The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-07 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS--(YESTERDAY.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
five o'clock.
Some bills, including the Fisheries Bill, were advanced
tage.

the house to address her Majesty upon the present position
of affairs, it should yet be done in a solemn, constitutional
manner after due notice, and not by a sort of side
wind, as some hon. members seemed now to desire. (Hear.)
He therefore implored the house not to be led into a dis-
cussion at this moment, which could accomplish no public
object, while it might seriously obstruct the settlement of
affairs. Let the house then wait until they had a responsible
Government before them when explanations might be
fairly and properly demanded, and not waste time in en-
tering upon a conversation of this kind. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. MUNTZ thought the house was in a very humilia-
ting situation already, and the country was in a hu-
miliating coudition—(hear, hear)—for here they had
been wasting eight or nine whole days to get a
Government, and now it almost seemed that none could be
formed. Why should the country have to wait until three
or four aristocratic families had adjusted their disputes be-
fore it could obtain a Government ? (Hear.) The fact was
the feeling was growing out of doors that there were men
disconnected with these aristocratic families of sufficient
energy and ability to carry on the Government, and to
those they ought to address themselves. (Hear, hear.) It
was the feeling of the people of England that the heads of
the different parties were unnecessarily wasting time, and if
something were not done to put an end to the present
state of things the country would not only be disgraced in
the eyes of Europe, but placed in a position of imminent
danger. (Cheers.)
Mr. MALINS could not look at the present state of
things without serious alarm, and he agreed with the hon.
gentleman who had just addressed them, that it was anything
but satisfactory to the country that 8 or 9 days should be
Th allowedevot
eto
thatela Government being formed.
p\Sveaswciotmhoeutoaantythe early part of last week
was intended as a vote of censure upon the Government,
and what had since occurred had proved that the censure
was well merited. (Hear, hear.) It was, indeed, a dis-
astrous state of things that in a country like this a body
of men could not be found capable of managing the Go-
vernment, but the time had arrived when it was absolutely
necessary that the people should take the matter into their
own hands and no longer allow the administration of their
political affairs to depend upon the wills or the whims of
a few aristocratic families. (Cheers.) If those aristo-
erotica could not find men competent enough for the task
amongst themselves they should have the good sense to give
way, and he demanded to know of the right honour-
able gentleman opposite whether they had any reason-
able prospect of forming a Government. (Loud cheers.)
He blamed the Duke of -Newcastle for having undertaken
an office for which he was not fit, while ho equally blamed
the noble lord the member for London for acquiescing in
the appointment. He hoped the house would not tolerate
this state of things ; and if a Government was not formed
before Thursday, he should expect to see an address moved
to the Crown on the subject. He attributed the present
state of affairs to the unfortunate breaking up of the Con-
servative party in 1845 ; but he believed the time had
come when the country would no longer be governed by
the minority in Parliament.
Mr. S. WORTLEY put it to the house whether this
communication could be of any service to the country ?
He apprehended not ; and since they had been informed
that the one man to whom the country looked at this
juncture was engaged in the formation of a Government,
what other course could they take but at once assent to
the adjournment.
Mr. ROEBUCK remarked, in answer to Mr. Malins,
that the minority were not to blame that the Conservatives
were not in office, because the leader of that party had been
called upon to form an Administration, and he had failed
to do so. With regard to proceeding with the committee,
he could not do so in the absence of a responsible Govern.
meet ; while, as for what had been stated about the noble
lord the member for Tiverton, he hoped he would sot the
obstructions aside, and form an Administration of men
who, if they did not obtain the support of the house, would
be likely to receive the confidence of the country. (Cheers.)
After a few words of explanation from Mr. L'aevriNcis,
The house adjourned at 10 minutes past five o'clock.