The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-20 00:00:00

affec the interests of this country in the slightest ,degrea.
Why, in fifty years' time it would not signify if there was a
ss, duty imposed upon corn. At all events, he was of opinion
that their Lordships ought to be satisfied with the declara-
tion of the Noble Earl.—( Hear, hear.)
The Earl of ABERDEEN said—My Lords, I was pre-
pared to be satisfied with the declaration made by mY,
Noble Friend at the head of the Government, in answer to
the question which has been put by the Noble Duke.—
(Hear, hear.) •But after the speech of the Noble Baron I
confess I am almost in doubt what interpretation I am
to put upon the declaration made by my-Noble Friend.—
(Hear, hear.) As for waiting to see how an Opposition. be-
haves, or how a third party behaves, of whom' I am sorry.
to say, lam one —(A laugh)—having sat in this House for
forty years, I am afraid that it is not likely that the Noble
Baron will receive much new light upon the subject. (So
we understood, but the Noble Earl was at times indistinctly
heard.) I believe I have always acted consistently in this
House. I have already mentioned the great subjects upon
which I differ from my Noble Friend at the head of the
Government, and to that difference I . intend to. adhere.
—(Hear, hear.) But when the Noble Lord treats the
question as a matter of little importance, I can only say it
is not EO much the intrinsic question itself that is to be re-
garded as its relation to the welfare ,nd prosperi!y, and
even the peace of the country.—( Loud cries of "Bear, hear.")
I think my Noble Friend at the head of the Government has
given such an answer as was c ,nsistent with his -duty'
(Hear, hear)—but he must permit me to give my interpre-
tation of it atier that which we have received from the
Nobie Baron.—(Hear.) I understood him to say that, eql-
sistently with such measures as were of urgent and priMarY
importance being passed—a matter which must always be of
one degree—(" Hear," from the Earl of Derby) - he may st 7
tach greater importance to some than I MaY, but it i 9 for bins
f course to decide --(Hear)--such measures as he-thinks of
primary importance ( Hear)—that heWeuld then advise her
Majesty to dissolve Parliament.—(Hear.) But the impor-
tant part of the declaration is this - that, be it soahernihe
it later, a new Parliament will be called to decide that „great

question to which I have referred in the courssof the autean
-("Hear," from the Earl of Derby.:) With that lam quite
satisfied-( Hear)-and. I should feel that pressing for arty pre-
cise pledge as to time would be highly improper. and, in fact ?
aucousthutional.-(Hear, hear.) Indeed, for this House. to ,
interfere with the dissolution of Parliament altogether; .i'
perhaps, stepping out of its province. (Hear, _hear, ')
I am aware that in this House, for instance, Lord Chat'
ham moved an address to the Crown to dissolve
Parliament ; but whatever Lord Chatham's merits
as a Minister might be, certainly his conduct in Opposition.
LI-not for your Lordships to follow-(Hear, hear)-eand I
trust, if any such motion should be, prapesed in this Have,
it would meet with no concurrence from your.Lordslaipsesee
Hear, hear.) But I must just advert tea topic alluded to
by my Noble Friend, when he 'said that the precedent to
which the Noble Duke, I think, had referred, of Mr. Pines
first Government, was not strictly iet point. Thetis truer
except that there is one respect in which the position of m 7
Noble Friend is singularly similar to thtet•ot Mr. Pitt in los
first Government, namely, that of himself sustaining the
whole weight of the Government on his- own shoulder
(Some laughter and cries of "Hear, hear," from the Opposi-
tion). 1 believe I may say that without offence to his CA"
leagues, for probably they may be the first to acknowledge,
his superiority, his splendid talents, and his high persona"
character.-(Hear, hear.) In that therefore he strictly re-
sembles Mr. Pitt.- ("Hear, hear," and a laugh). But who!'
he alluded to the other precedent, of Sießobert Peel, I wets' ,
say he has quite mistaken the facts as they took place, for
Sir Robert Peel began by dissolving the • Parliament ;• he
theh met the new Parliament, and with small majorities
against him struggled on for a certain time in the hope end
prospect of converting his minority into a majority.
(Hear, hear.) And how long did he do that? He
remained, for two months only. Parliament met,
think, early in February. and I think-I. , 21,e
the honour of forming a part of that Government-we re-
signed on the 7th of April.-4 Hear, hear.) Now, he badn_?
remedy; but my Noble Friend, if he were in the same pole
tion of being pressed by majorities against him;` has the re
'1:m(1Y-which Sir. R. Peel did not possess, because he had al'
ready tried it.-(Hear.) Therefore my Noble Friend .4
time may have recourse to an appeal to the country, to can'
e
vert the majority against him into one in his favour, if he
thinks proper to resort to it.-(Hear.) - It seems that /8 I
course which my Noble Friend is not prepared to take,
though I recollect, sitting on this sic of the House, the
Noble Lord always professed to be exceedingly anxious fer a
dissolution-(Hear)-to bring the question to an issue.'
(Hear.) Now, I do not wish to press this le much; Ltake
for granted still that my Noble Friend is net reluctant to
take that course-(" Heir," from the Earl of Derby) and --
therefore I wish with the most perfect fairness to admit that
in situation I think he is bdund to carry the measures
described as essential and indispensable to the welfare of the
country, so as to enable him to.fultil the promise he has made
to the House.- (Hear.). What he said was quiteiratisfaetory•
and all that coud be desired; it was only the strange glees
put upon it by the Noble Baron which left me no coureeebtlt
to state my understanding of the matter.-4 Hear.)
Earl GREY also was satisfied with the declaration of the
Noble Earl (the Earl of Derby ), though dissatisfied with the
gloss put upon it by the Noble Baron. But the mere fact of
the Noble Earl announcing hi wish and intentionto have
the question of our future commercial policy brought to
speedy issue,' and not lett in uncertainty longer than was
necessary, would render the.existing• House of Commons, see
important questions with the'
necessary of considering any
necessary calmness, and deliberation, when Members would
be occupied with their canvass and future election,' that &
very speedy dissolution would now be found desirable.
(Hear, hear.). Therefore, be (Earl Grey) was quite satisfied
with the Noble Earl's declaration; and he thought, it •
inconsistent with the Noble Baron's idea of a session of not
only ordinary but more than ordinary length -(Hear.) eeß4
ele
his{ Earl -Grey') principal object in rising was this--'ast
Monday, when the Noble Earl stated that he was ;Well
following the precedent set by Lord J. Russell in 1846441
withholding a 'specific explanation of the 'intentions and
views of the Government-upon the great subject of, Protec-
tion or no Protection, he quoted a speech of -' that',.Xoolo
Lord to show that he declined to state the views of the 01*t
Government upon important questions;
.and he (Earl•Gre c,
ventured to contradict that representation; but, as he
b 'wee
speaking only from recollection e had not been able toe
press himself so strongly as he was now able to d 0.,"
J. Russell was called upon to make a statement of,the Yis'r'
of the Administration; and he replied that be had beenetweee
long in Parliament, and his views were toe generally kliegs'
upon the all-important questions then before the publicr 7
make it necessary that .he should enter upon any such gre
neral statement, but that with regard to specific quegtlene
which he had been asked, he was ready to give in answer' 4‘
and,egth regard to the question respecting the Irish, chart
his answer Was.clear and distinct. He said that,ile:
opinion the existing state of things with regard to the Ir.i7
Church was not:altogether satisfactory, and he had; Velteiw ce e.
favour of a motion of Mr:' Roebuck on the apptopriatier4::e ,i
property of that church, and the . eedownaeet of 41,ayn9otti'
but that that motion was rejected, and, though he thong
the rejeeion wrongi he was prepared to abide eby the
recorded sense :of' tithe • House of Comnitess, 0/1'
was not the intention of his Governeeteiat to RN;
pose ; any alteration of that state of things.
added; . that he would not pledge -himself----to - adhere-Le':
this, if at any time there should be a change 1"-
opinion of the Irish Catholics and, the Scotch, ,Pralbri
terms and the Enghele people-a, general change of
Ilion,- but he stated clearly, that it was not the intention' e
the Government to make any proposition upon the stsVeit
He (Earl Grey) should, for one, be satisfied if the • ew'
Earl would make that declaration with regard to protectiate
and say it was not the intention of the GovereMeent to, Pt
pose any alteration in the commercial policy of the ootoltr7e
-(Hear, hear) -that, though it would be 'open to hiol
make it if be saw a change of opinion, it was not his inter e •
tion, as at present advised, to make such An Ote3ati°l*-7r.'
(Hear.) • The all-important question in,ehe present day TIP
freedom of commerce; let" the electors "
show *babe/they
were really electing persons in favour of freedom of-corn"
merce or ,not.- (Hear.) Tee Noble Baron .had_sai4
was comparatively an insignificant question; he.(Feeri Veg,-•
so entirely differed from him 'that he agreed with the et.
Earl (the Earl of Aberdeen) in thinking it the onerzaia.
of overwhelteing importance to the country. --
The welfare and peace of the country
being understood what ware to he rtnerlearese -The
upon this all-important question?- isee'veheee, amt
Noble Baron adverted to rdceedioneft to the ,Government;
tiducyed.
pizrnslats
conduct of the`different parties el?P° he bad only, to Detain.
if he wished things to be otherwise,it ihat they.did not •meati '
the cetintry..-(Heare)
eeelareicytar
from the Government a
to disturb the cotranerceelli;hat
,wade (Eati Grey) ,
It was doubt upon thiserre'euete.extrePle.Pieiellet.. ,ttoughf
treat the Govertiniettcw'heeeperlahailY w.ith 6032fidehee.
it was not one tea P
kelaraticans of opinions and pence,
did not, far 6° " tbing to lead him to anticipate the necesee•
pies went 4 see abyee.
Ito except upon this °these'.
sits of any veil ,(1
---,Wear, hear.) -Upon that subject -ice t • proteetioe. _
tarn o
could InVite mm with nothir
but. exteelllO
declarations 'cou
distru •sr --(Hear, hear.) What had .falleu from. the Nato
de him even more
Baron bad ma distrustful than.nefere
hear.) He stated that a protective
(Hear, policy wo
it the next
re-adopted,elections sheuld make the Govern
went strong enengh.--(llear, 'hear.) It was, to be wipp,-2
the Noble Earl had stated his views, one av or other.;
little more clearly, in.
justice to those to whoWint aof sae,e-e. extreme iinportance that there should be '1
w 3 -e
subject.-(Elea,.) doubt upssubject.-(Elear.)e cher
They should be told, or no-wee---ny it was or nut the intention of. the Government
to propose
alteration of our comm • •
ercial polcy. (Hear • : The petition was then orderedi to lie on the.) table.
PATE
NT LAW AMENDMENT No. 2) BILL.
Lord COLCHESTER, in moving the second, reading• of
this Bill, said i was in principle the same with that welch
Passe their Lordships' House last year, adopting many (
the Commons' amendments, which there was net time tie
consider last year. There was to be a Board of Commis"
sioners for Patents, and an Examiner would be appointed to.
examine into the novelty of the invention. The Noble Lord
then briefly described the order of the proceedings to, be
taken upon petitions for patents. The expenses of obtaining
patents would be very considerably reduced. Formerly,
when there was no opposition, the tees amounted to 1011/.,
bat under this Bill the fees for the first three years would bee.,
only 20/.,with hi. stamp duty, and the patent cotild beesree -
newed fur a further period on payment of some additional,;,,
fees. There "were also clauses in the Bill which' Woukteetleee
able persons wishing to take out patents to ascertain _Nebel;
ther any patent for a similar object had been prei'looSl
grantee, and they could ascertain from the specificaticln
such patent aerrheth er their- improvements eeeere-ernlttiril
to render it worth while to persevere in the application. It
was proposed that the Queen should have power to • grant,,
patents for the colonies, in cases where her Majesty theughL
fit to do so. It was intended that a separate. Bill should..be
introduced with regard to. inventions used in foreign Bhll3
which came within the jurisdiction of the British Crown.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said that a Bill had
already been introduced on this subject by a Noble and
Learned Lord, who was not now present, which differed in
sonic respects from this measure, particularly in some clausee
relating to machinery. He -would suggest, therefore, whether
the better course would not be to reter both Bills to a Select '
Committee?

Lord COLCHESTER expressed his readiness to secede to
the suggestion of the Noble Lord.
Lord TRURO said he did not rise to oppose the Bill, and;
he would be anxious to afford any assistance in his power tQ'
the Noble Lord who had charge of it, with a view to render
it efficient. He must say, however, that he would undertake ,
to show that this Bill, in its present form, would increase
expense, wont increase delay, and would greatly increase
dissatisfaction, and that it would be much more eppressive'fa
the patentees than the existing law. If the Bill was referred
to a Select Committee he would communicate his objections
to the law officers of the Crown.

After a few words from the Earl of
The Bill was read a second time, and was ordered to be r !•• , ,
ferred to a Select Committee.
Their Lordships adjourned at a Quarter to Eight o'clock.

HOUSE OF CO4MONS, March 19. •
Tire SPEAKER I,llok Ihe Chair siv2rl;l3? before. Fogr,
o'clock.

PETITIONS.
Several petiticus wore presented in favour of oveiT
penny po3ttage.
Mr. A. IiASTIE presented a petition from 010400“