The Sun.
London, England, 1838-03-08 00:00:00

tion must refer I think to those who were in Canada, who
were in Nova Scotia, and who being persons of naval
and military rank, may be supposed to be persons
competent to form a judgment on, those questions.
It is upon the opinion of these persons the Duke of Wellington
formed his judgment. I know attempts have been made to
quibble away the meaning of the Noble Duke's expressions.
But their plain meaning is not to be so quibbled away, and they
remain as an acquittal of the Government for not sending more
troops to Canada.—( Cheers.) Another authority, entitled on
this subject to great credit, is that of Mr. Roebuck, who, in
one of his speeches, said that the Canadians had not force
enough to resist the country by arms. Sir, the main defence
after all is, that in cases of very great difficulty the revolt was
not general, but partial, and had been suppressed by force of
her Majesty's troops. There still exists difficulties in the
province which were not conquered by the Administration of
Mr. Pitt in 1791 ; nor of Lord Liverpool in 1825 ; nor of
the Duke of Wellington in 1828 ; and which would not
have been conquered by the Administration of the Right
Honourable Baronet in 1831.—( Loud cheers.) I say,
Sir, upon vague presumptions, that things might have been
better—that some passages in certain despatches were
not altogether reconcilable with the opinions of some Hon.
Gentlemen as to what ought to have been said. But those par-
ticular circumstances were slight and trifling grounds for a
censure upon the Government.—( Hear.) And, fur my own
part I feel more comfortable in the reflection that my Noble
Friend ( Lord Glenelg) is at the head of the Colonial depart-
ment, than I was when my Noble Friend (Lord Stanley) was
at the head of it.—( Hear, hear, hear, and cheers.)
I must say when my Noble Friend was at the head of
the Colonial Department, I remember the expres-
sions that were used by him to a popular Assem-
bly. I own that when those terms were used in the
statute—l remember, likewise, that my feeling was having had
the misfortune to differ with the Noble Lord upon many ques-
tions of Irish policy—thinking, as it is now notorious to the
world, that his measures upon that subject had tended to
inflame and exasperate.—( Cries of Hear, bear, hear.) I
always had a sort of hope, not without some misgivings, that
my Honourable Friend who had produced so little good in
Ireland, might do something better in the Colonies, and
that I should not have the misery of suffering in
those responsibilities arising from the miseries of his
policy in Ireland again in the Colonies—( Vehement cheers
from both sides of the House.) I say my difference
with the Noble Lord in respect to the affairs of Ireland after-
wards became notorious to the world—and there is no reason
from any conduct that he has pursued towards me, any more
than towards any of his other former colleagues, which should
induce me now to withhold my opinion with respect to his
policy in governing the affairs of a great empire. I had hoped
those differences were confined to the subject of the Irish Church.
I had hoped, that having arisen from an opinion early
conceived by the Noble Lord with respect to the Church, they
were not differences that affected general principles of Admi-
nistration ; but I own from what I have seen since that I think,
though it might be easy to make a taunt against the Noble
Lord for leaving the party to which he was at first connected,
and joining that to which he is now attached, may justify
him on that point, by saying that, by education and family, he
naturally belonged to the old Whig party of this country; but
that, when he came to discuss public affairs, his principles and
opinions led him naturally into the ranks of those with
whom he is now associated.—(Long-continued cheering.)
Now, Sir, a few words with regard to the effect of the motion
before this House ; because, although the Right Hon. Ba-
ronet seemed to say that was not a fair argument to be
used in the discussion, it was an argument which had '
ever been used in the House of Commons in regard
to motions of this kind ; and with regard to a motion of this
very kind, I will mention some of the general principles
that were laid down by an authority—not perhaps re-
spected enough by me, but greatly so by gentlemen
opposite—l mean Mr. Pitt. He said that he did not dis-
pute the right of the House to address the King for the
removal of Ministers ; yet nothing could be more mischievous
than Parliamentary interference by declared censure, ren-
dering the continuance in office impossible, unless that inter-
ference was justified by the extraordinary exigencies of the case.
They ought also to look to the consideration of public
expediency—of public safety. There are opinions which I con-
ceive to be sound with respect to a motion, which is in fact
a motion for the removal of Ministers. The necessity for it
must be shown by some strong grounds in the state of public
affairs. —( Cheers.) Now, Sir, without entering into the
various questions of policy that have not boon entered
into in the debate, I do ask what arc the extraordinary
circumstances which, in former times, have made such motion
necessary ? Are we engaged in the midst of a calamitous war?
Have we lost any of our fleets or armies ? Have we been de-
prived of any of her Majesty's dominions? Is civil war raging
in the country ? Is the United Kingdom distracted by
civil disturbance ? Why, Sir, Ido say, in all these circum-
stances there is nothing very extraordinary. If taking
no credit for tranquillity or peace with foreign Powers,
I am yet entitled to say, there is nothing of calamity
on the face of public affairs—(Cheers)---and that it
ould be a most extraordinary and an unusual step for
the House of Commons to interfere, without the pros-
pect of some immediate good, some great public
advantage which is to follow from the dismissal of Ministers ?
Ono of these questions is whether there is an immediate means
of forming another and a stronger administration. Is there the
means of forming an administration which will have
a stronger majority in this House ? If you will have recourse
to a general election, are you certain that you would come
out of that ordeal with any certainty of obtaining such a
majority as will enable you to carry on art adminis-
tration? I believe you can give no answer to these ques-
tions.—( Hear, hear, hear.) My belief is that if by a
vote of this House the present Ministry is removed, the one
succeeding it will not live the three years succeeding their en-
trance into office. Ido say therefore, that as there is no certain
prospect of such a majority—as there is no calamity hanging
over the country—the speculation as to the likelihood of a cer-
tain course of policy preventing the insurrection which took
place in Canada, was a most unusual ground for the re-
moval of the Administration.—( Hear, hear.) With these
opinions, therefore,and feeling the affairs of Canada had been
dealt with by Government in the manner best calculated to
preserve them to the Crown, I will leave the question in the
hands of the House. The Hon. Bart., after several weeks pre-
paration, and after a call of the House, has moved a vote of per-
sonal censure against one of the Secretaries of State. If he perse-
vere in that motion I shall feel myself hound to take advan-
tage of every circumstance which will enable me to give a direct
negative to the motion. Without considering for a moment the
amendment, I shall feel it my duty to my Colleague to
take the sense of the House ; but at the same time, as the
Hon. Baronet must feel that he has received no support from
this House, I hope that he will withdraw the motion—and
for my, part I shall feel perfectly satisfied if lie does so.
Hon. Gentlemen opposite cannot say that we have not met
their amendment. We thought it right to meet it directly.—
( Cheers. ) I feel therefore in duty bound not to put aside
by any motion in this House the motion of the Honour-
able Baronet either. But I also think it my duty to make
this request to the Honourable Baronet that he will not
prevent us from coming to the direct division, and from
making the question a direct one between the two great par-
ties in this House.—(Cheers and cries of " No, no," followed
by loud cries for Sir W. Molesworth.
- )
Sir W. MOLE SW ORTH said—Sir, at the same time
that I assent to the proposition of the Noble Lord in
my motion, inasmuch as the amendment will first
withdrawing
go to a division, I have, however, to say that I cannot vote
a.ainst
the amendment, because it justly censures the con-
Act of her Majesty's Government in their policy towards
Canada ; and I cannot vote for it, because in its preamble
it is unfair, unjust, and partial, and casts a censure upon the
Goverament for their general conduct, and for mea-
sures in which I have supported them, and of which I ap-
prove.—( Vehement cheering, and cries of " Divide, divide.")
St rangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the House
divided, when the numbers were_...
For Lord Sandon's motion .
287

Against it 316
MAJORITY FOR MINISTERS... 29
The excitement in th," House on the numbers being announced
exceeded anything we ever rememicr to have witnessed. Se.
vcral Members were observed standing on the floor of the
House waving their hats, &e.
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at three o'clock.

LONDON and WESTMINSTER. BANK.

The fourth Annual Meeting of the Directors and Proprietors of the
London and 'Westminster Bank took place yesterday at the Old London
Tavern, Bishopsgate-street. There was a full attendance of share-
holders and others interested in the affairs of the Company.
The chair was taken at one o'clock by Mr. Glans, who stated that he
regretted very much the absence of Mr. Stewart, who had usually
presided at their annual meetings, and who had been detained by
unavoidable business in Scotland. He regretted this the more
because Mr. Stewart had been in the habit of addressing them at great
length on the nature and advantage of Joint Stock Banks.—(Hear.)
He (Mr. Gibbs) would not attempt to address them upon the subject
further than to observe that the concern in which they were all inte-
rested, was in a sound and healthy state, and was likely to become a
large and prosperous establishment. He would now call upon the Se-
cretary to read the Report of the Directors, and the statement of the
accounts of the Company.
The Secretary then read the Report as follows
REPORT.
On this the Fourth Anniversary of the Lond,:n and Westminster
Bank, the Directors have again satisfaction in meeting the proprietors
for the purpose of submitting to them a Report of the proceedings of the
year ended 31st December, 1837.
It is well known that the commercial difficulties which were adverted
to in the previous reports, pros ailed for a considerable portion of the last
year. That state of affairs rendered it expedient that a larger than
ordinary amount of the Company's funds should be held unproductive,
and when at a later period of the year confidence was somewhat restored
and the mere.ntiie and monetary interest wore n. more prosperous aspect,
the abundance of capital caused a depreciation of its value. These cir-
cumstances were not calculated to have a favourable influence upon the
profits of any banking establishment ; nevertheless the Directors of this
Bank are happy to have it in their power to declare a dividend of 51.
per cent, upon the paid tip capital of 597,2801. and to make an addi-
tion to the rest which existed at the close of 1836.

The dividend will be payable on Monday next, the 12th lest. The
result of the operations of the year 1837, is shewn by the statement
which is annexed to this report. It exhibits the net arn,)unt of the
profits, after sufficient provisions for all bad and doubtful debts, to be
34,9041. los. Bd., leaving a surplus of 5,0404 10s. Si., after payment
of the dividend of five per cent.
There remained on former years a net surplus of 4,5271. Os. 6d., and
these sums are exclusive of the surplus, 20,0031. 19s. 5d., from Pre-
mium on Shares, which were issue.l in the year 1836.
In the last reports it was intimated that uegociations were in progress
for the purchase of premises adjoining the freehold estate which had
been bought from Messrs. Pearce, and thus additional property (freehold
likewise) having been acquired at the price of 9,5001., the Directors did
not delay the adoption of mea,ures for the erection of a building
suitable to the importance and permanency of the Bank.
They determined ca a plan which it is hoped will give general sits.