riding of York, in the room of Viscount
Mopeds, called to the upper house ; for the borough of
Kiag's Lynn, in the room of Lord 0. Bentinck deceased;
for the borough of Liskeard, in the room of the !Rift Hon.
Charles Buller, deceased ; end for the borough of rata, in
the room of William Turner, Esq., dereued.
Oa the motion of Mr. TUFNELL, the Clerk of the
Crown wu ordered to issue out new writs for the borough
of Portsmouth, in the room of the Right Hon. Sir Francis
Thornhill Baring, nominated Pint Lord of the Admiralty ;
sad for the borough of Hull, in the room of M. T. Baines,
Esq., appointed President of the Poor Law Board.
Oa the motion of Sir J. Y. BULLER a new writ me
ordered to issue for South Devon, in the room of Lord Vis-
count Courtenay, who has accepted the Ales of Steward of
the Chiltern Hundreds.
New writs were also ordered to issue for Leominster, in
the room of H. Sealy, Esq., appointed Governor of Bri-
tish Guiana; and for Bolton, is the room of Dr. Bowring,
appointed Britith Consul at Hong-Kong.
NEW MEMBERS.
Mr. R. B. Crowder, elected =mbar for Viler:4rd ,• Mr.
Laurence Hewworth, elected member for Derby ; ant Mr.
M. T. Bus, au elected member for Derby, severally took
the oaths and their outs.

BOROUGH OF SLIGO.
The BPRAILRR sertalaled do inn an ko had ro-
coked as iationlios luta th• spat Se this radon= opine
the rotors he dr barons et Mk" Wno am ems the
petitioa would ma bo preaseded with.
PUBLIC 8U31N68&
NOTICES Or M07101..r Ihmu—Dy fir. Assemer oea
Feb. 11, Ow a emoulttee to Iglu kW die onetleetiNty dottiella6
• lave toksilka of the s tol go/{no of tho em% Iff
slats( • slora lost assibin kr as aatlsoal Mho" through no
milli of plats osimosks.
PSCO/WA AINININIff.-16, it, a. H. 'sous, is kayo to tens Is
• bill to sass us kor d prouni onaussat.
Bien= ILissasa• Asama—By Or a. IL Loch, for Owe to
brins to a MI to awns no marriages of Bridal subleete abroad.
Wean us Pusius.—By Lord Dorcas, this day, the ouppolat.
oft el the ematittea

Jags Poeutoimer.--By Kr. P. Bowen, for an address to the
mown he a Man 1110 Willa tits popa4tioo of Ireland in leg as eon.
pared with its jpatch_ in INL
Terearger. resaumans.-11, Lord Dense flreass, he Lava to
being in • bill te =Mhos tehoolal he saptenoil partimants.
Nowt Censor lksaaw.-1, Mr K. bora, am Taarlay. for •
return tithe earrorpeedeese levees the Lard laarnt et Ireland
and Earl Grey as the snidest at the titles panted to Roman Catholic
prelaes.
Aerates or Etco.y.—By Mr. tongue; on 'Thursday next, to move
a resolution that the intervention of Great Britain In the affairs of
May was • violation of the laws of nations.
ROMAN CirrUOLIC PAINS LSD PIiNALTILL—By Mr. ARMY, on Toes.
day, for a bill to repel the remaining pains and penalties especially
aP to Roman Catholic subjects at this realm.
er= Poucy.—By Lord MOUT enure, on Tuesday week, for
copies of all the oorrespoodenes between the government of this
country and thole of Russia and 'Swim, in relation to the occupation
of Wallachia and Moldavia by Rumen troops.
LISKAIT or vet Houss--By Sir 8. 'JOU; to re-appoint on Toes.
day the Library Committee.
SLAVS TRADS.—By Sir R. bootie, on the earliest possible day, an
address to the Crown, praying that measures might be iS6 en, in cem-
ent with the allies of the Crown, for the gnat imppreasi et of the
slave trwle.

Coo;;;;;. Oonnunnorr.—By Mr. H. Batumi, on Tuesday, for a
eomml'tee to inquire into the complaints of the colonies of Ceylon,
British Guiana, and Mauritius, and to report thereon to the house,
and to report further what measures lammed calculated for the better
administration of those dependencies.
Bea: INGRANIIII.I as AMIZISS. —By Mr. DOPII, Oa Thursday next, t
a bill to repeal 21 Geo. 11, and to transfer the holdieg of the Buck-
inshainsture wiles from Buckingham to e :nos more convenient
place.
lama PaawAxerr.—By Mr. P. O'Consion, on the 15th, for a
select oommittee to inquire by what means the Irish Parliament was
dissolved, and as to the effects of lb d diasoluthon upon England
.and
Ireland.

I ann DITTIMIL—By Malor BLACICALL, on that day fortnight, to
call the attention of the house to the state of Ireland, in consequence
of the three years of severe famine which that country had under-
gone.
Fiansaies.—lly Dlr. ANITRY, on the 13th inst., for a select
committee to Inquire into the suhjectof the flsher.es in Ireland.
Ram. Paorrarr.—By Yr. IL Durnmoson, for a bill to facilitate the
Umtata of real property.
Itnnagn's Monstr.—By Yr. Fcantason, for a committee to inquire
into the subject of minister's moiler in Ireland.
nut Issuatites.—By OoL gtaruoara, for a bill to repeal the duty
on fire Laurance*.

--17tisx 1;;;;;;;K. —By Mr. J. O'CoNNELL., for I 0001112itttO of the
whole holm, to rocsider the dlarstrous sad alarming condition of
Ireland ; also, on an early day, for a bill to provide for the psor of
Irelw.ct to the utmost practicable extent, out oldie ecclesiastical pro-
perty in that country, and out of the estates of persons 'tacit from
their property in Ireland more than six mahout the year.
ECCLASIANTiCAL 1117011 X.—By Mr. HOLMAN, to put two gum.
throne, this day, to lard J. Russell, first as to the arrangement
contemplated with respect to the Rectory of Bhdrowearmouth,
now vacant; and, secondly, what measures of ecelesiastical reform
were to be introduced this .onion by the government, their specific
character, and bow soon they might las erreted.
EXCLID AND STAXP BOADDL—By Me, TVYNALL, on the part of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer (this day), a Intl to consolidate the
i:uards of Exclae and Mumps, and to establish a general Revenue
Board

ORDERA. —By Mr. Trrarti., on the part of Lord J.
ItLIAIOU, a select committee on the sessional orders.
HABEAS Coerce Acr.—By Mr. Tureen, on the part of Mr G.
Grey (on Tuesday), a MU to continue for a limited period the Habeas
lanais Su.pension (Ireland) Act.
Lusa Foos Law.—By Mr. TUINELL. on the part of Sir W.
&otaavitin, on Friday, a select con:mites to inquire into the
operatics of the Irish poor law.
lasso gLECTIONS.—By Mr. Trrsati, on the part of Sir W.
Sommenan, a MU to shorten the duration of elections in Ireland,
and other purposes.
By Mr. Teritu., on the part of the CH ANCELLOR of tho
Ee-
caadrea, on Friday, a select committee on the army and ordnance
estimates.

NATIOATION LAWL—By Yr. TLY24IIILL. on the part of the Pre.
silent of the Hairdo( Trade, on the 12th, for • bill to alter the navi-
gation lava.
larw DIATIZOL —By Mr. TilrlfiLL, on the part of the CHAN-
erLwa of the Exciadquaa, on Wednesday, votes for relief of lrish
diaries.

THE ADDRESS.
The SPEAKER then rose and informed the house that
he had that morning attended the House of Lords, to hear
her Majesty's most gracious speech, and having, for the
once' accuracy, procured a copy of that speech, he would
now read it to the house.
The speech having been accordingly read by the tight ton.
gentleman,
Lord H. VANE moved the address in answer to the
Queen's speech, which was seconded by Mr. E. H. Build:11Y.
The SPEAKER then read the Speech and the Address.
On the question being put that the address be agreed to,
MT. (RATTAN and Mr. DISRAELI rose together. The
former gentleman, however, gave way to
Mr. DISRAELI, who said : I am bound to say that both
in the speech which her Majesty has been advised to address
to her Parliament, and in the answer which it has now been
proposed to us to offer at the feet of the throne, I do not find
that a fair and candid statement as to the condition of this
country is conveyed to those whom we represent. (Pro-
tectionist cheers) Not a candid statement, tiler as regards
the internal condition of this country or its external relations.
(Hear.) At this moment important and numerous es are
the subjects for our consideration, doubtless the most exigent
would seem to be the state of Ireland. (Hear.) But the
language which I find In a silts that I made of the speech
does not convey to me an impression that her Majesty's
ministers are of opinion that the state of Ireland requires
any immediate remedy. (Hear, boar.) The language is
obscure, and if it can be satisfactorily explained it will show
the advantage of discussion in the present instance.
I find these words " The operation of the laws for the re-
lief of the poor inlreland will properly be a subject of your
inquiry, 'and any measures by which those laws may be
beneficially amended, and the condition of the people ma
be improved, wall receive my cordial assent." Now, sir, I
think it is of very great importance to know what her
Majesty's ministers mean to convey by the phrase " early
inquiry." (Hear; hear.) Is it en inquiry for example by
a committee of the House of Commons ? In teat case, the
inquiry no doubt might he early, but the conclusion most pro
bably would be delayed. And certainly, in the present state of
Ireland, if the only measure which her Majesty's ministers are
about to bring forward with respect to that country is a pro-
posal far an inquiry into the operation of the poor law by
a parliamentary committee, I must sty that I think such a
course is neither satisfactory nor etatesmar like. (Hear,
hear.) I don't doubt for a moment—no one now can—the
condition of the state of Ireland. The hon. gentlemen who
represent that country have muck to answer for, in my
opinion, by their conduct with respect to their constituen-
cies. We have to consider whether the present state of Ire-
land is merely brought about by the operation of the poor
laws, or whether it may not have been in • great degree
occasioned and aggravated by measures which they sup-
ported, and by the non-adoption of other measures which
they opposed—measures to which, by the bye, they gave
them private encouragement and offered their public op-
position. (Cheers I say, then, when gentlemen
come forward and complain of the condition of Ire-
land, that it is well they should recollect how far
they may individually be responsible for its present state. I
see a gentleman opposite, who represents a county in Ireland
(Sir P. F. Nugent, Westmeath). I read a speech of his at
• county meeting the other day—l read the reasons which
he alleged for the present condition of Ireland, and I find
that one of the weightiest was the repeal of the corn laws in
the year of our Ltrd 1846. (Hear, hear) Yes! But when
I referred to the list of those who voted on that occa-
sion, I beheld the worthy knight of the shire's name amongst
those who voted in favour of that repeal. (Hear, and a laugo.)
Now, sir, I think it is well for me to consider whether the
Irish member who complain so much, who supported the
repeal, and who opposed measures that were brought for-
ward on this side of the house, privately encouraged at meet-
ings at home, by those very same members' whether those
assemblies are to be forgotten at this moment. One subj et I
calms I am glad to see with respect to Ireland has bean
omitted In her Majesty's speech. I think I may congests-
late the house and the country, and the government, that
they have not brought forward a measure with respect to
Ireland, the only recommendation of which was the tradi-
tionary approbation of statesmen who existed half a century
ago, and who, if they were not mistaken in the opinion
which they then adopted, at least formed that opinion under
circumstances very different from those under which we
unhappily now live a measure which it was ru-
moured was to be introduced the moment par-
liament as-embled—a rumour which seemed at one
time to have good case and all colour of authenticity—l
think it is matter of congratulation, with all the difficulties
we have to encounter, that we have not that mean intro-
duced—a measure which, while it would violate principle,
appears to me could not accomplish any of the objects in
view; that while it would be a measure which must,
under all circumstances, be a gnat blow to the dumb—
would sanction too prevalent a musonoeption as to the tenon
on which the church held property a measure
which' would not conciliate those whom it pre-
tended to please, and would have outraged the sentiments
and convictions of a great majority of the population of the
three kingdoms. Sir, that is one of the topics of her Ma-
jesty's speech, the omission of which is a significant subject
for congratulation. It argues, I think, rather • want of
resources in the statesmen of the present day, that their only
expedient for the cure of Irish evils should be the revival
of an antiquated
.project, which really is not suited to the
spirit of the age in which we live, or to the present condi-
tion of this kingdom. I trust we shall hear no more
of that project, of which I am certain that it
will never bear discussion in this house, and that
no parliament will pam it that fairly represents
the opinion of the poople of this realm. Sir, there are three
paragraphs in her Majesty's speech which I must describe as
congratulatory paragraphs ; they refer to the state of emai-
-1 mute, to the state of manufactures, and to the state of the
revenue. Bir, there can be no difference of feeling amongst
gentlemen on either aide of the house ; it must be a pleasure
to hear that there is any increase of employment in the
manufacturing districts, especially amongst those gentlemen
who come from rural regions, because certainly they cannot
aware the house that there is any great increase of employ-
ment in those parts of the counetriL/Hear.) But, Sir, I am
say
that when I am upon to express great
addiction that commerce has revived, the decay of which
during last session we had to deplore, I am called on to as-
sent to a statement which, under the authority of parlia-
ment, is calculated to convey to the people a deceptive view.
Sir, I must take a general view of the commercial position
of this country at the present moment, and it appears to me
that the commerce of this country is greatly suffering. I
find that the exports of this country have fallen off by mil-
lions, and that the decay has taken place under
the new commercial system. That commercial system was
introduced to oar notice, tad adopted by us after

ea ohaervation of three years; and now I bring to
l,
dentists of its results also the ohs leatioos of a period oicosa--i.j
duration. Sir, lam perfectly willing to admit—more -- willing to admit—l am anxious to inculcate the emu toga
„
comity and expediency, on all comma-id questions, or ogg
moat impartial statements.' When these alterations ...-
posed they were theoretical, and oar appreibeesigu
equally theoretical. It is not at all sarprisiag that,
such circumstances, then should have been some heat in oe. position ; but when we have facts to deal with thee
official conclusions which cannot be controverted, all gong—
we have to do is to exercise that sand caution which all possess, and draw ho
seto
which no one can deny, il they are founded upon data the
authenticity of which no one disputes. Now, the ow;
commercial statement the results of which are referred
the speech, has had a fair trial and has failed. I at.in pas,
fectly aware of everything that can be said on the
eko,
hand; for lam weary of repeating those arguments 144 are daily brought forward. It may be said, true it la, g
new commercial system his been on trial three year,. het
It has had to encounter exceptional circumstances white as
one could have anticipated. (Hear.) I am perfectly -
to your giving. in your adherence to my statement in you
own terms. ' Our commercial system has had a famine of
cora in Europe, and a famine of cotton in Amulet ; it hag
had to encounter convulsions throughout the Continent-
and you cannot be surprised that a new eaugoescja
system, under such circumstances, should have faileie
Now, in the year 1847 the importations from the Uniteil
States to this country were the greatest in amount u" record. There was an importation of what, in the Amer?
language, is called "bread stuffs," to so great an amount rig
even the extra profit of the Americans upon bread staffs, es
compared with the prices in 1843, unmerited to 530000 m,
sterling ; that is to say, omitting the ample and suit '
mt
profit they would have obtained under any circumstances,
the excess of profit in 1847, in coteequenre
of
the famine in Europe, was 5,300,0001, while jj,
consequence of the famine of cotton in the United States,
the extra profits amounted to 3,200,0001. Therefore the
Americans received from us an extra profit of eight and a
half millions. Now the natural question which we ask oar.
selves is, what did the Americans take in exchange under
these circumstances? We have now the complete return
before us. They took from your cotton manufactories, ig
round numbers, sixty millions of yards extra. Instead of
twenty•flve millions which they took before the change of the
laws, they took, in the year 1847, under these remarkable
circumstances. eighty-five millions, an amount not rood
to that which the Levantine market takes at this moment.
The question, therefore, for you to consider is whether,
parting with 60 million yard. more of your cotton manu-
factures is an equivalent importation for the immense impor-
tations you received, and the immense prices you pay, to tag
United States ? But it to hypens that the 1., turns we have
be'ore us prove that even these 60 millions of yards were sot
exported in consequence of the ate, &flan of your law ; be.
cause it appears now by the Americ n returns, which
1 have here, that the home manufactures were in-
creasing at the rate of 30,000 bales per annual
in the year 1817, in consequence of the high
mice of cotton, and in consequence of commercial circum-
stances, which allowed her to import your manufactures
much cheaper than she could manufacture herself. She
(*seed to manufacture that year, and therefore if you had
not taken her bread stuffs, she would herself have Imported
tram you a much larger amount of your cotton ; and this is
proved by the circumstance, that in the year 1818, she has
resumed, on a much greater scale, her manufactures, and the
excess of importations of your manufactures to the United
States has fallen off in the last year,notwithstanding the great
importation of bread stuffs, more than thirty millions of
yards. The two famines of corn and canon, which you say
have p ted your system from having a fair chance, com-
bine to give youa chance with the United States, whichtpre-
bably you never will enjoy again. Have we no', with regard to
the third point, the c tuvalsions on the continent, have we
not every day during the recess, every day since parliament
was prorogued, in morning journal, and evening paper%
aid those oracular publications that appear only on Satur-
day—while all deplore the state of the commerce of this coun-
try, have we not been remi seled, that, with theCOUTtliiiol/11on
the continent it was only what was to be expected ? Al; agree
in one thing, that in the present state of the continent the
manufsetures of Manchester could not b 3 disposed of. Tog
have got ycur returns, and it turns out that in 1848 you
have exported more than you did before. So that in lent
the third great circumstance which has been circulated 0)
keep the country ejuiet, turns oat to be a circumstance, ex-
ceptional, but highly favourable to the devel.pment of
your system. There are two other circumstances
which are never referred to by hon. gentlemen'
opposite, with respect to the trial of the new system—
also exceptional e rcumstances, but alto, as I shall show,
highly favourable to the experiment et your new system. Ia
the fleet place, this very famine preveLted the general dis-
trees which we predicted. You have been sustained by high
prices in the home market, which your policy is calculated
to injure. Besid s these four exceptional circumstances them
is another one of great importance also. Men who have
deeply considered this subject—men not connected with
the parties of the state—men who wrote before these
experiments were even thought of, they arguing upon
this question have always said—that if you attempted to
fight hostile tariffs with free imports, independent of many
evils which we are all familiar with—we have always im-
pressed upon the public that the consequence of such a policy
would have a fatal effect upon the dottibu ion of the pre-
cious metals, dangerous to all countries, but most perilous to
a country like England, with her tined debt and
fixed payments. What has happened? Th se convulsions on
the continent which you have slimed as one of the causes
of the evils of the new commercial system have
saved you from the inevitable consequences of your
new and rash legislation. There are five causes which have
acted in favour of your system which have tended to dimi-
nish and soften its inevitable evils, three of which, since par-
liament was prorogued, you have been telling the people
were the causes of your evils. Why has your system failed ?
Why is the commerce of England, after all these promises,
in this prostrate state ? The reason is simple, because
the country whose products you so liberally take,
will not take your productions. It shows you
the operation of your system in the United States ; that
under the greatest stimulus that ever was known, with a
corn famine and cotton famine—with the United States re-
ceiving an extra profit of eight and a half millions, you only
could send out of your cotton nimiutactoties 60 millions of
yards extra, and in the next year it fell down to 30. Look
at the position in which you are placed with reference bilks
Brazils. You all remember the Brazilian trade. Every
one recollects the glowing accounts of the late Vice-
President of the Board of Trade. Your Brazilian
trade, for which you sacrificed your own colonies,
and is which there was an increase of 261 millions in 1846,
has so glutted the market, that goods are selling at Rio and
Bahia at cost price. Russia is still sealed, and Prussia is not
yet shaken, Some say it is a matter of no consequence how
much we may export. Tke question is, how muck
we may import. The French will not give us their produc-
close fey nothing, and therefore we need no: trouble our-
'elves in these matter,. There is no doubt that the French
will not give us their goods without exchanging something.
But the questitsa for us, and which the people of this coun-
try are looking at at this moment, is to know exactly what
are the terms of exchange which are beneficial for the court-
try. There is another reason why you cannot delay meeting
the question of the principle on which the commercel sys-
tem of this country is to be founded. Tou can no longer
delay considering the state of your colonies. Consider on
what relations you will stand with your coluies should yon
adopt the principle of commercial reciprocity. It is the only
principle which can be acted upon beneficially either to the
mother country or to the colonies. Reciprocity is consistent
with every philosophic science that can be called in question;
it ruts not merely on experience, but on abstract truth. It
is the only principle upon which an expansive system of
commerce can be established, because it is at the same time
cosmopolitan and national. (Hear, hear.) But your present
system to hostile tariffs opposes free imports ; and the con-
sequential, since ever that system has been pursued, have
been most injurious to the commerce of this country. Every
year since you have come here at the commencement of the
session, not to congratulate the house on the state of our
commerce, but to explain why it suffer., why it is prostrate,
sect on ais occasion you are only too happy to say that it is
recovering—from what? From an unprecedented state of
depression. (Cheers.) I shell road one conclusion to the
house as to the value of the colonial trade, even to that in-
terest in the country to which every other must be sacri-
fieod—l mean the industry of Lancashire. I take that in-
terest as being most important because to it, it appear, all our
legislation must bend. (Hear, bear.) I dare say that the
returns I shall produce will surprise many ho-
mumble gentlemen. Here is a return of the exports of
calico for the last sixteen years from 1831 to 1846, both in-
clusive, to British and foreign possessions reepectively, and
what think you is the result ? To all foreign ports during
those sixteen yearn—and it is only by these general views
you can know the value of our tride to all foreign ports—to
all foreign ports the exports of British calicoes have been
6,913 millions of yards, to our colonies 3,269 millions of
yards, se that the latter have taken 313 millions of yards
more than half the rest of the world. (Hear, heir.) In
the same manner the British West Indies and Canada took
680 millions of yards, while the United States took only 514
million., so that during the period to which I have alluded
our American colonies altogether took 165 millions of yards
more than the whole of the United States. (Hear, hear.)
In the same period the consumption of the British exceeded
that of the foreign West Indies by 86 millions. Then
India and China, as compared with Brazil, exceed the con-
sumption of the latter by 903 millions of yards. Now, it
will be said that I take a long period, over a portion of
which our colonists wore highly protected, and their trade
was thereby highly stimulated. To meet that difficulty I
have divided the whole time into two periods of eight years
each, and I find that during the last eight years, as com-
pared with the first, there has been an increased export of
Manchester goods, to the British possessions, of one billion
666 millions, while to all foreign possessions there has been
an increase of one billion, showing an advantage, in favour
of the British possessions, of 666 millions. To the
British West Indies there has been increased ex-
port to the extent of 69 millions of yards, while to
the United States there has been, during the last eight
years, a falling 'off of 105 millions of yards. (Hear,
bear.) With respect to these facts I wish to make one ob-
servation to the house, and that is, that during the last year,
since the changes in our commercial legislation, the total de-
crease in our exports to all parts has amounted to 174 mil-
lions of yards. Here are changes sine* you changed the
principles of your commercial code. (Hear, hear.) This .
the moral of your new commercial system, and yet these are
documents drawn up by your own officers—sometimes doc-
tored by them—(a laugh)--and in the face of such results
you call upon the hones to express an opinion that
there has been a substantial revival of trade:
It is the flirt time since 1 have had the honour of
a seat in this hours that the sovereign has met parliament
sad has not been able to congratulate the House of Commons
on the fact that she had received from all her allies 411444-

111111111111.111.11111111.111111 i