The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-04 00:00:00

a farthing better, and therefore he had no interest
in the matter. (Hear, hear.) Another part of the
project of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was to
increase the direct taxation of the country, by doubling
the house tax upon those who pay it, and by ex-
tending it down to 101. houses. (Shameful.) Now,
gentlemen, if the public credit required an increase
of taxation, if the safety of the country needed an
augmentation of the revenue, and if no other mode
less objectionable could be found, I am persuaded that
the patriotism and good sense of the householders of Eng-
land would lead them cheerfully to acquiesce even in
that augmentation of their burdens. (No, no.) But
there was no such necessity in the present instance.
The necessity of augmenting the house tax was to be
created by the diminution of the malt tax, and of the
hop duty, and the duty on tea. Well, these were not
necessary things ; we could go on tolerably well without
any such alteration ; and, therefore, the augmentation of
the house tax was an unnecessary increase of the bur-
dens of a class of men to whose burdens it is not de-
sirable to add without some real and pressing necessity.
(Bravo.) Gentlemen, it was easy to foresee what would
be the fate of that proposition in the House of Commons.
It was very soon manifest that it would be rejected. I
should have voted against it if my health had permitted
me at that moment to attend the house. (Cheers.) But
I was unable to do so, and therefore did not vote at all.
Gentlemen, Governments have often been beaten on
questions of taxation, and have not thought it necessary
on that account to resign. The late Government, how-
ever, took a different view of the matter. They staked
their existence on the carrying of the double house tax,
and that proposal having been rejected, they tendered
the resignation of their offices. Now, gentlemen, that
Government undoubtedly contained within itself men of
distinguished ability, of splendid talents, and of highly
established reputation as writers and as statesmen.
But, taking the Government as a whole, it was not in
the aggregate composed of such a number of men of ad-
ministrative experience as the wants of the country in
the present position of affairs seemed, in public opinion,
to require—(hear, hear)—.and therefore it is my opinion
that, if that, Government had not resigned on the
question of the budget, it could not reasonably have
expected to survive the end of the session. (Hear,
hear, hear.) Well, gentlemen, that Government having
resigned, and a Government being about to be formed
composed of men of liberal principles, of expe-
rience in office, of enlightened views, with many of whom
I had long acted in public life, with others of whom I
had lately been associated in the discharge of my par-
liamentary functions, and it being thought that my as-
sistance might tend to render that Government more
useful, I felt that I should have been shrinking from the
performance of a public duty if I had refused the solici-
tations which I received, not only from the present head
of the Government, but from my most valued and es-
teemed friend the Marquis of Lansdowne, if I had de-
clined to accept office in the present Administration.
(Cheers.) Gentlemen, I think it may be said, without
improper boasting, that there has seldom if ever existed
in this country an Administration which combined within
itself more men who, by their talents, their experience,
and their political principles, were entitled to the confi-
dence of their countrymen. (Cheers,) I trust that the
Government will receive that confidence which I think
they have a right to claim ; and I trust that, although
the House of Commons is divided into parts not greatly
varying in numbers between themselves—l trust, al-
though that is the case, that we may fairly expect to
receive from the House of Commons that fair and
generous support to which a well intentioned Govern-
ment may justly think itself entitled. (Cheers.) Gen-
tlemen, I say nothing of the future. You must judge of
the future by the past. It would ill become a member
of the Government to be telling his constituents what
the Cabinet intended to do, and what would be the re-
sult of their deliberations. (Hear, hear.) But of this
' at least you may be sure, that the Government will hold
in view as the rule of their conduct the principle of pro-
gressive improvement in all matters which concern the
great interests of the country. (Cheers.) I trust
that we shall be able to maintain abroad peace with
dignity and with honour. (Cheers.) I trust that
we shall be able to promote the interests of our
fellow-countrymen at home, and I ask for the Govern-
ment nothing but that which an Englishman will always
accord—a free stage and no favour—a fair trial, and
a just and impartial judgment. (Cheers.) Gentlemen,
I hope I have not trespassed too long upon your indul-
gence. (No, no.) If time would permit, and if your
patience and my strength would allow, I might have ex-
patiated on these various topics at greater length, but I
shall claim that promise which you were kind enough to
make me at the outset, that you would permit me to con-
dense within the smallest possible limits such observa-
tions as I might feel it my duty to submit to you.
(Cheers.) Gentlemen, I again beg to say that I never
can forget the repeated expressions of confidence and the
accumulated honours which it has been your pleasure to
confer upon me. (Loud cheers.) In returning thanks,
as your member to the electors, it is my duty not to for-
get that that great question which has agitated the
United States has not yet been carried in this country—
I mean the woman's question. (Laughter.) In that
country they maintain that the ladies ought to vote.
Our progress has not yet reached that point, but never-
.. . _

theless, having returned thanks to those who are enti•
tied to vote, I perhaps may be permitted to thank those
who influence those who have the right to vote—(laugh-
ter)—and to tender my humble
_thanks to the ladies of
Tiverton as well as the electors for those~ kind good
offices, which I am persuaded they have afforded with
their relations and friends. (Laughter.) The noble
lord concluded amidst loud cheers, by proposing a vote
of thanks to the mayor for his able and impartial con-
duct, not only on the present but upon every other simi-
lar occasion.

The MAYOR briefly acknowledged the compliment,
and the proceedings then terminated.
The noble lord and a large number of his friends after-
wards dined together at the Three Tuns Tavern, under
the presidency of Mr. F. Hole.