Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-04 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS -YESTERDAY

Their lordships re-assemble l at five o'clock for the
purpose of discussing the address to be presented to her
Majesty, in answer to her most gracious speech from the
throne.

NEW PEER.
Lord Macauley took the oaths and his seat.
THE ADDRESS.

Lord Portman rose. to move the address. The noble
lord, after claiming the indulgence of the House, pro-
ceeded to refer to the Government letter to the Bank,
contending that the step which her Majesty's Ministers
had taken was necessary to restore confidence in the
money market, which had been almost destroyed by the
failure of joint stock banks. He held that the Bank of
Eugland had done all in their power to avert
evils arising from a drain of bullion by raising the rate of
discount, but that did not meet the emergency. Her
Majesty's Ministers had taken the only course left open to
them for the preservation of the credit of the country, and
he did not think their Lordships would hesitate to pass the
Bill of Indemnity alluded to in the Royal Speech. The
noble lord proceeded to refer to the measures of Reform
promised in the speech ; and expressed his satisfaction
that they wore to expect, in the present session, a reform

in law as well as in the representation. With regard to the
estimates, he recommended that a wide economy should be
exercised, while proper provision was made for the public
service. Referring to the mutiny in India, he observed
that it will be the duty of the Legislature to
consider the question of the government of India,
the civil and military affairs of this portion of her Majesty's
territories, and that these subjects would be considered in
no narrow view, and he thought it the duty of this country
to advance Christianity in India so far as could be done
consistent with a safe and judicious policy. The noble
lord then entered into a defence of Lord Canning, con-
tending that he had done all in his power with the limited
force at his command. In coneusion, he alluded to the
paragraph of the speech which refers to our foreign rela•
tions, and expressed satisfaction with its purport, conclud-
ing by expressirg his hope that the alliance with France
would long continue.
Lord Derby declared that in the whole course of his
political life he had never enterei upon a session of
Parliament under circumstances of such varied interest
they had overwhelming distress at home, and the Indian
empire, shaken to its foundation abroad, and he was glad
to find that there was no European war to increase the
calamity. It was, perhaps, a calamity to the noble lord at
the head of the Government that the nations of Europe
were at peace, and nothing seemed likely to disturb it,
and he suggested that if there was any anxie y to maintain
the peace of Europe, allasions should not be made to
visionary intentions of oth-r powers to take advantage of
the difficulties of England. He expressed surprise that
after the Premier's language about China, nothing had
been done; and in regard to India, he referred to the
actions of the military officers in terms of eulogy, and
repeated the charge made against Lord Canning of want
of energy. The noble earl then alluded to the
gallantry of the troops in India, and paid high
tributes to the heroism of their commanders.
In regard to the Bank Act, he did not find fault with the
Government for the course which they had pursued in
suspending the operation of the Act of 1844, but demanded
explanations of their intentions in regard to any contem-
plated alteration in their Charter. A complaint was made
by the noble Earl of delay in the transmission of troops to
India, and of the refusal of the Government to avail
themselves of the facilities offered by the Emperor of the
French and the Peninsular and Oriental Company. He
also touched upon the misery of the labouring classes in
the North of England; the promised Reform measure by
the Government, to which he promised to give his best
consideration ; and the other points referred to in the Royal
Speech in detail; and amongst other points recommended
that in the future government of India no interference
should be made. wi h the religion of the natives,
by persons in authority, but that the extension of Chris-
tianity amongst the Hindoos should be left to missionaries.
Earl Granville replied to the speech of the Earl of Darby.
In regard to the reference made by the noble earl to the
misery of the working classes in the north, he remarked
that there was a general confederation between masters
and operatives in order to mitigate the severity of the
approaching winter ; and added that it was a consolation,
to which the speech referred, that Providence had blessed
the land with a plentiful harvest. He charged the noble
Earl with exaggerating the state of affairs in India, though
he agreed with all that he had said respecting the heroism
of the army in India, and with them he would couple
a large majority of the civilians. He defended
the Governor-General, contending that he had
accomplished as much as could haver been accomplished
with the force at his disposal. With regard to the despatch
of troops to India, he stated his belief, that the means
most consistent with the safety of the forces had been
adopted. The other questions which it was intimated
would be presented to the consideration of Parliament,
would not be brought forward in the early part of the
Session, and it was not, therefore, his intention to enter
into any explanation of them.

The Earl of Ellenborough asked whether it was intended
to introduce any measure in the present Session fur the
re modelling of the Government of India.
Earl Granville could not enter into any explanations on
the subject•
The Earl of Derby was surprised at the manner in
which the Government had thought fit to deal with the
subject, mentioned in a paragraph in the Speech.
The Earl of Ellenborough then made a complaint
against the Government for delay in the transmission of
troops to India, and declared that if Lucknow had fallen
the Government would alone be responsible for the horrors
that might have been perpetrated there.
The Duke of Argyll stated, that after the news that
Delhi was in the hands of the mutineers, no•undue delay
was chargeable against the Court of Directors, or the
Government in sending out troops.
The Earle of Hardwicke said, the charge which they
had made kainst the Government was, that they did
not at first attach sufficient importance to the danger in
India.

Earl Grey believed that this second suspension of the
Bank Act of 1844, would render ituseless, and that, there-
fore, it ought to be expunged from the Statute Book. He
regretted that it was not the immediate intention of
the Government to introduce any measure at least deter-
mining by whom and under what circumstances the sus-
pension of the act should take place.
Lord 0 verstone took a E imi la r view.

The Earl of Eglinton thought the Government should
have a permissive power to relax the restric,ions of the
Bank Act.

Lord Monteagle was prepared to give his support to the
Bill of Indemnity. He expressed an opinion that if the
Government had not taken the course which they did,
there would have been a stoppage of the Bank.

The Address was then agreed to.
Tho House adjourned at 11 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-YES.TERDAY,

The house met for the transaction of business at a
quarter to four o'clock.

NEW MEMBERS.

Mr. Byng, for Middlesex, and Mr. W. J. Fox, for
Oldham, who were elected during the recess, took the
oaths and their seats.

NEW WRITS.

On the motion of Mr. Hayter, new writs were ordered
to be issued for Harwich, Paidey, and East Kent, in the
room of Major Warburton, deceased, Mr. Archibald Hastie,
deceased, and Sir E. Daring, who has accepted the
Chiltern Hundreds.

On the motion of Mr. Knightly, a new writ was ordered
forNorthamp ton shire, in the room of Mr. Stafford, deceased.
On the motion of Mr. Thomas Baring, a new writ was
ordered to issue for Thetford, in the room of the Hon.
Francis Baring, deceased.