The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-07 00:00:00

CANADA.

Her Majesty's Message to the House having been
read,

Viscount MELBOURNE said, notwithstanding the
great and paramount importance of the subject
brought under their Lordship's consideration by her
Majesty's most gracious message—notwithstanding its
great magnitude, and vast interest, and notwith-
standing the conviction which he apprehended their
Lordships would all feel of the necessity of prompt de-
cision npbn the measure to be adopted, he did not consider
it necessary to detain their Lordships by any lengthened
observations, or to take up their time for any long pe-
riod upon the present occa,ion. It had appeared un-
questionably tat all these circumstances of the great
importance of the subject to which be had adverted
had impressed upon her Majesty's servants the
necessity of bringing it under their Lordships
consideration in the most solemn and formal
manner by a message from the Throne. During
the last session of Pirliament, when the measures about
to be introduced were confessedly not of a permanent
character but of a transient, temporary, and occasional mt-

tore, and which were calculated merely to meet the peculiar
circumstances of the case, the Noble Duke talked of
the subject of censure, and that they had been guilty of
a dereliction of duty in •not bringing down a Message
on that occasion, and under such circumstances, from
the Crown. Whether that be so or not—whether
the Noble Duke was right or not, it was not necessary
for him to inquire. But their Lordships would necessa-
rily feel that now, when they were called on, and when
it was the intention of Government to propose measures
with the object, and as he hoped they would have the
effect of settling the affairs of that country on a perma-
nent, durable, and stable foundation. There could be
no doubt that it was their duty to introduce these mea-
sures to the consideration of Parliament, with all the
solemnity which it was possible to invest them with.
The message from the Throne only submitted the sub-
ject to their Lordships' consideration ; it pointed out to
their Lordships that the principles of the measure in-
tended to be submitted to Parliament were the prin-
ciples of an union, for the purpose of legislating for
these two provinces, into which that part of her Ma-
jesty's dominions were divided by the Act of 1791. But
although it pointed out that such was the principle of
the intended measure, neither upon that
principle of a
union, nor any other part of the question,
was it his in-
tention to call upon their Lordships at the present
moment for a decided opinion, or anything in the'
least degree resembling or approaching it.--( Hear.)
All those should be left for futuredaneuhsustmonb.le He
should content himself by moving that
ad-
dress be returned to her Majesty, thanking her for her
most gracious message from the Throne and declaring
their Lordships' readiness to take into, considerationAsi
such measures as should be proposed to them.
was not his intention to enter into the details of any
t
of the measures, or of the various documents that had
been submitted to their Lordships, he trusted their
Lordships would think he best dischurged his duty by
not going either into the general question, or into any
part of that question on this occasion. He would,
therefore, at once move—" That an humble ad-
dress be presented to her Majesty, returning the
thanks of this House for her Majesty's most
gracious message relative to the provinces
of Lower and Upper Canada, and assuring her Majesty
that we will not fail to take into our most serious con-
sideration the subjects recommended to our attention by
her Majesty, and that we are desirous of concurring in
all ouch measures as may Majesty hest tend to promote the sa-
lutary objects her Majesty has in view."
The Duke of WELLINGTON said it did not appear
to him to be necessary that be should enter into any
discussion at present upon what had passed on this
subject in the course of last Session. .That to which
the House had now to address itself was the
proposition made by the Noble Viscount that
an answer should be returned to her Majesty's
gracious message. Nothing could be more reasonable
than to comply with that proposition. The Noble Vis-
count had refrained from pledging the House, by the
answer be proposed to return, in any specific manner
upon the subjects to which her Majesty's message re-
lated. He bad also most judiciously avoided referring
to the documents or other matters on the subject ; and
he (the Noble Duke) should follow the example, and
content himself with the hope that their Lordships
would carry to the foot of the Throne an unanimous as-
surance of their Lordships' willingness to take this sub-
ject into consideration, and to do what they could with
the view of promoting her Majesty's objects.
The Earl of WICKLOW wished to know whether
the Noble Viscount opposite had received any addi-
tional information or suggestion from the Governors-
General of these provinces to that which was before
the House. If so it would be most convenient that
such further information should be laid before the
House, before any legislalive measure was proposed for
its adoption.

Lord MELBOURNE said if there was any addi-
tional information of course it would be, most proper
that that information should be before their Lordships.
Lord BROUGHAM entirely agreed with the Noble
Duke that the course taken by the Noble Viscount not
only rendered any discussion unnecessary, but precluded
all discussion on the present occasion. The return of
the present answer was a mere act of courtesy on
the part of their Lordships to an act of courtesy
on the part' of the Crown. W hether it was ne-
cessary to have brought down a message from
the Crown before introducing some measure on this
question was one thing, but it certainly was not neces-
sary. It was expedient, and it had been thought so. It
had been found expedient to adopt such a course since
1791, but he protested against such a course being con.
sidt,red a precedent either in this or in the other House
of Parli.inent. The course adopted in 1791 had not

been found to work very successfully, and therefore per-
haps it was that it was resorted to on the present occasion.
He did not further object to it—he should vote for the
address, - but in doing so he should consider
himself as fully entitled to object either to the
principle, or to any or every part of any measure.
that might be brought forward as if he had not voted for
the present address. The Noble Earl opposite was
mistaken in supposing that this vote would be any
thing like a pledge to adopt Sir Francis Head's views—
it was a mere pledge to adopt the union of the two Pro-
vinces, which was as old as the hills.
The Address was unanimously agreed to.
A message from the Commons brought up the Ex-
chequer Bills Bill and several others.
Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Mire.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at a few minutes be-
fore Four o'Clock.

Lord Kilburne was introduced by Mr. Houston and

Lord Stormont, and took the oaths and his seat for the
county of Ayr, in the room of the late Sir John Dunlop.
Mr. Crafer, from the Treasury presented papers.
SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY. •

Sir E. KNATCHBULL moved the further consi-
deration of the petition presented from the South
Eastern Railway Company, praying for the suspension
of the Standing Orders, and for leave to proceed with
their Bill. The deviation proposed was a very trifling
one, and all the parties were agreed. If the proposition
were not agreed to, the parties would be much damni-
fied, and the public not served.

Mr. ESTCOURT begged to call the attention of
the House to the fact, that this petition prayed the
House to set aside a decision come to by the Standing
Orders Committee. The notices were correctly given
for Bill No. 1, but it was abandoned, and No. 2
introduced, but though parties might have agreed
to No. 1, where was the evidence to show that
they had given their assent to No, 2 ? they might
have gone out of the county, or they might have
altered their minds since giving their assent, but
had no notice, and therefore could not now oppose.
He trusted the House would support the Standing Or-
ders Committee as no case had been made out for extend-
ing to the parties such an extraordinary indulgence as
that which they sought.
Lord G. SOMERSET said that although it was of
the utmost importance the House should uphold the
Standing Orders Committee, yet this was a case in which
that decision might with great propriety be overruled.
The effect of not acceding to the motion would be to
adjourn the completion of two important lines of railway
for a twelvemonth. There was no dissentient party
on the line proposed to be taken, and under these cir-
cumstances, he thought the House ought to accede to
the motion of the Hon. Baronet, the Member for Kent.

Mr. HODGES supported the motion. ---
-
Mr. BARNEBY opposed the motion. When cer-
tain rules were laid down for the guidance of the House
and the regulation of its business, these rules ought to
be adhered to. No case had been made out for re-
laxing them in the present instance.
Captain PEC HELL thought the course adopted by
the Hon. Member for the University of Oxford, was
a most extraordinary one. It was now attempted to
put forward a line from which all the landowners dis-
sented, instead of one to which all parties had assented
He hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would not per
severe in his opposition to the motion.

Mr. M'LEAN had the greatest possible ob.
jection to discussing these questions in the House.
He would like to know whether the House
or the Standing Orders Committee was to be
the judge upon these points. He certainly should
protest against the House adopting the practice of
going into questions upon Standing Orders.
Mr. FRES HFIELD said it was of great import-
ance that there should be a line from Greenwich along
the t.outh.eastern coast. He should, therefore, vote
for the motion before the Chair.

Sir E. KNATCHBULL moved that it be an in-
struction to the House that the Bill be not proceeded
v'ith.

Leave was then given to bring in the Bill,
Lord STANLEY brought up the report of the
Committee on the Preston and Wyre Railway Harbour
and Dock Bill.

The Rochdale Water-works Bill was read a third
time and passed.
On the motion of Mr. BAINES, the Lords amend-
ments to the. Leeds Soke Bill was agreed to.
Mr. CRAWFORD prezer.ted a petition against the
monopolies exercised by Railways in the conveyance of
goods.

On the motion of Mr. ACL AND, the Alms-
worths (Somerset) Inclosare Bill was read a second time.

PENNY POSTAGE.

Mr. HOWARD presented a petition from Carlisle
in favour of a uniform penny postage.
Mr. WAR BU PITON presented 26 similar petitions
Mr. M'LEAN presented a similar petition from-
Oxford.

Lord ELIOT presented a similar petition from
Lostwithiel, as did Mr. BEAMISH from Cork, and Mr.
DIVETT from Exeter.

Similar petitions were presented by Lord G. LEN-
NOX, Mr. HODGES, Mr. Serge,.nt JACKSON, Mr,
PEASE, and Captain WEmYss.
SLAVERY.

Mr. H. BERKELEY presented a petition from the
Bristol Anti-Slavery Society, praying that the Assembly
of Jamaica be suspended.

Sir E. KNATCHBULL presented a petition from
Deal, praying for increased religious instruction for
the Colonies.

Sir W. JAMES presented a petition from the
Chamber of Commerce of Hull, praying that in any
County Courts' Bill the Court of Record in Hull might
not be abolished. Also one praying that no system of
National Education might be established not founded
upon the principles of the Established Church ; and
one against the clause in the Prisons Bill, which alowed
the appointment of Catholic Chaplains.
Mr. BYNG presented a petition from Hertford in
favour of the Small Tenements Rating Bill.
Sir D. ROCHE presented several petitions in favour
of the Ministerial policy in Ireland.
Mr. EWART presented a petition in favour of Mr.
Rowland Hill's plan of postage.
Mr. TURNER presented a petition in favour of the
Manchester and Birmingham Railway Bill.
Captain PECHELL presented a petition from the
licensed victuallers of Brighton against the Beer Bill.
Mr. BLAIR presented a petition from Dumfries,
praying for Church Extension in Scotland ; and one
from Wigton in favour of an uniform rate of postage,
according to the plan of Mr. R. Hill.
Mr. G. W. HOPE gave notice that he should, in
Committee on the Copyhold Enfranchisement Bill,
move the omission of the Compulsory Clauses.
Sir ROBERT INGLIS gave notice that he should
to-morrow present a petition from the University of
Oxford, praying for Church Extension in England.
BANK OF ENGLAND.

Mr. HUME gave notice that he should to-morrow
move for a Select Committee to inquire into the pecu-
niary transactions of the Bank of England, and to met,
tain how far those transactions had tended to the em-
barrassment of commercial affairs in 1835, 1836, and
1837, and to inquire whether, as the Bank of England
was now constituted, there could be stability in the cur-
rency or confidence in the commercial transactions of
the country.
RETIREMENT OF THE SPEAKER.

The SPEAKER said before the House proceeded
to the Order of the Day, I must respectfully request
that I may be permitted to make a communication to.
the House, of which it ought to be in possesion. Expe-
rience
has admonished me that I have no longer the
strength to enable me to meet, as I have heretofore done,
the fatigue and labour inseparable from the discharge of
the duties of that situation in which I have the honour
to be placed. I have therefore come to the determi-
nation not to resume my seat in the chair after the
recess at Whitsuntide. I have adopted the
course which I am now pursuing because it will
afford the House an opportunity of deliberating
on the choice of their Speaker, and will afford the least
obstruction to the progress of public business. As I
propose to continue in the discharge of my present du-
ties until Whitsuntide, I do trust the House will be of
opinion that I act with propriety in now limiting my ob-
servations to the simple announcement of the fact of my
intended resignation.—(" Hear, hear," from both sides
of the House).

Lord JOHN RUSSELL then rose and said—Sir,
I am sure the whole House would have heard with
great concern the announcement you have just made.—
( Hear, hear.) Sir, if I were to consult my own feel.
ings, rather than yours, I should be disposed to make
some remarks upon that announcement, but I am sure,
Sir, that I am consulting your feelings when I say that
I shall not now enter on the question of the merits which
have been conspicuous in the situation which you have
filled. I will only sity, therefore, Sir, that in leaving the
Chair,l am sure you will carry with you the respect, regard,
and gratitude of the House.—(Loud cheers from both
sides.)

Sir ROBERT PEEL—Mr. Speaker, as the Noble
Lord has declared that out of consideration to your
feelings he has placed a restraint upon the expression
of his own, I feel myself almost compelled to fol-
low the example he has taken. But as my situa-
tion is not altogether the same with that of the
Noble Lord—as, on your first proposal to the
chair you had the cordial support of the Noble Lord—
and, as it was my painful duty, Sir, to give my vote to
another candidate, I may, perhaps, be justified in so
far departing from the example of the Noble Lord,
as to offer my public testimony to the integrity and
impartiality with which you have discharged
your duties in presiding over the deliberations of this
House—(Cheermg)—and to declare that I think, not
only on account of the discharge•of your duties in the
chair, but on account of your persevering efforts to
improve the conduct of private business, thereby
to raise the character of the House in the estimation
of the country, you are entitled to an expression of
public gratitude.•—(Loud cheers from all sides of the
House.)

The announcement created a great sensation in the
House ; all business was suspended, and groups of
members were collected at the bar and behind the
Speaker's chair, engaged in earnest conversation.