The Sun.
London, England, 1836-02-05 00:00:00

eluding some minor articles, on which the returns have not
yet been received :-
1833 Declared value £34,489,384
1834 36,541,926
1835 41,000,000 and upwards.
Per tentage increase in 1834, 6 per cent.
Ditto ditto 1835, 13 per cent.
I beg pardon for having so long detained the House, but I attri-
bute this prospect to the principles of free trade which in their
infancy have done so much being persevered in, and to the secu-
rity all traders feel in the just policy of the Government, and
the certainty that where they sow they will reap a harvest.a
The American tariff is dying a natural death, or will do 5
in a few years. With France, I hope and expect for a more le-
tended intercourse, worthy of the magnitude and wealth of the
two kingdoms. The German League is in array against us ;
and, if I tell the truth, however disagreeable, it arises from
from our corn laws and our timber duties. The Noble Lord
( Palmerston) cannot prevent it. It will conquer all his
macy, unless this House arms him with the power of_
diplo-
relaxation on their raw materials.—( Hear, hear, and continued
cheers.) The Noble Lord can only preserve for us the arteries
and channels of commerce, the Dardanelles, the free naviga-
tion of the Euxine, the Danube, and the Rhine, for the Le
gislature alone can abate that German league. There is one
curious thing relative to the state of trade, viz., that formerly
machinery was too much for the raw material, whereas novi.
the raw mrterial cannot keep pace with our machinery. This
is the case in woollens, in silk, and even in cotton. Sigmund'
was afraid of machinery, but events have proved without cause;
and for the truth of this statement in respect to existing trade,
of course not asking them to adopt my inferences, I appeal to
the Hon. Baronet the Member for Leeds, and to my friends_
the Members for Halifax and Bradford. And I wish I could
appeal also to one, I mean the late Lord Milton, who, though
unconnected with Yorkshire by electoral ties, had still, from
his vast possessions, and the long residence of his family in
that district, so large a stake in its welfare, that I should have
appealed to him for its truth. But the tomb has deprived this
House of one destined to be a future ornament ; and if I have
detained the House a moment in recalling their attention to
one so young, so firm, and so attractive in his character, I ash
sure I shall be forgiven.
Multis ille bonis flebilis occidit,
Nulli flebilior quam tibi, Virgili.
Sir, I beg pardon of the House for having so long occupied
their time, longer perhaps than my situation justifies, but not I
longer than the importance of the many subjects on which
had to touch may palliate. For the rest I will only say that
it is my matured conviction that the peace and prosperity we
now enjoy depends upon a perseverance in a liberal course of
constitutional reform. The unsettled questions of centuries
require this. The genius of the age, so oft evinced, demands
it at our hands. For the present, we have the prospect of such
liberal measures, because we have a liberal Administration.
For its continuance the emancipated slave from either Indies,
with uplifted hands for his superintendence and direction, and
for his moral and religious nurture, addresses to you his prayer.
For its continuance every lover of freedom, in what corner of
the universe soever he may live—be it the Spaniard or the
Pole—or be it the Frenchman, who sees in British alliance the
soundest safeguard for his dynasty, and the best development
of his commercial undertakings—for its continuance, the
Dissenter in England, and the Catholic in Ireland, prays ;
and that it may continue, I trust this House will convey to his
Majesty the Address I now second.
Sir R. PEE L.—The Speech, Sir, which has this day been
delivered, naturally suggests, as preceding speeches have done,
the main considerations which press upon Parliament with re-
spect to our domestic and foreign relations, and I will refer
to some of the observations contained in the Honourable
Mover's speech. I will refer first to that portion of it in
which his Majesty congratulates us on the good understand-
ing which exists between him and all Foreign Powers. I re-
joice that his Majesty can congratulate us on the good
understanding which exists between him and his
Majesty tl.e King of the French, because I consider
it a security for the continued tranquillity of Europe.
Sir, I hope also that the commercial intercourse between this
country and France will still further confirm the common
interest, and maintain the relations of peace and amity
with each other. Sir, another source of satisfaction
which I derive, not so much from the King's Speech, as from
other intelligence which I have received, is the settlement of
the differences between France and America. I believe that.
there is no party in the country who would contemplate with
anything but pain the commencement of hostilities between
these two great powers.—( Hear, hear, hear.) And I be-
lieve there is no man who would not think any
petty temporary advantage, which might in the
first instance be derived from the commencement of such hos-
tilities, would not be dearly purchased by the hazard of a
war between two such powerful parties. Sir, with respect
to Spain, I do not quarrel with the terms of the Speech, or
or the Address, though I am bound to withhold my consent
from the policy which his Majesty's Ministers have thought
proper to adopt on the subject.—( Hear, hear, hear.) I
cannot concur with the Honourable Gentlemen in con-
gratulating the House on the mode of carrying on the war
in that country. I regret that his Majesty should have permit-
ted his subjects to interfere, for I do not see that that inter-
ference had any tendency to conciliate the animosities,
or diminish those shameful and disgusting scenes, which
have taken place.—(Cheers.) Sir I perceive that the speech
claims a preference for Spain which I did not expect ; it gives a
preference to one Government, and it undertakes to pronounce
an opinion upon the prudent and courteous course pursued
by her Majesty the Queen of Spain.--( Cheers.) lam sur-
prised to see such a paragraph as that introduced into
the speech by his Majesty's Ministers—( Hear)—beczuse
ll
recollect severe censure being passed upon us with reference
to what we did with respect to the King of the Netherlandh and we were asked if we had not enough to do to attend to '
our own concerns—( Hear, hear)—and we were forewarned
that the precedent then established would be thrown in our
teeth.—( Cheers.) The introduction of such a preference
shows that we have departed from the principle of non-
interference.—( Cheers. ) By pronouncing an opinion as to the
cause of quarrel, and the conduct of a foreign Power, we are
establishing and confirming the precedent of interference in the
domestic affairs of other countries.—( Cheers.) Notwith-
standing the confident assurances of peace, it appears
that there is to be an increase to the Navy Esti-
mates I suppose to some considerable extent, by
its being mentioned in his Majesty's Speech.—( Cheering. )
Some of my friends behind me consider that the passage
in his Majesty's speech, which refers to an increase ill
the navy estimates, is meant as a reflection on the Govern-
ment preceding. Ido not consider it in that light.—( Hear,
hear.) When the navy estimates were presented last
year, I had no hesitation in saying that we ought to reduce
these, and all other estimates, to the lowest possible point
consistent with the due maintenance of the interests of the
country. The Hon. Member for Middlesex complained that
the reduction had not been carried sufficiently far, and proposed
a further reduction of 10,000 seamen, and my Right Hon.
Friend behind me (Mr. Goulburn) expressed some fear
that the reduction was carried too far ; but still I did
not understand from the House of Commons that there was
any doubt as to the propriety of the reduction, and therefore
I differ from those who consider that this passage in his Ma-
jesty's speech is meant to imply any reflexion on the former
• Government, or that that Government had neglected our
naval honour.—( Hear, hear.) I am glad to see my opinion
confirmed by the assent of the Right Hon. Gentleman oppo-
site ( Sir J. C. Hobhouse). Ido not wish to touch at length
on any part of the Speech which refers to our foreign rela-
tions; but I will say a few words repecting matters of important
domestic policy to which it refers. It is announced that there is
to be a reform in the Court of Chancery ; but that reform is an-
nounced in a manner to which I will make no objection. It
implies no pledge, but leaves every Member perfectly open to
consider the nature and extent of that reform.—( Hear.) With-
out, therefore, being bound or pledging myself to any opinion, I
must state, that if it is intended to come to the conclusion that
it is necessary to make any material alteration in the great
office of Lord Chancellor, by separating the political from
the judicial functions, it will require much to convince me
that it is advisable to divest the judicial from all political
functions.—(Hear, hear.) I thank the Honourable Gen-
tleman for the candour with which he has admitted the
total failure of the Lords Commissioners. It had
led to an enormous increase of the arrears of the Courts—an
increase of from 200 to 800 cases.__(" No," from Mr.
Parker.) It had been productive of great inconvenience,
and they had done nothing towards clearing the arrears of
business. If they have done nothing to clear away the ar-
rears of business, I ask whether they have cleared away the
arrears of salary ?—( Hear, and a laugh.) I asked last years
and I ask now, is it a fact that those Commissioners
had increased the arrear of business ?—(Cries of " No, no.)
They had done no good whatever, except dividing amongst
themselves the salary of Lord Chancellor.—( Cheers and
laughter.) I wish to see the office of Lord Chancellor main-
tained on its present footing, and some individual possessing
the confidence of the bar, appointed..._( Loud cheers.) It is
not for me to inquire why the confidence of the Crown
was not continued to Lord Brougham-_(A laugh). Other
arrangements were made which continued till close upon the
meeting of Parliament—till after the appearance of the
pamphlet of Sir E. Sugden.—(Loud cheers and laughter.)
The world had never known an instance in which a pamphlet
had produced a more powerful effect -( Cheers and laughter.)
It had produced a great change in the Court of Chancery—it
had conferred two or three offices,and had created three peerag-ja.
The speech refers to many other matters of important dor,estiP
concern, but refers lo almost all of them in a manne'e which
infers no opposition. With respect to English Tit'.ies, it sug-
gests the propriety of taking them into cons'Aeration. It
lays down no principle with respect on which the measure would
be founded,and it very properly calls for no declaration of opinion-
lam prepared to give the measure a fair consideration. I
consider that the time has come when it is desirable to make a
satisfactory and permanent settlement—( Loud cheers). I will
pass over most of the other topics adverted to, as I do not wishz
to detain the House; seeing that whatever opinions I enter-
tain respecting the measures themselves—( Hear, liep,r)—.
I do not entertain any objection to the manner in which
they are brought under consideration. But there is one part
which constitutes an exception from the rest—one which I are,
desirous of guarding myself against misconception. My sus-
picions are awakened not merely by the terms in which refe-
rence is made to the particular subject, but by the singular con-
trast of those terms, to the terms in which every other
subject is mentioned. Whatever difference of opinion
exists between us, I sin sure that the evil effect of these dif-
ferences will only be increased either through negligence or
inattention by any deception as to our acts.--(Hear, hear.)
The particular subject, and one of immense importance, to
which I refer, and to which I only refer for the purpose of
guarding myself against misconception, relates to the state of
the Municipal Corporations in Ireland. (Hear, hear; )
I do not wish to enter upon it at this inconvenient time ; the
opportunity for doing so will shortly arrive, and the subject
will force itself upon our attention; and I refer, therefore, less