The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-01 00:00:00

THE Btil ",2 LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, VIIIITLITARY 19 NW.

ADDRESS.

Earl BRUCE then rose to move the Address in answer to
her Majesty's most gracious Speech from the throne. He
requested the indulgence of their Lorcships in moving the
Address in answer to her Majesty's most gracious Speech,
as he had never betbre had the honour of addressing
their Lordships. He would willingly have ab-
stained from making any observations had he not
considered that such a course would be dis-
respectful to their Lordships. Her Majesty had been gra •
ciously pleased to inform them that negotiations were ex-
isting with the Northern and Southern States of Europe,
which were in a state of war. With regard to Sicily, this
country must always feel a great interest in the well-being of
that Island, and hewas rejoiced to hear that the French and
English Admirals had interfered to prevent the perpetration
of atrocities in that Island which were horrifying even to
those Admirals who had been used to the horrors of
warfare. Negotiations were now in progress for the pacifi-
cation of that island, and he trusted that no observations
would be made on that subject which might have the
effect of interrupting the course of those negotiations.
He rejoiced to find that the estimates would be reduced.
Whilst in every country of the continent they found the
expenses were increasing and the revenue diminish-
ing, in this country they found that while the revenue
was increasing they were about to decrease their expen-
diture. Nevertheless, it was necessary that no reduction
should be proposed which would reduce the effective force of
defence of the country, and he was satisfied that the Govern-
ment would propose no such reduction. Our army for the
most part was employed in the protection of our colonial
empire, and it was impossible to propose any great reduc-
tion in an army employed to protect colonies situated
eight thousand miles from the mother country, so
long as we maintained our colonies no great reduction
could take place in our army expenditure; and
he trusted that whatever reduction might take
place in the army, none would take place in the artillery of
this country. He thought, however, that no op-
portunity. should be lost in making every reduction
possible in the army ; and he was rejoiced to perceive a
desire, in a neighbouring country, to make a reduction in the
number of their troops. Twelve months since the state of trade
was deplorable. A rapid improvement had recently taken place
and that improvement would have been still more rapid
had it not been for the state of affairs on the Con-
tinent and in Ireland. The revenue had increased
during the last year to the extent of 722,000/, and he
believed there was every prospect that such improve•
ment would go on rapidly increasing. He was happy to say
that the allusion to Ireland in the Speech from the Throne had
not been of so unsatisfactory .a nature as it had been on a
former occasion. Last year a rebellion had been ap-
prehended. That rebellion had now been crushed. Thanks
to the extraordinary powers which had been granted
to the Lord-Lieutenant, and to the energy, discretion, and
firmness with which the Lord-Lieutenant had exercised those
powers.—(Cheers.) Her Majesty's Government had wished
for a continuance of those powers, and he humbly submitted
that as those powers had been found sufficient to put down
rebellion, they would be continued to enable the Lord-
Lieutenant to preserve the peace and tranquillity of Ireland.
Those well disposed persons who were desirous of im-
proving the :condition of Ireland had no opportunity
of doing so unless peace and tranquillity were established
in that country, and if the Noble Lord at the head of the
Government of Ireland deemed the continuance of those
powers necessary to secure the tranquillity of that
country, he trusted that their Lordships would not he-
sitate to endow his Lordship with those powers
which had been already so beneficially exercised. He
could not but speak with the utmost regret of those pub-
lic men of which this country has only just been deprived.
Of one of those he would speak with the greatest respect,
who had, in the providence of God, been removed from among
them, one whose appearance was at all times heartily wel-
comed by this House, and whose departure was a severe loss
to the country. Nor could he refrain from alluding to
another gentleman, who was also a distinguished Member
of the Legislature, though he belonged to the other House
of Parliament, and whose untimely death all would lament.—
(Hear, hear.) He could not, however, while passing from
this painful topic, help congratulating their Lord-
ships on the blessings which they enjoyed under the:ex-
istence of a contitutional monarchy, blessings which
have been rendered apparent in the promotion of
the general welfare of the community, the loyalty of the
people, and the honour of the Sovereign.—(Hear, hear.)
The Noble Lord concluded by reading a copy of the Address,
which was, as usual, a repetition, in other terms, of the
Speech.
Lord BATEMAN seconded the Address. _ . _

Lora BROUGHAM, in rising to address their Lordships
regretted that the assent which he was desirous of giving
to the terms of the Speech from the Throne, and the senti-
ments which had fallen from his Noble Friend in moving
the Addresa in reply to the Speech, was not altogether so
unquailified as he could wish. He greatly feared that, in
the fair representation of manufacturing and commercial
prosperity of the country, his Noble Friends in the Govern-
ment and the equally Noble supporters had made some slight
mistake in the assumption of again of 800,0004 at the p»-
sent moment in the revenue, and in expressing an opinion
that the revenue would progress in amount for some time
in the future. He applauded all the measures which his
Noble Friends on the other side of the House had
tsken, but he feared that the fairy aspect of things would
lose something of its beauty, when he reminded their
Lordships, that this gain of 800,000/. would absolutely
cease this very day, for it so happened that this same
800,0001. was last year received for the duties on
corn, which duties had now altogether been virtually
done away. And while alluding to this measure of
free trade, he as an humble but zealous friend of that
much-abused principle of free trade, :a principle to which
he was so addicted, that he had most reluctantly given his
adhesion to the unconstitutional, and he might say, almost
unlawful means by which it was carried into effect.
[LEYT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The House resumed at a Quarter to Four o'clock.
The SPEAKER informed the House that during tit(, recess
he had issued writs for the election of Members for King's
Lynn, in the room of Lord George Bentinck, deceased ; for
the West Riding of Yorkshire, in the room of Lord M erpeth,
who had succeeded to the Earldom of Carlisle ; for LI skeard,
in the room of Mr. Buller, deceased; and for Truro, in the
room of Mr. Turner, deceased.
SLIGO ELECTION.
The SPEAKER also informed the House that he .had
received a letter from the agent of the parties petitioning
against the return of Mr. Somers for the borough of Sligo,
stating that it was not their intention to proceed with. such
petition.